The 5 Best ARK PVE Servers

When it comes to immersive and engaging gameplay, ARK has set a standard in the world of survival games. With its vast, open-world environment filled with dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, players are tasked to survive, build, and dominate. However, the true essence of the game shines when played on a multiplayer server, where communities thrive and camaraderie is fostered. In this blog post, we delve into the Best ARK PVE Servers that stand out not just in hosting the classic ARK: Survival Evolved (ASE) but also the new, revamped ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA). Join us as we explore these gaming havens, analyze their pros and cons, and guide you on how to become a part of these vibrant ARK PVE communities.

What is an ARK PVE server?

Most people, when they think of ARK, think of toxic PVP (Player vs Player) gameplay. The thought of having your base, which took you 4 weeks to build, getting blown up by a group of 14 years old kids on school holidays whilst you are at work would be off putting for anyone. Unfortunately, such a scenario is all too common, making it a deterrent for most casual players.

However, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that is ARK PVE Server. Despite being a PVP game, there is a lot of PVE content in ARK. There are numerous maps and bosses on each map that are very hard to defeat alone. You will need a friend or two to help you, and since ARK is such a popular game there is a rather large modding community that makes the game and its PVE content a whole lot better.

 

How Do We Score the ARK PVE Servers?

The ARK PVE Servers in this list have been evaluated based on various criteria, including community engagement, server stability, unique features, and the balance of gameplay elements. User reviews, firsthand experience, and community feedback have all played a crucial role in determining the rankings and providing a comprehensive overview of each server’s offerings.

Community

One of the main things to having a good time on any ARK PVE server is the community. You won’t have a good time if they are toxic or hostile or enjoy trolling new people. So when we join and play on these servers, we also join their Discord and interact with their community. Are they friendly? Are they welcoming? Are they clicky?

Hardware

ARK isn’t the most optimized game in the world. However, the new ASA version has brought so many improvements. But ARK’s sheer amount of content with all the revamped maps and dinos is quite the strain on any server. So, hardware is essential, and any group that invests in the best hardware to make sure their players have the most enjoyment is a huge plus for us.

Server Staff

Community is everything when it comes to having a successful gaming server; the server team/staff are the glue that keeps that community together. So, to test this, we ensure the ARK PVE Server has a good support system. Usually, in the form of Discord Tickets, we check how long it takes to respond and resolve the issues.

How to connect to these ARK PVE Servers

How To Join ARK PVE Servers

How to Join an ARK PVE Server?

Joining an ARK PVE Server is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

  1. Launch ARK: Survival Evolved.
  2. Navigate to ‘Join ARK’: This option is present in the main menu.
  3. Filter for PVE Servers: Ensure that the server filter is set to ‘PVE’.
  4. Search for the Server by Name: Input the name of the server you wish to join.
  5. Connect and Play: Once you’ve found your desired server, select it and click ‘Join’ to start your adventure!

Salty Zombies

Salty Zombies holds the crown as the number one ARK PVE Server, boasting an incredible community, robust server stability, and a plethora of in-game events. Salty Zombies provides an experience like no other, catering to both ASE and ASA, ensuring that every player, whether a seasoned survivor or a newcomer, feels right at home.

They have multiple ARK PVE Servers for you to choose from: the 10x server for those who don’t have the time for the grind and the vanilla plus server. They have lots of mods and premium plugins for the extra content. The most impressive thing about Salty Zombies ARK PVE Servers is the hardware; they use the best server hardware possible, ensuring a smooth and lag-free experience as possible.

They also have one of the fastest support times ever. This is not just for ARK PVE Servers; their support team is always online, and answers are almost immediate. They have a better support team than most multi-million dollar businesses. Which we thought was truly sensational. 

The Pros

  • Very Active Staff
  • Friendly Community
  • Top Of The Line Hardware
  • Premium Mods
  • Custom Maps
  • Monthly Wipes
  • DDOS Protection
  • No Lag

The Cons

  • Expensive Donor Perks

Naked & Afraid

Naked & Afraid ARK PVE Servers are no wipe servers. They have both ASA and ASE. Although, like most ARK communities now, the ASE servers are starting to dwindle. They, too, pride themselves on investing in top-of-the-line hardware to ensure maximum performance for their players. Here is everything we found out about them on their website:

Embark on an unparalleled Ark d journey and ascend to new heights with our top-notch servers. At our gaming haven, we offer an experience that transcends the ordinary, providing a platform for players to unleash the ultimate multiplayer adventure. With cutting-edge technology and optimized performance, our servers ensure a seamless and immersive gameplay environment.

Whether you’re a seasoned survivor or a newcomer to the Ark, our community thrives on shared excitement, challenges, and triumphs. Join us in redefining the multiplayer landscape of Ark Survival Evolved, where every gaming moment is elevated, and every adventure is a testament to the ascended experience. 

PROs

  • Nice Staff
  • Good Community
  • Lots of Plugins
  • Many Events
  • Dedicated Server

Cons

  • Sometimes laggy
  • PVP in some areas

The Legendary Legions

The Legendary Legions community started with just a Conan Exile PVE Server, and as their community grew, they expanded into other games. Like Salty Zombies, they host multiple games, including ARK PVE Servers, Project Zomboid and RUST.

They have a lot of mods and host ARK ASA Servers only. They recently closed down their ASE clusters. They have an excellent team of people and an active community led by a guy called Leo The Leopard.

One bad point that bugged us a little is that their Discord is very messy, has too many channels, and pings you a lot in Discord.

PROs

  • Supportive Staff
  • Fun, engaged community
  • Custom Plugins
  • VIP Giveaways

Cons

  • Server occasionally lags at peak times
  • To many Discord Pings
  • Low pop

Ragnarok PVP

Although the server is called Ragnarok PVP, it’s just where they originally started from which was a nortoirus 7 Days To Die PVP server. They expanded into ARK later on, and the similarity between their name and the ARK Map is just a coincidence. They do have some of the most popular PVP Servers. In addition to that, they host some very good ARK PVE Servers.

PROs

  • Welcoming Staff
  • Friendly Community
  • Decent Hardware

Cons

  • Staff not so active
  • Servers self hosted

Primal Rage Gaming

PRG has been around since 2009. Their communities mainly play 7 Days To Die, a Zombie survival game similar to Minecraft. But they recently expanded into ARK PVE Servers. The owner of the community, Lord Slaughter, is very much into the hosting side of things and has invested in some excellent Hardware like the Ryzen thread rippers.

Although the community is called Primal Rage Gaming, their ARK PVE Servers are called The Walking Zeds, so make sure you search for that when looking for their servers. Their servers run smoothly and can hold many players. However, the staff are new to running ARK, and some issues go unanswered. 

But we feel with their experience in running gaming communities, they will get to grips with the new ASA Servers and will be a thriving ARK community in no time.

PROs

  • Active Team
  • Good Selection Of Mods
  • Good Hardware

Cons

  • Quick Wipe Cycles
  • Staff are new to ARK

Final Thoughts

There are a lot of ARK PVE Servers for us to try, and we didn’t have time to try them all. But what helped us decide which to test out and write about was finding servers that took the time to build a website. Most ARK PVE Server communities don’t have a website to hold information or to allow visitors to discover them.

A website that holds all the information of the ARK PVE Servers, like the breeding times and rates, FAQs, guides and commands, is essential. It’s also nice to see gaming communities that write about their history, how they got started, and a little team page. A website for your gaming community also gives a level of professionalism and branding.

Here at OrangeWebsite, we offer website hosting, and one we found that most gaming communities use is WordPress for its simplicity and easy-to-learn drag-and-drop building mechanism. If you want to build a website for yourself, your business or your gaming community, we recommend checking out our WordPress Hosting Packages.