: You can play the full version, including the Ultimate Survivor Edition , through a Microsoft Game Pass subscription. New users can often join for a heavily discounted trial price (e.g., $1), providing full access to the game and several expansion maps.

The "story" of ARK is one of mystery and evolution. You wake up naked and freezing on the shores of a mysterious island known as the ARK. ARK: Survival Evolved on Steam

: The most reliable way to get the full version for free has been through recurring promotional events on the Epic Games Store. Once you claim the game during a "Free Week" (as seen in past events), it stays in your library forever.