While development for this map is currently on hold as the mod author contributes to Ragnarok, an “official” DLC map for ARK: Survival Evolved, it’s still worth a download if you want to build a base near massive cascading waterfalls and giant caves and caverns. Additionally, the author used photorealistic textures to add more geological authenticity to the land and give it a sense of history. This map mod is very special in that its landscape was developed directly from satellite imagery. The result is one of the prettiest and most creative and geographically diverse maps in the Steam Workshop. The goal for the author of the Roraima map mod was to create a temperate rainforest climate, with the additional aim of giving it more a prehistoric feel than the original Island. The author is still working on bringing supply drops and the obelisks aren’t working at the moment, but for solo players it’s a nice vacation from the vanilla game maps. Wickwillow is noted for its beauty, its simplicity, its lighting, and its size. It’s not as far along as some of the maps on this list, but with the promise of “unique caves, ancient ruins and more with many unexplored goodies around the map…”, if you don’t play it, you’ll at least want to keep an eye on it for later.

This map mod is about double the size of The Island and brings together several biomes from across the game by including features from Scorched Earth, so there’s lots to keep you busy, between exploring and building. And if you want more substantial updates, be check out our list of the best ARK mods. Now, the vast majority of these map mods add only a fresh change in scenery, so picking one to go with may require a peek at its Steam gallery before subscribing. Luckily the game is built for (dare I say, built on) mods, and as the community and its resources have grown, so too have the available options in the Steam Workshop. But if you’re an active player, by now, you may have invested enough hours to find its landscape too familiar, maybe even boring. As far as open world exploration goes, ARK: Survival Evolved is one of the most beautiful paradises you could ever hope to play in.

Scorched earth detailed map