Survival games are one of the most popular genres right now. Maybe it’s because everyone is equal right from the start, and only those who will prove their worth can survive. In reality, we don't have to fight for survival anymore, so getting a glimpse of what it might actually look like is tempting.

There are plenty of other survival games on the market, but these two have been fighting for the crown for quite some time. Competition is always suitable for customers and gamers alike since it translates into a better gaming experience. They both withstood the test of time, perfectly depicting the post-apocalyptic environment. In this article, we’ll cover the main features and differences between the two games so you’ll know what to expect picking one or the other. Who will stand his ground in the Ark vs Rust battle?

• Release Date: February 8, 2018
• Developer: Facepunch Studios
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Metascore: 69

Rust is the newest game of the two, and it’s a fully-fledged multiplayer game. Simply choose a server you want to join and begin your survival in a hostile environment. The gameplay revolves around base building and looting other players. At first, it might feel unfair to face fully-geared opponents while you’re naked and defenseless. PvP servers are extremely unforgiving, as you can lose all the gear you’ve collected in a matter of minutes.

However, if you feel like the PvP survival is too much for you, join a PvE server instead, where you can build your base without worrying about attacks from other players. There isn’t a built-in single-player mode, but you can rent a dedicated server or host your own if you want to play alone. That said, the game’s survival mechanics are designed with PvP multiplayer in mind, and that’s how it’s meant to be played.

• Release Date: August 29, 2017
• Developer: Studio Wildcard
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iPhone/iPad, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia
• Metascore: 70 

Ark: Survival Evolved chose a more realistic approach than the fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping gameplay of Rust. Everything takes longer and costs more resources but is also much more meaningful. The most notable difference between the two is enemies. Apart from other players, Ark is full of dinosaurs in all shapes and sizes, ready to have you for dinner. They’re not meant to be hostile forever, though, as experienced players can tame and use them for various use cases. Similar to Rust, Ark features both PvP and PvE servers depending on the type of experience you want to have.

In this section, we’ll compare Rust and Ark, splitting them into different sections. The most important features of a good survival game are gameplay and progression. If these elements are polished, then things like graphics, community, and lore serve as icing on the cake. Here’s the comparison between the two.

While both games share the same purpose – survival in a harsh, unpleasant world, the gameplay between the two varies significantly. The most notable difference is the difficulty curve. Rust is equally hard everywhere, leaving you no room for errors that might be offputting for new players. Ark, on the other hand, has more and less dangerous areas due to the existence of prehistoric reptiles. It’s a natural border between newbies and experienced players, so the risk of being someone’s target is diminished.

In both games, you can build a base to store your items safely. Mechanic-wise, Rust is more of a shooter with survival elements. Experienced players can build their first base in less than an hour and start hunting down some newbies for better equipment and resources. It’s a permanent deathmatch where you have to kill others to survive, whereas Ark is more of a cast-away survival.

Overall, Ark is more varied in terms of survival mechanics, while Rust is more PvP-oriented. Also, Ark has a built-in single-player mode, while Rust doesn’t.

Winner: Ark

In terms of progression, Rust is a much simpler game with less advanced mechanics. You can have your base up and running in less than an hour and start hunting for other players and stealing their loot. Within a week or two, you can even become the richest player on the server, but it won’t last long. Official Rust servers are getting wiped out every month, making everyone start from scratch and climb to the top again. A sort of a prolonged MOBA game. 

Ark is quite the opposite; it focuses on long-term progression, where everything takes significantly longer to achieve specific goals. However, progress is much more meaningful, and you keep what you earned – there’s no reset here. Progress also means leveling, and higher levels unlock skill attributes and better crafting recipes.

Picking up a winner in this regard is a tough call. In Rust, you will progress faster but start all over in one month period. In Ark, your progress is basically endless, but it will take a very long time. These systems work great in their respective conditions, so picking one is purely subjective. I’d call this a tie.

Winner: Tie.

With gameplay and progression out of the way, it’s time to focus on visuals. Rust opts for more natural and realistic settings. You can immediately tell that you’re playing in a modern, abandoned world, post-apo-like. There are plenty of factories, transmission poles, and other reminiscents of this once lively area. However, despite being a newer game, Rust is less aesthetically pleasing than Ark as it runs on the Unity engine.

Ark’s world is more futuristic, with places and buildings that look like they were taken straight out of Star Trek. Combine this with dinosaurs freely roaming the land, and you get a really original setting. Textures, lighting, and dynamic weather look gorgeous as the game runs on Unreal Engine 4. In this regard, Ark blows Rust out of the water, so if you’re looking for aesthetically pleasing survival, Ark is the way to go.

Winner: Ark

Unfortunately, high graphics fidelity comes at a cost. When Ark was released, even the top graphics cards of 2017 couldn’t run this game at max settings without hiccups. You can blame it on the optimization, but the game is equally beautiful and demanding. Graphically, everything here is a tier above what you might get used to in other survival games. And with Ark 2 on the way, it may raise the bar even higher.

These taxing hardware requirements, however, come at a price of limited accessibility. Rust is far less demanding and doesn't have such problems. It’s not as eye-candy but perfectly stable on every device, including PS4 and Xbox One.

Winner: Rust

Ark has a fascinating story going on. Of course, it can be ignored entirely as it doesn’t affect gameplay, but it’s nice to know what’s happening. However, it’s not presented to you in a traditional way. You must explore and search for scattered bits of information and connect them yourself. Then you’ll get the idea of who you are, how you ended up on the island with deadly reptiles, and what’s that weird thing on your wrist. It’s nothing spectacular, but it gives the game some depth and a touch of realism.

Rust, on the other hand, doesn’t provide any backstory. All you have are fan theories like one where you participate in a classified experiment to observe how people would behave in a post-apocalyptic environment. It’s not taking away from the gameplay aspect, but Ark takes the win here because it has something.

Winner: Ark

Both games have a dedicated community with thousand of players daily. But finding a soulmate is significantly easier in Ark. There are lots of PvE activities where you have to take someone with you, like hunting for dinosaurs. Alliances and cooperation are more than recommended in Ark and are an inevitable part of survival. It’s one of the reasons why the community in Ark is far friendlier than that of Rust.

In Rust, you mostly care about yourself, and stabbing others in the back is frequent. There’s also an option to form an alliance, but there are so many griefers that you’re probably on your own without a pack of friends. Community behavior might be a deal breaker for some; hence Ark is far better in this department.

Winner: Ark

Rust: 2

Ark: 5 

Both games are quite phenomenal when compared with each other. Despite sharing the same genre, they’re aimed at different audiences.

Rust puts a lot of emphasis on PvP. There’s no single-player mode, and PvE content is limited to fighting wildlife and occasional scripted events. The pace is also quite fast as it takes about an hour to get your base up and running. However, you have to look behind your shoulder all the time as you can be sniped out of nowhere. It can be really frustrating, especially if you’re a beginner.

Ark, on the other hand, has plenty of PvE content. Instead of fighting other players, you can focus on crafting and dinosaur taming. The only major downside is high system requirements that can hiccup even the most powerful machines. On the upside, it feels epic and rewarding once you’re a few hours into the game and manages to tame some dinosaurs. And the battles between them are also fun to watch.

Ark won considerably in our clash, but you should choose according to your taste. If you want a fast-paced PvP game where you can prosper and dominate others quickly, Rust is right up your alley. But if you’re opting for a slower-paced game where you can survive long enough to create a prosperous facility, choose Ark.