ARK: Survival Evolved vs Project Castaway
Which one is worth buying now, with today's prices and each game's recommendation.
ARK: Survival Evolved wins 10 of 15 head-to-head metrics. Project Castaway is $1.30 cheaper.
Metric by metric
The winner of each row gets a ✓. No row weighs more than another; the recommendation is calculated separately.
| Metric | ARK: Survival Evolved | Project Castaway |
|---|---|---|
| GameValio scoreRecommendation: Maybe × Wait for Sale | 61 | 43 |
| Quality | 78 | 55 |
| Value | 41 | 42 |
| Popularity | 51 | 27 |
| Current Best Price (USD) | $14.99 | $15.80 |
| Steam Review Score | 83.9% positive | 64.1% positive |
| Average Concurrent Players (14 days) | 12.1K | 36 |
Where to buy
The 3 cheapest stores for each game
Side by side over time
ARK: Survival EvolvedProject Castaway
Details and requirements
| Item | ARK: Survival Evolved | Project Castaway |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | August 27, 2017 | March 17, 2026 |
| Developers | Studio Wildcard, Instinct Games | Mardonpol Inc. |
| Publishers | Studio Wildcard, Snail Games USA | Mardonpol Inc. |
| Platforms | Windows, MacOs | Linux, Windows |
| OS (minimum) | — | Windows 10 |
| Processor (minimum) | — | Intel Core i5-9400 or equivalent CPU |
| Memory (minimum) | — | 12 GB RAM |
| Graphics (minimum) | — | NVidia GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD equivalent |
| Storage (minimum) | — | 5 GB available space |
| Additional Notes (minimum) | — | Does not work well with integrated GPUs |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: ARK: Survival Evolved or Project Castaway?
ARK: Survival Evolved won the comparison against Project Castaway based on the head-to-head metric breakdown. Check the metrics table above for a full side-by-side analysis.
How is the comparison calculated?
The comparison winner is determined objectively by counting which game wins more individual metrics in the head-to-head table. No weighting is applied. The GameValio Recommendation shown separately is our own suggestion for each game, based on a weighted score that combines quality (reviews), popularity (player counts), and affordability (price vs value) into a score out of 100. These are two different things: the comparison is objective, the recommendation is GameValio's opinion.
Is ARK: Survival Evolved worth buying over Project Castaway?
Based on the metrics, ARK: Survival Evolved won the direct comparison. However, also check the GameValio Recommendation for each game and the price comparison table to make the most informed purchase decision.
Which game has better player reviews?
Review score trends and volume over time are shown in the charts section above. The game with consistently higher positive ratios has stronger community reception.
Which game offers better value for money?
The affordability score and price comparison table above highlight the best deals. Project Castaway currently scores better on value relative to its quality and price.
Related comparisons
Analysis updated: Oct 24, 2026, 05:18 PM UTC