History VideoGame / ARKSurvivalEvolved

** The yet-to-be-released Alpha Carnotaurus and Alpha Utahraptor could qualify as this, too.

* BossInMookClothing: The Alpha Tyrannosaurus, despite being very similar to its regular cousins, is [[BiggerIsBetter bigger, faster, and stronger]] than them. [[DemonicSpiders Oh, and it can buff the stats of nearby regular Rexes, too.]]

* BossInMookClothing: The Alpha Tyrannosaurus, despite being very similar to its regular cousins, is [[BiggerIsBetter bigger, faster, and stronger]] than them. [[DemonicSpider Oh, and it can buff the stats of nearby regular Rexes, too.]]

* ''TyrannosaurusRex'': Present in normal and albino versions. One of the nastiest non-boss monsters.

* PiranhaProblem: Schools of giant piranhas lurk in the rivers. One is easy enough to overcome, but [[ZergRush the whole group]] can be a major threat. And they're not even tameable unless you cheat.

* PteroSoarer: ''Pteranodon'' is oversized, has a weird crest, looks like it has torn-up wings, and most of all, [[TheyJustDidntCare has teeth on its beak]], although this is [[HandWave Hand Waved]] as it's a fictional species of ''Pteranodon''. However, the dossier also not only mistakenly refers to it as a dinosaur but associates it with a ''Caulkicephalus'' skull (Perhaps there's been a misidentification InUniverse?).

* RaptorAttack: ''Utahraptor'' has pronated hands and is mostly scaly, save for its arms, head, neck, and tail. [[HandWave Hand Waved]] as it's a fictional species of ''Utahraptor''.

* ArtisticLicensePaleontology: Though the developers actually spent time researching the animals before designing them, then stylized them for aesthetic's sake. While many animals are traditionally inaccurate, it shows through with a few of them - notably the ''Spinosaurus, which reflects new discoveries showing it was a short-legged water dweller. It's worth pointing out that all of the animals on the island are fictional separate species of their genus, according to the dossiers. Unfortunately, that still doesn't excuse some of the mistakes in game ([[ToothyBird toothy]] ''[[ToothyBird Pteranodon]]'', anyone?).

* PteroSoarer: ''Pteranodon'' is oversized, has a weird crest, looks like it has torn-up wings, and most of all, [[TheyJustDidntCare has teeth on its beak]]. [[HandWave Hand Waved]] as it's a fictional species of ''Pteranodon''.
** The dossier also not only mistakenly refers to it as a dinosaur but associates it with a ''Caulkicephalus'' skull (perhaps there's been a misidentification?)

* ArtisticLicensePaleontology: Though the developers actually spent time researching the animals before designing them, then stylized them for aesthetic's sake. While many animals are traditionally inaccurate, it shows through with a few of them - notably the Spinosaurus, which reflects new discoveries showing it was a short-legged water dweller. It's worth pointing out that all of the animals on the island are fictional separate species of their genus, according to the dossiers. Unfortunately, that still doesn't excuse some of the mistakes in game ([[ToothyBird toothy Pteranodon]], anyone?).

* FeatheredFiend: Argentavis, a massive flying bird that thinks you'll make a yummy snack, and Utahraptor. Both are tameable and ridable, allowing you to pull this on others.
* FluffyTamer: You can name your dinos, bonus points for taming a T-Rex and name it Fluffy.
* FriendlyPlayfulDolphin: Though technically dolphin-like reptiles, Ichthyosaurs are these as they have a curious friendly attitude towards humans akin to the trope. In fact, taming one is quite easy as they don't need to be knocked out first. They can be tamed by simply feeding them directly by hand enough times.

* PoisonousPerson: The Dilophosaurus [[JurassicPark spits venom]] and the Pulmonoscorpius has a toxic sting.
* PteroSoarer: Pteranodon is oversized, has a weird crest, looks like it has torn-up wings, and most of all, [[TheyJustDidntCare has teeth on its beak]]. [[HandWave Hand Waved]] as it's a fictional species of Pteranodon.

* RaptorAttack: Utahraptor has pronated hands and is mostly scaly, save for its arms, head, neck, and tail. [[HandWave Hand Waved]] as it's a fictional species of Utahraptor.

* SavageSetpiece: The big herbivores are as docile as can be as long as you leave them alone. But when attacked, they can fight back ferociously. The Stegosaurus is notably dangerous.

* TurtlePower: The Carbonemys, a surprisingly formidable MightyGlacier despite being one of the most common animals in the game.
* TyrannosaurusRex: Present in normal and albino versions. One of the nastiest non-boss monsters.

* PiranhaProblem: Schools of giant piranhas lurk in the rivers. One is easy enough to overcome, but [[ZergRush the whole group]] can be a major threat. On the plus side, they're tameable.
* PoisonousPerson: The Dilophosaurus [[JurassicPark spits venom]] and the Pulmonoscorpio has a toxic sting.
* PteroSoarer: Pteranodon and Quetzalcoatlus are both tameable flying mounts.

* RaptorAttack: Utahraptors, specifically. They're one of the fastest land mounts.

* ImAHumanitarian: You can eat human meat, including your own. If you die and go back to your corpse before it decomposes, you can harvest meat from it.

* ArtisticLicenseBiology: You're not supposed to capitalize the species name.

* SpikesOfDoom: A lot of animal species have loads of spikes covering them, [[RuleOfCool even there's no evidence of them in real life]].

* RuleOfCool: A lot of the prehistoric animals have been extremely stylized [[ArtisticLicensePaleontology at the expense of accuracy]], but

* ArtisticLicensePaleontology: Though the developers actually spent time researching the animals before designing them, then stylized them for aesthetic's sake. While many animals are traditionally inaccurate, it shows through with a few of them - notably the Spinosaurus, which reflects new discoveries showing it was a short-legged water dweller. It's worth pointing out that all of the animals on the island are fictional separate species of their genus, according to the dossiers. Unfortunately, that still doesn't excuse some of the mistakes ([[ToothyBird toothy Pteranodon]], anyone?).

* ArtisticLicensePaleontology: Though the developers actually spent time researching the animals before designing them, then stylized them for aesthetic's sake. While many animals are traditionally inaccurate, it shows through with a few of them - notably the Spinosaurus, which reflects new discoveries showing it was a short-legged water dweller. It's worth pointing out that all of the animals on the island are fictional separate species of their genus, according to the dossiers.

* FeatheredFiend: Argentavis, a massive flying bird that thinks you'll make a yummy snack. Tameable and ridable, allowing you to pull this on others.

* CharacterCustomization

** Amusingly, the dossier for [[PteroSoarer Pteranodon]] points out the inaccuracy of calling the animal a "pterodactyl", yet incorrectly refers to it as a dinosaur.

* RaptorAttack: Raptors exist in the game.

* ArtisticLicensePaleontology: Though the developers actually spent time researching the animals before designing them, then stylized them for aesthetic's sake. While many animals are traditionally inaccurate, it shows through with a few of them - notably the Spinosaurus, which reflects new discoveries showing it was a short-legged water dweller.
** Amusingly, the dossier for [[PteroSoarer Pteranodon]] incorrectly refers to the animal as a dinosaur, but mentions that calling it a "pterodactyl" is inaccurate.

* CompetitiveBalance: Want to build a mortar and pestle? You need more rocks than your house.

* SchizoTech: Some of the guns that are accessible later on are a blend of modern weapons and the sort one would expect in the Wild West.

* ArtisticLicensePaleontology

* MadeOfExplodium: Mned boulders and rocks explode spectacularly albeit harmlessly.
* MamaBear: Dinos do not like their eggs being stolen, as ''LetsPlay/{{Steejo}}'' found out in one of his episodes.

* RespawnPoint: If you managed to set up a nice comfy sleeping area, it can serve as your respawn point.

* TechTree: Certain engrams can only be unlocked when you have it's prerequisite.

* VideoGameCaringPotential: Tamed dinos generally helps alot in terms of gameplay. Working with other humans also accelerates growth in the form of shared EXP.