Tag: Survivor Incognito

Behind the Blog: ARK Map Page Expansion – All Maps, All Mayhem (In Progress)

Quick update! I’m in the process of expanding the ARK Survival Evolved map page to cover all Switch maps — because one deadly dino-infested region just isn’t enough.

🦖 A Little Update from the Blog Frontlines

I’m currently working on expanding the ARK Survival Evolved map page — the goal is to cover all of the maps available on Switch. From the dunes of Scorched Earth to the terrifying depths of Aberration, I want the page to reflect the full dino-infested chaos that’s coming in my permadeath series.

If you’re planning your own survival adventure (or just want to see where I’m likely to meet my end), you can check out the work in progress here: [link to my ARK map page].

⚡ Why This Update?

With my upcoming ARK permadeath series in the works, it felt right to make sure the blog’s map page reflects every hazardous region I’ll be facing. Because why limit myself to one place to get stomped on by dinos?

📌 What’s Next?

I’ll keep updating the page as I go, I will also do another post when it’s finished, and I’ll be sharing more about my planned map order for the series soon. If you’ve got a favorite (or most feared) ARK map, I’m always happy to hear it!

Also expect a new Day One Diary in ARK hopefully sooner than later. I’m paying a visit to Aberration and if I’m honest, genuinely had a lot fun there

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Behind the Blog: ARK Plans, Minecraft Madness, and What’s Coming Next

A peek behind the scenes at Survivor Incognito! I’m planning an epic ARK map-hopping permadeath series, scheming up Minecraft chaos with 15 survival rules, and plotting the next waves of mayhem.

I figured it was time for a little behind the blog moment — because while my in-game characters are busy getting eaten, frozen, or flattened, I’m quietly plotting even more ways to make their (and my) lives harder. Here’s what’s brewing in the background of Survivor Incognito.

🦖 ARK: One Map Just Isn’t Enough

If you thought Day One Diaries for ARK: Survival Evolved was the end of my dino-related disasters… oh no. The plan is to turn ARK into a full permadeath series where I attempt to survive across all the Switch maps. That means scorched deserts, radiation zones, angry dinos, and probably at least one embarrassing death involving a dodo.

Right now, I’m working on:

  • Fine-tuning the settings so it’s challenging, but not “spawn, breathe, die” levels of misery.
  • Figuring out a sensible (or chaotic) map progression — because who doesn’t want to see me go from Midlands 4 to Aberration and beyond?

This new series will (hopefully) kick off after the ARK Day One Diaries finish, so stay tuned!

⛏️ Minecraft: 15 Rules of Mayhem

Yes, I’m also eyeing Minecraft. But not just any survival run — I’m planning a permadeath challenge with a twist:

  • 👉 I’ll start with a list of 15 survival rules.
  • 👉 Each day, I have to follow one rule.
  • 👉 If I fail? The next day I’ll have to follow two rules at once.
  • 👉 Keep failing? Enjoy juggling three, four, five rules… you get the idea.

It’s part survival, part self-sabotage, part comedy. I’m still finalizing the rules (because let’s be honest, there are so many ways to make this worse for myself). Expect everything from “no weapons today” to “you must sleep every night or else.”

🔜 What’s Coming Next

In the meantime, the usual suspects continue:

  • SnowRunner: The Permagear Diaries are ready to get muddy.
  • Dredge: Madness? What madness? I’m totally fine.
  • The Cold Chronicles: Still cold. Still surviving. Somehow.
  • Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Stealth archer life, mostly.
  • Grounded: Where the backyard is the scariest place I’ve ever been.

Thanks for following along! If you’re enjoying the ride (or the wrecks), make sure to subscribe or follow on Tumblr, Facebook, or Bluesky. Chaos loves company.

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Here’s What You Missed This Week – Survivor Incognito Recap

It’s been another action-packed week of survival, chaos, and questionable decisions over at Survivor Incognito. If you’ve been busy wrestling giant crabs, flipping trucks, or dodging ghost fish, here’s your chance to catch up!

🌨️ Monday – Why I Made SnowRunner Permadeath

I broke down the logic (or madness?) behind turning SnowRunner into a permadeath challenge. Because nothing says “relaxing drive” like knowing one bad flip could end it all. [Read More Here]

🌊 Tuesday – Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival – Day Four

The sea giveth, the sea taketh away… and sometimes it just giveth more terror. Day Four of my Dredge permadeath series saw the madness meter creeping ever higher. [Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival – Day Four]

🐺 Wednesday – The Cold Chronicles – Day Seven

Another day, another frostbite risk. My Voyageur survivor braved the cold and the chaos as we inch further into this brutal Long Dark journey. [The Cold Chronicles Day Seven: A Voyageur’s Tale of The Long Dark]

🏹 Thursday – Sneak, Snipe, Repeat – Day Nine

The Argonian archer continued slinking through Skyrim, proving that stealth is great—right up until it isn’t. Day Nine brought more dragons, more necromancy, and more “how did that go so wrong?” moments. [Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival Day Nine]

🐜 Friday – Grounded: Day Two

The backyard is still terrifying. Day Two brought more bugs, more base-building, and more moments of me asking why I ever thought permadeath was a good idea here. [The Backyard Trials: Grounded Permadeath – Day Two]

🦖 Saturday – Day One Diaries of ARK: Survival Evolved Announced

Big news! I announced the upcoming Day One Diaries for ARK: Survival Evolved. Expect dinos, disasters, and probably a lot of running for my life. [Get the details here]

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🎉 500 Views of Portable Chaos – Thank You for Stopping By!

Survivor Incognito has crossed 500 views! A huge thank you to everyone who’s joined the portable survival chaos. Here’s to more maps, more diaries, and probably more regrettable decisions.

57 Days. 500 Views. And At Least That Many Bad Spear Throws.

Somehow, this little survival corner of the internet has crossed 500 views—and I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who’s visited, clicked, or accidentally found the blog while looking for something else entirely. (Hey, I’ll take it.)

When I started Survivor Incognito 57 days ago, it was just a space to share:

Survival game stories (usually featuring questionable decisions)

Maps and guides (so you don’t get lost like I do)

And a lot of Switch-based chaos


Fast forward to today, and I’m genuinely thrilled that over 500 views’ worth of folks have joined in. Whether you came for ARK maps, The Long Dark Customloper settings, Skyrim survival mishaps, or just to watch the chaos unfold—thank you.

🚀 What’s Next?

The chaos continues:

The Day One Diaries: ARK Edition is launching soon, filling the weekend gaps with fresh prehistoric panic.

The map pages and hubs will keep growing as I explore (and inevitably die in) new places.

More survival stories, more bad ideas, and probably more pinecone tea. Expect more information soon.

🧭 Thanks for Joining the Journey

I’m just getting started. If you’ve enjoyed the blog so far: ➡ Bookmark the site
➡ Share it with fellow Switch survival fans
➡ Or just stick around for the next 500 views of portable disaster.

Here’s to the next milestone—and to thriving, not just surviving.

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🦖 Day One Diaries: ARK Edition – Now Filling the Weekend Gaps

Day One Diaries returns with an ARK twist! Each short entry covers the first chaotic 24 hours on every map in ARK: Survival Evolved for the Nintendo Switch. Chaos, dinos, and bad decisions await.

So, People Have Been Clicking the ARK Map Page…

…and that’s either a promising sign or a harbinger of incoming disaster.

Either way, welcome to a brand-new side series here on Survivor Incognito:

> 🎮 Day One Diaries: ARK Edition
A bite-sized, chaos-fueled survival journal where I explore the first 24 hours on every ARK map available on the Nintendo Switch.

This series is coming soon and will drop on one of the blog’s quieter days—Mondays, Saturdays, and Sundays—to fill in the gaps with some portable prehistoric panic.

🗺️ What to Expect

Each post will document:

• Where I spawned

• What I crafted (poorly)

• What inevitably killed me

And whether I learned anything (spoiler: probably not)


These aren’t full playthroughs—they’re glorified diary entries of my first day of disaster, all tied together with maps, Switch gameplay quirks, and whatever half-baked strategy I manage to invent before something eats me.

✅ Already Posted

I’ve already covered the following maps in earlier posts:

The Island

Scorched Earth


So I won’t be redoing those. Instead, I’ll link back to those entries when their time comes in the lineup.

🌋 What’s Next?

From here, it’s on to the rest of the maps available on the Nintendo Switch:

• Aberration

• Extinction

• Genesis Part 1

• Genesis Part 2

• Ragnarok (DLC)

Each time I publish a new Day One Diary, I’ll also update the ARK Map Hub with:

• The region map

• Survival notes

• Links to the interactive resource map

• Possibly a eulogy

🧪 A Preview of What You’re In For…

To set the mood, here’s a flawlessly accurate preview of what I expect my time in Aberration to look like—courtesy of Neebs Gaming:

> 🎥 Simon vs. Snake – Neebs Gaming in Aberration
Simon’s alone. Eating peanuts. There’s a snake. Panic ensues.

It’s everything ARK represents: snack time, followed by betrayal and screaming.

🎬 Chaos You Can Count On

If something truly unhinged happens during one of these Day One sessions—and let’s be honest, it will—it’ll earn its own spotlight as a Survivor’s Shorts post.

Because some moments of portable disaster deserve a dedicated write-up… especially the ones where I genuinely thought I was safe and then immediately wasn’t.

📅 First Entry Drops Soon

Check back next Saturday for Day One in The Island—the first stop on this tour of Switch-based suffering. Followed by Scorched Earth the next week, and then finally, Aberration.

Expect bioluminescent fungus, regret, and gravity issues. See you there.

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The Cold Chronicles Day Seven: A Voyageur’s Tale of The Long Dark

The Cold Chronicles – Day 7: Dead Ends, Rifle Finds, and Aurora Skies

Difficulty: Voyageur
Optional Features: Cougar enabled (because paranoia keeps you alive)

Day 7 on Coastal Highway brings dead-end roads, beachcombing, Barb’s rifle, and my first aurora. I almost fall through the ice (again), stash gear on Jackrabbit Island, and cook meat like a man possessed. So… a productive day?

Missed Day 6? Read it here.

The Road That Goes Nowhere

Another sunrise, another overambitious plan. Today, I decide I’m going to follow Coastal Highway all the way to its mysterious conclusion. Maybe I’ll find a new transition zone. Maybe I’ll find a wrecked truck with some rifle rounds and a can of dog food. Maybe I’ll find peace.

Spoiler: it’s a rockfall.

But I don’t know that yet. I set out early, dragging my increasingly reluctant survivor across the snow. First stop: the bridge just beyond the garage. It’s held up surprisingly well for the end of civilization. On the far side, I spot a car, and inside it—a note. Someone left a tip about a hidden cache near the garage. Tempting. Very tempting. But I decide to keep pushing forward for now. Eyes on the prize.

The road gets quieter. No wolves, no wind. Just snow crunching underfoot and the occasional groan from my guy who’s still mad about the 40kg backpack I’m making him haul. Eventually, the highway ends not with loot or glory, but a literal wall of boulders. No secret passage, no helpful signage. Just a dead end.

Rifles, Ice, and Intrusive Memories

With the highway goal dashed, I backtrack. But I’m not going to waste the day. I decide to poke around under the bridge I crossed earlier—because that’s a normal survival instinct now. Good thing I do, too.

Tucked under the support beams, half-buried in snow, is Barb’s rifle. No note, no explanation. Just the long-forgotten tool of someone else’s survival story. I take it, check the condition (not bad), and immediately feel 30% more powerful. Rifle > revolver. Every time.

Feeling cocky, I veer off the road and make my way across the ice toward Jackrabbit Island. The ice creaks and pops in that threatening way it always does, but I push forward, ignoring the very obvious signs that I am not welcome here. My screen does that “you’re about to die” wobble. I shuffle back to solid ice just in time. Somehow, I don’t fall in. Survival roulette wins again.

The Jackrabbit Hoard

I reach the house on Jackrabbit Island and decide to use it as a makeshift drop zone. I ditch the revolver, some food, a spare lantern, and whatever else I can live without. The rifle stays with me, obviously.

Loot-wise, Jackrabbit delivers. I find:

  • A skill book for rifles (Barb would be proud)
  • Another lantern (my third—clearly I have a problem)
  • More food, because Coastal Highway is just one big buffet if you know where to look

My inventory’s still ridiculous, but a little lighter. Temporarily.

Seagulls and Sketchy Ice

On the way back, I decide to risk a little beachcombing. I hug the shoreline, watching for anything shiny poking out of the snow—and get rewarded. A couple of arrows just sitting on the ice, half-frozen but perfectly usable. I swipe them up and head for Misanthrope Island.

As I get close, I see birds circling. That means one thing: a carcass. The ice between me and it looks about as stable as my guy’s calorie intake, but I edge closer anyway. It’s a deer, still fresh. I manage to harvest the meat and pull back without falling in. That makes two ice victories today, which honestly feels greedy.

Inside the house on Misanthrope, I find—surprise—more food and clothing. Nothing game-changing, but enough to keep the “loot goblin” part of my brain happy. I stow what I can, then head back toward the garage with a torch in hand in case wolves decide they’re hungry for man meat.

A Spark in the Static

Back at the garage, something’s different. There’s a glow. A hum. The computer whirs to life.

The aurora has arrived.

It’s my first one in this run, and it’s just as eerie as I remember. The air crackles, the sky pulses green, and the electronics—dormant and useless for days—suddenly flicker back to life. It’s beautiful in a “should I be worried?” sort of way.

I don’t have time to dwell on it. I’ve got meat to cook, water to boil, and coffee to brew. Lots of coffee. My survivor’s probably 80% caffeine at this point. I do my best diner cook impression, juggling pots and pans, and by the end of it the place smells like scorched venison and instant espresso. Not the worst way to end a day.

I eat what I can, dump the rest into storage, and crawl into bed. The aurora flickers through the window as I drift off.

Final Thoughts

Day 7 gave me a rifle, some arrows, a hidden cache hint, and a front-row seat to the aurora. Sure, I nearly fell through the ice twice and carried half my body weight in gear the whole way, but it was worth it.

Still alive. Still hoarding. Still hallucinating predators.

Continue the journey:
Day 6 |
Day 8
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The Backyard Trials: Grounded Day One – Honey, I Lost Myself in the Backyard

Day One of my Grounded permadeath run. I wake up microscopic, clueless, and desperate for clean water. Let the backyard chaos begin.

The Day I Became Smaller Than an Ant (Not by Choice)

I wake up. I don’t know where I am, how I got here, or why everything around me is suddenly the size of skyscrapers. I’m not ant-sized. I’m smaller than an ant. That’s never a great start to the day. But if panic has taught me anything, it’s that panic can wait. First, I need to get my bearings.

Pebblets. Lots of pebblets. I grab a handful because even tiny rocks feel better than empty hands. As I cautiously scout my surroundings, I stumble across a strange science station. Naturally, I press every button that doesn’t scream “self-destruct.” Turns out, I can analyze items here. Good news.

—

Science and Sharp Objects

I analyze the pebblets and some plant fibers I’ve picked up. That unlocks some basic blueprints. More importantly, I can now craft an axe. Primitive, sure, but it’s better than yelling at bugs and hoping they go away.

Water quickly becomes a concern. I sip some nasty puddle water because desperate times, but I know I can’t rely on swamp juice forever. Clean water will need to become a priority.

—

The Big Machine and Mysterious Tapes

While wandering, I discover a massive machine, along with a tape left behind by someone who sounds a little too excited about being tiny. I hit the giant power button (as you do). Only two lasers fire properly. One’s blocked. Clearly, there’s a puzzle here, but it’s not my priority while I still have a growling stomach.

—

First Blood: The Weevil Incident

Food is now problem number one. Aphids sprint away from me like they’ve seen this horror movie before, so I craft a spear to even the odds. After confirming that yes, I can throw it, a weevil helpfully volunteers to be my first meal. The spear works. The weevil doesn’t.

A short time later, I find an aphid who wasn’t paying attention and deal with it too. I then stumble upon a patch of mushrooms. Crisis temporarily averted.

—

Lean-To and Level Ups

The game suggests building a lean-to. For once, I listen. A few quick chops and gathers later, I’ve got my shelter set up right next to the science station. I analyze my newly acquired bug remains, unlock more blueprints, and watch my brainpower level go up. Apparently scanning stuff makes you smarter.

As night falls, I set my respawn point (which, let’s be honest, I probably won’t need in permadeath) and call it the end of Day One.

Survived the first day. No spiders yet. That counts as a win.

—

Current Status: Alive

Location: Science Station Lean-To

Major Achievements: Crafted axe and spear, discovered giant machine, avoided spider-related trauma.

Biggest Threat: The growing suspicion that things will only get worse.


—

Stay tuned for Day Two of The Backyard Trials: Grounded Permadeath.

—

If you want more information on what this is, please check out: The Backyard Trials: Grounded Permadeath

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A New Challenger Approaches – Welcome to Green Hell

It’s time to trade backyards for the Amazon.

I’m heading into Green Hell, the survival game where nature doesn’t just want you dead—it wants you paranoid, dehydrated, and wondering if that rash is the least of your problems.

This new run is coming soon to the blog, taking its place in the rotation with all the usual Survivor Incognito flair: overly ambitious decisions, chaotic jungle flailing, and a main character who probably should’ve stayed home.

So if you’ve ever wanted to see how fast someone can go from “I’ve got this” to “I think the trees are whispering,” you’re in for a treat.

Stay tuned. The jungle waits.

If you want to see how my first day in the jungle went, please check out Day 1 Diary – Green Hell – Poisoned by Nature, Humbled by Bananas

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How I Handle Permadeath (and Still Sleep at Night)

Also: A Sunburnt & Sinking Tease You Didn’t Know You Needed

Permadeath. The challenge. The chaos. The deeply personal betrayal when a lovingly named character walks off a cliff because you misjudged a ledge.

This post is part ruleset, part philosophy, and part gentle teaser — because yes, one of my current runs has already ended. And no, you won’t find out how for at least two months.

I play ahead — sometimes way ahead — because it gives me time to write, screenshot, cry, and recover before you all read about it. So yes, I already know how some of my stories end. That doesn’t mean I’m any more emotionally prepared.

My Permadeath Rules (Across the Blog)

🛑 One life. Always.
If the game lets me die permanently, I do. No save-scumming. No reloads. If I glitch through the map, we roll with it.

🧤 Difficulty is flexible.
I don’t always play on the hardest difficulty — because surviving should be intense but still fun. I tailor it per series: Customloper for The Long Dark, Apprentice for Skyrim, standard settings in Stranded Deep.

🪦 Once they die, they go to The Graveyard.
Every character gets an obituary. Sometimes dramatic, sometimes… deeply stupid. Either way, the blog remembers them.

🎣 Runs are usually played a month or two ahead.
So if something goes wrong? You’ll find out… eventually.

🌴 Coming Soon(ish): Sunburnt & Sinking

Yes, Stranded Deep is on the way. Yes, the series is called Sunburnt & Sinking.

Stay tuned. It’s equal parts sunstroke and sharks.

🧭 Want to Know More?

If you’re wondering why I don’t always crank the difficulty to maximum chaos, there’s a reason for that — and it’s not just because I like my limbs frostbite-free.

Check out my full page:
👉 Why I Play On Easier Difficulties

And if you’re curious about the rules behind each of my survival runs, from Customloper to Backyard Trials:
👉 Rules of Survival – According To Me

Because every survival story has its own set of ground rules — even the weird ones involving crows and deer that somehow win the fight.

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Here’s What’s Coming This Week – June 16 to 22

From fishing mishaps to Skyrim sniping and a custom cold-weather panic run, here’s what’s planned this week on Survivor Incognito.

The Week Ahead

The schedule is packed — except for Monday, which is still being negotiated with the universe. But the rest of the week? Solid chaos incoming:

❓ Monday – ???
Let’s call it… a mystery. Maybe a new Survivor’s Short? Maybe I finally win a wolf fight? Maybe I stare at a snow shelter and question my life choices. Stay tuned.

🌊 Tuesday – Dark Waters: A Dredge Survival – Day Three
Debt cleared, upgrades unlocked, and still no idea what’s lurking beneath the boat. Let’s fish. Let’s panic.

❄ Wednesday – Customloper Diaries Day 2: Blizzards, Boots, and Baseball Cap Confusion
Day 2 of my Customloper survival in The Long Dark. Mild weather? Never heard of her.

🗡 Thursday – Sneak, Snipe, Repeat: Skyrim Survival – Day Eight
Skyrim continues. The Argonian’s sneak streak lives on, unless someone spots him — in which case, panic magic it is.

🪓 Friday – The Backyard Trials: Grounded Day One – Honey, I Lost Myself in the Backyard
It’s tiny, it’s deadly, and I’ve already lost my bearings. Welcome to Grounded permadeath.

More Survival Incoming

There’s more to come, including mystery Mondays, drowned diaries, and maybe a few unexpected wolves. Stick around — the chaos is scheduled.

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