9 /10 15

Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart represents the ninth major installment in Insomniac Games’ beloved franchise, debuting exclusively on PlayStation 5 before arriving on PC in 2023. The game achieved immediate critical acclaim with an 88 Metacritic score, praised for its technical presentation, dimension-hopping gameplay innovations, and character development introducing Rivet as a playable Lombax protagonist. The development philosophy emphasized leveraging PS5’s SSD architecture enabling seamless dimensional transitions without loading screens, a technical achievement that defined next-generation platformer design. This review examines the game’s exceptional production values, innovative weapon mechanics, and why Rift Apart stands among the finest action-platformers released across 2021-2023, offering guidance for players deciding between PS5 exclusivity and the recently released PC port.

How to Play Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart

Rift Apart blends third-person shooter combat with 3D platforming across fifteen new weapons and five returning fan-favorites. Players seamlessly transition between playable characters Ratchet and Rivet, swapping control during story sequences or dimension-hopping challenges. Clank’s interdimensional mechanics enable puzzle-solving and traversal innovations beyond previous installments’ scope.

1. Controls – Dual stick analog aiming with smooth camera control feels precise and responsive; PlayStation’s DualSense controller haptic feedback amplifies weapon impact sensation providing tactile feedback absent in standard controllers; mouse-and-keyboard PC support available
2. Progression – Advance through 25+ planets across alternate dimensions engaging in combat encounters, environmental puzzles, and character-specific challenges unlocking weapon modifications and armor upgrades
3. Combat/Mechanics – Master fifteen distinct weapons from burst pistols to topiary sprinklers, utilizing gadgets like Rift Tether for battlefield repositioning; upgrade arsenals between encounters to increase damage and unlock secondary fire modes
4. Tips – Locate all 25 Gold Bolts and 10 Spybots for collectible hunters; experiment with weapon combinations during combat encounters; utilize Rivet’s unique gadgets maximizing her combat advantages over Ratchet

Who Should Play Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart

Rift Apart appeals to action-platformer enthusiasts seeking genuine next-generation game design leveraging modern hardware capabilities. The accessible difficulty with optional challenge modes welcomes newcomers while post-game Arenas provide sufficient challenge for series veterans demanding harder encounters.

• PS5 Owners – PlayStation 5 exclusive until 2023 PC port; launch titles made this mandatory purchase for players seeking showcase-quality games demonstrating console hardware architecture evolution and SSD speed capabilities
• Action-Platformer Fans – Dimension-hopping mechanics and creative weapons system rivals Mario Odyssey’s possession concept; the blend of combat and platforming proves equally engaging for players favoring gunplay over pure platforming precision
• Weapon Enthusiasts – The arsenal diversity with distinct fire patterns and upgrade paths encourages experimentation; weapon enthusiasts appreciate the mechanical variety absent from competitor titles
• Skip if – Competitive multiplayer seekers; Rift Apart remains strictly single-player; franchise fans expecting co-op dimensional adventures will find solo-only design disappointing relative to series history

Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart Platform Performance

PlayStation 5 delivers multiple performance profiles balancing visual fidelity against frame-rate consistency. PC port by Nixxes Software enables unlocked framerates with DLSS 3 support, ray-tracing options, and ultra-wide monitor compatibility previously unavailable on console versions.

Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart System Requirements

PC specifications span entry-level GTX 960 hardware through enthusiast RTX 4080 configurations supporting 4K 144fps capabilities. SSD storage requirement (75GB) reflects the dimension-hopping mechanic architectural dependency on fast sequential read operations.

Similar Games to Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart

Rift Apart occupies a unique intersection of third-person shooting and 3D platforming, creating a distinct identity among contemporary action-platformers. The comparison titles below share either dimension-hopping mechanics, weapon-focused combat systems, or comparable character-driven storytelling approaches.

• Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time – Pure 3D platformer with Quantum Masks enabling dimension-specific challenges; more challenging difficulty curve emphasizing platforming precision over combat weapon variety
• Super Mario 3D World and Bowser’s Fury – Nintendo’s multi-character platformer featuring character-specific mechanics; lacks Rift Apart’s combat emphasis but matches world design creativity
• Just Cause 4 – Open-world third-person shooter emphasizing creative weapon utilization; significantly more expansive map scope but less focused single-player campaign structure
• Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time – Previous PlayStation-exclusive action-adventure featuring character-swapping mechanics; less combat-focused, more stealth-oriented alternative with comparable charm and humor

Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart vs Competitors

Rift Apart achieves the highest critical reception (88 Metacritic) among contemporary action-platformers, surpassing Crash 4’s acclaim through superior technical presentation, longer campaign, and comprehensive feature set. Superior production values and inclusive accessibility options position Rift Apart as the premium-tier action-platformer despite higher price point.

Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart Story and World

The narrative introduces Rivet, a female Lombax resistance fighter from an alternate dimension, partnering with the original Ratchet to prevent Emperor Tachyon from orchestrating a multiversal collapse. The interdimensional premise justifies diverse planet designs: tropical paradises, crystalline ice worlds, corrupted cities, and abstract geometrical spaces. Character development receives unprecedented focus; Rivet’s personality establishes her as equally compelling protagonist compared to Ratchet, with meaningful story beats exploring her connection to the dimensional rift mechanics. The humor balances slapstick action sequences with genuine emotional character moments, particularly exploring Ratchet’s relationship with newly discovered Lombax history. Dialogue quality and voice acting elevate the narrative beyond typical platformer storytelling, creating a memorable adventure delivering laughs alongside heart-felt character growth without sacrificing gameplay pacing.

Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart Multiplayer and Online

Rift Apart prioritizes single-player experience with no online multiplayer, co-op, or competitive modes. Leaderboard functionality remains absent; post-game Battleplex Arena challenges provide sufficient replayability through difficulty scaling without persistent online communities.

• Single-player Campaign – 10-12 hour story following Ratchet and Rivet across 25+ planets; no co-op dimensional adventures despite obvious narrative potential from two playable protagonists
• Battleplex Arena – Post-game challenge mode featuring escalating difficulty combat encounters; supports leaderboard tracking on personal systems but no cross-platform online comparison
• Challenge Modes – Optional difficulty modifiers allowing players to customize challenge settings; enables subsequent playthroughs with modified mechanics
• Cross-Play – No cross-progression between PS5 and PC versions; separate progression systems requiring independent campaign completion

Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart DLC and Expansions

Insomniac Games provided free cosmetic DLC respecting the player base through exclusive post-launch content without predatory monetization. The 20th Anniversary Armor Pack celebrated franchise history through thematic cosmetic sets inspired by classic entries.

• 20th Anniversary Armor Pack – Free cosmetic armor sets inspired by previous franchise installments: Commando Armor (Going Commando), Holoflux Armor (A Crack in Time), Quest Armor (Quest for Booty), Marauder Armor (Deadlocked), and Clank Armor
• Digital Deluxe Edition – Five exclusive armors included in premium edition; no gameplay impact, purely cosmetic differentiation
• Cosmetic Shop – No paid cosmetic marketplace post-release; armor sets earned through gameplay or digital edition pre-orders exclusively
• Free Updates – Performance patches and minor bug fixes post-release; no content expansions following launch window; game released as complete experience

Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart Community and Support

The passionate Ratchet fan-community maintains engagement across Reddit, Discord, and speedrunning platforms despite limited post-launch developer communication. Insomniac’s positive industry reputation supports continued franchise momentum despite lack of formal community management presence post-release.

• Official Community – Insomniac maintains light presence on social platforms; minimal forum activity post-launch; developer communication shifted toward new project development
• Reddit Community – r/ratchetandclank sustains 50k+ active members discussing speedruns, challenge completion, and franchise future speculation; healthy community fostering creative content
• Speedrunning Community – Speedrun.com leaderboards track world records across full campaigns and individual levels; thriving community pushing mechanical optimization though smaller than mainstream platformer speedrun communities
• Fan Content – YouTube creators produce regular challenge runs, speedrunning attempts, and new-player guides; modding limited due to console exclusivity though PC version enables future community expansion