Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

I never really loved the Ratchet & Clank games in the past. I’ve played a few, namely Size Matters on PSP, but the wider series never clicked with me. That was until I parked myself on my friend’s couch while on vacation and blasted through Rift Apart in record time. What an absolutely vibrant, beautiful, and joyous game it is, the kind of game that PlayStation’s been lacking lately, and one that shows the company finally seems to understand it should be making these games alongside heavyweight “prestige” titles like God of War and Horizon. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is much the same as any game in the series, but it wields the (at the time) new PS5’s technology to render a world that feels like it’s teeming with playfulness. A gun opens portals that make use of the console’s powerful SSD to transport randomized elements and characters into the fray. You seamlessly jump between perspectives and characters in manners that are not only buttery smooth, but awe-inspiring. It’s not just impressive to look at, it’s a pleasure to behold and I’m sure that’s especially true of its PC port. Aside from Astro Bot, I’d say Rift Apart is one of a handful of PS5 titles everyone should have, and you can now grab it on Steam or Humble for $36.