If you're a fan of the action-packed, dimension-hopping adventures in "Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart", you might be on the lookout for similar experiences. Luckily, there are plenty of games out there that offer their own unique spin on intergalactic exploration and combat. Whether it's the quirky humor, the arsenal of weapons, or the vibrant alien worlds that drew you to Ratchet & Clank, we've compiled a list of five alternative games you'll love.
1. Jak and Daxter Series
The Jak and Daxter series is a classic platformer franchise from Naughty Dog, often considered one of the spiritual predecessors to Ratchet & Clank.
Gameplay
Jak and Daxter offer an engaging mix of platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat - much like Ratchet & Clank. Players take control of Jak and his sidekick, Daxter, as they traverse various open-world environments. The game stands out with its eco power-up system, which gives Jak special abilities that aid in combat and exploration.
Story
The series tells a complex tale about friendship, courage, and heroism against all odds. The story revolves around Jak and his best friend Daxter’s efforts to thwart evil forces threatening their world.
Setting
The game takes place in a fantastical world filled with magic, technology, ancient civilizations, and mysterious artifacts. Each game expands upon this world, offering new environments for players to explore.
2. Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Spyro Reignited Trilogy brings back everyone's favorite dragon in a remastered collection full of charm and nostalgia.
Gameplay
Like Ratchet & Clank, Spyro focuses on exploration and combat. Spyro can glide, charge his enemies, or breathe fire to defeat them. The reignited trilogy retains the gameplay mechanics of the original games while improving controls and graphics.
Story
Spyro embarks on a journey to free his fellow dragons from crystal prisons, collect treasures, and thwart the plans of various villains. Despite facing adversity, Spyro's attitude remains light-hearted and cheeky.
Setting
The series takes place across multiple vibrant dragon realms, each with its unique theme and aesthetic. From medieval castles to icy mountains, each world is teeming with life and personality.
3. Sunset Overdrive
Sunset Overdrive by Insomniac Games is an underrated gem that shares the same manic energy as Ratchet & Clank.
Gameplay
Sunset Overdrive presents a blend of high-octane action and agile movement as players grind along power lines and rooftops while battling mutants using an array of unconventional weapons.
Story
The game follows the player character trapped in Sunset City during a mutant outbreak caused by a contaminated energy drink. The objective is to escape the city while dealing with hordes of mutants, hostile survivors, and shady corporate forces.
Setting
Sunset City serves as a colorful post-apocalyptic playground filled with skyscrapers, amusement parks, and urban sprawls perfect for performing crazy acrobatics and explosive combat sequences.
4. Starlink: Battle for Atlas
If you're after interstellar exploration with spaceship battles, then Starlink: Battle for Atlas is worth your time.
Gameplay
Starlink allows players to pilot a variety of customizable spaceships in a third-person perspective. The gameplay involves space exploration, on-ground combat, and real-time spaceship battles.
Story
The plot revolves around a group of heroic interstellar pilots trying to free the Atlas star system from the oppressive robotic legion force.
Setting
The game's setting spans across seven unique alien planets with their own wildlife and landscapes. The game seamlessly transitions from on-ground exploration to space travel, creating an immersive space adventure experience.
5. Psychonauts
If you enjoyed the dimension-hopping aspect of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, then Psychonauts will appeal to you with its mind-bending levels.
Gameplay
In Psychonauts, players take control of Raz, a young psychic cadet who can delve into people's minds. Each level represents someone’s mental world filled with puzzles and enemies representing their fears and insecurities.
Story
Raz joins a summer camp for psychic kids aspiring to become international secret agents known as Psychonauts. When he discovers a sinister plot, Raz decides to use his abilities to uncover the truth.
Setting
The game takes place mainly within the mental worlds, which vary greatly from one another - from a war-torn city symbolizing a paranoid mind to a 1950's style neighborhood infested with secret agents denoting an overly suspicious mind.
All these games offer a unique spin on elements that make Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart such a delightful experience. Whether it's platforming through beautiful environments, battling enemies using creative weapons, or diving into captivating stories, there's something for every Ratchet & Clank fan in these alternatives.