Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Insomniac Games launched Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on June 11, 2021, as a showcase for the PlayStation 5's lightning-fast SSD. Players jump into the boots of Lombax hero Ratchet and his robot sidekick Clank to stop Emperor Nefarious from tearing reality apart. The story moves seamlessly between parallel universes without loading screens, a technical feat that defines the experience. This ninth main entry in the series acts as the first sequel to the 2016 reboot while introducing fresh mechanics like weapon-swapping mid-combat and instant dimension shifts.

The narrative takes the duo across vibrant worlds like the neon-soaked Zordoom and the retro-styled Polaris. New character Kit joins the fray as a young Lombax from another timeline, adding depth to the themes of family and destiny. While Emperor Nefarious serves as the primary antagonist seeking to merge all realities under his rule, the game focuses heavily on the chaotic fun of traversal and combat rather than deep lore exposition. [edit]

Combat feels fluid thanks to an arsenal of over 40 weapons ranging from standard blasters to the absurd Polarizer gadget that turns foes into polar bears. A signature mechanic lets players swap weapons instantly during fights by pressing a button, keeping the action moving at a breakneck pace. Ratchet also uses unique Lombax traits like Grav-Boots for enhanced jumping and a Rift Gauntlet to pull objects through dimensional boundaries.

The core innovation lies in how the PS5 hardware handles world transitions. Players cross rifts scattered throughout levels to switch environments instantly without screen fades or loading times. This allows background music, lighting, and geometry to shift dynamically as you move from one universe to another. On PC, the title supports ray tracing and frame rates up to 120 FPS, with an AMD FSR update arriving in July 2026 to boost performance on non-Nvidia cards. [edit]

Emperor Nefarious arrives from an alternate dimension wielding the Dimensionator, a device designed to tear the fabric of reality and merge all universes under his tyrannical rule. Ratchet and Clank must race against time to stop this cosmic catastrophe while navigating unstable rifts that threaten to collapse their existence.

The journey leads them through diverse settings including the organic living world of Aridia and the pixelated realm of Polaris. Along the way, they meet Kit, a young Lombax who offers a new perspective on the consequences of dimensional instability. The plot emphasizes the emotional bond between the hero and his robotic companion as they face chaos head-on. [edit]