In an era where every other title feels like a second job, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a breath of fresh air. It’s a high-octane, big-budget adventure that doesn’t want your credit card number or forty hours of your week. If you’ve spent any time navigating the real cost of modern gaming, you’ll appreciate how refreshing it is to hand a kid a controller and know they aren’t being nudged toward a battle pass.
The "Playable Pixar" standard
People throw the term "Playable Pixar" around a lot, but Insomniac Games actually earned it here. This isn't just about the fur rendering on Ratchet’s ears; it’s about the flow. The game uses the PS5’s hardware to teleport you between entire planets in seconds. It feels like a magic trick.
For a kid, that means there’s zero downtime. No long loading screens to lose their attention, just constant momentum. It makes this one of the best kid-friendly PlayStation 5 games for kids who have grown used to the instant gratification of tablet games but want something with more depth.
Weapons that actually matter
Most shooters are about finding the gun with the biggest numbers. Ratchet & Clank is about finding the gun that turns a giant robot into a topiary. The arsenal is the star of the show. You’ve got a glove that throws out tiny helper robots, a beam that freezes enemies into ice cubes, and a sprinkler that makes flowers grow all over them.
This variety turns combat into a creative puzzle rather than a grim slog. It encourages kids to swap weapons constantly, building the kind of spatial awareness and quick thinking that translates well to more complex games later on. If your child is just starting to move beyond basic platformers, this is a perfect way to help them master the controller without the meltdown.
The Rivet factor
The big addition here is Rivet, a female Lombax from a parallel dimension. She isn't a sidekick or a "girl version" of Ratchet; she’s a co-lead with her own motivations and personality. The game handles the swap between characters seamlessly. It’s a great example of how to do representation right—it just exists as part of a cool story without feeling like a lecture.
Is it too short?
The one "complaint" you’ll see from hardcore gamers is that the game is relatively short. For a parent, that’s actually a feature. It’s a tight, 12-to-15-hour experience that actually ends. It doesn't overstay its welcome with busywork. If you’re looking for something that provides a cinematic experience without becoming a permanent fixture on your TV for the next six months, this is the one to grab. It’s a polished, joyful reminder of why we buy consoles in the first place.
