Best Platforming Games of 2021
First Runner-Up: Rachet & Clank: Rift Apart
Senior Editor Alex Gibson: Excitement over the launch of Insomniac Games’ Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart was in large part due to its superb-looking performance. And while it certainly did deliver a graphically beautiful gaming experience, it is the gameplay itself that will live the longest in our memories. It wasn’t just one of 2021’s big highlights but one of the platforming genre’s all-time high watermarks.
Typical of Insomniac Games, Rift Apart’s platforming was robust, tactile, and a complete joy to control. It’s one of those games that puts a smile on your face every time you pick up the DualSense and start moving around; particularly so, with the added layer of immersion brought about by haptic feedback technology. Speaking of layers, the innovative dimension-shifting mechanic, which has been cleverly weaved into the experience, represents an industry-leading design that deserves a special mention.
Somehow, Rift Apart exceeds all other games in the franchise before it, edging us yet closer to age-old “it’s like playing a Pixar movie!” quip that I seem to repeat every time I write about Ratchet & Clank. Certainly, I can’t wait to see which direction Insomniac takes the series in next, but for now, it’s about celebrating a platformer that is today a must-play for fans of the genre.
