Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Why recommended

• Features a highly agile protagonist (similar to Ratchet's mobility) who can grind on rails, wall-run, and bounce to navigate the environment and evade enemies, maintaining a fast-paced flow.
• Criteria — Action combat is central, emphasizing constant movement, weapon switching, and environmental interaction to take down hordes of mutated citizens and corporate robots.
• The game's difficulty scales effectively, especially in later stages and optional challenges, requiring precise movement and strategic weapon use to survive the overwhelming enemy numbers.

Why recommended

• Features diverse and imaginative levels, each representing a unique mental landscape, filled with platforming challenges, puzzles, and enemies that require creative use of psychic abilities.
• Criteria — While not 'punishing' like a Souls-like, the game offers a satisfying level of challenge in its platforming and combat encounters, requiring players to master Raz's diverse psychic powers.
• The game is a pure adventure, driven by exploration of unique mental worlds, uncovering secrets, and engaging with a cast of memorable characters to unravel a compelling and humorous story.

Why recommended

• Features a highly customizable Service Weapon that transforms into various forms (pistol, shotgun, rocket launcher), akin to Ratchet's diverse arsenal, each with unique combat applications.
• Criteria — The game provides a challenging combat experience, especially against the Hiss, requiring players to master both firearms and supernatural abilities like levitation and telekinesis.
• The Oldest House itself is a constantly shifting, labyrinthine environment that encourages exploration and discovery, blending adventure with intense action sequences.

Why recommended

• Combat is the core, featuring a deep combo system, dodge mechanics, and 'Witch Time' that rewards skillful play, providing a challenging and rewarding action experience.
• Criteria — The game is renowned for its challenging difficulty, particularly on higher settings, demanding mastery of its intricate combat mechanics and precise timing.
• The game is an action-adventure that takes players through various fantastical and often bizarre locales, filled with heavenly foes and epic boss battles that drive the narrative forward.