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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →If you want another colorful 3D adventure built around exploring levels and finding things, start with A Hat in Time. For gadget-heavy action, try Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart; for a modern PlayStation platformer full of character cameos, choose Astro Bot—which Team Asobi lists as exclusive to PS5. None recreates Ape Escape’s distinctive monkey-catching loop, so the best alternative depends on which part you want to revisit.
What makes a game feel like Ape Escape?
Ape Escape is more than a 3D platformer: its central challenge is sneaking up on monkeys and catching them with tools. Sony’s US PlayStation Store description names gadgets including a slingshot, monkey-net, flying propeller, remote-controlled car, and monkey radar. It also lists over 20 levels and bonus activities such as ski racing and Monkey Boxing. That mix of pursuit, gadgets, exploration, and playful diversions gives the comparisons below their different strengths. Sony’s US PlayStation Store listing and PlayStation’s roundup describe the game and its approach to movement and gadgets.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Ape Escape | $104.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Ape Escape - Playstation (Renewed) | $56.44 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Ape Escape 2 - PlayStation 2 | $99.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Ape Escape On The Loose PSP (Renewed) | $32.51 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Ape Escape On The Loose PSP | $10.21 | Buy on Amazon |
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Which Ape Escape alternative should you pick?
| Game | Best match for | Platforms established by cited sources | How close it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Hat in Time | Colorful 3D exploration and a collectible hunt | Steam and PS4 purchase platforms are listed on the game’s support page; PlayStation also listed it in its January 2025 Game Catalog roundup. | Strong for collectathon exploration, but not for catching monkeys. |
| Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | Gadgets, traversal, and action-platforming | PS5; Sony’s PC page lists Steam and Epic Games Store. PlayStation also listed it in its January 2025 Game Catalog roundup. | Strong for gadget use, but more combat-forward. |
| Astro Bot | Modern 3D platforming and PlayStation character cameos | PS5 only, according to Team Asobi. | A good PlayStation-platformer fit, not a capture-mechanics match. |
| Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy | Classic PlayStation exploration and a colorful mascot adventure | PlayStation’s roundup discusses it as a classic PS2-era adventure; current PC availability is not established by that source. | Similar in broad 3D exploration and platforming. |
| Sackboy: A Big Adventure | Playful platforming with friends | PlayStation’s roundup describes local and online co-op for up to four players. | Best for a social platforming session, not gadget-based capture. |
| Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus | Stealth and sneaking | PlayStation’s roundup covers the game; it does not establish current PC availability. | Shares the appeal of sneaking, but its thieving objective and feel differ. |
| Psychonauts | Imaginative settings and action-adventure platforming | A 2017 PlayStation article discusses it; that historical reference does not establish current platform availability. | A neighboring genre pick, rather than a close match for catching. |
| Yooka-Laylee | Open-world collectathon structure | A 2017 PlayStation article discusses it; current store and platform status should be checked separately. | A genre comparison for collectibles and quirky exploration. |
PlayStation’s January 2025 roundup included A Hat in Time, Ape Escape, Jak and Daxter, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Sackboy, and Sly Cooper in the subscription catalogs it covered at publication time. Catalog lineups can vary by region and change, so treat that as a dated listing rather than a promise of current access. See PlayStation’s January 2025 roundup.
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Choose A Hat in Time if the appeal of Ape Escape was wandering through colorful 3D spaces and tracking down things to collect. PlayStation describes it as a 3D collectathon with large, sprawling levels. Its official support page lists Steam and PlayStation 4 purchase platforms, making it the clearest recommendation here for readers looking on either PC or PS4. The game’s support page lists purchase locations.
#1 Best Overall
- Requires Dual-Shock Analog Controller to play
The key difference is the objective: it offers collectathon exploration, not a monkey-catching loop built around sneaking and deploying specific gadgets. PlayStation listed it in the Game Catalog in January 2025, but subscription availability is time- and region-dependent; check the current catalog where you play.
Best for gadgets and action: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Rift Apart is the pick if you want a lively platforming adventure where gadgets and traversal support action. PlayStation’s roundup highlights shooting and gadget-driven navigation. Sony’s PC product page lists Steam and the Epic Games Store, and a PS5 version is also available. Sony’s PC page lists the PC storefronts.
Rank #2
- Catch 'Em All: Hunt down over 200 unique monkeys, each with their own distinct personalities, alert levels, and hilarious behaviors.
- Innovative Gadgets: Master a creative arsenal of tools—including the Stun Club, Time Net, Monkey Radar, Sky Flyer, and RC Car—to outsmart your primate foes.
- Time-Traveling Adventure: Explore massive, colorful levels spanning across different time periods, from the prehistoric dinosaur age to the Great Wall of China.
- Revolutionary Controls: Fully utilizes the DualShock controller's twin analog sticks for immersive 360-degree movement and gadget control (Dual-Shock Analog Controller required to play).
This is a looser match than A Hat in Time if exploration and collectibles are your priority: Rift Apart is more combat-forward than Ape Escape. PlayStation included it in its January 2025 Game Catalog roundup, but that listing is not a guarantee of current subscription access.
Best for PlayStation cameos: Astro Bot
Pick Astro Bot for a modern, level-spanning platform adventure and the pleasure of spotting familiar PlayStation characters. Team Asobi describes more than 50 planets and character appearances from PlayStation history. Its official page calls the game exclusive to PS5 and gives a September 6, 2024 release date; it does not list a PC version. Team Asobi’s official Astro Bot page has the platform and game details.
Rank #3
Its PlayStation connections make it especially relevant to fans of the original, but the match is about platforming and cameos—not recreating the net-and-gadget capture mechanic.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Other good fits, depending on what you miss
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy — classic exploration
Sony presents Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy as a classic PS2-era platforming adventure through vibrant environments. Consider it if you want another colorful mascot journey with exploration at its center. The cited roundup does not establish current PC availability. PlayStation’s roundup is the source for its description and historical catalog context.
Rank #4
- Capture over 200 Monkeys
- Eight different worlds
- Over 20 levels
- Single-player and Multiplayer via Wireless connection
Sackboy: A Big Adventure — platforming with friends
Sackboy: A Big Adventure is the best fit in this list if the priority is playing together: PlayStation describes local and online co-op for up to four players. That makes it a social alternative, rather than a close match for the solitary chase-and-capture loop. PlayStation’s roundup describes its co-op modes.
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Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus — stealth
If you liked edging closer to a target without being noticed, Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus may appeal. PlayStation frames it as platforming mixed with stealth and thieving. The shared ingredient is sneaking; the objective and overall feel are different. The cited roundup does not establish current PC availability. PlayStation’s description covers its stealth angle.
Best Value
- Capture over 200 Monkeys
- Eight different worlds
- Over 20 levels
- Single-player and Multiplayer via Wireless connection
Psychonauts — imaginative worlds
Psychonauts is worth considering if you want unusual settings and action-adventure platforming. PlayStation praised its creative worlds in a 2017 roundup, but that historical article is not evidence of current platform availability. Read the 2017 PlayStation roundup.
Yooka-Laylee — open-world collectathon structure
Yooka-Laylee suits players drawn to open spaces, quirky characters, and collecting. PlayStation’s 2017 roundup described those genre elements; check current store listings for platform and purchase status rather than relying on that older article. PlayStation’s roundup provides the historical description.
Playing Ape Escape and checking availability
The US PlayStation Store listing for the converted PS4 and PS5 version of Ape Escape describes up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters, and lists compatibility with DualSense and DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controllers. Sony cautions that converted games can differ from their originals and some features may not function identically. The listing showed a US price of $9.99 when accessed in 2026; prices and subscription access are region-specific and can change. Check the current US Store listing.
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For a quick choice: go with A Hat in Time for exploring and collecting, Rift Apart for gadgets and action, and Astro Bot for a PS5-only adventure steeped in PlayStation cameos. The other recommendations are best treated as targeted alternatives for classic exploration, co-op, stealth, or imaginative platforming.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
