Ark: Survival Ascended’s first crossover only makes me yearn for a big-budget Power Rangers game

Did you know that Ark: Survival Ascended, a game all about surviving on a prehistoric island inhabited by dinosaurs, has added Power Rangers-themed content of all things? I didn’t until I woke up this morning, and it may just be the most bizarre gaming crossover of 2024.

I suppose it does make some sense since the crossover is specifically with the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers team, whose giant Zords took the form of prehistoric creatures, like a tyrannosaurus rex and a saber-toothed tiger. It’s also a mod that’s completely free to download, letting you dress your character up as one of the five original Rangers, complete with unique animations, and there are even optional skins for your weapons and specific dinosaurs, turning them into the Dinozords. Sadly, the Green Ranger and his Dragonzord are absent.

The image of roaming around the world with these giant robot dinosaurs while dressed as a Power Ranger is admittedly amusing, but watching the above trailer only makes me think there’s untapped potential in a big budget Power Rangers game. Imagine getting to run around Angel Grove fighting monsters with fun fighting moves and over-the-top weaponry. Then hopping into your Zord or the Megazord itself for large-scale monster battles.

It wouldn’t even need to be open world; I’d happily take something more linear or mission-based so long as it had a lot of cool flair and tight combat. In my head, I’m picturing something akin to PlatinumGames’ sorely underappreciated Transformers Devastation (if you know, you know). In fact, Platinum’s expertise with action games makes it a perfect fit for the series. It even made The Wonderful 101, which drew a lot of influence from Japanese superhero media like Super Sentai, the source material for Power Rangers. I’m not even that big of a Power Rangers fan, but I’d be all over a PlatinumGames-made Power Rangers title.

While it may not scratch that exact itch, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind (which launches later this year) looks like it could be the next best thing. Announced at Summer Game Fest, this retro inspired beat ’em up is one big love letter to the original show, featuring co-op gameplay, some astounding pixel art visuals, and first-person Megazord fights.