Insomniac Games didn't exactly make it easy on us. You’d think a series about a furry Lombax and a tiny neurotic robot would follow a straight line, but once you factor in the reboots, the "interquels," and the weird experimental spin-offs, it gets confusing fast. If you’re trying to figure out the Ratchet & Clank games in order, you’re basically looking at two decades of platforming history that jumps across four console generations.
It started on a whim. Way back in 2002, the PS2 was hungry for a new mascot. We got a mechanic with a wrench and a literal toaster who thinks he’s a secret agent. Since then, we’ve seen everything from tower defense to four-player co-op, though most fans agree the "true" experience is the single-player chaos.
The Original PS2 Era: Where the Legend Started
The first game, Ratchet & Clank (2002), is honestly a bit of a shock if you play it today. Ratchet is kind of a jerk. He’s cynical, he’s rude to Clank, and the controls feel a bit stiff because you can’t strafe yet. It’s the origin story, though. It’s where they meet on Veldin and take down Chairman Drek.
Then came Going Mobile. Just kidding—don't play that.
The real meat of the PS2 era is the "Original Trilogy" plus one. Going Commando (2003) fixed every single complaint from the first game by adding RPG mechanics and weapon leveling. Then Up Your Arsenal (2004) perfected the combat, introducing Dr. Nefarious, who is arguably the best villain in gaming history. Seriously, his outbursts are gold. Finally, Ratchet: Deadlocked (2005) took a weird turn into a dark, combat-focused gladiator sim. Some people hate it because Clank isn't on your back, but the gunplay is actually the tightest of the era.
The PS2 Timeline at a Glance
- Ratchet & Clank (2002)
- Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (2003)
- Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (2004)
- Ratchet: Deadlocked (2005)
The Future Saga: The Peak of the Narrative
When the PlayStation 3 launched, Insomniac decided to get serious. Well, as serious as you can get with a weapon called the Groovitron. This is where the Ratchet & Clank games in order actually start to follow a tight, serialized story arc. They called it the Future saga.
Tools of Destruction (2007) was a technical marvel at the time. It looked like a Pixar movie. It also started digging into the mystery of what actually happened to the Lombaxes. If you’re a lore nerd, this is where the franchise gets its soul. Quest for Booty (2008) is a weird one—it’s a short, four-hour pirate adventure that bridges the gap to the next big game. It’s basically DLC sold as a standalone.
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Then came the heavy hitter: A Crack in Time (2009).
Honestly? It might be the best game in the series. It plays with time travel, gives Clank some incredible puzzle levels in the Great Clock, and introduces Alister Azimuth, a disgraced Lombax who serves as a tragic foil to Ratchet. It’s emotional. It’s grand. It’s peak Insomniac.
The saga "ended" with Into the Nexus (2013), a shorter, darker title that dealt with grief and the dimensional rifts that would later become the central plot point for the PS5 era.
The Experimental Years and the "Reboot"
Between the big story games, things got... experimental. All 4 One (2011) was a co-op brawler. It’s fun with friends but feels "off" if you’re playing alone. Full Frontal Assault (2012) tried to be a tower defense game. It wasn't great. These are the games most people skip when looking at the Ratchet & Clank games in order, and honestly, you won't miss much story-wise if you do.
Then 2016 happened.
Insomniac released Ratchet & Clank (2016) for the PS4. It was a "reimagining" of the first game, timed with a movie that... well, let's just say the game was better than the film. It looks gorgeous, but it changed Ratchet’s personality. He went from a sarcastic grease monkey to a wide-eyed fanboy. It’s a great entry point for kids, but long-time fans often find the writing a bit hollow compared to the 2002 original.
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Rift Apart: The Modern Standard
Fast forward to the PS5. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (2021) is the reason most people are looking up the timeline right now. It’s a direct sequel to Into the Nexus, ignoring most of the 2016 reboot’s lore changes. It introduces Rivet, a female Lombax from another dimension, and Kit, her robot counterpart.
The tech here is insane. You’re jumping between planets instantly with no load times. It’s the most "next-gen" the series has ever felt. But it also carries the emotional weight of everything that happened in the Future saga. If you haven't played A Crack in Time, some of the beats in Rift Apart won't hit as hard.
The Hard Truth About the Handhelds
We have to talk about the PSP games. Size Matters (2007) and Secret Agent Clank (2008).
They weren't actually made by Insomniac; High Impact Games took the reins. Size Matters is a decent attempt at shrinking the console experience, but the camera is a nightmare. Secret Agent Clank is a stealth-focused spinoff that... exists. They are technically canon, but the main series rarely acknowledges them. You can safely play them whenever you have a handheld itch to scratch, but they don't move the needle on the main plot.
How to Play the Ratchet & Clank Games in Order (The Pro List)
If you want the "Correct" experience, don't just follow release dates blindly. You want the narrative flow. Here is the definitive way to play through the saga without losing your mind.
The "Core" Narrative Path
- The PS2 Foundations: Start with the original 2002 game, Going Commando, and Up Your Arsenal. This establishes the universe.
- The Optional Detour: Deadlocked. Play it if you love the shooting; skip if you only care about Clank.
- The Future Trilogy: Tools of Destruction -> Quest for Booty -> A Crack in Time. This is the essential heart of the story.
- The Epilogue: Into the Nexus. It sets up the stakes for the modern games.
- The New Era: Rift Apart. This is the current "present day" for the characters.
What about the 2016 game?
Think of the 2016 PS4 game as a "Tall Tale" told by Captain Qwark. It’s a fun standalone experience, but if you try to fit it into the main timeline, the character motivations stop making sense. It’s its own thing.
Clearing Up the Common Misconceptions
People always ask: "Do I need to play the old games to understand the new ones?"
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The short answer is no, but the long answer is "kind of." Insomniac is great at making each game accessible. Rift Apart explains who everyone is. However, the emotional payoff of Ratchet finally finding another Lombax loses its punch if you don't know he’s been searching for twenty years.
Another big myth is that Deadlocked isn't canon. It is. It’s just tonally different. It shows a darker side of the "hero" business that makes the later games feel a bit more grounded.
Real-World Advice for New Players
If you're looking to jump in today, the hardware is your biggest hurdle.
The PS2 games haven't been ported to modern consoles since the PS3 "HD Collection." If you have a PS5, you can play Rift Apart and the 2016 reboot natively. For the rest, you're looking at the PS Plus Premium streaming catalog, which includes the Future saga. It’s not perfect—streaming can lag—but it’s the most legal way to do it without hunting down a 20-year-old console.
Next Steps for Your Playthrough:
- Check PS Plus Premium: See if the Future saga is available in your region.
- Start with the 2016 Reboot: If you’re a total newcomer, use this to see if you like the "vibe" before committing to the older titles.
- Track Down a PS3: If you’re a completionist, a used PS3 is still the best way to play the majority of the series in high definition.
- Save Rift Apart for Last: Don't spoil the technical wizardry of the PS5 by playing it first; the older games will feel "old" if you do.
The galaxy is huge, and the lore is surprisingly deep for a game about a lizard-dog and a backpack robot. Just grab a wrench and start swinging.