Honestly, it’s kinda wild to think that we’ve been blowing up robots with a fuzzy Lombax and his dorky tin-can buddy for over two decades. If you’re looking for a list of all Ratchet and Clank games, you probably realized that this series is way messier than it looks. It isn't just a straight line from one to ten. You’ve got handheld spin-offs, mobile games that almost went extinct, and a confusing "Future" saga that basically redefined what a platformer could be on the PS3.
Insomniac Games didn't just make a mascot platformer. They made a galaxy-spanning soap opera with more guns than a Michael Bay fever dream.
Since it's 2026 and we're all still waiting to see where the duo goes after the dimensional chaos of Rift Apart, it’s the perfect time to look back at every single entry that actually made it to a screen.
The Original PS2 Classics (The "Holy Trinity")
Back in 2002, the PS2 was the king of the world. Insomniac had just finished Spyro, and they wanted something grittier. Well, "gritty" for a game about a space cat. The first game, simply titled Ratchet & Clank (2002), was actually a bit cynical. Ratchet was kind of a jerk! He and Clank didn't even like each other for half the game.
- Ratchet & Clank (2002): The one that started it all. No strafing yet, which makes it feel like a dinosaur today, but those environments? Unbeatable.
- Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (2003): This is where the RPG elements kicked in. Weapons started leveling up. Your health increased. It basically perfected the loop.
- Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (2004): Many fans call this the GOAT. It introduced Dr. Nefarious, the best villain in the franchise, and brought in a massive focus on combat and those weirdly addictive Galactic Ranger missions.
The Experimental Phase
Then things got weird. Ratchet: Deadlocked (2005)—or Ratchet: Gladiator if you're in Europe—dropped the platforming almost entirely. It was a dark, combat-heavy satire of reality TV. People hated it at the time for being "too different," but looking back, the weapon customization was years ahead of its time.
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The Handheld Era and "Lost" Media
While the main team was busy moving to the PS3, they handed the keys to High Impact Games. This gave us the PSP era.
- Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (2007): A surprisingly decent attempt to fit the full experience onto a handheld. It eventually got a PS2 port that looked... let's just say "crunchy."
- Secret Agent Clank (2008): A spin-off starring Clank. It had rhythm games and stealth. It was fine, but it lacked that "oomph" the main series had.
And we have to talk about the mobile stuff. Ratchet & Clank: Going Mobile (2005) was a 2D platformer on old cell phones. For years, its sequel, Clone Home, was considered lost media. Recent preservation efforts in 2025 actually unearthed a playable build of it, which is a massive win for gaming history nerds.
The Future Saga: Peak Ratchet?
When the PS3 arrived, Insomniac decided to get serious about the story. This is the list of all Ratchet and Clank games that actually matter if you want to understand the lore.
The Big PS3 Quartet
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (2007) felt like a Pixar movie. It was the first time we learned why Ratchet was the last Lombax. It was followed by Quest for Booty (2008), a short "snack" of a game that was mostly about platforming and pirates.
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Then came the heavy hitter: Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time (2009).
This game is arguably the peak of the franchise. It gave Clank his own time-manipulation puzzles and let Ratchet fly his ship freely between planets. The ending? It still hits hard.
Finally, they wrapped up the "era" with Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus (2013). It was a shorter, spookier game that acted as a bridge to the next generation, dealing with the consequences of the Dimensionator.
The Reimagining and the Next Gen
After a brief detour into experimental multiplayer games like All 4 One (2011) and the tower-defense hybrid Full Frontal Assault (2012), the series hit a reset button.
Ratchet & Clank (2016) was a "reimagining" tied to the movie. It looked gorgeous, but some fans felt the soul was missing. The writing was "sanitized" for a younger audience, and Ratchet lost that trademark 2002 edge.
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But then, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (2021) saved the day.
Launching early in the PS5's life, it showed off the SSD with near-instant world swapping. It also introduced Rivet, a female Lombax from another dimension, and her robot pal Kit. As of early 2026, it remains the gold standard for how a modern platformer should look and feel.
Every Game in Order of Release
If you just want the raw list to check off your backlog, here it is:
- Ratchet & Clank (PS2, 2002)
- Going Commando (PS2, 2003)
- Up Your Arsenal (PS2, 2004)
- Ratchet: Deadlocked (PS2, 2005)
- Going Mobile (Mobile, 2005)
- Size Matters (PSP/PS2, 2007)
- Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3, 2007)
- Secret Agent Clank (PSP/PS2, 2008)
- Future: Quest for Booty (PS3, 2008)
- Future: A Crack in Time (PS3, 2009)
- All 4 One (PS3, 2011)
- Full Frontal Assault (PS3/Vita, 2012)
- Into the Nexus (PS3, 2013)
- Before the Nexus (Mobile, 2013)
- Ratchet & Clank (PS4, 2016)
- Rift Apart (PS5, 2021 / PC, 2023)
What You Should Actually Play First
Don't feel like you have to play all 16+ titles. Honestly? You'd burn out.
If you're a newcomer in 2026, start with Rift Apart. It’s the most accessible and visually stunning. If you want the "soul" of the series, go back and play the PS3 Future Trilogy. You can find most of these on PlayStation Plus Premium streaming, though the lag can be a pain if your internet isn't great.
The original PS2 trilogy is still fantastic, but unless you have an old console or a very specific "emulator" setup, they’re getting harder to play. Sony hasn't given us a proper 4K remaster yet, which is basically a crime at this point.
Next Steps for Fans:
Check your PlayStation Plus library; many of the PS3-era titles are included in the higher tiers. If you're on PC, keep an eye on Steam sales for Rift Apart, as it's frequently discounted now that it's a few years old. For the collectors, hunting down a physical copy of Into the Nexus is becoming a pricey but worthwhile endeavor for the shelf.