You’re standing in the middle of a used game shop or staring at the PlayStation Plus library, and honestly, it’s a mess. You want to see how a fuzzy Lombax and a tiny neurotic robot saved the universe, but the naming conventions are just... weird. We’ve got "Going Mobile," "Going Commando," and then suddenly we’re "Up Your Arsenal." It sounds like a series of bad jokes from 2004, which, to be fair, is exactly what it was. But if you’re looking for the ratchet and clank order of games, you aren’t just looking for a release list. You’re looking for the narrative thread that survives several console generations, a soft reboot, and a movie tie-in that everyone mostly tries to forget.
The truth is that Insomniac Games didn't exactly plan for this to be a twenty-plus-year epic. They were just trying to make a cool platformer with guns that turn people into sheep. Because of that, the timeline has some knots. If you play them in the wrong order, you’re going to be very confused about why Dr. Nefarious is suddenly a biological being again or why Captain Qwark is treated like a hero after he basically tried to commit genocide in the first game.
Let's break it down so it actually makes sense.
The Original PS2 Era: Where the Snark Lives
Back in 2002, Ratchet wasn’t the galactic hero he is now. He was a jerk. He was a cynical, grease-stained mechanic who just wanted to get off his desert planet. When he met Clank, it wasn't love at first sight; it was a marriage of convenience. This is the original Ratchet and Clank (2002). If you start here, be prepared for "old game feel." There’s no strafing. It’s hard. But it’s the foundation.
Then came the "Golden Age."
- Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (2003): This is where the RPG elements—like weapons leveling up—really took hold.
- Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (2004): Many fans, myself included, still think this is the peak. It introduced Dr. Nefarious, the best villain in the franchise, hands down.
- Ratchet: Deadlocked (2005): This one is weird. It’s dark. Clank is barely in it. It’s basically a gladiator combat sim. It’s canon, but it feels like a spin-off.
You’ve also got the handheld stuff. Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters and Secret Agent Clank exist. They were on the PSP. Are they essential? Not really. If you’re a completionist, play Size Matters after Deadlocked, but honestly, the quality dip is noticeable because Insomniac didn't develop them—High Impact Games did.
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The Future Saga: The PS3 Masterpiece
This is where the ratchet and clank order of games gets genuinely emotional. This isn't just "blow stuff up" anymore. Insomniac decided to actually explain why Ratchet is the last Lombax and where Clank came from. This is a continuous story arc. Do not skip around here, or the ending of A Crack in Time won't hit you in the gut like it's supposed to.
- Tools of Destruction (2007): The start of the "Future" saga. It looks like a Pixar movie (for 2007) and introduces the dimension-hopping themes we see in the modern games.
- Quest for Booty (2008): A very short, pirate-themed bridge game. It’s basically DLC sold as a standalone. You can finish it in three hours.
- A Crack in Time (2009): This is the magnum opus. Time travel, deep lore, and a genuinely moving story about fatherhood and legacy.
- Into the Nexus (2013): The epilogue. It’s spooky, short, and deals with the consequences of the Future saga.
Wait, what about All 4 One and Full Frontal Assault? Look, they happened. All 4 One is a four-player co-op game that feels like a Saturday morning cartoon. Full Frontal Assault is a tower defense hybrid. They are technically canon, but they don't move the needle on the main plot. If you're playing for the story, you can skip them and your life will be just fine.
The 2016 "Reimagining" Confusion
In 2016, we got Ratchet & Clank (PS4). This is the most confusing part of the ratchet and clank order of games. It isn't a remaster. It isn't a sequel. It is a "reimagining" of the first game, based on the movie, which was based on the game.
It changed the characters' personalities. Ratchet is now a wide-eyed fanboy instead of a cynical mechanic. While the gameplay is stellar—seriously, the Pixelizer is one of the best guns ever—the story is widely considered "canon-adjacent." If you want the modern experience, play it. But if you want the actual story leading into the latest PS5 game, the original 2002 game is technically the "true" start, even if the 2016 version is prettier.
Rift Apart: The Modern Masterclass
Then we hit 2021 with Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. This is a direct sequel to Into the Nexus, but it’s designed so that new players who only played the 2016 reboot won't be lost. It introduces Rivet, a female Lombax from another dimension, and it’s a technical marvel.
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The cool thing about Rift Apart is how it rewards long-term fans. When characters from the PS2 era show up, it feels earned. It manages to bridge the gap between the "gritty" PS2 vibes, the "emotional" PS3 vibes, and the "blockbuster" PS5 era.
The Absolute Best Way to Play (The "Expert" Path)
If you have the hardware—specifically a PS5 with a PS Plus Premium sub and maybe an old PS3 gathering dust—this is the definitive ratchet and clank order of games for the best narrative experience:
Phase 1: The Foundation
Start with the Original Trilogy (Ratchet 1, Going Commando, Up Your Arsenal). You can get these on the Vita or PS3 via the HD Collection. If you can't find them, watch a story summary of the first game and jump into the PS3 titles. But you'll miss the humor.
Phase 2: The Heart
Play the Future Saga (Tools of Destruction, Quest for Booty, A Crack in Time, Into the Nexus). This is the meat of the franchise. It’s where the series finds its soul.
Phase 3: The New Era
Play Rift Apart. You can play the 2016 reboot before this if you want more gameplay, but purely for the story, Rift Apart follows the PS3 games more closely than the 2016 movie-game.
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Addressing the "Lost" Games
There are some titles people forget. Ratchet & Clank: Going Mobile was an old Java-based phone game. You can’t really play it anymore unless you're an emulation wizard. There’s also Before the Nexus, a mobile runner. Don't worry about these. They add nothing to the lore.
The real controversy is usually around Deadlocked. Some fans say skip it because it's too different. I say play it. It’s the funniest the writing has ever been, and it critiques the "commercialization" of heroes in a way that’s still relevant today. Plus, the co-op is fantastic.
Why the Timeline Actually Matters
Most platformers don't care about continuity. Mario doesn't remember what happened in the last castle. But Ratchet does. The growth from a lonely kid on Veldin to a guy who has to decide whether to save his entire race or stay with his best friend is a legitimate character arc.
When you follow the ratchet and clank order of games correctly, you see the evolution of Insomniac Games as a studio. You see them move from "crude humor and edgy 2000s vibes" to "genuine emotional storytelling." It’s one of the few franchises that grew up with its audience without losing its sense of fun.
Actionable Steps for Your Playthrough
If you're ready to dive in, here is how to handle the logistics in 2026:
- Check PS Plus Premium: A huge chunk of the PS3 and PS4 titles are available for streaming or download here. It's the cheapest way to catch up.
- Don't burn out on the PS2 era: If the 2002 game feels too clunky, move to Going Commando. The jump in quality is massive.
- Watch the Movie?: Honestly, skip it. The 2016 game has all the cutscenes anyway, and the movie was panned for a reason. It lacks the "edge" that makes the series great.
- Prioritize A Crack in Time: If you only play one "old" game, make it this one. The space exploration and the Clank puzzles are still some of the best in gaming history.
The series is more than just a collection of platformers; it's a multi-generational space opera that doesn't take itself too seriously until it absolutely has to. Stick to the release order as much as possible, ignore the mobile fluff, and prepare for a lot of sheep-related weaponry.