You’re hovering over the edge of a platform on Novalis, looking at a cracked wall that looks just suspicious enough to hide something. You’ve played these games for twenty years, yet every time a new one drops—or you revisit the 2016 reimagining—you realize your internal map is total garbage. It happens. Honestly, a ratchet & clank walkthrough isn't just about finding the finish line; it’s about navigating the chaotic, bolt-strewn mess that Insomniac Games lays out for us.
The series is weird. It’s a mix of Pixar-level charm and brutal weapon-grinding that can leave you stuck on a boss fight because you spent all your Raritanium on the wrong gun. If you’re here, you probably want to know how to optimize your run without feeling like you're following a dry instruction manual.
Getting Through the Early Game Without Going Broke
Most players make the mistake of buying every single weapon the moment it hits the vendor. Stop. Don't do that. In the early stages of almost any Ratchet & Clank game, your wrench is actually your best friend. It doesn't cost ammo. It breaks crates. It’s reliable.
If you're looking at a ratchet & clank walkthrough for the 2016 PS4 title or Rift Apart, you need to prioritize the Combuster or the Burst Pistol, sure, but save your bolts for the heavy hitters like the Mr. Zurkon or the Groovitron. The Groovitron is basically a cheat code. It forces enemies to dance, stopping their attacks entirely. While they're busy boogying, you can just whale on them with your wrench or a cheaper projectile.
The pacing of these games is intentional. Developers like Ted Price have often spoken about the "flow state" in their level design. If you find yourself dying repeatedly on a planet like Gaspar or Kerwan, it’s usually because you’re trying to out-gun enemies instead of out-maneuvering them. Use the environment. Hide behind those crates. Jump. Seriously, jump more than you think you need to.
The Gold Bolt Obsession
We have to talk about the Gold Bolts. They are the ultimate "distraction" in any ratchet & clank walkthrough.
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Most of them are hidden behind "look-but-don't-touch" geometry. You see a glimmering gold disc on a high ledge and spend forty minutes trying to triple-jump to it, only to realize you need the O2 Mask or the Map-o-Matic from a planet three hours later in the story.
- Check your gadgets list. If you don't have the Helipack or Thrusterpack upgrades yet, some bolts are literally impossible.
- Look for the "fake" walls. They usually have a slightly different texture or a subtle glow.
- Use the Map-o-Matic. It’s a late-game item in most entries, but it reveals every collectible on your map.
If you’re a perfectionist, my advice is to ignore the collectibles on your first pass of a planet. It feels wrong. I know. But backtracking with end-game gear is ten times faster than struggling with base-level boots.
Rilgar and the Hoverboard Nightmare
Rilgar is where many casual runs go to die. The Blackwater City race is iconic, but the controls can feel a bit floaty if you aren't used to 2000s-era arcade racing logic. The trick isn't actually going fast—it's hitting the crates. Blue crates give you a boost. If you miss the crates, you lose the race. It’s that simple.
Weapon Levelling: The True Meta
Every ratchet & clank walkthrough worth its salt needs to explain the XP system. Your guns level up as you use them. This creates a psychological trap: you use the gun you like, so it gets stronger, so you use it more, while your other guns stay weak.
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Then you hit a boss.
Suddenly, your favorite gun runs out of ammo. You switch to your Level 1 Sheepinator and realize you're basically throwing wet paper towels at a tank. To avoid this, "rotate your tires." As soon as a weapon hits its current level cap, put it away. Force yourself to use the weird stuff. The Glove of Doom might seem useless against fast flyers, but it’s a godsend for ground-based mob control.
In Rift Apart, this is even more critical because the weapon variety is insane. The Topiary Sprinkler literally turns enemies into hedges. It sounds like a joke. It is not a joke. It’s one of the most effective crowd control tools in the franchise’s history.
The RYNO: Is It Worth the Grind?
The Rip Ya a New One (RYNO) is the holy grail. Usually, you have to find several hidden holoplans to unlock it. Is it worth it?
Honestly, it depends on if you're planning to play Challenge Mode. For a standard playthrough, the RYNO is overkill. It turns the final boss into a thirty-second cutscene. But if you want to hit the level caps and see the "Mega" or "Omega" versions of your gear, you’ll need that firepower.
Finding the plans is the real challenge. They are almost always tucked away in the most dangerous corners of the map, like the deep volcanic pits of Gaspar or the high-security vaults of Pokitaru. Use a guide for the specific coordinates if you're stuck, but try searching the "pockets" of the map first. Insomniac loves placing rewards at the end of long, optional corridors that seem to lead nowhere.
Boss Strategy: Don't Stand Still
Whether it’s Captain Qwark (that traitor) or Dr. Nefarious, the strategy is always the same: circular strafing.
Hold the L2 button (or your respective strafe modifier). Move left or right constantly. Most boss projectiles are "predictive," meaning they fire where you were or where you are currently standing. If you're always in motion, they'll miss by a mile.
Also, watch the floor. Ratchet & Clank bosses love "shockwave" attacks. You can't strafe a shockwave. You have to time your double jump. It’s a rhythm game disguised as a shooter.
Things Most People Get Wrong
People think they need to farm bolts. You don't.
The game’s economy is actually pretty tight. If you explore about 80% of a level and break most of the crates you see, you will have exactly enough money for the next major weapon. Farming is for people who want the RYNO early or those playing on the hardest difficulty settings.
Another misconception: the armor sets. In the newer games, you don't even have to wear the armor to get the stat bonus. Once you find a piece of the "Galactic Ranger" set, that damage reduction is permanent. You can dress Ratchet up in the silliest outfit possible without sacrificing your defense.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Session
If you’re sitting down to play right now, here is exactly how to handle the next three hours of your ratchet & clank walkthrough:
- Audit your inventory. Which gun is your lowest level? Use that for the next three encounters, no matter how much you hate it.
- Check your map for "grey" areas. If the map isn't filled in, there's a 90% chance a Gold Bolt or a Holocard is sitting there.
- Prioritize the "Passive" gadgets. If a vendor has an item that increases your bolt pickup range or reveals items on the map, buy it immediately. It pays for itself within one planet.
- Save the Raritarium. Don't spend your weapon upgrade crystals on "Ammo Capacity" unless you're desperate. Focus on "Area of Effect" or "Rate of Fire" first. Killing things faster means you take less damage, which is better than having ten extra bullets.
- Don't ignore the side quests. On planets like Sargasso, the side objectives often grant you some of the best traversal items in the game.
The beauty of this series is that it's hard to truly "break" your save file. You can always go back. You can always get more bolts. Just keep moving, keep strafing, and for the love of all things holy, stop trying to jump that gap on Novalis until you have the Thrusterpack. You won't make it. I've tried.