During the PS2 and PS3 eras, Ratchet & Clank was inaccessible. Insomniac's franchise seemed to produce a new entry each year, and while they were not all fantastic, quite a few of these releases sat comfortably among the best 3D platformers of their respective consoles. As, nowadays, Insomniac is mostly focusing on Marvel projects, it might be awhile before Ratchet and Clank go on another adventure, presuming 2021's Rift Apart does not end up being the duo's final journey.
Underwhelming spin-offs and oversaturation aside, most Ratchet & Clank games are, at the bare minimum, playable. If Insomniac (or another developer) got it right, the resulting title was far more than just serviceable. Let's run down the best Ratchet & Clank games.
Updated April 5, 2025 by Mark Sammut: At this point, it is difficult to say when a new Ratchet & Clank game might materialize. Fortunately, most of the franchise's projects are relatively accessible and, crucially, still awesome to play. This article has been expanded with galleries and more specs for each title.
Click on one of the below Ratchet & Clank games to jump to its ranking. The list is in chronological order.
17 Before The Nexus
An Endless Runner That Does Not Excel As A Member Of That Genre Or A Ratchet & Clank Game
Ratchet & Clank: Before the Nexus
- Released
- December 18, 2013
- ESRB
- e
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Computer Entertainment
Released before 2013's Into the Nexus, the franchise's final PS3 entry, Before the Nexus was the second time Ratchet & Clank headed to mobile. It is also worse than 2005's Going Mobile. The main issue with Before the Nexus is that it does not do enough to capture the spirit of the console games.
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An endless runner, this game finds Ratchet chasing after Vendra and Neftin Prog. Clank also comes along for the ride but the robot does not add anything to the gameplay beyond his presence. Surprisingly, Ratchet & Clank is not a bad fit for the endless runner genre, and Before the Nexus does a decent job of incorporating mechanics synonymous with the main game. Unfortunately, the game's controls leave a lot to be desired, particularly the shooting. The fact the license has consistently excelled in this area makes Before the Nexus an even harder pill to stomach.
16 Full Frontal Assault
The Worst Ratchet & Clank Console Game
Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault
- Released
- November 27, 2012
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ // Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
- How Long To Beat
- 5 Hours
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Tower Defense
Although this game escaped from being included in the worst PS3 exclusives for the 2010s, it definitely qualifies as one of the most disappointing. Full Frontal Assault’s main criticism comes from the tower defense system. Having to defend something is almost always boring, and this game brings that to excess. Another complaint from critics is the lack of a coherent story. Mostly, it just seems like a free-to-play title rather than a legit entry. Co-op can be fun, but the absence of depth in level design means the fun doesn’t begin.
Full Frontal Assault arguably represents the ultimate low point for the franchise. Ratchet & Clank had been beaten to the ground by 2012, overstaying its welcome through a series of underwhelming projects that lacked the charm of the original PS2 trilogy. By the time this entry dropped, the series was completely overexposed.
15 Going Mobile
A Respectable Attempt To Go Mobile
Ratchet & Clank: Going Mobile
- Released
- November 2, 2005
- Developer(s)
- Handheld Games
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Pictures Mobile
- Platform(s)
- Mobile
- How Long To Beat
- 1 Hour
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Shooter
Arguably the most forgotten Ratchet & Clank game, Going Mobile is not just notable for its platform but also the fact that it is the only 2D entry in the series. Insomniac's series has developed into a third-person shooter with platforming sections, but there was a time when Ratchet & Clank was predominantly a platformer. Going Mobile belongs to the latter era, and it is a worthy addition to the franchise.
Most of the elements that defined the license's PS2 games are represented in Going Mobile, albeit naturally streamlined to fit the hardware. Although good for its time, this spin-off can be hard to revisit in this day and age since mobile gaming has come very far since 2005.
14 All 4 One
The Definition Of Fun With Friends
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One
- Released
- October 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Language
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Multiplayer
- Local Co-Op, Online Co-Op
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3
- How Long To Beat
- 10 Hours
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
By the time of this game’s release, the series seemed to have become more of a gimmick. In this entry, players are given four choices between characters to choose from. While this idea was new, the execution wasn’t, as critics complained it felt the same only with different playable characters.
Another common issue is the presence of multiple glitches that suck the fun out. The biggest issue, though, is the horrible AI partners, who become more of a nuisance than assistance.
13 Secret Agent Clank
A Tiny Adventure That, While Not Amazing, Grants Clank A Moment In The Spotlight
Secret Agent Clank
- Released
- June 17, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- High Impact Games, Sanzaru Games
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium
- Platform(s)
- PSP, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- How Long To Beat
- 8 Hours
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Platformer
Although this title isn’t exactly revolutionary, it might be one of the more underrated platformers out there. Secret Agent Clank makes Ratchet take a backseat while Clank is the playable character. Here, the espionage theme is both funny and creative.
The downside is that Clank’s special abilities aren’t really utilized. Instead, most of Ratchet’s moves have been transferred to him. Still, the game does present a different viewpoint from the rest of the series that should be appreciated.
12 Ratchet & Clank Collection
Technically, The Best Overall Ratchet & Clank Package, But A Compilation Can Only Rank So High
The Ratchet & Clank Collection
- Released
- August 28, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- How Long To Beat
- 46 Hours
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
The PS3 era was rife with compilations that provided slightly remastered or tweaked versions of masterpieces from yesteryear. The Ratchet & Clank Collection took Insomniac's iconic PS2 trilogy and presented them in 720p and 60 FPS, which was the minimum this type of release could do. The package also went the extra mile by incorporating 3D support, which players can activate if they do not mind a performance hit.
In terms of content, the Ratchet & Clank Collection delivers three of the greatest action-platformers of all time, all of which are still fun to play all these years later. However, as a product, it does not bring too much to the plate.
11 Future: Quest For Booty
A Short Ratchet & Clank Experience Executed Relatively Well
Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty
- Released
- August 21, 2008
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3
- How Long To Beat
- 3 Hours
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Third-Person Shooter
Despite not exactly being a bad game, Quest for Booty's legacy has been blighted due to its extremely short length. This is the standard Ratchet & Clank game, only without much Clank and a campaign that ends in about three hours.
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Quest for Booty maintains a fun quick pace throughout its runtime. This allows it to keep players invested throughout, although the story ends on a cliffhanger at the worst moment. Its gameplay was also praised due to the removal of useless weapons, streamlining the process to focus on just the high points. Quest for Booty distills the core Ratchet & Clank formula to provide a highly entertaining way to spend a few hours; however, the game also foreshadowed the franchise's direction for the PS3 era.
10 Into The Nexus
Ending Ratchet & Clank's PS3 Era On A Decent But Unspectacular Note
Ratchet & Clank: Into The Nexus
- Released
- November 12, 2013
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ // Alcohol Reference, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3
- How Long To Beat
- 6 Hours
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Third-Person Shooter
Insomniac Games’ series lost its way somewhat during the PS3 era, resulting in a string of disappointing games that ventured away from what made Ratchet & Clank successful. While the return to the franchise’s roots might or might not be related to that, Into the Nexus wasn’t a complete success.
The graphics were pretty fantastic for the era, with the game making full use of its exotic locations. However, the story is arguably among the weakest in the series, to the point where it seems completely unneeded. Although not terrible by any means, Into the Nexus does not stand out from the crowd, offering another "Future" style adventure that mostly sought to steady the ship following a couple of polarizing entries. Die-hard fans will likely enjoy the ride since this is ultimately just another Ratchet & Clank game, but the franchise was running on fumes at this point.
9 Ratchet: Deadlocked
A Weird Spin-Off That Is Pretty Fun Despite Not Gelling With The Rest Of The Franchise
Ratchet: Deadlocked
- Released
- October 25, 2005
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ // Mild Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes, Mild Language, Comic Mischief
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Multiplayer
- Local Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3
- How Long To Beat
- 8 Hours
- Genre(s)
- Action, Shooter
Out of all the games in the series, Ratchet: Deadlocked feels the most different. Filled with impressive weapons for players to try out, Deadlocked is more of a survival game than a platformer. While it’s no doubt enjoyable, the game lacks the series’ spirit and, consequently, is one of the harder entries to revisit in this day and age.
Unlike other Ratchet & Clank games, this one has players fighting for their lives in gladiatorial arenas. It’s darker than most, but there’s no denying that every level is packed with action. Deadlocked certainly would’ve made a bigger impact had it been a standalone feature.
8 Size Matters
A Really Charming Ratchet & Clank Game That Was Perfect For The PSP
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
- Released
- February 13, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ // Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- High Impact Games
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2
- How Long To Beat
- 7 Hours
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Platformer
Sometimes goofiness can be charming, with Size Matters fulfilling this aspect. The game is on the lighter side of things, featuring more of the same only on a smaller scale. A PSP title, this lower scope actually allows the game to be special.
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The story, while not flashy, does highlight the protagonists’ characterizations. Boss fights require a certain sense of strategy, which makes beating the game even more rewarding. Finally, traveling to multiple worlds with distinct features bolsters the replay value.
Size Matters was released on the PlayStation 2, but the game should be played on the PSP. PS Plus subscribers can also try out the PS4 or PS5 versions.