Updated at: 30-05-2022 - By: Leo Hall

The Ratchet & Clank series has been around for almost two decades and has become a PlayStation classic.

Throughout the years, Insomniac Games has walked away from the franchise to allow various developers to manage it.

In spite of this, classic PlayStation games like Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal are still fondly remembered by many enthusiasts.

To celebrate the PlayStation 5 release of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, we’ve compiled a list of all of the Ratchet & Clank titles in chronological order.

Ratchet & Clank

When Can I Get My Hands On It?

PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3

When Ratchet & Clank was first developed by Insomniac Games, they had no clue the franchise would become so closely associated with the PlayStation.

Ratchet & Clank For Newcomers - Play Order - How To Get Started! - YouTube

Ratchet and Clank, a lonely Lombax mechanic and his robot buddy, were introduced in the original PlayStation 2 release.

Their interstellar mission is to preserve the cosmos from a greedy billionaire who plans to establish his own personal refuge by killing other planets in the process.

3D platforming, shooting, puzzle-solving, and even RPG elements were all featured in the gameplay.

There was nothing else like it at the time. When Ratchet & Clank first came out, critics were impressed by its plot, tone, and overall uniqueness despite some technical glitches.

Going Commando

As of November 11, 2003 (Tuesday),

PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3

Going Commando was a vast advance over its predecessor, both in terms of story and gameplay mechanics.

First, Ratchet’s demeanor was reworked to make him more likable and believable as a member of the “ragtag squad of do-gooders.”

The addition of racing challenges and improvements to the fighting system, on the other hand, truly caught the attention of gamers.

It’s a brief separation for the dynamic team as Ratchet gets hired by Megacorp as a mercenary.

Ratchet begins to mistrust Megacorp’s motives when he is assigned to find a thief who stole a biological project. He eventually reunites with Clank to uncover the truth.

Up Your Arsenal

Release Date: November 2nd, 2004

PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3

Going Commando, the second game in the series, gave players more options than they knew what to do with.

This contained a more extensive and ambitious campaign in which the duo faced up against Dr. Nefarious, a psychotic mad scientist.

With the introduction of new characters and worlds, the storyline takes on a darker, gritty tone than in earlier installments.

With the addition of a multiplayer option, Up Your Arsenal featured a variety of modes, including Capture the Flag and Team Deathmatch.

Weapons and gadgets can be upgraded, and new ground and air vehicles can be added to the game’s landscape.

Deadlocked

On October 25, 2005, it was released.

PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, and PC

Ratchet: Deadlocked distinguishes out from the original Ratchet & Clank trilogy, intensifying the gloomy atmosphere established in Up Your Arsenal.

For starters, Ratchet and Clank are abducted and forced to compete in a gladiator game show called the Dread Zone, which plays more like a survival shooter.

There are fewer platforming and puzzle parts in the single-player campaign since Clank gets less screen time.

A smaller but highly customizable weapon armament forms the bulk of gameplay, which takes place in an arena.

While Deadlocked is hailed for its visceral fighting and customizability of weapons, it is also condemned for lacking the energy and vitality of its predecessor.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | PlayStation

Going Mobile

When will it be released?

Telephony: Cellular Telephones

First Ratchet and Clank spin-off, Going Mobile, was developed by Handheld Games for early mobile devices and is now available on the App Store.

By mistake, Ratchet and Clank are sent to an alternate universe after they activate a bio-matter converter.

Using this in-universe justification for the game’s 2D perspective is a great way to differentiate it from Insomniac’s 3D offerings.

In the game, there was a mixture of platforming and combat. There was an in-game shop where players could upgrade their weapons and buy new ones.

Going Mobile won the “Best Action Game” award at the 2006 Mobile Entertainment Awards, despite the fact that its features were constrained by the hardware available at the time.

Size Matters

It was released on Feb. 13, 2007.

PSP, PlayStation 2

Size Matters, while being developed by a different company, High Impact Games, is considered canon by Insomniac.

Ratchet & Clank is a classic Ratchet & Clank adventure, although on a reduced scale because to the PSP’s limited capabilities.

While on a vacation on an exotic world, Ratchet and Clank watch a girl being kidnapped by sinister robots.

A kidnapping investigation leads the two to a galactic conspiracy involving numerous worlds and a bizarre mythological race of alien machines known as Technomites, which they investigate.

New armor and weapon systems, as well as a new Shrink Ray gadget that allowed Ratchet and Clank to access specific areas, were based on Up Your Arsenal.

Tools of Destruction

When will it be released?

PlayStation 3

Insomniac Games returned to lead a new Future trilogy of games with the release of Future: Tools of Destruction, just a year after the PS3.

The release of the PS3’s six-axis tilt functionality coincided well with Sony’s new technology, which allowed them to create larger, more detailed settings and introduce new gameplay features.

To stop Emperor Tachyon from killing Ratchet, the last surviving Lombax, the plot follows Ratchet and Clank as they delve deeper into their pasts in search of the “Lombax Secret.”

Writing and pop culture references, such as the Sony-Microsoft rivalry, are two of the game’s most notable features.

Fans pushed for the inclusion of larger, more interesting levels, indicating that Insomniac and Sony had a hit on their hands.

Secret Agent Clank

It is scheduled to be released on 17th of June, 2008.

PSP, PlayStation 2

The next PSP game, Secret Agent Clank, will be developed by High Impact Games.

A spy-themed adventure set in the fictional holo-vision series “Secret Agent Clank” accompanies Ratchet and Clank’s journey in this game.

After Ratchet is accused of stealing an Eye of Infinity from the Boltaire Museum, Clank sets off on a journey to clear his name.

Ratchet, meantime, is imprisoned on a Prison Planet, where he must deal with a bevy of his former enemies.

Clank’s distinctive skills are one of the main criticisms leveled towards Secret Agent Clank; instead, the character was given a large portion of Ratchet’s move set.

Ratchet and Clank Timeline: Games in order - GameRevolution

Quest for Booty

On August 21, 2008, it was released.

Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC

“Quest for Booty” is a shorter game in Insomniac’s Future trilogy that was primarily offered via the PlayStation Network on PS3 as a download.

In this game, Ratchet is on a rescue mission for Clank, who was abducted by the Zoni after the events of Tools of Destruction.

Even though Quest for Booty’s craftsmanship and storytelling were on par with its predecessors, its campaign lasted just three hours.

But there were certain benefits to the game’s smaller size, including a tighter pacing that pleased enthusiasts.

It was also decided to remove many of Tools of Destruction’s weaker weaponry in favor of giving Ratchet an Omni Wrench that could be used to move and manipulate items.

A Crack in Time

Scheduled for release on October 27th, 2009

Playstation 3 and PS Now

A Crack In Time, the final book in the Future trilogy, is often regarded as the best story in the series.

Ratchet and Clank’s incarceration by Dr. Nefarious is now a step closer to Ratchet’s goal of liberating Clank.

Dr. Nefarious plans to use the Great Clock to manipulate time and space, and the two must work together to stop him.

The trilogy came to a satisfactory finish with new information about the two main characters’ personal relationships and histories.

Quality of life enhancements, such as the ability to utilize Ratchet’s spacecraft whenever you want and the expansion of weapon customisation, were included in A Crack in Time’s gameplay.

All 4 One

On October 18, 2011, it was released.

PlayStation 3

All 4 One, the next game in the Ratchet & Clank series, is a cooperative affair in which Ratchet, Clank, Qwark, and Dr. Nefarious team up to take down a new danger.

The Ephemeris is a drone that was designed to locate and capture the most powerful beings in the universe.

Four players could join together to play as one of the four characters in drop-in drop-out co-op.

Although it was labeled a “spin-off,” Insomniac Games was the brains behind All 4 One.

Some praised the inclusion of co-op while others criticized Insomniac’s sloppy execution of the functionality at the time of its release.

Full Frontal Assault

On November 27, 2012, it was released

PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita

Full Frontal Assault is a prime example of Insomniac attempting to repair what isn’t broken in the series.

Insomniac’s decision to integrate tower defense features into the next Ratchet & Clank was likely motivated by a desire to move out and experiment with the franchise.

As with All 4 One, players were not pleased with the end results, pointing out the awkward architecture of the tower defense system. a resource economy that is out of whack and a map selection that is too small

At any given time, only two of the three playable characters could be selected: Ratchet or Clank.

In Full Frontal Assault, the primary gameplay loop of the series simply didn’t fit the premise of having to defend and keep one location.

All Ratchet And Clank Games In Order Of Release Date

Ratchet & Clank Collection – 2012 (Bundle)

The Collection consists of the following:

  • Clash of Clans (Remaster)
  • Invasion of the Ratchet & Clank! (Remaster)
  • You’ll need more ammunition if you want to win (Remaster)

In addition to 720p HD, 60 FPS, and 30 fps stereoscopic 3D support, these remastered versions are also available in HDR. The PS4 and PS5 versions of the game are not yet available.

Into the Nexus

When is it coming out? November 12, 2013.

Playstation 3 and PS Now

Insomniac’s newest attempt to appease fans by returning to the series’ roots was Into the Nexus, which served as an epilogue to the Future trilogy.

An escort mission given to Ratchet and Clank goes bad, releasing an interdimensional species of beings into the galaxy.

In A Crack in Time, Ratchet’s journey to accept the consequences of his crimes was a major plot point.

In Into the Nexus, new side-scrolling sequences allow Clank to manipulate gravity in order to accomplish his goals.

It was a fitting send-off for the PS3 platform, and it did it with a tale that felt evocative of the original trilogy’s famous moments.

Before the Nexus

On December 18, 2013, it was released.

Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android

Sony hired Darkside Game Studios to build a mobile game tie-in to capitalize on the buzz surrounding Into the Nexus.

They returned with an endless runner partly based on the events of Insomniac’s game, fashioned like the popular Temple Run series.

As Ratchet occupies one of three lanes, the Nexus watches people controlling him as he grinds.

At times, you’d be able to shoot at adversaries while moving between lanes to avoid them.

The in-game shop also offered a variety of ammo and weapons as well as other gadgets, armor, and upgrades.

Ratchet & Clank

On April 12, 2016, it will be released.

PS4 is the only platform supported.

The PS4 version of Ratchet & Clank, released in 2016, is both a reboot and a reinterpretation of the first game in the series.

Inspired by the Ratchet & Clank movie, which attempted to depict the story of the 2002 video game.

As seen through the eyes of Captain Qwark, the tale introduces Ratchet and Clank for the very first time.

Galactic Rangers eventually band up with the couple to fight off Dr. Nefarious’ plans to destroy worlds across the galaxy.

Critics and longstanding fans alike praised the game’s balance of combat, platforming, and puzzle-solving, with many praising the game’s excellent difficulty.

Rift Apart

Release Date: 11th of June, 2021

PlayStation 5

To continue the reboot’s new visual design and utilize the PS5’s greater horsepower, Rift Apart is the sequel.

After Dr. Nefarious’s botched attempt to use the Dimensionator on Ratchet and Clank, portals connecting various planets have gone crazy, opening and closing at random.

Ratchet and Clank set out on a journey to stop the planets from collapsing into each other, with their own world caught in the crossfire.

Rivet, a playable female Lombax, is introduced in Rift Apart, which keeps several gameplay characteristics from its predecessors.

Rift Apart received mostly positive reviews, praising its animation quality, combat, and complex locations, therefore the updates were well worth it.

In Ratchet & Clank, the beginning.

It’s safe to say that 2002 was an exciting year in the world of video games. On the PC, Vice City, Morrowind, and WarCraft III reigned supreme, but Ratchet & Clank from Insomniac Games hit the scene in November on consoles.

Millions of copies were sold, and it received acclaim from all quarters. As a result, Ratchet & Clank games have continued to follow the same format up to this day. Early on in the series, there is an abundance of devices, weaponry, and a wide variety of settings. If you’re curious to discover where this all began, this is a great place to start.

How Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal defined a generation

Up Your Arsenal, often known as Ratchet & Clank 3, perfected the Ratchet & Clank formula, bringing in numerous series hallmarks and creating a genuinely genre-defining experience. Up Your Arsenal.

The addition of online multiplayer, larger areas, vehicles you can drive, and a greater emphasis on fighting really set Up Your Arsenal apart from the preceding titles and indeed many of the platformers published on PlayStation 2. Aside from being a classic Ratchet and Clank game, it was also a game that defined the PlayStation 2 period in general.

Ratchet & Clank | How Many Games, Order, and Where to Start – Guide Fall

R&C Future: A Crack In Time is all about building the future from the ground up!

Toward the end of the Ratchet & Clank series in 2009, Insomniac Games wanted to experiment with fresh ideas. It’s safe to say that the title of A Crack in Time gives you a good idea of the game’s focus on time-based mechanics.

A Crack in Time, on the other hand, expanded the game’s scope much further than its predecessors. Your spaceship can now travel freely between planets, allowing for new challenges to be introduced via an extended system map that can be freely explored. A Crack in Time was a massive game that could be played and replayed countless times, making it one of the most important combat platformers released on the PS3 in its generation.

Taking technology in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart to a new level

Rift Apart is the final stop on our tour. Rift Apart makes advantage of the latest console capabilities to fully illustrate what the next generation can do, following the PlayStation 4 relaunch of Ratchet & Clank in 2016. Just as ray tracing effects are near-cinematic in quality, the PlayStation 5’s SSD is used for novel gameplay that couldn’t have been imagined before this game’s release.

Loading various locations in Rift Apart is almost quick, making it possible for a player to switch between zones and realities in the blink of an eye. To put it another way: A Rift Apart is more than just the definitive Ratchet and Clank game; it’s also an important event in the history of next-generation gaming.

FAQS:

How many Ratchet and Clank games are there on PS4?

The eleven PlayStation console games created by the team cover a wide range of genres, from single-player adventures to competitive online multiplayer to family-friendly four-player fun.

Do I need to play all Ratchet and Clank games?

To fully appreciate the story, do you need to have played previous Ratchet & Clank titles? … Anyone who has played all the mainline games in the series should be able to enjoy Rift Apart, but those who haven’t will likely get a little more out of the story.

How many planets are in Ratchet and Clank 1?

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart has nine planets, each of which represents a chapter or level. While some planets may be revisited several times in the plot, they will almost always be altered in some way to keep things fresh and exciting. It’s worth mentioning