Best Ratchet and Clank games - all 14 games on PS5 ranked

This ranked list breaks down all the best Ratchet and Clank games available to play on PS5, most of which are available via PS Plus Premium.

Best Ratchet and Clank games - all 14 games on PS5 ranked
Lee Brady

Lee Brady

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Did you know you can play all of the best Ratchet and Clank games on PS5 right now? All 14 Ratchet and Clank games released on PlayStation consoles, including the spin-offs you might not have heard of, are available via PS Plus Premium. So, let's rank the entire Insomniac Games franchise from worst to best!

Lee

Every Ratchet and Clank game on PS Plus, ranked

Every big release in this PlayStation Studios franchise — from the PS2 original to the PS5's Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart — can be played with a PS Plus Premium subscription. Plus, every game but Rift Apart can also be played on PS4. So, it feels like the perfect time to rank all 14 games.

As a massive Ratchet and Clank fan, I've played and experienced every game in the franchise (even Going Mobile, the one title that's not on this list). So, in the list below, you'll get my recommendations on which Ratchet games to play first and which ones you should probably avoid like a Blargian Snagglebeast. I'm kidding, of course — there's not really a "bad" Ratchet and Clank game.

Check out our ranked list of every Ratchet and Clank game below!

14. Ratchet and Clank Full Frontal Assault

Ratchet and Clank Full Frontal Assault (AKA Q-Force) represents probably the most ambitious entry in the entire series. The game takes the run-and-gun action Ratchet and Clank games are known for and tries to blend it with tower defence elements. The result leaves you fending off waves of attacking foes with defensive tech while still gunning down the big boys personally.

There's fun to be had with the game's local and online 2-player co-op, but that's the height of it. The game is short, it's story about Qwark's angriest fanboy is forgettable, and most of the time you're playing it you can't help but wish the tower defense stuff was gone so you can just let loose on enemies. Recommended for mega fans only.

13. Ratchet and Clank Size Matters

The two PSP entries in the Ratchet and Clank series were certainly valiant efforts to bring the action of the series to Sony's handhelds, but on PS5 and PS4 their rough edges are hard to miss. Of the two games, I think Ratchet and Clank Size Matters' edges appear the most jagged.

The plot feels scatterbrained, with Ratchet and Clank getting wrapped up in an evil scientist's scheme a little too late into the game to really get us invested. Plus, the gunplay is fairly rough — the PSP's lack of a right analog stick can still be felt on PS5 and PS4. Worst of all, the new weapons lack impact, which is a shame as there is some real creativity on show here.

12. Secret Agent Clank

The second PSP game in the Ratchet and Clank series, Secret Agent Clank, suffers from a lot of the same problems as Size Matters. The controls still feel bad and the plot is similarly scatterbrained as it jumps across three overlapping stories following Clank, Ratchet and Captain Qwark.

However, of the two PSP games, this one is my favorite. What the game lacks in a consistent Ratchet and Clank adventure, it gains in being a wacky experiment. It's basically a Ratchet and Clank minigame collection — one with rhythm poker and a whole opera dedicated to Qwark's ego. While it's not a great game to play, it's at least memorable!

11. Ratchet and Clank Into the Nexus

Into the Nexus is a pretty decent adventure. but its short runtime robs it of the punch you'd expect from a core Ratchet and Clank adventure. The story about the Netherverse — a dimension full of evil creatures — is basically a retread of Tools of Destruction. At least in that game our heroes had some personal stakes in the story.

The gravity gadgets in this one are pretty gimmicky and suffer from feeling slow and boring to use, although Clank does have some fun platforming segments reminiscent of VVVVVV. It's an uneven entry, but give it a shot if you've caught up with the rest.

10. Ratchet and Clank Future Quest for Booty

  • There are no Ratchet and Clank Quest for Booty trophies
  • Original PlayStation console: PS3
  • PS Plus? Yes; PS Plus Premium
  • Downloadable? No
Another short Ratchet and Clank adventure, this sequel to Tools of Destruction sees Ratchet hunting down the robot pirate ghost Captain Darkwater. Driving the plot is the absence of Clank, who was abducted by the Zoni at the end of the previous game, leaving Ratchet to search for his whereabouts.

The new gimmick here — an expanded Omniwrench with tether powers — adds a simple twist to the platforming and exploration. That said, it's also rather underutilized due to the game's short runtime. If I'm being honest, the main reason Quest for Booty ranks over Into the Nexus is because its twist ending hypes up A Crack in Time so well that it deserves special credit.

9. Ratchet and Clank All 4 One

Of all the Ratchet and Clank spin-offs, Ratchet and Clank All 4 One is the only one that really adds something new to the series. This four-player co-op action game might break a few too many conventions to get the full love of long-time fans, but it's genuinely a fun experiment that still warrants playing today.

Sure, the story might be utterly forgettable, but as a one-off adventure to share with friends it definitely offers something new. There are some neat ideas here that we've not seen too many co-op games try since, like timed platforming with four players. That's probably because it's pretty messy in All 4 One, but it's the fun kind of messy that makes for good laughs with friends.

8. Ratchet and Clank 2 Going Commando

In many ways, the second Ratchet and Clank game is where the series we know today really begins. While the first game gave us the characters and the tone and the creative weapons, Ratchet and Clank 2 gave us strafing. This allowed the game to push the action harder while giving players more control — we've never looked back since.

However, in most other regards, Ratchet and Clank 2 is a lesser entry in the series. The story is a wildly frustrating experience — where previously our heroes were competent in their own ways, this game has them wandering blindly into bad allegiances and traps with zero thoughts behind those cartoon eyes.

The runtime here is also padded out with the introduction of grindier missions, meaning we see and do a lot less cool stuff in the second game. Between the pacing issues and the frustrating story, Ratchet and Clank 2 can't help but feel outshined by later entries. Still, the core action is great, so it warrants a play.

7. Ratchet and Clank Future Tools of Destruction

  • There are no Ratchet and Clank Future Tools of Destruction trophies
  • Original PlayStation console: PS3
  • PS Plus? Yes; PS Plus Premium
  • Downloadable? No
Ratchet and Clank's big PS3 debut, Future Tools of Destruction, was one of the first signs that Sony hadn't completely lost its mind while moving on from the PS2. It was exactly what many fans had hoped to see from Sony's PS3 games: a lot of the stuff we liked on PS2, but with more graphics and bigger explosions.

Sadly, the series' cynical tone gets pared down in this one, marking Tools of Destruction as the game where the franchise started losing much of its identity. While Ratchet's search for the lost Lombax race does give the games some much-needed narrative focus, the bland new supporting cast and more earnest tone drains the series of its sarcastic charm.

Still, it's a fun adventure, and the action remains on par with the best in the series up to that point. Plus, Tools of Destruction introduces some mainstay weapons like Mr. Zurkon and the Groovitron — fun ideas that deservedly stick around in later entries.

6. Ratchet and Clank (2016)

The Ratchet and Clank 2016 reboot blew our minds back on the PS4, elevating the series' visuals to Pixar-like levels while keeping the frantic action fans had always loved. A free PS5 update also means this game plays even better today with an ultra-slick 60 frames per second.

The run-and-gun shooting feels buttery smooth here, taking all the best weapons from the original PS2 game and the later Future series on PS3 and stripping back the fluff. In retrospect, the only things missing are the later dodge moves and hoverboots that make Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart feel so good. Otherwise, it's a perfect action game.

That said, the PS4 reboot completely strips both Ratchet and Clank of any personality, and the game's uneven retelling of the first game's story means this adventure is over just as it starts warming up. So, while it does play better than most games in the series, it also seems to forget the charm that made the original game so memorable in the first place.

5. Ratchet and Clank (2002)

If you've played any other game in the series before the original PS2 Ratchet and Clank, it's going to feel a little weird. This was a time before strafing became the core way to move Ratchet through levels, and this makes the action and platforming in the first game feel a lot more stop-and-start.

That said, if you can get used to this slower way of playing, the original game is still incredibly fun even after 20 years. Right out the gate, Ratchet and Clank introduces some wildly inventive weapons, enjoyable platforming, varied locales to visit, and it all culminates in a game that feels tough but fair.

It's also this game where the cynical tone feels the most funny and direct. Ratchet and Clank's universe is one governed by bonkers capitalism, and it gets big laughs. There's also real friction between the heroes — maybe even a little too much at times. Still, it makes a massive impression and paved the road for a brilliant franchise.

4. Ratchet and Clank Future A Crack in Time

I've chafed a few times at the Future series, but it does have one absolute killer game in its lineup: A Crack in Time. Here, Dr Nefarious returns to mess with space and time, Clank meets his dad and becomes a Time Lord, and Ratchet's search for the Lombax race brings him to Azimuth — his long-lost uncle (of sorts).

With a plot this dense, it's hard to get too worked up about the weak support cast and the game's severe lack of levity. Instead, A Crack in Time gives its heroes real personal stakes, making the game feel much deeper than the average Ratchet and Clank adventure. Sure, it's a little cheap at times, but it feels like the series has grown up — a least for this one game.

The introduction of hover boots to Ratchet's combat, and Clank's genuinely fun time puzzles, both showed us that improvements could still be made to the Ratchet and Clank formula. All-in-all, it's a great game — one that really pays off the better elements of the Future series.

3. Ratchet Deadlocked

As you can probably guess from the title, Ratchet Deadlocked (AKA Ratchet Gladiator) breaks a bunch of series traditions. Rather than your usual interplanetary action-platforming adventure, this game puts the focus squarely on the combat. Don't let that scare you off though, as there's plenty to love about this PS2 entry.

This time, weapons can be modified as well as upgraded, giving them special effects like acid and fire damage. It turns the entire game into one big experiment in destruction. You can also play the entire campaign with a friend! Yes, while you don't have Clank by your side, the 2-player co-op means you can bring a real buddy along and it really works.

It's also got one of the best plots in the entire series. Ratchet and Clank are kidnapped and forced to take part in a intergalactic reality TV deathmatch. The series' cynical tone feels at home when pointed at the sleazy Gleeman Vox that runs the show, and there's plenty of jokes coming from the reality show's overbearing presenters.

Don't let the spin-off sounding title fool you — Deadlocked is as vital an entry in the series as any other game. Just note that the version available via PS Plus Premium is unfortunately a pretty shoddy port.

2. Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart

Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart has only one critical flaw: the flavorless writing. The bland tone from the PS4 reboot return, making it hard to care for anyone in the story — be they Ratchet, Clank, or new additions Rivet and Kit. Even Dr Nefarious, the beloved fan favorite, feels more like a tired joke than the charismatic menace he used to be.

In almost every other regard, Rift Apart represents Ratchet and Clank at its very best. It's the best-looking game in the series, using the power of the PS5 to drench this universe in bright colors, neon, and stunning reflections. It's also the best-performing game in the series with a steady 60 frames per second throughout in performance mode.

The hoverboots are back to help make movement and platforming a zippy breeze, the guns are as bombastic as ever, and the new dodge move allows the action to push players harder than ever. So, it's not just the best-looking game in the series — it's the best-playing game in the entire franchise.

If Insomniac Games can just get a Ratchet and Clank game to look and play like this while also bringing a bit more bite to the writing, then we'd have the best game in the series here, no question. Until then, Rift Apart will have to settle for a strong second-place spot.

1. Ratchet and Clank 3 Up Your Arsenal

Ratchet and Clank 3 contains a little bit of everything there is to love about the Ratchet and Clank series, and even after all these years it's still the game that all the later titles struggle to surpass.

It's got the series trademark sense of humor paired with an involving plot that introduces the excellent Dr Nefarious. Hilarious, weird, and genuinely menacing, the good doctor's connection to Qwark and adoration of Clank gives him an instant rapport with the main cast. Meanwhile, Ratchet's struggle with his fragile ego ties a bow around the story's conflict super neatly.

The weapons in Ratchet and Clank 3 are impactful, creative, and there aren't many duds to be found in the arsenal. The adventure also offers a massive variety in locales and gameplay modes, all of which feel great. Low-gravity moon puzzles, TV show deathmatch arenas, free-roaming vehicle maps, movie set backlots, a 2D platforming adventure for Qwark — it's got everything.

It's not without flaws — the game abruptly stops the plot at times to essentially teach you how to play its dead multiplayer mode. So, there's an opportunity here for a new Ratchet and Clank game to finally dethrone this one. However, for now, Ratchet and Clank 3 Up Your Arsenal is the best Ratchet and Clank game on PS5.

It goes without saying that most of the games on this list deserve a spot on our best PS Plus games list, although that wouldn't be fair to most of the other titles on there! Which Ratchet and Clank game is your favorite? Let us know down in the comments below.
Written by Lee Brady
Staff Writer Lee keeps one eye on the future (Astro Bot), one eye on the past (PS1, PS2, and PS3 games), and his secret third eye on junk he really likes (Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Sonic). A PlayStation fan for over 25 years, he loves replaying classic games via PS Plus.
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