The Ratchet & Clank franchise has stacked up about seventeen games, if you’re counting main titles, spin-offs, mobile adventures, and those ever-popular remasters. Kicking off in 2002 for the PlayStation 2, the series has since blasted onto every PlayStation console, adding dimension-hopping hijinks and even a re-imagining along the way. Whether fans are chasing bolts or just hunting for that next over-the-top weapon, there’s a lot more going on in this galaxy than just quirky platforming. Curious yet?
How many Ratchet & Clank games are there, anyway? Depending on how one counts—mainline, spin-offs, mobile diversions, and those sneaky remasters—the number usually falls somewhere between 17 and 22. It’s not exactly a simple math problem, especially with collections and platform-specific releases thrown in for good measure.
The series began with Ratchet & Clank in 2002, courtesy of Insomniac Games, launching the oddball duo—an enthusiastic Lombax mechanic and his pint-sized robot partner—into a galaxy of third-person shooting, platforming, and slapstick humor. The early sequels, Going Commando, Up Your Arsenal, and Deadlocked, kept the action rolling on PlayStation 2. Deadlocked even went heavy on arena combat, for those who like their platforming with a side of gladiator spectacle.
Ratchet & Clank blasted onto PlayStation 2 with wild weapons, wacky humor, and platforming chaos that only got bigger with each sequel.
By 2007, the franchise warped onto PlayStation 3 with the “Future” series: Tools of Destruction, Quest for Booty, and A Crack in Time. Each game layered in new weapons, crazier gadgets, and more intergalactic nonsense. These weren’t just sequels—they were tentpole releases, each upping the ante, as if the developers were allergic to boredom. The series is particularly known for introducing innovative weapon upgrade mechanics that encourage experimentation and replayability. [Over time, the series has shifted from pure platforming to a blend of platformer and shooter elements, emphasizing cinematic storytelling and character development especially in later entries.]
Spin-offs made their mark, too. Size Matters and Secret Agent Clank took the series portable, while Full Frontal Assault prioritized co-op play. The series is also well-known for the Ratchet & Clank Collection, a remastered PS3 bundle that let fans re-experience the classics (nostalgia, anyone?).
The 2016 Ratchet & Clank for PS4 was more than a remake, but not quite a reboot—a “re-imagining,” as marketing types would say. Then came Rift Apart in 2021, a showcase for PS5 hardware and portals, complete with dimension-hopping and a new Lombax hero who is not, in fact, a reskinned Ratchet.
Over two decades, Ratchet & Clank has maintained a loyal fan base and drawn consistent critical acclaim, thanks to its clever writing, evolving gameplay, and a stubborn refusal to take itself too seriously.