Best Games Like Ratchet & Clank

Are you looking for a list of the best games like Ratchet & Clank? Well, we’ve got you covered.  

The Ratchet & Clank series is known for its eccentric characters, satisfying shooter-platformer gameplay, and cinematic-quality presentation.

Although the franchise is still current today, we thought we’d share our top selections for what to play after you’ve finished the latest entry, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.

In this list, we’ll be recommending games that are similar to Ratchet & Clank in one way or another, along with the platforms they’re available on.

Make sure to check back as we continue to refresh this list with new games in the future.

Related:Best PS4 Exclusive Games 2025 (And Beyond)

At the time of its release, Sunset Overdrive was seen as a substantial departure for Ratchet & Clank developer Insomniac Games. However, in retrospect, we can see it shares many similarities with Insomniac’s other titles regarding writing and particular aspects of gameplay.

The initial aspect you’ll observe is an abundance of breaching of the fourth wall, a recurring gag in Insomniac games. Moreover, one of the game’s fundamental mechanics is utilizing grind rails to navigate the enormous universe, which evokes memories of the grinding sections in diverse Ratchet & Clank games.

Lastly, it offers a broad choice of potent weapons, gadgets, and gizmos with amusing names like ‘The Hot Adjuster,’ which is actually a shotgun with two wooden balls dangling from its grip. While Sunset Overdrive does replace R&C’s futuristic sci-fi backdrop for a contemporary city obsessed with punk rock, its surroundings are intricately designed and enjoyable to investigate.

Although Toys for Bob is the developer behind Spyro Reignited, Insomniac is responsible for making the original three games in the series, which carry their unique brand of humor. Much like Ratchet, Spyro is portrayed as a witty do-gooder who’s not afraid to make the occasional pun.

As far as gameplay and story go, it’s conventional Spyro. You’ll be flying across worlds, rescuing fellow dragons, finding collectibles, and defeating evil foes. Included are Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage! and Spyro: Year of the Dragon.

Toys for Bob did a remarkable job recreating the Spyro universe, updating environments to look better than ever before, and even injecting some much-needed detail into some of the old character designs. Reignited Trilogy is the best way to experience these games on contemporary consoles if you’ve got a craving for some nostalgia.

If you’ve ever wanted to venture far, far away from the Solana Galaxy setting of most R&C games, then Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order might be the game for you. Developed by Respawn, the game manages to capture the cinematic nature of the films and adapt it to a video game in a way that feels both captivating and authentic.

Set after the events of Episode III, the game sees you playing as Cal Kestis, a Jedi Padawan on a quest to uncover the mysteries of an ancient civilization. He soon finds himself in the crosshairs of the Empire and their lethal Inquisitors, who continue to pursue you throughout the game.

The gameplay is a mix of real-time combat, open-ended exploration, and 3D platforming on par with the Ratchet & Clank games. The game does an outstanding job of using the Star Wars mythos to flesh out its world, including numerous in-universe references, engaging character backstories, and big set-pieces set in familiar locations.

Over the years, Insomniac and Naughty Dog have developed somewhat of an amicable rivalry while operating under the PlayStation brand. Their constant attempts to one-up each other with every release is reflected in several entries in both the R&C and Uncharted series, resulting in some of the greatest PlayStation exclusives to date.

If you’ve dabbled around with the Uncharted games before or simply want to experience the most recent installment, we recommend checking out Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. While it’s tonally much gloomier than your typical R&C game, you can always count on Nathan Drake to spout the occasional witticism or clever insult at his foes.

Additional characters like Sully and Nadine help create absorbing dynamics for Drake to play off, much like Ratchet and Clanks’ unique chemistry. If you end up enjoying yourself, consider going back and playing the rest of the Uncharted series, even if the first two games are a bit antiquated by today’s gaming conventions.

While it may be a bit more systems-driven than your average R&C game, Obsidian’s latest foray into sci-fi storytelling is sure to satiate the biggest of appetites for galactic tomfoolery. The game casts you as The Stranger, a blank slate of a character who’s tasked with determining the fate of the Halcyon Space Colony and its starving citizens.

Your mission sees you journeying across and exploring eight planets that boast exotic locales, hazardous creatures, and a host of NPCs to befriend or betray. Characters that join your party can lend a hand in battle, give you special perks, and possess distinctive backstories you can unravel by completing sidequests. 

Much like the R&C games, The Outer Worlds gives you a broad array of guns and science weapons to experiment with and cause mayhem. Every challenge in the game can be handled in various ways based on your preferred playstyle, allowing you to talk yourself out of a jam through dialogue options or brute force your way to triumph.

If you’re keen for a new action-platformer like Ratchet & Clank but can’t be bothered with remakes or sequels to existing franchises, Effie offers an original story focusing on new characters and a vibrant fantasy-inspired setting.

You play as a young aristocrat named Galand on a quest to regain his youth after a sorceress curses him with old age. Armed with an enchanted shield, Galand sets out across the region of Oblena to free its cities and defeat the sorceress’s henchmen.

The game has a distinctly retro feel that’s clearly meant to evoke memories of playing old school classics like R&C and Crash Bandicoot only with modern graphics and controls. It’s a bit on the concise side compared to other entries on this list but achieves a lot with its relatively small scope.

Although quite distinct from other games on this list, a few elements of Marvel’s Spider-Man might connect with R&C enthusiasts, particularly if they appreciate Insomniac’s narrative approach. Despite conforming to common superhero video game clichés, the game effectively pays tribute to the original comics.

Peter Parker is a prime candidate for Insomniac’s clever dialogue and won’t hesitate to spout one-liners as you web-swing around New York City. His energetic personality is frequently juxtaposed by supporting characters like Yuri, an NYPD Captain with little patience for jokes.

The game’s most entertaining moments are whenever Spider-Man is compelled to interact with the colossal personalities that comprise his rogue’s gallery of villains. Additionally, combat is modeled after the Batman Arkham series and provides ample opportunity to explore Spider-Man’s unique capabilities and gadgets.

Crash Bandicoot is one of the many byproducts of the video game industry’s fixation with mascot characters during the 1990s. While the energetic marsupial may not have the ability to communicate verbally like Ratchet, he can still convey a lot of information using facial expressions.

That being said, most of your time in N. Sane Trilogy will be spent traversing reimagined platforming levels from the original three games in the series: Crash Bandicoot, Cortex Strikes Back, and Crash Bandicoot: Warped.

This is another Toys for Bob project and carries the same extraordinary level of polish as Spyro Reignited Trilogy. The updated version also adds a ton of quality-of-life improvements such as unified checkpoints, a dedicated save system, and the ability to pause the game mid-level, which sounds like a crazy thing to type out in 2025.

Despite its obvious Super Mario 64 influence, A Hat In Time has a lot in common with the R&C series. Both feature cartoony graphics, characters with bold personalities, and fine-tuned 3D platforming controls.

In it, you play as a charming girl who dons a top hat and explores the galaxy from the comfort of her space ship. One day, her adventure comes to a sudden halt when the Time Pieces fueling her ship are taken away and scattered on a nearby planet.

What ensues is a colossal journey spanning multiple worlds with unique themes and a cast of over-the-top characters. While many of them start out as enemies, Hat Kid can usually win them over using her adorable looks and delightful personality.

To round things out, we’ve got one more action-platformer that incorporates some similar ideas as the Ratchet & Clank series. Inspired by the iconic Banjo Kazooie games, Yooka-Laylee is a contemporary interpretation of old school 3D platformers with colorful cartoony graphics.

Similar to R&C, the game focuses on two characters who must work together to achieve their goals. Yooka is an emerald chameleon who can walk around, breathe fire, and curl into a ball, while Laylee is a diminutive purple bat that can help Yooka fly and solve various puzzles.

The similarities between them and Ratchet and Clank aren’t quite 1:1, but you can see where we’re headed with this. If you’re in the mood for a traditional 3D platformer without any obsolete controls or visuals, Yooka-Laylee will definitely help scratch that itch.