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# Which Ratchet and Clank Game to Play First? A Simple Guide
- URL: https://idleweekend.net/which-ratchet-and-clank-game-to-play-first/
- Published: 2026-10-11T20:32:49.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-14T01:33:07.000Z
- Description: The original Ratchet & Clank from 2002 is the safest first game if you want the story in order. Tools of Destruction is a strong alternative if you want a later entry point.
- Author: Alex Morgan
- Tags: Ratchet & Clank, platformer guides, PlayStation games, game recommendations, #gce-2f7356ff

Here's the short answer on which Ratchet and Clank game to play first: start with the original Ratchet & Clank, released in 2002\. [\[1\]](https://www.greenmangaming.com/blog/all-ratchet-and-clank-games-in-order/?srsltid=AU7gw4VEeT28hPZTMvm2ObUAVIBjFM7bakEbEaqqlOXUNN9%5Fy-kfQ3bt&ref=idleweekend.net) It's still extremely playable today, and it sets up the gadgets, weapons, and locations the series is built on. [\[1\]](https://www.greenmangaming.com/blog/all-ratchet-and-clank-games-in-order/?srsltid=AU7gw4VEeT28hPZTMvm2ObUAVIBjFM7bakEbEaqqlOXUNN9%5Fy-kfQ3bt&ref=idleweekend.net) It also helps to read [Tools of Destruction Gold Bolts](https://idleweekend.net/tools-of-destruction-gold-bolts/).

Next, play Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal so the story stays clear. [\[2\]](https://steamcommunity.com/app/1895880/discussions/0/3801652295713783077/?ref=idleweekend.net) Both are generally considered among the best in the early series, so they're a natural next step. [\[3\]](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/264562-playstation-5/79502801?ref=idleweekend.net)

If you want to jump in later, [Tools of Destruction](https://idleweekend.net/ratchet-and-clank-future-tools-of-destruction-walkthrough/) is one of the games generally considered among the best, so it works as a later entry point. [\[3\]](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/264562-playstation-5/79502801?ref=idleweekend.net) If the story matters most to you, play in release order, because knowing the earlier games helps you follow the plot. [\[2\]](https://steamcommunity.com/app/1895880/discussions/0/3801652295713783077/?ref=idleweekend.net)

## How do the main entry points compare?

Each of these five games can work as a starting point, but they suit different players. The table compares starting points, not overall quality, so use it to match a game to what you want from your first session.

| Game                 | Best for                                                | What to expect                              |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| Going Commando       | Players who want the next step after the original       | Often named among the best early entries    |
| Up Your Arsenal      | Players who want more of the early run                  | Often named among the best early entries    |
| Tools of Destruction | Players who want a later, well-regarded game            | Commonly named among the best in the series |
| A Crack in Time      | Players who want a later entry with a strong reputation | Generally considered one of the best        |

Read across a row to see the trade-off. An earlier game gives you the beginning of the story, while a later one gives you a game that fans often rank highly.

The original was an absolute smash hit, selling millions of copies, and it set up a formula the series still follows. [\[1\]](https://www.greenmangaming.com/blog/all-ratchet-and-clank-games-in-order/?srsltid=AU7gw4VEeT28hPZTMvm2ObUAVIBjFM7bakEbEaqqlOXUNN9%5Fy-kfQ3bt&ref=idleweekend.net)

Going Commando, Up Your Arsenal, [Tools of Destruction](https://idleweekend.net/tools-of-destruction-tips-for-beginners/) and A Crack in Time are the entries players most often name as the best. [\[3\]](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/264562-playstation-5/79502801?ref=idleweekend.net)

If you want a weekend game with no homework, pick the row whose "Best for" line matches your mood. Start with the original for the roots, or jump to [Tools of Destruction](https://idleweekend.net/ratchet-and-clank-future-tools-of-destruction-platforms/) or A Crack in Time for a well-regarded game sooner.

![Several video game cases stand side by side on a wooden shelf, their spines showing different colors and sizes.](https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=several%20video%20game%20cases%20lined%20up%20side%20by%20side%20on%20shelf&w=800&h=450&rs=1&c=4)

## Why is the 2002 original the safest first pick?

It came out in November 2002 from Insomniac Games, so starting there means you meet Ratchet and Clank before anything else happens to them [\[1\]](https://www.greenmangaming.com/blog/all-ratchet-and-clank-games-in-order/?srsltid=AU7gw4VEeT28hPZTMvm2ObUAVIBjFM7bakEbEaqqlOXUNN9%5Fy-kfQ3bt&ref=idleweekend.net).

### Why release order helps

Playing in release order lets you watch the story and characters build from one game to the next. Later games refer back to events you already saw, so their jokes and callbacks land. If you jump straight to a later title, you miss that setup.

The original is the foundation for the story that follows. Knowing Ratchet and Clank 1 first makes the later plot easier to follow [\[2\]](https://steamcommunity.com/app/1895880/discussions/0/3801652295713783077/?ref=idleweekend.net).

### Original or remake?

Use the remake only if you do not have the original. Both versions cover the same first game, so you do not need to play both [\[2\]](https://steamcommunity.com/app/1895880/discussions/0/3801652295713783077/?ref=idleweekend.net). If you can get the original, play that one.

If the original is not available to you, start with the remake and carry on in the same order. Pick one version of the first game and move on. That keeps the choice simple and gets you to the story without extra detours.

![An older gray game console sits beneath a boxy cathode-ray television, evoking early 2000s home gaming.](https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=vintage%20game%20console%20and%20disc%20on%20a%20retro%20television&w=800&h=450&rs=1&c=4)

## Should you play Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal next?

Yes, play Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal right after the original. Going Commando came out in 2003, and Up Your Arsenal followed in 2004 [\[1\]](https://www.greenmangaming.com/blog/all-ratchet-and-clank-games-in-order/?srsltid=AU7gw4VEeT28hPZTMvm2ObUAVIBjFM7bakEbEaqqlOXUNN9%5Fy-kfQ3bt&ref=idleweekend.net). Those two games are the next steps in the early series.

Players often name both among the best games in the early series [\[3\]](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/264562-playstation-5/79502801?ref=idleweekend.net). If you want the strongest run of the early games, these two are the ones most people point to.

### Why the order matters

Playing them in release order keeps the story clear. To understand the story up to a later point, it helps to know the first game, Going Commando and Up Your Arsenal [\[2\]](https://steamcommunity.com/app/1895880/discussions/0/3801652295713783077/?ref=idleweekend.net). Each one builds on the last, so the characters and their goals make more sense.

Here is what skipping ahead looks like. A later game may refer to events you never saw, and a character's choice can feel like it came out of nowhere. Playing the three games back to back avoids that.

### A simple way to start

Begin with Going Commando, then move to Up Your Arsenal once the story from the first game is fresh in your mind. Treat these three games as one continuing story rather than separate adventures. That way, each new scene lands the way the writers intended, and you won't spend time wondering who someone is or why they are angry.

## Can you start with Tools of Destruction instead?

Yes, you can start with Tools of Destruction. Players commonly name it among the best games in the series [\[3\]](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/264562-playstation-5/79502801?ref=idleweekend.net).

Starting here makes sense if you want a later, well-regarded entry without playing the earlier games first. [Tools of Destruction](https://idleweekend.net/ratchet-and-clank-future-tools-of-destruction-weapons/) sits alongside Going Commando, Up Your Arsenal and A Crack in Time in the list of games generally considered the best [\[3\]](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/264562-playstation-5/79502801?ref=idleweekend.net). If one of those others appeals to you more, you can begin there instead.

The trade-off is story. Starting mid-series means you miss the earlier threads, so some characters and events may be less clear to you. If you enjoy following the story from the beginning, an early entry fits better. If you mainly want a strong game to play right away, Tools of Destruction is a reasonable first pick.

Once you have chosen it, these steps help you settle in:

1. Pick up Tools of Destruction for the platform you own.
2. Start a new save and play through the opening area to get used to the controls and weapons.
3. Keep the in-game menus handy during your first session so you can see how upgrades are organized.

Tools of Destruction has its own challenges, such as weapon upgrades and exploration. The planet-by-planet walkthrough covers the main route through the game, and the beginner tips article covers early-game habits.

## Is it better to play in release order or jump in?

Play in release order if you enjoy story continuity and don't mind a slower start. Each game builds on the last, so you'll see the characters and their relationships develop over time. The tradeoff is that you'll spend more hours on older games before reaching the newer ones.

If you have a PS3, players suggest starting with the HD Trilogy and then moving through the series in release order [\[4\]](https://www.resetera.com/threads/ive-never-played-a-ratchet-clank-game-before-whats-the-easiest-way-to-get-started.416427/?ref=idleweekend.net). That approach keeps the story easy to follow, because each game picks up where the previous one left off.

Choose Tools of Destruction if you want a well-regarded game without playing the early entries first. You can jump straight in without the earlier games. You will miss some story setup, so a few characters and references may not land as strongly.

Use the chronological list as a reference if you want the full timeline. It starts with these entries:

1. Ratchet & Clank
2. Going Commando
3. Up Your Arsenal
4. Deadlocked

The list is useful for seeing where each game sits in the story, even if you don't play in that exact order [\[5\]](https://hackernoon.com/all-the-ratchet-and-clank-games-in-chronological-order?ref=idleweekend.net). Many players use it as a map while they work through the series at their own pace.

Your best choice depends on whether you want the full story or a quicker way in. If you want the whole story, start at the beginning. If you want a quicker entry, pick Tools of Destruction and go back to the earlier games later if you're curious.

## So which Ratchet & Clank game should you play first?

It set up a formula that is still being followed in Ratchet & Clank games today [\[1\]](https://www.greenmangaming.com/blog/all-ratchet-and-clank-games-in-order/?srsltid=AU7gw4VEeT28hPZTMvm2ObUAVIBjFM7bakEbEaqqlOXUNN9%5Fy-kfQ3bt&ref=idleweekend.net). Playing it first means every later plot point makes sense.

Pick Tools of Destruction, released in 2007 [\[1\]](https://www.greenmangaming.com/blog/all-ratchet-and-clank-games-in-order/?srsltid=AU7gw4VEeT28hPZTMvm2ObUAVIBjFM7bakEbEaqqlOXUNN9%5Fy-kfQ3bt&ref=idleweekend.net), if you want a well-regarded entry point. You will miss some earlier story, since knowing the first games helps you follow the plot up to that point [\[2\]](https://steamcommunity.com/app/1895880/discussions/0/3801652295713783077/?ref=idleweekend.net).

Rift Apart, released in 2021 [\[1\]](https://www.greenmangaming.com/blog/all-ratchet-and-clank-games-in-order/?srsltid=AU7gw4VEeT28hPZTMvm2ObUAVIBjFM7bakEbEaqqlOXUNN9%5Fy-kfQ3bt&ref=idleweekend.net), is the newest entry and a strong modern pick. Choose it if you want the most recent game and are fine skipping the older story.

Your next step is simple: decide whether story or fun comes first, then start that game this week.

## Sources

1. [All Ratchet and Clank Games in Order](https://www.greenmangaming.com/blog/all-ratchet-and-clank-games-in-order/?srsltid=AU7gw4VEeT28hPZTMvm2ObUAVIBjFM7bakEbEaqqlOXUNN9%5Fy-kfQ3bt&ref=idleweekend.net)
2. [Do I need to play the other ones first? :: Ratchet & Clank](https://steamcommunity.com/app/1895880/discussions/0/3801652295713783077/?ref=idleweekend.net)
3. [Never played a Ratchet & Clank game, where should I start?](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/264562-playstation-5/79502801?ref=idleweekend.net)
4. [I've never played a Ratchet & Clank game before, what's ...](https://www.resetera.com/threads/ive-never-played-a-ratchet-clank-game-before-whats-the-easiest-way-to-get-started.416427/?ref=idleweekend.net)
5. [All the Ratchet and Clank Games in Chronological Order](https://hackernoon.com/all-the-ratchet-and-clank-games-in-chronological-order?ref=idleweekend.net)