Games like jak and daxter on pc

The Ratchet & Clank games might have exceeded the number of entries that one might have predicted back in the day, but you can’t accuse them of being unoriginal. In fact, only a few other games evoke the same sense of platforming quality and quirky humor that this series is known for.

RELATED: Things You Didn't Know About Ratchet's Species, The Lombaxes

Still, that doesn’t mean you don’t have similar options, and there are certain titles that need to be explored for those that enjoy the Ratchet & Clank experience. These might not strictly be the same in gameplay, but won’t have any difficulties in making a fan out of you due to the quality to be found here.

Updated on June 7th, 2022, by Jason Wojnar: It has been almost a year since Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart came out on PlayStation 5 and it remains one of the best exclusives for Sony's most recent console. It is the tightest the series' gameplay has ever felt, looks gorgeous, and also has superb writing weaving together whit and heart. It does not take long to see everything Rift Apart has to offer, though, and you may be looking for something similar after going through it.

The games below will certainly satisfy that itch. Because you simply cannot get enough of these action platformers, we decided to add some more titles to the updated version of this list.

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15/15 SpongeBob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated

SpongeBob Squarepants: Battle for Bikini Bottom

Approximate Game Length

8-14 Hours

Genre

Platformer

Developer

Purple Lamp Studios

Platforms

PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, Android, iOS

Games like Ratchet & Clank on PC, geared toward young audiences, are generally simple in style. This SpongeBob game is a remake of the original from 2003, and brings back elements like platforming and making use of multiple characters to protect SpongeBob’s home.

Similar to Ratchet & Clank, combat is mainly about whacking melee weapons at robots and is good enough for the younger audiences to enjoy. With the game also available on consoles, it’s a fun venture into a lighter Ratchet & Clank-style of play.

14/15 Pumpkin Jack

Pumpkin Jack runs with a gun

Approximate Game Length

7 Hours

Genre

Platformer, Third-Person Shooter

Developer

Nicolas Meyssonnier

Platforms

PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Android

Here’s another game like Ratchet & Clank on PC and consoles that has a premise based on platforming and run-and-gun mechanics. Pumpkin Jack is a comedy horror venture that sees players help the Mythical Pumpkin Lord get up to a lot of mischief.

It’s built like a classic 3D platformer, in that players don’t need to waste time in fluffy mechanics and only busy themselves with going through creative platforming sequences while bringing down enemies. Ratchet & Clank fans will enjoy the balance between run-and-gun and the platforming sequences.

13/15 Lego Games

Luke and Obi-Wan in Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga.

Genre

Action/Adventure, Co-op

Developer

Traveller's Tales

You know you've made it as an intellectual property once there's a a Lego themed adaptation of it. The developer has been at it since 2005, starting with Lego Star Wars. Other franchises covered include Indiana Jones, Batman, and Pirates of the Carribean.

The series is light on difficulty, but perfect for cooperative play with younger, less experienced gamers. The most recent entry in the franchise is Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, which makes some big changed to the formula while recreating the entire mainline Star Wars films in Lego form.

12/15 Tearaway Unfolded (2015)

Protagonist rides a pig in Tearaway Unfolded

Approximate Game Length

8-10 Hours

Genre

Platformer

Developer

Media Molecule, Tarsier Studios

Platforms

PlayStation 4

The creators of Tearaway are hardly indie developers, but this game plays close to the creativity shone in such titles. It follows the main character’s journey across a storybook setting, with all the characters and the backdrop itself designed to evoke such an experience.

The gameplay focus has to do with platforming, as maneuvering yourself around the world is the way to accomplish your tasks. Tearaway’s platforming will delight Ratchet & Clank fans, especially those who enjoy the puzzle-solving and subtle gameplay elements.

11/15 A Boy And His Blob

The boy and blob stand on a tree ledge in A Boy and his Blob

Approximate Game Length

9-12 Hours

Genre

Puzzle, Platformer

Developer

WayForward Technologies

Platforms

PC, Wii, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, iOS, Android

A Boy and his Blob also sees two characters on their journey, with the blob acting as a useful tool for platforming purposes, much like the role Clank serves for Ratchet. You can think of this as a similar game to Ratchet & Clank in a 2D sense.

RELATED: Every Gun Confirmed For Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

There’s a kind of innocence to this game that’s hard to miss and very easy to appreciate, as it brings in playful mechanics that never bothers the player with any kind of difficulty. Overall, the game should be a hit for both adults and young fans.

10/15 Sonic The Hedgehog 2

Sonic and Tails in Sonic The Hedgehog 2

Approximate Game Length

3-5 Hours

Genre

Platformer

Developer

Sega

Platforms

PC, Sega Genesis, Android, iOS, Apple TV, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch

This game needs no introduction, as just about everyone who plays video games has heard of it. Unfortunately, the younger generation has passed Sonic the Hedgehog 2 by due to the gap in its release, but not playing it is a big miss.

After all, this is the title that set the stage for future platformers to incorporate action-based elements, and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 remains of elite quality despite the passage of time. It’s a fast-paced feature whose difficulty level makes it a huge challenge, one that Ratchet & Clank fans may find rather hard to handle. While the games have not reached the same critical heights as the classic 2D entries, Sonic is as popular as ever thanks to the films.

9/15 Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time

SLy and his gang look shocked in Sly Cooper Thieves in Time

Approximate Game Length

20 Hours

Genre

Platformer, Stealth

Developer

Sanzaru Games

Platforms

PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita

Gameplay-wise, this is a departure from the Ratchet & Clank games as this series belongs to the stealth genre. However, as far as presentation, quirkiness, and mascot-type figures go, fans will feel very familiar with this setting.

It will also serve much-needed diversity, as Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time’s style is such that gamers are instantly pulled into this fast-paced stealth feature. In the context of this series, this particular entry stands out as the best for bringing harmony between the story and gameplay.

8/15 Yooka-Laylee

A colorful picture with number smiling characters in Yooka-Laylee

Approximate Game Length

15-20 Hours

Genre

Platformer

Developer

Team17

Platforms

PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

While it’s more child-friendly than most are used to, you'll get the hang of Yooka-Laylee without the need for a learning curve, which will delight the casual console audience. Of course, non-console gamers will also appreciate that it's a game like Ratchet & Clank for PC with two main characters and a focus on platforming.

The theme here is attached to magic, with the player required to collect pages to unlock more fun abilities. The story is as simple as you’d expect, making this a certain feel-good feature that’s great for killing time.

7/15 Sunset Overdrive (2014)

Protagonist skates while bombs are thrown at him in Sunset Overdrive

Approximate Game Length

10-12 Hours

Genre

Third-Person Shooter

Developer

Insomniac Games

Platforms

PC, Xbox One

This title represents a change in style for Insomniac games, becoming one of its most critically acclaimed games. Sunset Overdrive will have players caught in a whirlwind, as gameplay leaves one out to zipline and use parkour moves to traverse the world.

The wacky presentation is what one finds in games similar to Ratchet & Clank, and the splash of colors with quick gameplay makes this an unorthodox environment that is too intriguing to ignore. Not to mention the diverse set of weapons and platforming. The game is a cult classic and fans desparately want a sequel to. While the game remains exclusive to Microsoft, Insomniac was bought by Sony in 2019.

6/15 Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

Nate and Elena hide and hold guns in Uncharted Drake's Fortune

Approximate Game Length

8 Hours

Genre

Third-Person Shooter, Platformer

Developer

Naughty Dog

Platforms

PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4

While the popular belief is that this plays closer to Tomb Raider, the first Uncharted has a comedic angle to it that Ratchet & Clank fans would love. Along with that, the combat elements also stick close, as there’s a sense of the run-and-gun aspect that both these games bring.

RELATED: Ratchet & Clank: Every Game In The Series, Ranked From Worst To Best According To Metacritic

More than anything, fans will love diving into an adventure game that doesn’t take itself too seriously and takes the time to make the platforming fun. The rather barrage-filled nature of combat ensures a quick and breezy playthrough. Uncharted 2 and 3 retain a similar vibe while including significantly larger setpieces. Uncharted 4 still has fun with the characters, but really takes its time to ground Nathan Drake, Elena Fisher, and the other characters we came to know through the prior trilogy.

5/15 Pyschonauts

Protagonists pose for a picture with a spiral backdrop in Pyschonauts

Approximate Game Length

12-15 Hours

Genre

Platformer

Developer

Double Fine Productions

Platforms

PC, Xbox, PlayStation 2

Definitely a highly underrated game, Psychonauts is worthy of one of those games you need to play in your life. The story has a unique twist where a young boy runs away from the circus and into a summer camp where he uncovers his psychic powers. Mastering these abilities and uncovering a mystery is the basis of this feature.

Where Ratchet & Clank has one collecting gadgets, this one has you unlocking further psychic powers and honing these skills. Mostly, it’s the level design and soundtrack that fans will connect to, as there’s so much to explore. It was not a commercial success upon release, which is probably why it took 16 years to get a sequel.

4/15 Metal Arms: Glitch In The System

Robot walks through a hole with a gun in Metal Arms Glitch in the System

Approximate Game Length

12 Hours

Genre

Third-Person Shooter

Developer

Swingin' Ape Studios

Platforms

GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360

If you’ve ever played Secret Agent Clank, where one learns to play as a robot, then Metal Arms: Glitch in the System should be a breeze. It’s pretty much what would happen if Clank was the main playable character, although the story has its own genuine turn.

Set on a distant planet, the goal is to guide the main character in his quest to take down the evil leader of their race. While it sounds bleak, the game is actually pretty light in its theme, and an all-around worthy venture to take on.

3/15 It Takes Two

Cody and May race down an icy mountain

Approximate Game Length

13 Hours

Genre

Action/Adventure, Co-op, Puzzle

Developer

Hazelight Studios

Platforms

PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Hazelight Studios' first game was the cinematic, co-op action title, A Way Out. It Takes Two further cements the comapany's commitment to compelling and unique co-op gaming experiences. The game controls like a 3D platformer, but does so much more than just have players jump through obstacles.

RELATED: Things Everyone Missed In It Takes Two

Every chapter introduces a new gameplay mechanic and the two playable characters often control differently. Making co-op mandatory was a risky move, but it pays for It Takes Two, making it one of the most unique platformers in recent memory.

2/15 Marvel's Spider-Man

spider-man ps4via Insomniac

Approximate Game Length

17 Hours

Genre

Open World

Developer

Insomniac Games

Platforms

PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC (August 12, 2022)

This one might seem like an outlier, but Marvel's Spider-Man earns a place on the list because it comes from the same developer. The movement builds upon the freedom and fluidity of Sunset Overdrive. Spider-Man is in the unique position for being a super-hero game exclusive to one console, but a PC version was recently announced.

Some of Insomniac's earlier games, from before the first Ratchet & Clank, feature larger environments ripe for exploration, so it is great to see the developer take the idea further into a full open-world game.

1/15 Jak And Daxter: The Precursor Legacy

Jak and Daxter run in a field in Jak and Daxter

Approximate Game Length

8-10 Hours

Genre

Platformer Beat 'Em Up

Developer

Naughty Dog

Platforms

PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita

There’s no game made that has a closer resemblance to Ratchet & Clank than Jak and Daxter. The Precursor Legacy started things off for the series, and it’s where you should pick things up themselves.

Filled with its own brand of humor, the game doesn’t take long in establishing its characters as extremely likable. There’s also the dynamic between the leads, bringing in the best both have to offer both in gameplay and story. Playthroughs consist of traversing the open world, with the goal of collecting energy ecos for power-ups and level progression.

Is Jak and Daxter on PC?

The original Jak and Daxter games were a huge success back in the early 2000s. Created by Naughty Dog, Jak and Daxter was a 3D platformer released on Playstation 2. The people at Opengoal reverse engineered the classic game for PC.

Why did they stop making Jak and Daxter games?

However, Evan Wells revealed that they were unable to sustain the game's development alongside Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and made the decision to pass the project onto High Impact Games, ultimately being fleshed out as Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier.

Will there be a Jak and Daxter 4?

Naughty Dog's Jak 4 Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier, the PSP game that was eventually developed by High Impact Games, actually started off life within Naughty Dog. The studio's interest in making Jak and Daxter 4 didn't end there either.

Will there be a Jak and Daxter 5?

As Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann said, instead of dumping its ideas the studio ditched the Jak and Daxter title, leading to the creation of The Last of Us. It is possible to see a bit of Jak and Daxter's DNA in The Last of Us, and while many may be glad about Naughty Dog's choice, Jak and Daxter was left in the dust.