Naughty Dog Ranked
Year: 1989-Present (1984-1989 as Jam Software)
Based: Santa Monica, California
Number of Released Games: 21 (15 considered)
Naughty Dog is widely regarded as one of the best developers in the business at this moment in time. Beginning life as Jam Software until renaming in 1989, the studio is responsible for some of the biggest franchises and most critically acclaimed games on the Playstation systems. Before their Sony partnership in 1995 (and acquisition in 2001) however, Naughty Dog were responsible for games such as Keef the Thief and Way of the Warrior which were some of the best titles for their respective systems.
This list considers only games from their partnership with Sony onwards. Also keep in mind that some entries in their well-known franchises were not developed by them (such as Uncharted: Golden Abyss), remasters are also excluded. So, without further ado let’s search for lost treasure, save the world, escape from an evil scientist, and do whatever it takes to survive!
#15 Crash Team Racing (1999)
This list considers only games from their partnership with Sony onwards. Also keep in mind that some entries in their well-known franchises were not developed by them (such as Uncharted: Golden Abyss), remasters are also excluded. So, without further ado let’s search for lost treasure, save the world, escape from an evil scientist, and do whatever it takes to survive!
#15 Crash Team Racing (1999)
Naughty Dog’s first of two forays into kart racing games was with the PS1 mascot Crash Bandicoot and company. It was a surprise hit and went on to become one of the systems must own games, becoming the Playstation equivalent to Mario Kart. Taking the series best characters and have them dash around iconic locations from the previous games all whilst trying to destroy each other, collect that delicious wumpa fruit and of course cross the finish line first.
#14 Jak X: Combat Racing (2005)
#14 Jak X: Combat Racing (2005)
The last J&D entry by Naughty Dog sees the dynamic duo heading to Kras City and entering a racing tournament where first prize is living to see another day.
The gameplay is similar to Wipeout, speed round the track as fast as you can whilst dodging a near endless barrage of attacks from other players intent on destroying your car.
This entry and Crash Team Racing are near interchangeable with each other. Both games are good, but the only real deciding factor between the two is series preference.
#13 Jak 2: Renegade (2003)
The gameplay is similar to Wipeout, speed round the track as fast as you can whilst dodging a near endless barrage of attacks from other players intent on destroying your car.
This entry and Crash Team Racing are near interchangeable with each other. Both games are good, but the only real deciding factor between the two is series preference.
#13 Jak 2: Renegade (2003)
Jak 2: Renegade really is a marmite game for the majority of gamers and unfortunately for me it falls more towards the dislike side of the scales. Following on from the rather cutesy platformer Jak & Daxter, Jak II is a dark action-adventure game that presents itself somewhat similarly to a GTA clone.
Having been teleported to Haven City, Jak is imprisoned for 2 years and experimented on with dark eco. When he is busted out by buddy Daxter he is a very different person. Every emo teenagers dream boy with long flowing hair, a gravelly voice, and enough attitude to give even the most angsty of youngsters a run for their money.
Jak II is a very difficult game, to the point of being tedious, and at times poorly designed. Its lack of mission checkpoints and little room for error in its long levels will easily bring about frustration. Though it does have the best story in the Jak series so it is a shame that the frustrating gameplay holds it back.
#12 Crash Bandicoot (1996)
Having been teleported to Haven City, Jak is imprisoned for 2 years and experimented on with dark eco. When he is busted out by buddy Daxter he is a very different person. Every emo teenagers dream boy with long flowing hair, a gravelly voice, and enough attitude to give even the most angsty of youngsters a run for their money.
Jak II is a very difficult game, to the point of being tedious, and at times poorly designed. Its lack of mission checkpoints and little room for error in its long levels will easily bring about frustration. Though it does have the best story in the Jak series so it is a shame that the frustrating gameplay holds it back.
#12 Crash Bandicoot (1996)
With Sony in desperate need of a mascot to rival Mario & Sonic the Hedgehog, they called upon Naughty Dog to create a loveable yet mischievous mascot who could sell the console to the masses. What was created was “Sonic's Ass”, A.K.A Crash Bandicoot. A 2.5D platformer about a bright orange bandicoot who collected fruit, smashed crates, and foiled the plans of Dr. Neo Cortex, a mad scientist hell bent on ruling the world.
Crash Bandicoot not only became the mascot Playstation were looking for but an icon in gaming. It is also considered one of the greatest platformers ever created, bringing with it a new era of technology not capable on a cartridge and established Naughty Dog as one of gaming's greatest developers.
#11 Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (1997)
Crash Bandicoot not only became the mascot Playstation were looking for but an icon in gaming. It is also considered one of the greatest platformers ever created, bringing with it a new era of technology not capable on a cartridge and established Naughty Dog as one of gaming's greatest developers.
#11 Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (1997)
After the success of the original Crash Bandicoot, Naughty Dog had a tough job on their hands to top it in the sequel. But they managed it and what was created was arguably the best platformer on the system.
Dr. Neo Cortex is now trying to save the world and requires Crash's help to do so. As you explore N. Sanity Island you must collect crystals to help him stop the world from ending.
Though it has less variation in levels in comparison to 3, as well as some moments of trial and error gameplay. Overall an improvement on the first, but only marginally.
#10 Jak 3 (2004)
Dr. Neo Cortex is now trying to save the world and requires Crash's help to do so. As you explore N. Sanity Island you must collect crystals to help him stop the world from ending.
Though it has less variation in levels in comparison to 3, as well as some moments of trial and error gameplay. Overall an improvement on the first, but only marginally.
#10 Jak 3 (2004)
Jak 3 is considered by many to be an inferior sequel to Jak 2. But I consider it almost an all-round improvement. It brings in mission checkpoints, combat refinement, and camera improvements, as well as new sets of eco powers to wield.
Picking up shortly after the end of Jak II, Haven City is under siege from the metal head forces who are being commanded by a mysterious new figurehead after the death of Kor. The KG deathbots have been turned against the citizens of the city and the palace has been destroyed. On top of all of this our heroes have been exiled by Count Veger for unspecified crimes against the city. To make matters even worse there is a mysterious star in the sky that grows brighter by the day and is believed to signal the end of the world.
Jak 3 is an ok conclusion to a trilogy, it does have the weakest story in the series but it's serviceable. It's the gameplay improvements that really set it apart from Jak 2.
#9 Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (2007)
Picking up shortly after the end of Jak II, Haven City is under siege from the metal head forces who are being commanded by a mysterious new figurehead after the death of Kor. The KG deathbots have been turned against the citizens of the city and the palace has been destroyed. On top of all of this our heroes have been exiled by Count Veger for unspecified crimes against the city. To make matters even worse there is a mysterious star in the sky that grows brighter by the day and is believed to signal the end of the world.
Jak 3 is an ok conclusion to a trilogy, it does have the weakest story in the series but it's serviceable. It's the gameplay improvements that really set it apart from Jak 2.
#9 Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (2007)
The Uncharted games have become one of the most critically acclaimed series in video game history, with each instalment being near perfect examples of how to create exciting, complex and technically impressive action games.
Following adventurer Nathan Drake, a supposed descendant of Sir Francis Drake; his mentor Victor Sullivan, and reporter Elena Fisher on the adventure of a lifetime as they discover the journal of Sir Francis detailing the fabled city of gold, El Dorado. An opportunity they simply cannot pass up and ultimately leads them in a dangerous race to find the treasure first against a lethal force of pirates headed by a rival treasure hunter.
Drake's Fortune is just the start of one of gaming's best ever game series and it's something everyone should experience.
#8 Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped (1998)
Following adventurer Nathan Drake, a supposed descendant of Sir Francis Drake; his mentor Victor Sullivan, and reporter Elena Fisher on the adventure of a lifetime as they discover the journal of Sir Francis detailing the fabled city of gold, El Dorado. An opportunity they simply cannot pass up and ultimately leads them in a dangerous race to find the treasure first against a lethal force of pirates headed by a rival treasure hunter.
Drake's Fortune is just the start of one of gaming's best ever game series and it's something everyone should experience.
#8 Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped (1998)
Taking place after the events of Crash 2, the Cortex Vortex has crash landed to Earth and Aku Aku's evil younger brother Uka Uka has teamed up with Dr. Neo Cortex and Dr. Nefarious Tropy, together they are travelling through time to gather crystals to enslave the planet. As such Crash & Co. must join in with the time travelling shenanigans to stop them from succeeding. Warped has the most varying environments of the series as well as being one of the most technically impressive games on the system. It's a near flawless game in so many ways.
#7 Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (2001)
#7 Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (2001)
After the success of Crash Bandicoot Sony wanted a system seller for the Playstation 2. Once again Naughty Dog stepped up to the task and created Jak & Daxter. Featuring the first seamless game world, requiring no loading screens as you explored and some of the most impressive animation ever seen in a video game.
Following two young boys as they search the land for sages capable of helping the mischievous Daxter out of a little problem he has gotten himself into when he falls into a vat of purple ooze called Dark Eco.
It's fun, frantic, and full of exciting places to explore. Jak & Daxter was one of the best games on the system, even if the duo weren't as iconic as Crash Bandicoot was in the previous generation.
#6 Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (2017)
Following two young boys as they search the land for sages capable of helping the mischievous Daxter out of a little problem he has gotten himself into when he falls into a vat of purple ooze called Dark Eco.
It's fun, frantic, and full of exciting places to explore. Jak & Daxter was one of the best games on the system, even if the duo weren't as iconic as Crash Bandicoot was in the previous generation.
#6 Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (2017)
An Uncharted game without Natahan Drake? Madness! Well, actually it's quite good. Following series semi-regular Chloe Frazer and one of Uncharted 4's villains Nadine Ross on an adventure to find the tusk of Ganesh before an Indian warlord does. It's a more compact, and more character driven Uncharted than many of the other entries, but also doesn't quite reach the same great heights. Overall though a great time.
#6 Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (2011)
#6 Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (2011)
The final Uncharted for the Playstation 3 and the most explosive in the series. You can only think that Michael Bay looks at Uncharted 3 for inspiration when coming up with his newest films due to it's jaw droppingly huge set pieces and massive combat sequences.
Following Nate's team of thieves as they search for the Atlantis of the Sands whilst trying to survive against a secret society started up by Queen Victoria who are intent on taking the ring of Sir Francis Drake from Nathan. Uncharted 3 is a globe trotting adventure that from the moment you boot it up never stops accelerating until its explosive finale that will leave you questioning how on earth your Playstation 3 didn't just melt from one of the most impressive looking games on the system.
#4 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009)
Following Nate's team of thieves as they search for the Atlantis of the Sands whilst trying to survive against a secret society started up by Queen Victoria who are intent on taking the ring of Sir Francis Drake from Nathan. Uncharted 3 is a globe trotting adventure that from the moment you boot it up never stops accelerating until its explosive finale that will leave you questioning how on earth your Playstation 3 didn't just melt from one of the most impressive looking games on the system.
#4 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009)
You know you're in for a good top 4 when the #4 entry is often considered one of the best games ever made and the most critically acclaimed game of 2009; having won the coveted 'Game of the Year' award from almost every major gaming publication.
Set a couple of years after Drake's Fortune, Among Thieves sees Nate trying to find the city of Shambhala in Nepal. Accompanied by the unpredictable Chloe Frazer and pit against ex-partner Harry Flynn as well as Soviet warlord Zoran Lazaravich, Among Thieves was a revolutionary game for it's technical standard, complex storyline, human characters and refined gameplay mechanics.
It was one of the earlier signs that games were evolving into a mature, more complex medium of entertainment and something that wouldn't just appeal to stereotypical gamers anymore.
#3 The Last of Us Part 2 (2020)
Set a couple of years after Drake's Fortune, Among Thieves sees Nate trying to find the city of Shambhala in Nepal. Accompanied by the unpredictable Chloe Frazer and pit against ex-partner Harry Flynn as well as Soviet warlord Zoran Lazaravich, Among Thieves was a revolutionary game for it's technical standard, complex storyline, human characters and refined gameplay mechanics.
It was one of the earlier signs that games were evolving into a mature, more complex medium of entertainment and something that wouldn't just appeal to stereotypical gamers anymore.
#3 The Last of Us Part 2 (2020)
The Last of Us Part 2 certainly was a divisive game. It had the almost impossible job of following up 2013's The Last of Us; and whilst critically it fared incredibly well, and commercially it sold faster than any other PlayStation 4 exclusive title, with many fans it didn't quite sit right due to the game's bold but questionable narrative decisions, and generally unsettling tone.
Set 4 years after the end of the first game, Ellie travels to Seattle in search of revenge against a group of survivors that attacked her home settlement. The game's fixation on unrelenting violence, and vengeance at any cost is certainly uncomfortable at times. It's an extremely long game for a linear title, coming in at around 25-30 hours (around 3 times longer than the original), and is awkwardly paced with the majority of the central story essentially being over come the midpoint of the game, then spending the second half doing very little other than world building. It doesn't do much to try and improve the gameplay from the original, luckily the first game was so incredible that Part 2 is also pretty great, but it feels like you're treading a lot of familiar ground and overall doesn't quite live up to the outstanding quality of the original.
#2 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (2016)
Set 4 years after the end of the first game, Ellie travels to Seattle in search of revenge against a group of survivors that attacked her home settlement. The game's fixation on unrelenting violence, and vengeance at any cost is certainly uncomfortable at times. It's an extremely long game for a linear title, coming in at around 25-30 hours (around 3 times longer than the original), and is awkwardly paced with the majority of the central story essentially being over come the midpoint of the game, then spending the second half doing very little other than world building. It doesn't do much to try and improve the gameplay from the original, luckily the first game was so incredible that Part 2 is also pretty great, but it feels like you're treading a lot of familiar ground and overall doesn't quite live up to the outstanding quality of the original.
#2 Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (2016)
Set several years after Uncharted 3, Nate has retired from adventuring and has settled down and remarried Elena Fisher. He works at a salvage company and she writes articles for travel magazines. They are pretending that they are happy with the safer life they are now living.
That is until Nate's brother walks back into his life after 15 years of having been presumed dead. Needing Nathan to join him on an adventure to find the treasure of legendary pirate Henry Avery in order to save his life from a dangerous drug kingpin who busted him out of prison. Nate leaves his retirement, lying to Elena about what he is doing, and starts up one last adventure with his brother for the treasure they always talked about finding together.
Uncharted 4 is less about being an over the top explosive action game, and actually becomes more of a character study of the people we know and love from the series. It's a coming of age story if anything, exploring what makes Nate tick as well as presenting one of the most natural looking relationships in entertainment between Nate & Elena.
It's tough to explain just how amazing this game is and should absolutely be played by any self respecting gamer. Showing just what current gen consoles are capable of with jaw dropping visuals and animation. Gaming doesn't really get better than this.
#1 The Last of Us (2013)
That is until Nate's brother walks back into his life after 15 years of having been presumed dead. Needing Nathan to join him on an adventure to find the treasure of legendary pirate Henry Avery in order to save his life from a dangerous drug kingpin who busted him out of prison. Nate leaves his retirement, lying to Elena about what he is doing, and starts up one last adventure with his brother for the treasure they always talked about finding together.
Uncharted 4 is less about being an over the top explosive action game, and actually becomes more of a character study of the people we know and love from the series. It's a coming of age story if anything, exploring what makes Nate tick as well as presenting one of the most natural looking relationships in entertainment between Nate & Elena.
It's tough to explain just how amazing this game is and should absolutely be played by any self respecting gamer. Showing just what current gen consoles are capable of with jaw dropping visuals and animation. Gaming doesn't really get better than this.
#1 The Last of Us (2013)
The Last of Us is often considered the last great game of the seventh generation, and using the words great game is a massive understatement. Much like Uncharted 2 did in 2009, The Last of Us was one of the most instrumental games in showing that gaming was now capable of delivering stories that were just as, if not more complex than what film, TV, and books are capable of offering. To illustrate the impact it had, The Last of Us was the winner of over 200 'Game of the Year' awards, as the cover of it's PS4 remastering is keen to remind gamers.
Set twenty years into an apocalypse that has decimated the human race, turning the majority of the population into hideous creatures that are manipulated by an extremely contagious fungus called Cordyceps. Joel is a cold, hardened survivor that is now in his forties. Reluctant to form close bonds to people because everyone he has ever grown close to in his entire life has been killed either by the infection, or by the violent remnants of humanity that has been left behind.
He is tasked with smuggling a teenage girl called Ellie across America as she holds the key to curing the infection. Born into this world, Ellie has no knowledge of any other kind of life, believing that this is the way the world always has been and probably always will be. Over the year that they spend together the two form a father/daughter bond and face some of the darkest and most unsettling tales ever told in gaming as they come into contact with various groups of survivors, both friendly and hostile, as well as the infected that roam the wilderness.
If there was such a thing as a perfect game, The Last of Us would probably be the closest thing you could get to it. With its amazing story, excellent blend of stealth action gameplay, and some of the most impressive graphics, animation, and voice talent ever seen in a game. It's something everyone, gamer or not should play.
Set twenty years into an apocalypse that has decimated the human race, turning the majority of the population into hideous creatures that are manipulated by an extremely contagious fungus called Cordyceps. Joel is a cold, hardened survivor that is now in his forties. Reluctant to form close bonds to people because everyone he has ever grown close to in his entire life has been killed either by the infection, or by the violent remnants of humanity that has been left behind.
He is tasked with smuggling a teenage girl called Ellie across America as she holds the key to curing the infection. Born into this world, Ellie has no knowledge of any other kind of life, believing that this is the way the world always has been and probably always will be. Over the year that they spend together the two form a father/daughter bond and face some of the darkest and most unsettling tales ever told in gaming as they come into contact with various groups of survivors, both friendly and hostile, as well as the infected that roam the wilderness.
If there was such a thing as a perfect game, The Last of Us would probably be the closest thing you could get to it. With its amazing story, excellent blend of stealth action gameplay, and some of the most impressive graphics, animation, and voice talent ever seen in a game. It's something everyone, gamer or not should play.