Every Naughty Dog Video Game Franchise, Ranked

Naughty Dog is one of the leading developers in the AAA market and for good reasons. The perfect mixture of gameplay, story, and graphics has made recent franchises from Naughty Dog stand out as some of the best in recent memory. Yet, with a past in the gaming industry that goes back decades, what are the best Naughty Dog franchises?

Naughty Dog didn’t start out with a bang, and it wasn’t until the seventh game that Naughty Dog put themselves on the map with memorable characters that are still around to this day. People love Naughty Dog, whether it’s their older cartoony platformers, or their matured and violently emotional stories, so it’s time to rank every Naughty Dog franchise.

4 Jak and Daxter

A New 3D Mascot Focused on Action and Adventure

Naughty Dog moved on from Crash Bandicoot by bringing further innovation of their technology and ideas to the PlayStation 2 era with Jak and Daxter. This inseparable duo would be the foundation for character-driven moments in sprawling sci-fi worlds that would inspire more games from the series, where Crash Bandicoot’s linear platforming was a thing of the past.

The Jak and Daxter games were all about having fun, and they are known as classics for a reason. Taking weird and wonderful elements and placing them in larger player spaces to allow fans to collect and explore the vastness of each zone made for a memorable experience back in the day, but one that has been laid to rest.

3 Crash Bandicoot

A Zany Marsupial That Competes With Mario and Sonic

Naughty Dog saw astounding success in 1996 when they released Crash Bandicoot on the PlayStation 1. As the company’s seventh game, it seemed that they had struck gold with the wild and spinning marsupial, who entered into the 3D platformer space to compete directly with some icons from other platforms. Crash Bandicoot is an utter classic that is beloved to this day, but it didn’t end there.

Since the original Crash Bandicoot in 1996, the series has gone on to have sequels and spin-offs galore. From a spin-off racing genre to the party modes, Crash Bandicoot has over 15 titles, and while only 4 of those titles came from Naughty Dog, they have paved the way for this platforming mascot icon to go further beyond.

2 The Last of Us

A Gritty Post-Apocalypse with Complex Characters and Violent Gameplay

The Last of Us is Naughty Dog’s newest franchise to hit the market, and while it’s only had two entries in the past eleven years, it’s still incredibly iconic, spawning a TV remake from HBO and plenty of remasters to ensure that PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 players can all experience the story of Joel and Ellie as they venture across an infected America, filled with monsters both human and too far gone.

The Last of Us is easily one of the most recognizable games of all time, and the stories that can be told within this harsh and bleak world are seemingly infinite. With a focus on volatile emotions, heart-wrenching survival, and a divided world, The Last of Us amazes in combat, exploration, and narrative with just two entries.

1 Uncharted

An Action-Packed Adventure with Heart and History

Naughty Dog embarks onto the PlayStation 3 with an entirely new franchise and drive for stories with Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune in 2007. A story that homages Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider with a Naughty Dog spin, fans loved the charisma and puzzle-driven nature of Nathan Drake as he fights his way through ancient temples. In fact, they loved it so much to span three additional sequels and a spin-off.

The Uncharted series is incredible with every entry bringing something new and iconic to the table. Naughty Dog’s transformation from cartoonish platformers to action-packed third-person shooters shows how innovative developers have evolved with the industry, providing incredible action and character-driven stories.