Ratchet & Clank – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Ratchet & Clank

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game2016

79%

WISE Score

80%

IGDB

A colorful, weapon-packed space romp that's basically Pixar meets third-person shooter—minus the tears.

Ratchet & Clank

game

2016

79%

WISE Score

80%

IGDB

A colorful, weapon-packed space romp that's basically Pixar meets third-person shooter—minus the tears.

Jump to

Also rated on

IGDB80

View →

Where to Play

PlayStation

Screenwise Verdict

This is exactly what a family-friendly reboot should be: vibrant, funny, and genuinely fun to play without dumbing things down. Insomniac Games took the beloved PS2 original and polished it into a gorgeous PS4 showcase that kids can actually play.

The shooting is cartoony enough to avoid feeling violent (enemies literally turn into currency when defeated), and the weapon variety keeps things fresh. Parents report even preschoolers can handle it, though 7+ is the sweet spot where kids can really appreciate the platforming challenges and humor.

It's not going to teach your kid about the meaning of life, but it will teach them timing, spatial reasoning, and how to manage an absurd arsenal of creative weapons. The friendship between Ratchet and Clank is genuine without being sappy, and there's zero monetization nonsense to worry about.

If your kid is ready to graduate from pure platformers but you're not ready to hand them Call of Duty, this is your game.

Age Fit

Best for ages 7-14, though parent reviews confirm younger kids (even 4-5) can handle it with help. The cartoony violence and straightforward gameplay make it accessible, while the humor and challenge keep tweens engaged. Teens may find it a bit juvenile unless they're franchise fans.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The 2016 reboot tones down edge from earlier games, delivering a family-friendly buddy adventure with humor that lands for kids without being obnoxious. Models friendship and teamwork between Ratchet and Clank, with Captain Qwark providing comic relief. Some body humor (barfing) and snarky dialogue, but nothing mean-spirited. Pacing is solid for a platformer-shooter hybrid.

Imaginative

Vibrant alien worlds, creative weapon design (the franchise is known for inventive arsenal like the Groovitron and Sheepinator), and varied platforming challenges. The world-hopping adventure format encourages exploration. Insomniac Games delivers colorful 1080p visuals that pop. Not groundbreaking for the series, but consistently imaginative in level design and gadgetry.

Safe

E10+ content with fantasy violence (cartoony shooting/explosions), animated blood, and mild alcohol reference. No online chat, no in-game purchases, no loot boxes. Users can interact online but it's limited. Violence is slapstick and consequence-free—enemies poof into bolts (currency). Parent reviews confirm even younger kids (4+) can play comfortably. No surprise mature content or toxicity.

Enriching

Solid hand-eye coordination, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving through platforming and combat puzzles. Light themes about friendship and proving yourself. But it's primarily entertainment—a well-crafted action-platformer that doesn't push cognitive or emotional growth much beyond genre basics. Fun, polished, but not particularly deep.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Gorgeous visuals and inventive weapons make blowing stuff up genuinely fun without feeling violent
Teaches spatial reasoning and timing through platforming challenges that scale nicely in difficulty
Buddy dynamic between Ratchet and Clank models friendship without being preachy
No monetization traps—buy it once, play it fully, no surprise charges
Gateway to action-platformers for kids ready to graduate from pure platformers like Mario

⚠

What to Watch For

Fantasy violence is cartoony but constant—enemies explode into bolts, weapons have comedic effects
Some body humor (characters barf, mild bathroom jokes) that younger kids find hilarious
Difficulty spikes in later levels may frustrate younger or less experienced players
Limited online interaction exists but no chat or communication features

Conversation Starters

"Which weapon was your favorite and why? What made it fun to use?"
"Ratchet wants to be a hero but keeps messing up—have you ever felt like that?"
"The game has you traveling to different planets—if you could design an alien world, what would it look like?"
"Captain Qwark is kind of full of himself—why do you think the game makes fun of him?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic