Every Crash Bandicoot game, ranked
All 6 Crash Bandicoot games we hold, spanning 1996 to 2020: 2 ranked by the GamingPickz Score and plotted below, the rest listed in release order so nothing in the series is missing. Together they carry 26,207 Steam reviews.
Where to start
- For the best-reviewed: Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (GamingPickz Score 7.8), the highest-rated entry we can score.
- For canon order: begin with Crash Bandicoot (1996) and follow the release-order timeline below.
The Crash Bandicoot games on the grid
Compare the whole catalogueThe same 2 games, plotted rather than listed. The two axes below are the ones the ranking is built from, so a game sitting high and right is a game the formula placed near the top. Change either axis to see the field a different way. Where we hold a publisher wordmark, the game is drawn as its mark rather than a dot.
2 games have both
Axes are fitted to these 2 games rather than the full 0 to 100 scale, because a filtered list shares a narrow band and would otherwise sit in one corner. End values are marked. A point on the left edge is the lowest of thesegames, not a low score.
Players. The share of Steam reviews marked positive, pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it. A game with 200 reviews moves a long way toward the average; one with 200,000 barely moves at all. Without this a title sitting at 100 percent on nine reviews outranks Half-Life 2 at 98 percent on 278,000.
Popularity. A blend of two things that are not the same. Audience is how many people wrote a Steam review, which is a floor on how many played it. Reach is how many language editions of Wikipedia document the game, which is cultural footprint rather than sales. A game can score high on one and low on the other: a huge free-to-play title has audience without reach, and a landmark console exclusive has reach without a Steam audience at all. Where both exist they are averaged; where only one does, that one carries it.
- Multi-platform
- PC
Every point links to that game's entry. The value map and the reception map are fixed views of the same data.
How positions are decided
No paid placement, no favouritism, live third-party data
- Placed by the published method, not by us. Every coordinate is computed from the axis definitions and weights printed on this site. Nobody moves a point. See the axes.
- Nothing here is paid for. No sponsored placements, no promoted slots, no arrangement of any kind affects a position. If that ever changes it will be labelled and sit outside the ranking.
- No favouritism, including our own. The 16 games we have written full reviews of are scored by exactly the same formula as the other 1,510, from the same third-party inputs, and they land where it puts them. Our own opinion of a game does not enter its coordinates.
- A position is not an endorsement. It says how a game was received and what it costs, not that we recommend it. Where we do recommend something, it carries a written review with a name on it.
- Fetched from live third-party data. Player sentiment from Steam, critic aggregates as published on store pages, prices checked hourly, attention from Wikipedia. Each figure carries its source and the date it was read, and we do not adjust any of them.
Every game by critic score
The grid above is built from Steam data, so it can only place the Crash Bandicoot games that were on Steam. This one uses the Metacritic critic aggregate, which the older console-only entries have too, so the whole series lands on a single chart: critic score against release year.
On Steam (also has a GamingPickz Score) Console-only (Metacritic only)
2 best Crash Bandicoot games, ranked
Ordered by GamingPickz Score. Every figure links back to the source that produced it.
- 1
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
7.8GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceCrash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy at a glance Released 2018 Studio Vicarious Visions Player sentiment 92% positive of 22,128 Critics No aggregate Price $39.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 30 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 92% shrinks to 91.9 on 22,128 reviews, giving 7.8. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- 2
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
7.0GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceCrash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time at a glance Released 2020 Studio Toys for Bob Player sentiment 86% positive of 4,079 Critics No aggregate Price $39.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 30 GB Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 86% shrinks to 85.8 on 4,079 reviews, giving 7.0. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
PlayStation 5Xbox Series X and Series SNintendo SwitchSteam Deck
Only the 2 Crash Bandicoot games with Steam review data can be scored and ranked. The complete series, scored or not, is charted in order below.
Best and worst entry
The best-received Crash Bandicoot game we can score is Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy at 7.8. The lowest is Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time at 7.0, a 0.8-point spread across the series. The GamingPickz Score is a composite of player sentiment, critics and popularity, computed the same way for every game.
Cheapest way in, and best value
- Cheapest right now: Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy at $39.99. Prices are read live from Steam and move.
- Best value: Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, the most GamingPickz Score per dollar in the series at its current price.
On a Steam Deck
Valve's own Deck compatibility rating for the Crash Bandicoot entries on Steam:
- Verified: Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
Platforms across the series
Where the 6 Crash Bandicoot games have landed, counting every entry we hold:
| Platform family | Entries |
|---|---|
| PC | 3 of 6 |
| PlayStation | 4 of 6 |
| Xbox | 2 of 6 |
| Nintendo | 2 of 6 |
The Crash Bandicoot series, game by game
Every Crash Bandicoot game we hold, in release order. Each description is the game's own, from Steam where it has a listing and Wikipedia for the older entries, never ours.
- 1996
Crash Bandicoot
not scoredCrash Bandicoot is a 1996 platform game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. The player controls Crash, a genetically enhanced bandicoot created by the mad scientist Doctor Neo Cortex. The story follows Crash as he aims to foil Cortex's plans for world domination… (Wikipedia)
Plot
In a secluded archipelago 300 miles (480 km) west of Tasmania , the mad scientist Doctor Neo Cortex uses his "Evolvo-Ray" to genetically alter the local wildlife into an anthropomorphic army of soldiers for the purpose of world domination . Among these soldiers is an eastern barred bandicoot named Crash, whom Cortex selects to be the general of his army. The day before Crash is subjected to the "Cortex Vortex", a machine intended to brainwash him, he… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Crash Bandicoot received generally favorable reviews from critics, with Electronic Gaming Monthly and GameFan rewarding it the "Game of the Month" title. Reviewers widely considered the gameplay to be standard for its genre, though some nevertheless regarded it to be enjoyable and polished; E. Storm of GameFan , who gave both the game and its competitor Super Mario 64 perfect scores, determined that " Mario 64 is a perfect action/adventure and… (Wikipedia)
- 1997
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
not scoredCrash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back is a 1997 platform game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is a sequel to Crash Bandicoot (1996), and is part of the Crash Bandicoot series. Taking place on a fictional group of islands near Australia, Crash Bandicoot 2… (Wikipedia)
Plot
After being defeated by Crash Bandicoot aboard his airship, Dr. Neo Cortex falls into a cavern full of powerful crystals . One year later, Cortex and his new assistant Dr. (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back was released to favorable reviews, receiving an aggregate score of 89% on GameRankings . The game was often praised as a superior sequel, with Paul Anderson and Andy McNamara of Game Informer and "Major Mike" of GamePro considering it one of the best platformers on the PlayStation, and PlayStation Magazine positioning it as a strong contender against competing franchises like Super Mario and Sonic the… (Wikipedia)
- 1998
Crash Bandicoot: Warped
Metacritic 91Crash Bandicoot: Warped, known in Europe as Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped, is a 1998 platform game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation. It is the third game in the Crash Bandicoot video game series following Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back. The game's story takes… (Wikipedia)
Plot
The shattered remains of Doctor Neo Cortex's space station crash-land on Earth and set free a powerful entity known as Uka Uka, the mastermind of Cortex's previous schemes. He regroups with Cortex and additionally recruits Doctor Nefarious Tropy, the inventor of a device named the Time Twisting Machine which will allow Cortex's minions to collect the Crystals and Gems from their original places in time. At the home of the Bandicoots, Aku Aku senses Uka… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Warped received "universal acclaim", according to review aggregator Metacritic . Johnny Ballgame of GamePro concluded that the game was "a very strong contender for PlayStation game of the year" and that the "rowdy rowdy" gameplay will keep your head spinning for days. " Official U. (Wikipedia)
- 2001
Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex
Metacritic 62Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex is a 2001 platform game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Universal Interactive for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube. It was first released for the PlayStation 2 in late 2001, and for the Xbox in April 2002; it was later ported to the GameCube by Eurocom… (Wikipedia)
Plot
Characters See also: List of Crash Bandicoot characters Ten returning characters from previous Crash titles star in Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex along with five new characters. The protagonist of the series, Crash Bandicoot, is a genetically enhanced eastern barred bandicoot who must defeat the antagonist Doctor Neo Cortex and his new superweapon. Coco Bandicoot, Crash's younger sister, is a highly intelligent computer expert with an interest in… (Wikipedia)
Characters
See also: List of Crash Bandicoot characters Ten returning characters from previous Crash titles star in Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex along with five new characters. The protagonist of the series, Crash Bandicoot, is a genetically enhanced eastern barred bandicoot who must defeat the antagonist Doctor Neo Cortex and his new superweapon. Coco Bandicoot, Crash's younger sister, is a highly intelligent computer expert with an interest in Hong Kong… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception The Wrath of Cortex received "mixed or average" reviews on all platforms, according to review aggregator Metacritic . Reviewers felt that the game was a non-challenging repetition of the formula set by the previous games, with Ben Kosmina of Nintendo World Report summarizing the game's structure as "a carbon copy of Crash 3 ". Louis Bedigian of GameZone , however, declared Wrath of Cortex to be better than the preceding games, as well as the… (Wikipedia)
- 2018
Your favorite marsupial, Crash Bandicoot™, is back! He’s enhanced, entranced and ready-to-dance with the N. Sane Trilogy. Relive all your favorite moments in Crash Bandicoot™, Crash Bandicoot™ 2: Cortex Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot™ 3: Warped, now in fully-remastered graphical glory! (Steam)
Reception
Reception Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy received "generally favorable" reviews across all platforms, according to review aggregator website Metacritic . The trilogy was lauded for its exceptional graphical update, with Alvaro Alonso of HobbyConsolas and Peter Brown of GameSpot comparing the vibrant, cartoon-like visuals to modern animated films. (Wikipedia)
- 2020
It’s About Time - the critically-acclaimed Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It's About Time is now on Steam! (Steam)
Plot
Following their defeat at the hands of Crash , Uka Uka attempts to liberate himself and Doctors Neo Cortex and Nefarious Tropy from their prison in the past. His latest effort rips open a hole in the fabric of space and time, and causes him to pass out. Cortex and N. (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time received "generally favorable" reviews on all platforms, according to review aggregator Metacritic . Michael Leri of GameRevolution gave the game a perfect score and proclaimed it to be the best entry in the series. The preservation and refinement of the classic Crash formula was commended, and the controls were deemed responsive. (Wikipedia)
Crash Bandicoot, head to head
Two entries side by side on score, price, specs and reception:
Crash Bandicoot vs other series
How Crash Bandicoot stacks up against other series in the same genre, as a whole:
Common questions
How many Crash Bandicoot games are there?
We hold 6 Crash Bandicoot games in the catalogue, released between 1996 and 2020. 2 of them carry enough Steam data to rank; the rest are listed in release order below, including console-only entries with no Steam listing.
Which Crash Bandicoot game is best?
By the GamingPickz Score, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy rates highest at 7.8. That is a composite of player sentiment, the critic aggregate and popularity, computed the same way for every game, not our opinion. The full ranking is above.
What order should I play the Crash Bandicoot games in?
Release order is listed below, from 1996 to 2020. For most series that is also story order, but we list dates rather than telling you a canon; the timeline is read from Wikidata.
More franchises
Browse every game franchise ranked the same way, or head to the full grid.