What's not to love about Crash Bandicoot? The lovable goofball debuted in 1996 on the PlayStation 1 as a sillier alternative to gaming icons Mario and Sonic. After a few stellar platformers, Crash quickly became one of PlayStation's greatest characters. But which Crash Bandicoot games are the best?
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The Crash Bandicoot series has endured a roller coaster of a life, producing some must-play 3D platformers and a few embarrassing duds. The best Crash games showcase the humor, charm, and unique platforming that made the series famous. While there are many outstanding titles, only one can be the best.
Only the mainline Crash Bandicoot games are included in this ranking.
9 Crash Of The Titans
A Swing And A Miss
Developer
Radical Entertainment
Launch Date
October 2, 2007
Consoles
PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation Portable
This attempt to rebrand the Crash series went about as well as Sonic Boom. Every character has a new, edgier design, and the standard platforming gameplay is pushed aside in favor of beat-em-up combat. The result is a shallow game that completely misunderstands what makes Crash great.
The concept revolves around Crash riding the backs of colossal monsters called Titans to mow down hoards of enemies. Sadly, the combat is tedious and repetitive, and the few platforming segments are mere shadows of what they used to be. It's perfectly playable, but there are much better beat-em-ups and Crash games.
8 Crash: Mind Over Mutant
The End Of Crash's Dark Ages
Developer
Radical Entertainment
Launch Date
October 7, 2008
Consoles
PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii
Mind Over Mutant improves upon Crash of the Titans in almost every way. The humor, story, and tone fit perfectly within the Crash Bandicoot universe, and the heavier emphasis on platforming is a breath of fresh air. There are even some quality-of-life updates that give the combat a much-needed boost.
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However, while the improvements are welcome additions, they don't fix the problem at the game's core. The beat-em-up gameplay lacks depth, and the egregious amount of backtracking kills the pacing. It's a step up from its predecessor but still fails to grasp what makes Crash unique.
7 Crash Twinsanity
The Funniest Crash Bandicoot Game
Developer
Traveller's Tales
Launch Date
September 28, 2004
Consoles
PlayStation 2, Xbox
Crash Twinsanity gets a lot of things right. The humor and character dynamics are some of the best in the series, and the new sandbox areas with a fully rotatable camera feel like a natural evolution from the classic format. Exploring, collecting items, and solving puzzles feel fun and satisfying with Crash's style of platforming.
Twinsanity features a fully a cappella soundtrack, beautifully highlighting the silliness Crash is known for. However, the long, gimmicky linear segments keep it from being one of the best Crash Bandicoot games. It's not terrible, but rather missed potential.
6 Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath Of Cortex
So Average That They Retconned It Out Of Existence
Developer
Traveller's Tales
Launch Date
October 30, 2001
Consoles
PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox
If you're looking for traditional Crash Bandicoot platforming, Wrath of Cortex delivers. The iconic run-and-jump gameplay is here, accompanied by new vehicle segments, including Super Monkey Ball-esque Altashpere levels and minecart segments akin to Donkey Kong 64.
Where the game falls short is its blatant self-plagiarism. Wrath of Cortex is so similar to its predecessor that it feels like Crash 3 DLC rather than its own game. Plus, the over-reliance on vehicle segments distracts from the platforming. However, it's not bad by any means and is worth playing if you want more of the classic Crash formula.
5 Crash Bandicoot 1
An All-Time Classic
Developer
Naughty Dog
Launch Date
September 9, 1996
Consoles
PlayStation 1
The original Crash Bandicoot is a retro game everyone should play at least once. While the characters and gameplay haven't fully developed their identities, there's enough goofy platforming to bring a smile to any 3D platformer fan. The levels offer a delightful challenge and constantly introduce new concepts to keep the gameplay fresh and exciting.
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One thing to be aware of is the game's awkward camera angle, which makes platforming cumbersome on a few levels. Despite that, Crash 1 is worth revisiting due to its quirky humor, endless charm, and fun gameplay. If you're new to the series, you might want to play the remake from the N. Sane Trilogy first.
4 Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped
A Time-Bending Adventure
Developer
Naughty Dog
Launch Date
November 3, 1998
Consoles
PlayStation 1
Crash 3 takes the bandicoot on a journey through time. You battle knights in medieval times, explore ancient Egyptian catacombs, outrun bloodthirsty dinosaurs, and much more. The addition of unlockable abilities expands Crash's moveset, leading to more platforming opportunities than ever.
In addition to the traditional platforming, Crash 3 goes all-in with vehicle segments, including motorcycle races, jet ski stages, and airplane dogfights. There are a ton of them, so your enjoyment will depend on whether you like those parts. Overall, Crash 3 is a stellar 3D platformer with some of the best stages in the PS1 trilogy.
3 Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
The Best Crash Bandicoot Game On PlayStation 1
Developer
Naughty Dog
Launch Date
October 31, 1997
Consoles
PlayStation 1
Crash Bandicoot 2 is everything a sequel should be. It improves upon the first game in every way while adding more secrets, better level designs, and smoother gameplay. This is when the series solidified its quirky identity, which shows in the game's immense charm and endearing humor.
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Crash 2 is a must-play platformer, largely thanks to its excellent stages. The levels can be played in any order in each world, and they're all brimming with personality and fun concepts. Watching Crash do his end-of-level dance showcases why people fell in love with the adorable dork. Give Crash 2 a try if you haven't already.
2 Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
A Great Way To Play The Classics
Developer
Vicarious Vision
Launch Date
June 30, 2017
Consoles
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows
The N. Sane Trilogy is the perfect example of a solid remake. This game remasters the first three Crash games, adding stunning graphics, new content, and plenty of quality-of-life improvements while maintaining what made the originals special.
The new additions include time trial modes for the first two games, the ability to play as Coco in every title, and a much more intuitive save system. If you're new to the Crash Bandicoot games, this is the definitive way to play the original trilogy. If you’ve played the originals, it's an excellent way to re-experience these timeless classics.
1 Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
The Best Crash Bandicoot Game
Developer
Toys For Bob
Launch Date
October 2, 2020
Consoles
PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Windows
If there's one Crash Bandicoot game you should play, it's Crash 4. This game revived the series by returning to the classic platforming format with new exciting twists to make it fresh and engaging. The biggest addition is the ability to play as Crash, Coco, Dr. Cortex, Dingodile, and Tawna, each with a fun and unique play style.
Also new to the series are the Quantum Masks, which are power-ups that grant Crash abilities, such as slowing down time or reversing gravity. The gameplay, levels, humor, and story are outstanding, cementing Crash 4 as the best Crash Bandicoot game and a must-play for platformer fans.
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