Ratchet & Clank is a game about the adventures of a Cosmic fennec named Ratchet and his robot ally Clank. Ratchet has always wanted to be a space ranger, and he finally gets a chance to prove himself. The game is action-packed and full of humor, with a parody of serious missions.

The game follows the genre's canon but always offers something fresh in every mission and decision. For instance, one mission requires stealing weapons technology from an enemy planet by knocking out giant flying octopuses' brains. The gameplay involves destroying enemies in unexpected ways using different weapons, including a shotgun that turns enemies into pixel pictures before crushing them. The game also features chases and other activities, as well as a variety of original, useful devices.