Let’s take a quick trip back to the late ‘90s. Sony’s exclusivity deal with Vivendi Universal for Crash Bandicoot was coming to an end, leaving the Japanese tech giant without a mascot for their upcoming PlayStation 2 console. In dire need of a killer app to fill Crash’s big, red, empty sneakers, Sony turned again to the veterans at Naughty Dog hoping that lightning would strike twice for the team that had brought them Crash Bandicoot.
Naughty Dog’s solution: Jak and Daxter, an open-world action platformer starring the elfish teen, Jak, and his human-turned-otter-weasel companion, Daxter. With its genre-bending mix of platforming, puzzle-solving, brawling, and racing elements, the Jak and Daxter series was a massive hit for Sony. It would go on to become a defining franchise for the PlayStation 2, spawning four mainline games, several spin-off titles, and selling over 15 million copies.
If you’re looking to replay this classic PS2 series or missed the games when they first came out, here’s a complete list of where to play the Jak and Daxter games now.
WHERE TO PLAY: Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy | Jak II | Jak 3 | Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier | Jak X: Combat Racing | Daxter
What Happened to the Jak and Daxter Series?
Although nearly all of the Jak and Daxter games have been well-received by critics and fans alike, sales reflected a waning interest in the franchise, with numbers steadily falling with each subsequent release. Yet, despite dwindling sales, members of Naughty Dog still expressed an interest in continuing the franchise well into the PlayStation 3’s life cycle. So, why has it been more than a decade since the last Jak and Daxter game?
Well, once the seventh generation of consoles came around, mascot platformers were long out of mode. And although Naughty Dog were keen to continue the saga of Jak and Daxter, the team eventually decided to move on with new IPs that would become Uncharted and The Last of Us.
As of the time of publishing, it’s been more than a decade since the release of the last mainline title, 2009’s Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier. In a recent interview, Evan Wells, co-President of Naughty Dog stated that no new Jak and Daxter project is currently in development.
Where Can I Play the Jak and Daxter Games Now?
The good news is that Sony has been keeping the legacy of the Jak and Daxter games alive with updated releases for newer console generations. Not all of the titles in the series have received the same amount of love, however, and there are a few notable titles yet to receive a modern remaster. Here are the Jak and Daxter games and where you can play them now:
Where To Play Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
| Console | Version | Physical/Digital |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 2 | Original | Physical |
| PlayStation 3 | Jak and Daxter Collection | Both |
| PlayStation 4 | PS2 Classics | Digital |
| Jak and Daxter Bundle | Both | |
| Remaster | Both | |
| PlayStation 5 | PS4 versions playable via backwards compatibility | Both |
| PlayStation Vita | Jak and Daxter Collection | Digital |
The game that introduced the world to Jak and Daxter has been remastered twice: in 2012’s Jak and Daxter Collection (PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita), and again in 2017’s Jak and Daxter Bundle (PlayStation 4). Collection lets you play The Precursor Legacy at 720p and 60 frames-per-second, while the newer Bundle supports full HD 1080p at 60fps.
The Precursor Legacy is also available digitally on the PS Store for the PlayStation 4 under the “PS2 Classics” brand.
A physical, limited run Collector’s Edition of the game is available for the PS4, but prepare to spend a hefty sum of money for it.
The PlayStation 2 version is readily available on eBay and Amazon. If you’ve got a working PS2, you can enjoy the original experience without much hassle.
Additionally, all PS4 versions of The Precursor Legacy are playable on the PlayStation 5 via backwards compatibility.
Where To Play Jak II
| Console | Version | Physical/Digital |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 2 | Original | Physical |
| PlayStation 3 | Jak and Daxter Collection | Both |
| PlayStation 4 | PS2 Classics | Digital |
| Jak and Daxter Bundle | Both | |
| Remaster | Both | |
| PlayStation 5 | PS4 versions playable via backwards compatibility | Both |
| PlayStation Vita | Jak and Daxter Collection | Digital |
Remastered versions of Jak II are available in the Jak and Daxter Collection and the Jak and Daxter Bundle.
Jak II is also a “PS2 Classic” and can be bought digitally on the PS Store for the PlayStation 4. A Limited run Collector’s Edition of Jak II is available physically, but it’s hard to find and will cost you a pretty penny.
Alternatively, the PS2 version can be easily found online if you want to play on the original hardware.
All PS4 versions of Jak II are playable on the PlayStation 5 via backwards compatibility.
Where To Play Jak 3
| Console | Version | Physical/Digital |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 2 | Original | Physical |
| PlayStation 3 | Jak and Daxter Collection | Both |
| PlayStation 4 | PS2 Classics | Digital |
| Jak and Daxter Bundle | Both | |
| Remaster | Both | |
| PlayStation 5 | PS4 versions playable via backwards compatibility | Both |
| PlayStation Vita | Jak and Daxter Collection | Digital |
Jak 3 can also be found in the Jak and Daxter Collection and Jak and Daxter Bundle.
Jak 3 is part of the PS2 Classic brand and can be purchased digitally for the Playstation 4 via the PS Store. Like The Precursor Legacy and Jak II, there is also a limited run Collector’s Edition of the remastered version of Jak 3 for the PS4.
The original PS2 version is also readily available in online stores.
All PS4 versions of Jak 3 are playable on the PlayStation 5 via backwards compatibility.
Where To Play Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier
| Console | Version | Physical/Digital |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 2 | Original | Physical |
| PlayStation Portable | Original | Physical |
The Lost Frontier is a direct sequel to the original trilogy of Jak and Daxter games released for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable. Unfortunately, it hasn’t received the same love from Sony as the original trilogy, and there’s no modern remaster of The Lost Frontier as of the time of publishing.
The Lost Frontier received lukewarm reviews from critics and the reception from players wasn’t too hot, either. The original PS2 and PSP discs are relatively difficult to find online. They’re also rather pricey due, but if you just have to play the worst rated game in the franchise, you’ll have to do so on the original hardware.
Where To Play Jak X: Combat Racing
| Console | Version | Physical/Digital |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 2 | Original | Physical |
| PlayStation 4 | PS2 Classics | Digital |
| Jak and Daxter Bundle | Both | |
| Remaster | Both | |
| PlayStation 5 | PS4 versions playable via backwards compatibility | Both |
Jak X: Combat Racing was the vehicular combat spin-off featuring gameplay inspired by the Twisted Metal series. You can find a HD remaster of it in the Jak and Daxter Bundle for the PlayStation 4.
Jak X: Combat Racing is part of the PS2 Classic brand and can be purchased digitally for the Playstation 4 via the PS Store.
A limited run Collector’s Edition of the game exists for the PlayStation 4, but it’s extremely difficult to find.
Like The Lost Frontier, the PlayStation 2 version of Jak X: Combat Racing is a bit harder to find a physical copy of.
All PS4 versions of Jak X: Combat Racing are playable on the PlayStation 5 via backwards compatibility.
Where To Play Daxter
| Console | Version | Physical/Digital |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation Portable | Original | Physical |
Daxter was the spin-off platformer featuring Daxter as the primary protagonist for the first time. Released as a PlayStation Portable exclusive in 2006, Daxter is yet to be remastered for modern consoles.
If you have the original hardware, you can find plenty of copies of the original PSP version online today.
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