Crash Bandicoot is a video game series created by Naughty Dog as a main game for Sony's PlayStation console. The series began in 1994, inspired by the new abilities of 3D consoles and games like Donkey Kong Country (1994). The main character was first named "Willy the Wombat" but later became Crash Bandicoot, a funny, genetically changed eastern barred bandicoot who escapes from the mad scientist Doctor Neo Cortex. The first three games—Cortex Strikes Back (1997) and Warped (1998)—along with the kart racing game Crash Team Racing (1999), were praised for their colorful graphics and smooth gameplay. After Naughty Dog left the series following Crash Team Racing due to burnout and ownership problems, the franchise was released on multiple platforms by different companies, including Universal Interactive, Vivendi Games, and Activision.
The games focus on 3D platforming with levels that follow a straight path or connect to a central area. Players control Crash, moving through levels filled with obstacles, mostly seen from a third-person view, with some parts viewed from the side. Key actions include jumping, spinning to defeat enemies, collecting Wumpa fruit for extra lives, breaking crates for rewards, and gathering crystals, gems, and relics to unlock new content. Later games added special abilities earned by defeating bosses. The series takes place in a fictional island with different environments and includes time-traveling and multiverse themes in later games. Characters include Crash, his sister Coco, the protective spirit Aku Aku, and villains like Cortex, Uka Uka, and their mutant helpers.
After a period of lower praise during the 2000s and a break in the early 2010s, the series returned successfully with the remastered original trilogy, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (2017), followed by the remastered Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (2019) and the new game Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time (2020). Crash Bandicoot helped Naughty Dog become a major game developer and made Crash the unofficial mascot of the PlayStation. By 2007, the series sold 40 million copies worldwide and inspired merchandise, movies, and scientific names.
History
Naughty Dog was started as JAM Software in 1984 by friends Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin. Their first game was the educational title Math Jam (1985). Later games included Ski Crazed (1987), Dream Zone (1988), Keef the Thief (1989), and Rings of Power (1992). After completing Way of the Warrior (1994), Gavin and Rubin moved from Boston to Los Angeles to work with Universal Interactive. During this move, they decided to create a 3D platformer game to take advantage of new console technology, inspired by the computer-generated images in Donkey Kong Country (1994). They chose to develop the game for Sony’s PlayStation because Sony did not yet have a popular mascot character.
Production of the new game began in October 1994. To design the characters and setting, Naughty Dog hired cartoonists Charles Zembillas and Joe Pearson. The main character was first called "Willy the Wombat" and was imagined as a silly, Zorro-like Tasmanian marsupial. The character was later changed to a bandicoot because the species was less well-known and more appealing. During development, Naughty Dog showed the game to Sony Computer Entertainment to secure a publishing deal.
Crash Bandicoot was shown at E3 1996, where it quickly caught attention for its bright and colorful visuals. The game was released on September 9, 1996, and sold over 1 million copies worldwide by the end of the year. Its sequel, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (1997), also sold strongly, reaching 1 million units in the United States by February 1998. The third game, Crash Bandicoot: Warped (1998), sold over 5.7 million units worldwide by 2002. A kart racing game, Crash Team Racing (1999), sold 1.9 million units in the United States.
Crash Team Racing was the last Crash Bandicoot game made by Naughty Dog. The developers felt tired from creating so many games and wanted more control over the Crash Bandicoot brand. They began working on Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (2001). During this time, Sony bought Naughty Dog, while Universal kept the Crash Bandicoot rights. Crash Bash, a party game made by Eurocom, was the first Crash Bandicoot game not developed by Naughty Dog. It was released on November 8, 2000, and was the last Crash Bandicoot game made only for Sony consoles.
After Sony and Universal ended their partnership, Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex (2001) was made by Traveller’s Tales. Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure (2002), developed by Vicarious Visions, was the first Crash Bandicoot game for a handheld console, the Game Boy Advance. It was followed by Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced (2003). Vicarious Visions also released Crash Nitro Kart (2003) for home consoles and handheld devices. Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto’s Rampage (2004), a game that combined Crash Bandicoot with Spyro, was also released. Traveller’s Tales later made Crash Twinsanity (2004).
In 2005, Universal Interactive, now called Vivendi Universal Games, bought Radical Entertainment. Radical released Crash Tag Team Racing (2007). Japanese developer Dimps made Crash Boom Bang! (2006) for the Nintendo DS. Radical’s next game, Crash of the Titans (2007), focused more on combat and introduced a new mechanic where Crash could control large creatures called Titans. The characters were redesigned with a "punk" style to make them look more modern. Amaze Entertainment made handheld versions of the game for the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance.
In 2008, Activision bought Vivendi Games, including the Crash Bandicoot brand. Polarbit released a mobile kart racing game, Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D (2008), and Radical made Crash: Mind over Mutant (2008). A Nintendo DS version of the game was made by Tose. Vivendi Games Mobile released a mobile game, Crash Bandicoot: Mutant Island (2009). In 2010, Activision cut jobs at Radical Entertainment, and the Crash Bandicoot series stopped being developed for a time.
The Crash Bandicoot series returned in 2016 with the announcement of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, a remastered version of the first three games. The trilogy was made by Vicarious Visions and released on PlayStation 4 in 2017, later expanding to other platforms. By 2024, the trilogy had sold over 20 million copies worldwide. A remastered version of Crash Team Racing, called Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, was made by Beenox and sold 10 million copies by 2025.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time (2021), made by Toys for Bob, was a new 3D platformer that returned to the series’ roots. Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! (2021), an endless runner game made by King, was later discontinued. Crash Team Rumble (2023), a multiplayer game made by Toys for Bob, was released. However, after Toys for Bob left Activision, updates stopped in 2024. A planned Crash Bandicoot 5 was canceled due to the poor sales of Crash Bandicoot 4 and Activision’s focus on live service games.
Gameplay
The Crash Bandicoot series features 3D platforming gameplay where players guide the main character, Crash, through levels filled with obstacles, enemies, and environmental dangers. Crash can move in all directions, and the controls remain the same no matter where he is. Most games use a third-person view, showing Crash moving toward the screen. Some levels use a side-scrolling view, while others require Crash to move toward the screen to escape large obstacles like rolling boulders, angry polar bears, or dinosaurs. In certain levels, Crash rides animals that move uncontrollably, requiring him to avoid obstacles and enemies. Throughout the series, Crash uses various vehicles, such as a rocket surfboard, jet pack, motorcycle, and biplane.
Crash's main actions are jumping and sliding. His special move is the spin attack, a spinning motion that can defeat enemies by launching them off-screen. Enemies knocked off-screen can hit other enemies in their path. Starting with Crash Bandicoot: Warped, Crash earns new abilities by defeating bosses. Games like Crash of the Titans and Crash: Mind over Mutant include combat and a "jacking" feature, allowing Crash to control large mutant enemies called Titans.
Some levels have bonus areas marked by a question mark platform. In these areas, Crash must collect items while navigating a path. Dying in a bonus area does not cost a life and sends Crash back to the question mark platform. In the original game, bonus levels are accessed by collecting tokens shaped like Crash’s girlfriend, Tawna, the villain Cortex, or Cortex’s assistant, Doctor Nitrus Brio. Tawna’s bonus rounds are easy and let players save their game. Brio’s rounds are harder, with more obstacles. Cortex’s rounds are the most difficult and give Crash a key to unlock a secret level.
Levels in the original game follow a straight path on a map. Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back introduces five hub areas, each with five levels that can be played in any order. Crash must collect a crystal and defeat a boss to progress. This system returns in later games like Crash Bandicoot: Warped and Crash Bandicoot: The Huge Adventure. Later games use branching maps (Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced and Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time) or open-world exploration (Crash Twinsanity and Crash: Mind over Mutant).
Wumpa fruit is the main collectible item. Collecting 100 fruits gives an extra life. In Crash of the Titans and Crash: Mind over Mutant, Wumpa fruit restores health, with golden versions giving extra lives or permanent health upgrades. These games also feature magic Mojo orbs, earned by defeating enemies or destroying objects, which unlock abilities like extended spins or combo attacks. Aku Aku masks protect Crash from enemies: one gives a single shield, two offer double protection, and three grant temporary invincibility. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time adds Quantum Masks, which provide powers like time manipulation and gravity reversal.
Gems are rewards for clearing levels by breaking all crates or finding them in secret areas. Most gems are clear and colorless, but some colored gems appear in special levels and lead to hidden areas. Crash Twinsanity includes colored gems that unlock bonus content. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time adds more ways to earn gems, such as collecting Wumpa fruit or completing levels without losing too many lives. Crystals, introduced in Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, are essential for completing games. Crash Bandicoot: Warped adds Relics, earned by completing time trials with fast times. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time includes N. Sanely Perfect Relics, earned by collecting all level gems without losing a life.
Crates have been a key element since the first game. Wooden crates break with one spin attack and often contain Wumpa fruit. Arrow crates improve jumping when bounced on. Crates with Aku Aku or Crash printed on them give masks or extra lives. Metallic crates with exclamation marks change the environment when hit. Checkpoint crates let Crash return to that spot if he loses a life. TNT crates explode when spun into but can be safely destroyed by bouncing on them. Nitro crates explode on contact and require special crates to detonate them all at once. Crash Bandicoot: Warped adds "slot crates" that change types rapidly and must be broken before becoming unbreakable. Time trials use "time crates" that freeze the stopwatch for printed seconds. Some crates are reinforced and require stronger moves like body slamming to break.
Setting and characters
The Crash Bandicoot series takes place on a remote group of islands located 300 miles (480 km) west of Tasmania. These islands have many different environments, such as sandy beaches and snowy areas, and are filled with remains from the lost continent of Lemuria. The largest island is where the villain Doctor Neo Cortex lives. In Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, it is revealed that the islands' ancient people built "Warp Rooms," which allow instant travel to places around the world. Crash Bandicoot: Warped introduces time travel, showing settings from prehistoric times, the medieval era, and the future. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time explores different versions of the universe, including parallel worlds and alternate timelines.
Crash Bandicoot is the main character in all the games. He is a human-like eastern barred bandicoot created by Doctor Neo Cortex in an attempt to build a leader for his army. Crash is not a traditional hero; he is described as someone who often finds himself in difficult situations but manages to save the day despite being unprepared. Coco Bandicoot, Crash's younger sister and a tech-savvy ally, first appears in Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back. She later becomes a playable character in some games. Aku Aku, a floating wooden mask containing the spirit of an ancient witch doctor, protects and guides Crash. Tawna, Crash's girlfriend and another lab subject, is the person in need of rescue in the original game. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time includes a version of Tawna from an alternate universe who can be played. Crunch Bandicoot, introduced in Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, is a strong, genetically modified bandicoot created by Cortex to fight Crash. After being defeated, he joins the heroes. The Quantum Masks—Lani-Loli, Akano, Kupuna-Wa, and Ika-Ika—are extra-dimensional masks that appear in Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. They give Crash and Coco special abilities.
Doctor Neo Cortex is the main villain in the series. He is a mad scientist who wants to take over the world using genetically altered soldiers. He first works with Doctor Nitrus Brio, the creator of the Evolvo-Ray, which changes animals. Their partnership ends, but they later reunite in Crash: Mind over Mutant and Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. Uka Uka, the evil twin of Aku Aku, helps Cortex. He was locked underground by Aku Aka for causing destruction until an accident freed him. Cortex's loyal helper is Doctor N. Gin, a cyborg engineer with a missile stuck in his head. Other helpers include Tiny Tiger, a large, fierce thylacine, and Dingodile, a dingo-crocodile hybrid who uses a flamethrower. Dingodile can be played in Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. Doctor Nefarious Tropy, a scientist who controls time, works with Uka Uka and Cortex in Crash Bandicoot: Warped. He creates the Time Twister, which allows time travel. He returns in Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time to help Cortex control space and time. Crash Twinsanity introduces Nina, Cortex's niece, who has bionic hands that help her climb. She later becomes a main villain in Crash of the Titans.
Other media
A short comic promoting Crash Team Racing was published in the Winter 2000 issue of Disney Adventures. The comic was written by Glenn Herdling and drawn by Neal Sternecky. Strategy guides for the games were published by Dimension Publishing, Prima Games, and BradyGames. Some of these guides included interviews and additional stories about the game’s world. In 2018, Dark Horse Books released a hardcover book titled The Crash Bandicoot Files: How Willy the Wombat Sparked Marsupial Mania, which was the original developer’s bible for Crash Bandicoot. An official art book for Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, titled The Art of Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, was published on October 26, 2020.
During the development of Crash Bandicoot, Universal Animation Studios created two traditionally animated cutscenes for the game’s introduction and ending. These scenes were also meant to serve as material for a potential animated series if the game was successful. However, Sony Computer Entertainment, which later published the game, decided to focus on the PlayStation’s 3D computer graphics instead. The cutscenes were later uploaded to YouTube by producer David Siller in 2015. Sega’s senior vice president, Shuji Utsumi, suggested the idea of a Crash Bandicoot movie to several studios, but the idea was not accepted. Crash appears in the animated series Skylanders Academy (2016–2018), where he is transported from his world into the world of Skylands. In this series, Crash speaks English with an Australian accent. The voice was provided by Eric Rogers in the first season and by Rhys Darby in the third season. In January 2021, test footage from a canceled Crash Bandicoot animated series produced with Amazon Studios was leaked online. On October 27, 2025, it was reported that Netflix is developing an animated series based on Crash. Initially, it was claimed that WildBrain was involved in the project, but this was later proven false.
Merchandise from the Crash Bandicoot franchise includes a line of action figures made by Resaurus, which are linked to Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot: Warped. The N. Sane Trilogy was promoted with official licensed items such as shirts, keychains, and other products from Activision and Numskull Product Design. Funko also created a series of vinyl figures for the N. Sane Trilogy, including special versions for specific retailers. In June 2023, a Crash Bandicoot-themed cosmetics bundle was added to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Warzone to promote the release of Crash Team Rumble.
Reception and impact
The original Crash Bandicoot trilogy, created by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation, was well-received by critics, with scores between 80 and 90. These games are now considered some of the best on the PlayStation. The first game was praised for its graphics, which were among the best of the fifth generation of consoles, and for its challenging gameplay. Its gameplay was seen as standard but enjoyable and well-made. Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back was praised for better gameplay and colorful graphics, which were among the best on the console. Crash Bandicoot: Warped was admired for its variety of gameplay and presentation and is now considered one of the best video games ever made. Crash Team Racing, the final game in the series by Naughty Dog, was noted for its polished design and was said to be better than some of its inspirations, such as Mario Kart and Diddy Kong Racing, in certain areas.
After Naughty Dog, other developers took over the series, and the games received lower scores, often in the 60s. Eurocom’s Crash Bash, a party game, was criticized for being simple and not original but was still fun for multiplayer. Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, the first mainline game after Naughty Dog, was seen as a repeat of the original trilogy’s formula and was criticized for its fixed camera angles and long loading times. Vicarious Visions’ Game Boy Advance games were praised for their graphics but lacked new ideas. Their racing game, Crash Nitro Kart, was praised for its visuals but failed to improve much on Crash Team Racing. Crash Bandicoot Purple, a crossover game, was praised for its variety of minigames but criticized for weak platforming, short length, and a weak trading card feature. Traveller’s Tales’ Crash Twinsanity was praised for its humor and variety of gameplay but had problems with its camera and repetitive platforming sections.
Radical Entertainment’s first game, Crash Tag Team Racing, was praised for its unique mechanics, humor, and blending of genres but criticized for being too simple and having poor platforming. Crash Boom Bang!, a party game by Dimps, was criticized for boring minigames and repetitive board designs. Crash of the Titans and Crash: Mind over Mutant, both by Radical Entertainment, had mixed reviews. Critics liked their visuals, humor, and a feature called jacking, but were frustrated by fixed cameras, repetitive combat, and backtracking. Polarbit’s mobile racing games, Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D and Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 2, were praised for their visuals and gameplay but criticized for lacking multiplayer and having unchallenging or repetitive elements.
The series returned to popularity with new games. The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, a remastered version of the first three games, was praised for its improved visuals while staying true to the originals. Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, a remastered version of Crash Team Racing, was also praised for its presentation and content. Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, a new platformer, was praised for keeping the series’ classic style, adding new mechanics, and having vibrant visuals and sound. Crash Bandicoot: On the Run!, a mobile game, had mixed reviews. It was praised for its visuals and ease of use but criticized for repetitive gameplay and too many microtransactions. Crash Team Rumble, an online multiplayer game, was praised for its gameplay and design but criticized for limited content and high prices.
The Crash Bandicoot series was commercially successful. Naughty Dog’s four games sold over 20 million copies worldwide by July 2000, and the series continued to sell over 40 million copies by 2007, earning over $1 billion. By 2025, the N. Sane Trilogy and Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled added 20 million and 10 million sales, respectively. Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! had over 60 million downloads but made only about $4 million from in-game purchases.
Crash Bandicoot was the first non-Japanese game to sell over 500,000 copies in Japan. Cortex Strikes Back and Warped sold 1.3 million and 1.4 million copies in Japan, respectively. The PlayStation 2 version of The Wrath of Cortex sold 212,000 copies there.
The original Crash Bandicoot was a key game for the PlayStation, and the character became the console’s unofficial mascot. The series helped Naughty Dog gain recognition in the video game industry, leading to success with other games like Jak and Daxter, Uncharted, and The Last of Us. Crash Team Racing inspired many kart racing games in the early 2000s. The series has influenced other games, including Rayman 2: The Great Escape (1999), Knack (2014), PsiloSybil (2024), and Antonblast (2024). Games compared to Crash Bandicoot include Jersey Devil (1997), Super Magnetic Neo (2000), Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour (2000), Donald Duck: Goin’ Quackers (2000), Woody Woodpecker Racing (2000), Kao the Kangaroo (2000), and Ty the Tasmanian Tiger (2002).
A parody of Crash Bandicoot appears in an episode of The Simpsons titled “Lisa Gets an 'A'.” A 1999 episode of Felicity features characters obsessed with completing Crash Bandicoot: Warped. In 2017, a bandicoot species discovered in Australia was named Crash bandicoot in honor of the game’s character. In 2017, the character’s famous “whoa!” cry became the basis for internet memes that combined his yell with songs and game music.