Jak and Daxter is a video game series created by Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin. It is owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The series was first developed by Naughty Dog, and some games were made by other companies, including Ready at Dawn and High Impact Games. The first game, Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, was released on December 4, 2001. It was one of the first games made for the PlayStation 2. The series is considered an important part of the console’s history.

The games are story-based platformers that include action, racing, and puzzle-solving. They take place in a fictional world that mixes science fantasy, steampunk, cyberpunk, and mystical themes. The games follow the main characters, Jak and Daxter, as they explore their world and discover secrets left behind by an ancient race called the Precursors. The series draws inspiration from both Eastern and Western cultures, a choice made by the developers at Naughty Dog and other team members during the creation of the first game.

The first three games were re-released on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita as part of the remastered Jak and Daxter Collection. This version included support for the PlayStation Network and PlayStation Suite. In August 2017, the original three games and Jak X: Combat Racing were released for the PlayStation 4 as a bundle called Jak and Daxter Bundle. This bundle was released at the same time as Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. In December 2017, the first four games were also available for individual purchase. Later, the first four games became playable on the PlayStation 5 through backward compatibility with the PlayStation 4. In 2024, the remaining two games, Daxter and Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier, were re-released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. The series has also produced other media and merchandise. It has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide.

Games

Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy was first released in North America on December 4, 2001, for the PlayStation 2. After Daxter falls into a Dark Eco silo at the forbidden Misty Island, he changes from a human into an ottsel, a fictional mix of an otter and weasel. To return Daxter to human form, he and Jak search for the Dark Eco sage Gol Acheron. However, they find Acheron affected by Dark Eco. They use Light Eco to defeat him and save the world, but Daxter remains an ottsel. A browser game was published online in 2001 to promote The Precursor Legacy.

Jak II was first released in North America on October 14, 2003, for the PlayStation 2. Its story happens right after the events of The Precursor Legacy. Jak, Daxter, Samos, and Keira arrive in the busy Haven City through a rift gate. Jak is captured by the Krimzon Guard and tested with Dark Eco, giving him the ability to use Dark Eco powers. With Daxter’s help, Jak escapes and seeks revenge against the Krimzon Guard.

Jak 3 was first released in North America on November 9, 2004, for the PlayStation 2. After being blamed for the destruction of Haven City, Jak and Daxter are sent away to the Wasteland by Count Veger. Ashelin gives Jak a beacon to help find him, and Damas, the king of nearby Spargus, rescues him. In return, Jak and Daxter must prove their worth to Damas and the city or risk being banished to the desert.

Jak X: Combat Racing was first released in North America on October 18, 2005, for the PlayStation 2. Its story follows the events of Jak 3. Jak and his allies are poisoned while attending the reading of Krew’s last will. To find an antidote, they must win the Kras City Grand Championship, a fictional sport called “combat racing,” in Krew’s name.

Daxter was first released in North America on March 14, 2006, for the PlayStation Portable. The game focuses on Daxter during the two-year gap between the events of The Precursor Legacy and Jak II. Daxter works as a pest exterminator for the Kridder Ridder company, trying to stop a metal bug invasion. At the same time, he searches for Jak, who is imprisoned by the Krimzon Guard.

Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier was first released in North America on November 3, 2009, for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable. Its story takes place some time after the original trilogy. When their world runs low on Eco, Jak, Daxter, and Keira travel to the Brink, the edge of the world, to find ancient Precursor machinery that can restore Eco levels.

Jak and Daxter Collection was first released in North America on February 7, 2012, for the PlayStation 3—the first time the franchise appeared on this platform. It is an improved version of the original trilogy: Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Jak II, and Jak 3. The games were remade with 720p graphics and 60 frames per second, and include trophies. Mass Media Games later released the collection on the PlayStation Vita in June 2013—the only time the franchise appeared on this platform.

Jak and Daxter Bundle was first released in North America on December 7, 2017, for the PlayStation 4—the first time the franchise appeared on this platform. The bundle includes versions of Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Jak II, Jak 3, and Jak X: Combat Racing, with trophy support. Before the bundle’s release, The Precursor Legacy was available as a pre-order bonus for Uncharted: The Lost Legacy on PlayStation 4. Between 2019 and 2020, Limited Run Games released limited physical copies of standard and collector’s editions of the games.

Gameplay and common elements

The series includes four games that can only be played by one person and two games that allow multiple players to play together. The series is mainly a story-based platformer where players see the action from a third-person perspective. Players can explore many different areas in an open world and perform several close-range attacks. A substance called Eco can be used to improve the player's abilities, with different-colored Eco having different effects. Red Eco increases the damage dealt and makes the player immune to damage from Dark Eco crates. Blue Eco allows the player to move faster, jump slightly higher, move farther with attacks, attract Green Eco and Precursor orbs, and use certain color-coded machines. Green Eco is used to restore health, while Yellow Eco allows the player to shoot fire from the character's hands, either directly or using a scope. A hover bike called a "Zoomer" and a large bird named a "Flut-Flut" are available for transportation and to access hard-to-reach places. "Flut-Flut" can also attack. Power Cells and Precursor Orbs are needed to progress in The Precursor Legacy. Completing story-related missions and collecting Precursor Orbs unlocks new locations and allows players to unlock certain "Secrets" in later games.

Shooting is introduced briefly in The Precursor Legacy and fully used in Jak II. Jak II includes customizable weapons and varied combat options, expanding on features from The Precursor Legacy. For example, Jak has many different gun mods, each with a specific color: Red, Blue, Yellow, or Dark. Red mods make the gun act like a shotgun, Blue allows it to fire like a machine gun, Yellow is for long-range shooting, and Dark provides the most power. Daxter becomes a playable character and appears in missions similar to those in Crash Bandicoot. Dark Eco powers are introduced in Jak II, and Light Eco powers are added in Jak 3 to balance them. Guns can be upgraded twice by completing story missions, and abilities for both Light and Dark Jak forms are unlocked. Driving becomes a major part of the game in Jak 3, and aerial combat is added in The Lost Frontier. Precursor Orbs can be collected in each game to unlock special features.

Jak X changes the series' traditional gameplay style by focusing on racing, using driving mechanics developed for Jak 3. Extras and player skins can be unlocked by connecting save files from Jak X and Daxter and other games.

Except for The Precursor Legacy, each game includes "Hero Mode," which lets players replay the game at a higher difficulty with most of their previous items. This mode and other bonus content can be unlocked by finishing the game and purchasing it with Precursor Orbs in the secrets menu.

The Jak and Daxter series takes place in a fictional universe. The first game is set in a world with many natural environments, villages, and ancient Precursor ruins. An elemental substance called Eco is central to the game and acts as the world's life source. Eco comes in several forms: Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Light, and Dark, each with different effects. Later games are set in futuristic cities with advanced technology, affecting combat and weapons. Natural environments with platforming sections also appear in later games. All main titles take place in open worlds with few or no load times, a goal emphasized since the first game.

The Jak and Daxter universe is mainly populated by humanoid elf-like creatures. Jak is the main character and is playable in all games except those featuring Daxter. In The Precursor Legacy, Jak accidentally turns Daxter into an ottsel (a fictional mix of an otter and weasel) by bumping him into a pool of Dark Eco and sets out to fix the transformation. In Jak II, Jak is infused with Dark Eco through experiments by Baron Praxis, and in Jak 3, he is blessed with Light Eco by the Precursors. Both Light and Dark Eco abilities are explored further in Jak 3. In Jak X, Jak must race in the Kras City Grand Championship to save his life. Later, he travels to The Brink to investigate an Eco shortage in The Lost Frontier.

Daxter is Jak's sidekick and often gets into trouble. Daxter was once human but was mutated into an ottsel after falling into a pool of Dark Eco in the first game's opening scene. He rescues Jak at the start of Jak II and becomes playable for the first time in the series. In Jak 3, his role expands, and he receives a pair of pants as a recurring joke in the game. In Daxter, he recounts his adventures during the two years before freeing Jak from prison. In Jak X, he joins Jak and his friends in Kras City for the Grand Championship. Later, he travels with Jak and Keira to The Brink in The Lost Frontier.

Development

Naughty Dog started working on a new game shortly after the sixth generation of consoles was released. At first, only two programmers were assigned to the project because the rest of the team was still making Crash Team Racing. They began by creating a new graphics engine that could display a connected, open world. Next, they built a detailed character model to test the engine’s performance before showing the idea to Sony Computer Entertainment after Crash Team Racing was finished. The goal of the new game was to move away from the linear style of the Crash Bandicoot series, which had little story, simple characters, and levels that loaded separately. A behind-the-scenes special by Naughty Dog explained that the game used a new animation technique to improve frame rate and movement. The engine for Jak and Daxter was built completely from scratch for the game. Unlike most games, Naughty Dog created a new programming language called GOAL, which was only used for the Jak and Daxter series.

Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy was announced at E3 in June 2001. The game had a budget of $14 million and took nearly three years to develop. During this time, the team created a fully interactive world and designed a story that allowed for more character growth. The two main characters went through a strict design process influenced by manga and Disney animation. The team originally planned to add a third character who would change as the game progressed, similar to the Tamagotchi game. However, this idea was abandoned due to complications. The game’s soundtrack was recorded at Mutato Muzika Studios and produced by Mark Mothersbaugh, with Josh Mancell composing the music.

After the PlayStation Portable was released, Naughty Dog considered making a new Jak and Daxter game for the system. Producer Sam Thompson led the project, and Neil Druckmann handled much of the design. The team made a technology demo and planned to let players build their own airships and combine items with different abilities for meaningful in-air battles. However, Evan Wells said the team could not continue developing the game alongside Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune and handed the project to High Impact Games. The game was later developed as Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier. After the game’s poor reception, Thompson said the company was disappointed with how The Lost Frontier was made, stating, “I’m not happy with that being Jak’s swan song. I think we could have done a lot better.”

Audio

Five soundtracks for Jak and Daxter have been sold to the public. These soundtracks include music composed by Mark Mothersbaugh, Josh Mancell, Larry Hopkins, Billy Howerdel, and James Dooley. The music was inspired by world music. Josh Mancell said he wanted to create something different from a typical orchestral fantasy soundtrack. He used many non-Western instruments and traditional Western instruments, such as the French Horn and Cello. He also said the Jak games have both ancient and futuristic themes, and he wanted the music to reflect both. The soundtracks for Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Jak II, Jak 3, and Jak X: Combat Racing were released in 2019 by Limited Run Games as part of each game's Collector's Edition. On November 2, 2009, the Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier Original Soundtrack was released on the iTunes Store by SIE.

Reception

The Jak and Daxter franchise has sold more than 15 million games worldwide when both physical and digital copies are counted (as of April 2017). Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy earned high praise from many reviewers, as shown by Metacritic, and has the highest score in the series at 90/100. Jak II, Jak 3, Daxter, and Jak and Daxter Collection (PS3) all received mostly positive reviews. Jak X: Combat Racing and The Lost Frontier received mixed reviews. The Lost Frontier has the lowest score in the series from Metacritic (71/100), excluding the PlayStation Vita version of Jak and Daxter Collection.

The series is known for its creativity in the platform game genre. It holds seven records in the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition, 2008. The Precursor Legacy is noted for featuring the first seamless 3D world in a console game. Jack DeVries of IGN called the series "the best action platformers of [that] generation," highlighting its large worlds, memorable characters, exciting stories, and enjoyable gameplay. Jeffrey Matulef of Eurogamer said, "the Jak and Daxter series may not be as strong a platformer as Sly Cooper or have as refined gunplay as Ratchet & Clank—but in terms of ambition, creativity, and grandeur, it stands out compared to other platformers from the same generation."

The series is also praised for its variety of gameplay styles. Matt Helgeson of Game Informer said the series was driven by a lot of new ideas, noting that Naughty Dog created memorable characters, well-designed gameplay, and constant innovation. He called the Jak games "epic adventures." Matulef added that the series shows how action-adventure games have evolved, with its heroes fitting no single genre. He said no other series has changed gameplay styles so freely, and the Jak and Daxter Trilogy is an example of a skilled developer taking big risks. GameSpot stated that the franchise’s "tight execution and action-packed elements keep gameplay exciting," and that it offers a satisfying experience worth trying.

Merchandise

Naughty Dog has created different types of products since the series started. These include strategy guides for each game, different kinds of clothing, and collectible toys. A special limited edition Precursor orb was also made to celebrate the series' 10th anniversary.

Other appearances

The Jak and Daxter series has appeared in many different types of media.

• In LittleBigPlanet, LittleBigPlanet 2, and LittleBigPlanet Karting, players can use special additions to dress Sackboy as Jak or Daxter.
• In the 2011 PlayStation Move game PlayStation Move Heroes, Jak and Daxter are characters players can control, and the game includes a setting inspired by Haven City.
• Jak and Daxter are playable characters in the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita game PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale.
• In Ratchet: Deadlocked, Jak appears as a different look for Ratchet.
• In Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, Daxter is shown wearing a leopard loincloth as a museum treasure. The description states, "The Lutrela Nivadensis is a rare hybrid species of the Carnivora family. It is known for its orange fur and loud mouth."
• A "Strange Relic" appears in several games in the Uncharted series, which is also developed by Naughty Dog. This relic is a copy of the Precursor Orbs from the Jak and Daxter universe and reads "NaughtyDog, Madman" when translated.
• Jak and Ratchet are playable characters in Hot Shots Golf Fore!, and Daxter acts as a golf caddy.
• Posters featuring Jak and Daxter appear in multiple games in the Ratchet & Clank universe.
• Jak and Daxter are shown briefly in the background of Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando.
• In Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, the word "Ottsel" is written on Nathan Drake's swimsuit, and a picture of Daxter's face appears on the sleeve.
• Daxter is available as a free downloadable character in the PlayStation 3 game Pain.
• In Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, players can buy Jak Goggles from the PlayStation Store for use in multiplayer.
• In The Last of Us, Jak and Daxter appear as hidden surprises and as unlockable outfits.
• In The Order: 1886, Daxter appears as a hidden surprise. The game was developed by Ready at Dawn.
• In The Last of Us Part II, Jak and Daxter appear as hidden surprises.
• In Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, players can use the new RYNO 8 weapon to bring Jak and Daxter, as well as the Precursor Orb, into Ratchet and Clank's world. The world where Jak and Daxter come from is called Dimension 31×7, according to a character named Mags.

Future

Evan Wells shared that the team had thoroughly considered creating a new game before starting work on The Last of Us (2013). Creative director Neil Druckmann later showed several drawings from the abandoned project at a The Last of Us conference. He explained that the team had planned to make a new version of the series and spent much time exploring different ideas.

In 2016, after reports of leaked concept art, Naughty Dog’s Director of Communication, Arne Meyer, said no projects were currently being developed. He also noted that Jak and Daxter had not been reconsidered due to challenges at Naughty Dog, though the idea was not completely ruled out.

In 2019, Limited Run Games announced a special replica box for the unreleased Jak and Daxter reboot, which was released in June 2020. The box uses the title Jak IV and includes concept art from the canceled project, shown in Naughty Dog’s book The Art of Naughty Dog. The box, along with a digital theme code, was given to customers who bought all four Jak and Daxter games directly from Limited Run Games’ website.

In February 2022, it was reported that a Jak and Daxter movie adaptation was being developed by Ruben Fleischer and Naughty Dog. However, as of 2025, no details have been confirmed.