Sly Cooper has four mainline console games, and Sly 2: Band of Thieves is the strongest overall: it expands the original’s stealth-platforming into a more varied team heist. This ranking weighs structure, playable-character variety, pacing, challenge, and how each entry develops the Cooper gang. It is an editorial order, not a universal consensus or a comprehensive critic-score comparison.
1. Sly 2: Band of Thieves
Why it ranks first
Sly 2 gives the series its most compelling balance of stealth, platforming, exploration, and crew-based planning. GamesRadar+ describes eight stages across five worlds, with freer exploration and gang members who have distinct abilities; its retrospective calls this the point where Sly “truly found his stride” (GamesRadar+, 2026).
That broader structure makes the Cooper gang feel like more than support for Sly. Different abilities change how missions play, while the heist framing gives the adventure a strong sense of momentum. GamesRadar+ ranked it 23rd in its list of 25 selected PS2 games—a publication’s list placement, not an objective score or a ranking of the entire franchise.
2. Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves
A bigger crew and more playable specialists
Sly 3 builds on the ensemble approach with additional playable specialists. PlayStation’s product description identifies Carmelita Fox and the Guru among the new playable characters and frames the story around the gang’s greatest heist (PlayStation Store).
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Its appeal is the variety of perspectives and abilities that a larger crew brings to the caper. It lands just behind Sly 2 here because that sequel is the clearest turning point in the series’ structure; this placement is an editorial judgment, not a claim of critical consensus.
3. Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
The focused original
The first game establishes the series’ identity: stealth-platforming built around Sly’s thieving skills, a colorful world, and the Cooper gang’s story. Its more focused structure gives the adventure a clear foundation, and it remains the natural starting point for understanding the later games.
Rank #2
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That focus also means less variety than the sequels. GameSpot’s 2002 review listing gives the PS2 game 7.8/10, with its review summary citing relative ease and short length as limitations (GameSpot). The original shipped in September 2002; PlayStation Blog gives September 23, while GameSpot lists September 24, so the exact day depends on the source (PlayStation Blog).
4. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
The fourth mainline entry
Thieves in Time completes the four-game mainline sequence, following the PS2 trilogy. It ranks fourth in this editorial order because the strongest available comparisons favor the original trilogy’s established progression—from the first game’s focused stealth-platforming to Sly 2’s broader team heists and Sly 3’s added specialists. This placement should not be read as a measured critical consensus: comparable review evidence for the fourth game is not established here.
Rank #3
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How many Sly Cooper games are there?
The mainline console series consists of four games, in release order:
- Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
- Sly 2: Band of Thieves
- Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves
- Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
Collections and later platform conversions are editions or bundles of those games, not separate mainline entries. This list covers the four-game sequence; it does not claim to inventory every spin-off.
Rank #4
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Which Sly Cooper games can you play on PS4 and PS5?
PlayStation’s US Store currently lists PS4/PS5 conversions of the first game and Sly 3. They are digital conversions of PS2 titles, not evidence that every mainline game has the same current platform availability. PlayStation says both conversions include up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters, and warns that converted games can play differently from their PS2 versions and that some features may not function properly.
| Game listing | Platforms stated by PlayStation | Listed release date | Conversion features and caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus (PlayStation Store) | PS4 and PS5; originally released on PS2 | June 11, 2024 | Up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters. PlayStation warns the converted game may play differently from the PS2 version and some features may not function properly. |
| Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves (PlayStation Store) | PS4 and PS5; originally released on PS2 | December 10, 2024 | Up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters. PlayStation warns the converted game may play differently from the PS2 version and some features may not function properly. |
For other entries, check the specific platform, edition, region, and console compatibility before buying. A PS2 disc, a collection, and a modern digital conversion are different products; availability and compatibility should not be assumed from the series name alone.
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Verdict: what is the best Sly Cooper game?
Sly 2: Band of Thieves is the best starting recommendation for most players who want the series at its fullest: it has a more expansive heist structure and makes the gang’s different abilities central to the experience. Play the original first if you want the series’ foundations, then continue through Sly 3 and Thieves in Time for the mainline story.
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