GameTimeline

Release & story order

Sly Cooper timeline

Sly Cooper from Thievius Raccoonus (2002) through Thieves in Time (2013)—US release dates, one Cooper gang storyline with Sly, Bentley, and Murray, and FAQ for the Sucker Punch PS2 trilogy, Sanzaru PS3 sequel, and HD Collection bundles.

Updated July 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When Sucker Punch and Sanzaru shipped each chapter—Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus (2002), Sly 2: Band of Thieves (2004), Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves (2005), then Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (2013). Bentley's Hackpack and the cancelled PS4 project are FAQ-only.

  • Full saga → all four Release rows in order
  • Newcomers → Sly Collection (PS3/Vita) bundles the PS2 trilogy—FAQ
  • Thieves in Time last—time-travel caper after Sly 3
  • Bentley's Hackpack is optional mini-games—FAQ only
Story order tips

One Cooper gang saga in release order: Thievius Raccoonus → Sly 2 → Sly 3 → Thieves in Time. Same cast and ongoing Clockwerk / Le Paradox plot threads—Release and Story match.

  • Core canon: Thievius Raccoonus → Sly 2 → Sly 3 → Thieves in Time
  • Sly 2 and Sly 3 directly continue Klaww Gang and Honor Among Thieves arcs
  • Thieves in Time assumes PS2 trilogy context—do not start there
  • On Story order, Thieves in Time may be hidden—reveal when ready

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus

    Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus

    PS2Stealth-platformerMainline

    Sly reclaims the Thievius Raccoonus from the Klaww Gang.

    Overview
    Sucker Punch's cel-shaded stealth platformer—comic-book hubs and heist missions.
    In-game setting
    Story chapter one—Clockwerk setup and Cooper legacy.
    Should you play it?
    Essential start for the gang's origin.
    Release date
    US PS2 launch September 23, 2002.
  2. Sly 2: Band of Thieves

    Sly 2: Band of Thieves

    PS2Stealth-platformerMainline

    Open-hub Paris and the Klaww Gang remnants—Arpeggio and Clockwerk parts.

    Overview
    Non-linear hub cities, playable Bentley and Murray, and episodic heists.
    In-game setting
    Direct sequel—Continuity from Thievius Raccoonus ending.
    Should you play it?
    Play after Sly 1—do not skip.
    Release date
    US launch September 14, 2004.
  3. Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves

    Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves

    PS2Stealth-platformerMainline

    Expanded crew heists—Dr. M and the Cooper Vault.

    Overview
    Large roster of specialists, 3D biplane and ocean missions—peak PS2 scope.
    In-game setting
    Trilogy finale before Thieves in Time time jump.
    Should you play it?
    Required before Thieves in Time.
    Release date
    US launch September 26, 2005.
  4. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time

    Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time

    PS3PS VitaStealth-platformerMainline

    Time travel to save the Cooper gang—Le Paradox.

    Overview
    Sanzaru sequel—historical eras, cross-buy PS3/Vita, and hub-based heists return.
    In-game setting
    Latest mainline as of June 2026—continues after Sly 3.
    Should you play it?
    Play last—time-travel story assumes trilogy knowledge.
    Release date
    US launch February 5, 2013.

FAQ

Release vs story order, trilogy vs Thieves in Time, collections, and spin-offs.

Release order

For Sly Cooper they match: Thievius Raccoonus (2002) → Sly 2 (2004) → Sly 3 (2005) → Thieves in Time (2013). One continuous Cooper gang plot—no anthology reordering like Persona or Kingdom Hearts.

Full story: all four mainline games in order. Budget path: Sly Collection (PS3/Vita) for the PS2 trilogy, then Thieves in Time separately on PS3/Vita. No native PC releases as of June 2026—PlayStation hardware or backward compatibility required.

Story & canon

Thieves in Time is the direct mainline sequel after Sly 3—made by Sanzaru Games, not Sucker Punch. Time-travel plot with Le Paradox assumes you know the PS2 trilogy cast and Cooper vault lore. Do not start here.

Sucker Punch developed Thievius Raccoonus, Sly 2, and Sly 3 (PS2), then moved to Infamous. Sanzaru developed Thieves in Time (2013)—still canon mainline, not a reboot. Same Sly, Bentley, and Murray continuity.

Collections & ports

Optional & related

Bentley's Hackpack (2013) is a mini-game collection tied to Thieves in Time marketing—not a Release or Story row. No story required. Cancelled Sly Cooper PS4 project and PlayStation All-Stars cameos are FAQ-only.

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.