The Complete List of Tom Clancy Games in Chronological & Release Order

Tom Clancy is one of the most well-known brands in video game history. It dates back over 20 years, with American Novelist Tom Clancy founding the development team Red Storm. The games are loosely based on his novels and were ultimately bought out in 2008 by Ubisoft. Today, we will look at each game in the franchise, seeing what they were about and how each title evolved over time.     

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six (1998)

Developed by Red Storm Entertainment, Rainbow Six is the first game under the iconic Tom Clancy brand. The game is a tactical shooter based around an international counterterrorism organization, Rainbow. Players will complete missions centering around terrorists, including hostage rescues, defusing bombs, or killing enemies. The game is based on the Tom Clancy novel of the same name and was released to critical acclaim. It is considered one of the most influential FPS games of all time and helped create an entire franchise.    

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear (1999)

After the success of its predecessor, fans had high expectations for the upcoming sequel. Rogue Spear used the same engine as Rainbow Six but had updated graphics and visuals. The plot again follows the Rainbow counterterrorist group as they deal with a nuclear threat in Eastern Europe. Similar to the first game, players are briefed on missions before being dropped in and forced to deal with the enemies and objectives. The game had three add-ons released over the course of two years and is considered one of the best action games of 1999.   

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Take-Down – Missions in Korea (2001)

Missions in Korea is the first spin-off title in the series, with its story being non-canon to the franchise. The game plays similarly to Rogue Spear but was created specifically for South Korea. The plot follows Rainbow as they deal with terrorist threats in South Korea. The game was adapted, adding South Korean characters, weapons, maps, etc. 

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon (2001)

Ghost Recon centers around the United States Special Forces Unit, Ghosts. In single-player, players can use commands to dictate the actions of their team. In multiplayer, players have three game modes to choose from: Firefight, Mission, and Recon. Firefight tasks teams by taking out certain enemies randomly located on the map. Mission is the co-op version of the single-player campaign. Recon is getting from one location to another to reach the extraction point. The game was a commercial success and won multiple industry awards.   

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Desert Siege (2002)

Desert Siege is an expansion to Ghost Recon one year after the war. The game follows conflicts between Eritrea and Ethiopia as Russian arms dealers have been selling to the Ethiopian military. Players will command the Ghosts as they attempt to restore order and balance in Ethiopia and stop the war from progressing further.

The expansion was met with positive reviews and is also an unlockable campaign for players on the PlayStation 2.    

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Lone Wolf (2002)

Lone Wolf is the first PlayStation exclusive in the series and consists of only five missions. The Ghosts are informed by a convicted terrorist that Russia has been smuggling in American weapons. Ding Chavez is sent to meet with the terrorist, Xander Theissan, to end the smuggling. Players consider the game to be one of the hardest in the franchise, especially the Bomb and Hostage objectives.  

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Island Thunder (2002)

Island Thunder takes place two years after Ghost Recon and one year after Desert Siege, with Fidel Castro dying and Cuba being freed. However, Ariel Priego, a candidate in the upcoming free election, seeks to return Cuba back to a communist dictatorship with the help of the FDG. As an anti-US political group, the Ghosts are sent in to restore order in the free election without letting anyone know that the United States has its hand in Cuba. 

The expansion was met with positive reviews and allows players to level up their characters with combat points they earn after a successful mission.   

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell (2002)

Splinter Cell takes a new approach to the genre as it heavily relies on stealth as its main focus for missions. Players follow Sam Fisher, an ex-Navy Seal, as he joins a new organization called the Third Echelon. Fisher’s fire mission is to investigate the disappearance of two CIA operatives in Georgia, quickly unraveling into something much greater.

The game was a critical and commercial success and is considered one of the greatest games of all time. Having won multiple industry awards, fans couldn’t get enough of the stealth gameplay mechanics along with the light meter function.   

The Sum of All Fears (2002)

The Sum of All Fears is a tactical shooter based on the 2002 movie of the same name and Rainbow Six. However, unlike Rainbow Six, players cannot plan their mission ahead of time with a briefing. Missions have a pre-planned route, but players can ignore the plan and create their own way. It is seen as a simplified version of Rainbow Six, resulting in mixed reviews at launch despite passing sales expectations.  

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield (2003)

As the third game in the Rainbow Six series, Raven Shield has two separate versions for PC and consoles. On consoles, the title is Rainbow Six 3, dropping the Raven Shield to make a distinction between the two. Console versions don’t allow mission planning, controlling multiple characters, and has more health for each operative. The two versions also feature different maps for multiplayer and somewhat different storylines. The Xbox release was popular among fans, leading to an Xbox-exclusive sequel, Black Arrow. 

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm (2004)

Taking place right after the events of Island Thunder, Jungle Storm is an expansion to Ghost Recon. The expansion contains all the Island Thunder content while adding new missions and multiplayer maps. The story follows the Ghosts as they head to Colombia to stop the cartel who have begun revolting against their government. The game had average reviews and was eventually shut down in 2011.  

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow (2004)

Pandora Tomorrow returns to Sam Fisher’s story as the militia, Darah Dan Doa, committed a suicide bombing at a U.S. Embassy. Fisher is sent to East Timor to infiltrate the embassy and gather intel on the organization.

The gameplay is similar to the original game, with quality-of-life changes and updated graphics. Players can now whistle, open doors while holding bodies, shoot upsidedown, and have a laser sight to improve accuracy. The game has mixed reviews among fans and critics, with some claiming it to be mediocre while others view it as one of the best games in the series.    

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon 2 (2004)

Similar to Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield, Ghost Recon 2 has a different storyline depending on if you play the Xbox or PlayStation version. However, both plots take place in North Korea before a potential war breaks out and follows the Ghost team gaining control over three nuclear warheads. The multiplayer is similar, with several game modes to choose from, including Firefight, Recon, Scout, Battle, and more. The game was a commercial success and was ultimately criticized by the North Korean government.    

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (2005)

Chaos Theory is darker and more mature than previous Splinter Cell titles. Sam Fisher is back with more combat and fatal interrogations. In previous entries, Fisher only knocked out hostages, while players have the option to kill them now. This resulted in the game being rated M for mature and caused subsequent Splinter Cell games to follow the same path. It was a commercial success, selling 2.5 million copies in its first month, and is considered by many to be the best game in the series.        

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Lockdown (2005)

Lockdown is the fourth game in the Rainbow Six series, and players control Ding Chavez again. Rainbow is first sent to South Africa to rescue the South African President, who is at risk from the rebel army surrounding the administrative capital. The console version features several sniper missions and cutscenes to expand on characters. The PC version cuts these outs along with the planning phase for missions but did make missions less linear. The choice of cutting content didn’t sit well with fans, as the PC release received worse reviews.    

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon 2: Summit Strike (2005)

Summit Strike is an Xbox exclusive and expansion to Ghost Recon 2. The storyline follows the Ghosts as they are sent to the Middle East to kill or capture Asad Rahil. Rahil is a Pakistani terrorist and arms dealer selling weapons throughout the Middle East and kills the Kazakhstan President. The Ghosts need to restore order before a civil war breaks out. The expansion was met with positive reviews and is seen as a great title.     

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (2006)

Advanced Warfighter follows the standard Ghost Recon formula of saving hostages or getting from point A to B. However, the game is based on the Future Force Warrior program, designed to integrate advanced technology into soldiers’ equipment. The game is also more forgiving than previous releases, as players can take multiple shots without dying. The game was a critical and commercial success, selling over 2 million copies in the first six months.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Critical Hour (2006)

Critical Hour is an Xbox exclusive and mainly features remastered levels from Rouge Spear but features its own missions and story. The game attempts to return to the series’ roots with more realistic movements and mechanics. Lockdown was criticized for its run-and-gun gameplay, with Critical Hour featuring mechanics like accuracy worsening due to injuries. The reviews at release were mixed as the features were limited.   

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Essentials (2006)

Essentials had high expectations as the fourth entry in the Splinter Cell series and coming off of the success of Chaos Theory. This PlayStation Portable exclusive includes some missions and features from previous games, which was hyped by the development team. At release, fans and critics criticized how rushed the game felt, with poorly optimized controls, bad level design, and a frustrating experience. It is considered one of the worst games in the Splinter Cell series and is limited to the PSP.     

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Double Agent (2006)

Dealing with the loss of his daughter, Sam Fisher must go undercover to take down a terrorist group plotting attacks in the United States. Double Agent has different narrative changes and mechanics depending on the platform but generally shares the same layout. The Xbox, PS2, Gamecube, and Wii releases are the most similar to traditional Splinter Cell games. It received mixed reviews at launch but won multiple industry awards.   

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas (2006)

Rainbow Six Vegas was a change point for the series, as multiple features and mechanics were changed. Characters would now regenerate health while out of combat, the player’s vision would become worse the more damage they took, and more enemies that were harder to kill. Players will follow Rainbow as they head from the Mexican border to Las Vegas, trying to capture or kill the terrorist Irena Morales. The game received very good reviews and won multiple awards, including Best Action Game.    

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 (2007)

Taking place after the events of Advanced Warfighter, the game takes place over the span of three days. Tensions between Mexican rebel groups and the U.S. Army rise as more unrest beings to spread around Mexico and South America. However, due to treaties and lack of support from Congress, the Ghosts cannot cross the border into Mexico. The game was met with positive reviews but was criticized by Mexican governor Jose Reyes, who claimed it was insulting to Mexico.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (2008)

The sequel to Rainbow Six: Vegas, Vegas 2 allows players to customize their own characters who would be the main protagonist. It occurs before and after the first game’s events, with Logan Keller being removed as the player character. The game changed the XP system from its predecessor, with every kill now granting XP for rewards. The game was received well but lacked innovation and largely remained the same as the original game.   

Tom Clancy’s EndWar (2008)

EndWar was an RTS game released for PC, Xbox, PS, and Nintendo DS. It follows a terrorist attack on Saudi Arabia, which killed six million people. Players would compete in real-time battles as they slowly built up their armies and attacked. The game was met with mixed reviews and was a commercial disappointment, resulting in the cancelation of a sequel.   

Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X (2009)

H.A.W.X is a spin-off title taking place during Advanced Warfare 2. Players will control an aircraft and complete a variety of air missions. The multiplayer mode had players competing in air battles as they earned XP to level up their aircraft, equipping them with better guns. Critics gave the title positive reviews, leading to a sequel a year later.  

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction (2010)

Conviction strays away from iconic features in the Splinter Cell series, leading to mixed reviews. Fans noted that the stealth mechanics were limited, and cover functions made the game too easy. The game also removed Fisher’s night vision goggles, his SC-20K rifle, and his light sensor. While the game did add new gameplay features like real-time interrogation and blending into environments, it lacked the classic elements fans loved.     

Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X 2 (2010)

H.A.W.X 2 changed many features from the original game while retaining its arcade-style shooter experience. Players still took on missions in aircrafts but were no longer leaders, meaning they could no longer give commands. It also lacked player options for planes and guns before missions and focused more on co-op. While it has its own unique feeling and playstyle from the original, it was also the last game in the series.    

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Predator (2010)

Predator follows the Ghosts as they search for an unknown assailant who murdered U.S. mining crews in Sri Lanka. The gameplay is similar to the Xbox 360 version of Advanced Warfare 2. Players control three squad members, choosing between one of five classes, and can freely swap between characters. The addition of dynamically swapping characters meant more creative and engineering gameplay. However, its release was met with mixed reviews.   

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon (2010)

Ghost Recon follows the Ghosts as they stop a Russian regime that has invaded Scandinavia after a coup places Alexandr Treskayev in power. The game is a Wii exclusive and utilizes motion controls and sensors for aiming. It received poor reviews at release due to an unfun experience and poor weapon control.   

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars (2011)

Shadow Wars is a turn-based game exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS. While it does play similarly to other games in the genre, it separates itself by including elevation into the combat. Being high or low behind cover made a difference in what characters could do, making it distinct. While critics praised its gameplay and campaign, the multiplayer and the game’s cliche characters were lacking.   

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (2012)

Expanding more on the futuristic setting in Ghost Recon, Future Soldier adds more features like adaptive camouflage and extensive weapon customization. Players can also control drones to mark and scout locations before moving ahead. The plot follows a Ghost Recon squad as they stop weapons trafficking in Nicaragua. The multiplayer featured several game modes but was shut down in 2022.  

Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist (2013)

Sam Fisher is back and taking on the terrorist organization known as the Engineers. The game expands on stealth mechanics, allowing multiple mission completion methods. The game was developed by the recently founded studio Ubisoft Toronto. At release, it was praised for its story, mechanics, gameplay, combat, and multiplayer, which marked the return of Spies vs. Mercs. While it failed to meet expectations, fans often regard it as one of the best games in the series.     

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Phantoms (2014)

Phantoms was a free-to-play multiplayer shooter released exclusively for Windows. Players would choose from one of three classes and battle against the enemy team with a variety of objectives. Despite free-to-play multiplayer games being popular today, the game failed to meet expectations and was shut down two years after release due to low player count and negative reviews. The game also features an in-game shop with add-ons totaling over a thousand dollars.     

Tom Clancy’s EndWar Online (2014)

EndWar Online was a free-to-play online tactical strategy game. Players were leaders of factions that survived after World War III and would battle for resources. The game also featured single-player missions but was ultimately shut down two years after its release. The project failed to meet expectations and was too costly to continue supporting.   

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (2015)

Rainbow Six Seige is one of the most well-known games in the Tom Clancy franchise. Siege is an online FPS that groups players together on one of two teams. On one side, players will assume the role of Rainbow operatives and choose their class. They will be tasked with different objectives, including hostage rescues, refusing bombs, or controlling a location. The other team will assume the role of terrorists who will attempt to stop Rainbow from succeeding. The roles will swap every round, and whichever team wins the most rounds wins the game.

The game was a commercial success, selling over 10 million copies, and still has an active player base to this day. It has also received its own E-sports league, with prize pools being in the millions for winning teams.  

Tom Clancy’s The Division (2016)

The Divison is the newest IP under the Tom Clancy brand and was highly anticipated by the gaming community. Players control agents in the Strategic Homeland Division as they rebuild New York City after a pandemic. The game is online only, meaning players will go about their mission and objective while potentially running into other players. The reviews were mixed, some praising the concept while others criticizing the gunplay and environment. However, it was a commercial success, selling more than 10 million copies in its lifetime.     

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands (2017)

Wildlands sought to return to the original setting of the first Ghost Recon game, ditching the futuristic setting first introduced in Ghost Recon Advanced. It is the first game to include an open-world concept in the series, complete with terrain, day and night cycles, weather, etc. It is one of the largest open-world games developed by Ubisoft and allows players to go about missions as they see fit freely. The game sold more than 10 million copies, making it a commercial success, but it received mixed reviews at release.    

Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 (2019)

Following the commercial success of its predecessor, The Divison 2 is set in Washington, D.C., after a chemical virus wipes out the city. Players follow the Strategic Homeland Division as they try to restore order and rebuild the town. While the game was criticized at launch, fans noted that the game improved upon the gameplay and mechanics from the first game. The environments, combat, and soundtrack received positive reviews. The game sold over 10 million copies, helping continue the series as a spinoff title has been announced.    

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint (2019)

Breakpoint is an online-only tactical shooter following the story of Nomad Perryman. The Special Forces operator is sent to the island Auroa to gain intel on Skell Technolgy, which has been causing disturbances in the area. The release was a commercial disappointment as fans criticized the game for its mission design and addition of NFTs. The game failed to meet sales expectations and shut down the servers two years after its release.   

Tom Clancy’s Elite Squad (2020)

Elite Squad was a mobile-only title that combined all Tom Clancy titles and characters into one game. Players would collect characters and items as they battled against other players and upgraded their armies. The game would shut down just over a year later in 2021 as it was “no longer sustainable.”  

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction (2022)

Extraction is an online co-op shooter that puts players and two friends in a battle against an alien infestation. Teams will work together to eradicate the parasites as they complete tiger objectives and leave at the extraction point. They can also opt to continue exploring more locations but at the risk of being overrun by enemies and dying. The game received mixed reviews as it lacked innovation and played it safe.