The PlayStation’s introduction revolutionized video game culture, bringing the arcade experience into homes. This era produced a wealth of influential PS1 titles, many of which left an indelible mark on gaming. Whether creating entirely new genres or elevating existing ones to unprecedented levels, the PS1 era remains a landmark period in video game history. If you’re one for revisiting your childhood or still manage to have the PS1, this one is for you. So take a trip down memory lane as we pick and rank the best PS1 games of all time right here.
15. Street Fighter Alpha 3
- Developer(s): Capcom
- Release Date: December 23, 1998
Console gaming in the early days was dominated by fighting games, and Street Fighter was a household name in it. While the best from this era, Tekken 3, comes later in our list, we must include its rival, Street Fighter Alpha 3. The game, with a 93 Metascore and over 1 million sales, took the fighting genre by storm in 1998.
SF Alpha 3 was more than a replication of the fight. It expanded the roster, invited you to forge your own warrior in a sprawling World Tour, and delivered a knockout punch of solo and competitive satisfaction. It altered a faithful adaptation into a definitive home experience, a new horizon to the series’ enduring appeal.
14. Ape Escape
- Developer(s): Japan Studio
- Release Date: June 22, 1999
Imagine a world before thumbstick fluidity, a time when PlayStation controllers felt strangely incomplete. Then, a mischievous simian uprising arrived, demanding you embrace the DualShock’s potential. Ape Escape didn’t just introduce analog control; it transformed it into a playful arsenal, wielding hula hoops and flying paddles against primate pandemonium.
It was an impulsive dance of stick-waggling, a novel concept that proved surprisingly intuitive despite its apparent absurdity. This quirky adventure was a prophetic glimpse into the future, where even real-world ape escapes might be solved with virtual gadgetry.
13. Spider-Man
- Developer(s): Neversoft
- Release Date: August 30, 2000
When I remember the list of best Spider-Man games, one that comes to my mind is the PS1 version. When Neversoft tried its hands on the wall-crawling, web-slinging, Marvel hero, it was an instant hit. Neversoft’s Spidey game wove an attractive canvas that captured the very essence of Spider-Man. Each swing felt like a joyful leap of faith, each web shot a playful dance with gravity, and every quip a spark of the hero’s infectious spirit.
The city became a playground, a living, breathing canvas for Spidey’s acrobatic prowess, where solid combat met ingenious stage design. This PS1 attempt at Spider-Man was a love letter to the character, a fresh adventure that resonated with both die-hard fans and action-adventure seekers alike.
12. Vagrant Story
- Developer(s): Square
- Release Date: May 15, 2000
Vagrant Story meshed a breathtaking world, where even the silence spoke volumes. The game is beyond endless chatter as it sculpted a lean, mean adventure, carving away RPG fluff to reveal a core of pure action. Combat became a strategic dance, a limb-by-limb dissection of foes, where precision trumped brute force.
Its beauty wasn’t just in the visuals but in the elegant simplicity of its design. Vagrant Story was a focused journey into a realm of strategic combat and solitary exploration. It whispered a different kind of RPG tale, one told through the clash of steel and the stark beauty of a world on the edge.
11. Spyro the Dragon
- Developer(s): Insomniac Games
- Release Date: September 9, 1998
Once, the PlayStation’s 3D platforming prowess was whispered about, doubted even, until a purple dragon soared into view, silencing the skeptics. Spyro was beyond a polygon playground. The experience was a vibrant and sprawling world that proved the console could handle open, breathtaking landscapes.
Spyro invited you to glide through sun-drenched valleys and whimsical castles, a testament to the PS1’s hidden potential. Though a gentle breeze compared to some platforming storms, Spyro’s effortless charm and fluid controls made exploration a pure, unadulterated joy. Spyro on PS1 was about reveling in the sheer delight of a dragon’s journey, a playful dance across a revolutionary 3D realm.
10. Silent Hill
- Developer(s): Team Silent
- Release Date: February 23, 1999
It would be wrong not to include the original Silent Hill in our best PS1 games list. The Konami masterpiece whispered anxieties, crafting a uniquely disturbing brand of horror that burrowed deep beneath the skin. While a majority of the horror games in that timeframe relied on jump scares, it mastered the art of psychological unease. This makes the mundane experience in the world of SH utterly terrifying.
The fog, a technical necessity, became a character itself, a suffocating shroud of dread that amplified the game’s unsettling atmosphere. The game became such a hit that the remakes and other editions still did not reach their original peak. It was a masterclass in atmospheric horror, a chilling symphony of sound and shadow that cemented its place as one of the best horror games.
9. Crash Bandicoot: Warped
- Developer(s): Naughty Dog
- Release Date: October 31, 1998
Crash Bandicoot, PlayStation’s whirling dervish, returned not to rebuild his house, but to add a glorious, chaotic funfair to it. He traded pure platforming perfection for a wild ride, throwing in motorbike chases, subaquatic escapades, and even a dash of jet ski mayhem, all wrapped in that familiar, vibrant package. Think of it as Crash’s greatest hits, remixed and amplified, a playground for newcomers and a gauntlet for die-hards.
But beneath the spectacle, the core challenge remained, a hidden dare for those seeking true bandicoot mastery, whispered in the ticking clock of relentless time trials. Crash Bandicoot: Warped didn’t just expand the game; it expanded the definition of a platformer, a joyful explosion of pure, unadulterated fun.
8. Tomb Raider
- Developer(s): Core Design
- Release Date: October 25, 1996
The reason behind the new Tomb Raider’s generation success is the iconic PS1 series, especially the original one. Lara Croft’s haunting journey in the jungle, exploring the treasure, and scares made things more realistic than imaginable.
Instead of constant action, Tomb Raider emphasizes puzzle-solving within enclosed, ancient spaces. Despite its iconic dinosaur moment, the game focuses on the core experience of exploring tombs rather than sprawling landscapes. For its release date, Tomb Raider was revolutionary. From the gameplay loop to the blend of simplistic visuals, it had it all.
7. Tekken 3
- Developer(s): Namco
- Release Date: March 26, 1998
If Nintendo was rocking the Super Smash Bros. for the fighting genre, PlayStation had Tekken 3 on offer. Whether you are a fan of arcade fighters or not, the third edition of the iconic Tekken franchise built up a momentum that continues even after Tekken 8 (review).
This is when we got the 3D fighting with its sidestep mechanic, adding a crucial layer of depth to the genre. It delivered a knockout combination of bizarre characters, cinematic flair, and intense combat, solidifying its place as a PS1 fighting game legend. Notably, it introduced iconic characters like Eddy Gordo, popularizing capoeira for a generation.
6. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2
- Developer(s): Neversoft
- Release Date: September 20, 2000
With over 98 Metascore, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 is one of the most noteworthy sports games ever made. The original THPS was already a great success, so the sequel had solid expectations. Where the platformer takes on the skating sports game was the key selling point for the original, the sequel took it up a notch.
The game introduced a refined gameplay, a park editor, and a legendary soundtrack, solidifying its place as a cultural phenomenon. It elevated arcade extreme sports gaming, influencing a generation with its addictive gameplay and iconic music. The game’s impact transcended gaming, leaving an enduring legacy on sports and music landscapes alike.
5. Gran Turismo
- Developer(s): Polyphony Digital
- Release Date: December 23, 1997
While I will mention the sequel for Gran Turismo, the original made racing on PlayStation iconic. There is a reason why Gran Turismo is the best-selling PS1 game of all time. Content-wise, the original was perfect for its time.
You get exceptional graphics for a 1997 game with ambitious racing physics. Gran Turismo was the most realistic and responsive racing game for its time and it deserves the accolades.
4. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
- Developer(s): Konami
- Release Date: March 20, 1997
The one franchise that goes under the radar for Konami is the Castlevania series. But, it would be unfair to judge Castlevania: Symphony of the Night based on its buzz. The game keeps to its core with the 2D gameplay. Although all the other games on PlayStation were going through the 3D shift, Konami focused on the gameplay for this iconic platformer.
You cannot deny Castlevania Symphony of the Night’s contribution in making the ‘Metroidvania’ a separate genre. Going away from a typical linear progression, Symphony of the Night gives you a free hand in exploring the game. This goes perfectly with how you can upgrade your character and continue conquering the levels.
3. Resident Evil 2
- Developer(s): Capcom
- Release Date: January 21, 1998
There are iconic Resident Evil games and then there is RE2. Now, the legacy of Resident Evil starts from the beginning of the Raccoon City disaster where Leon and Claire make their debut. As soon as the game was released, it cemented its legacy as the survival-horror crown holder. The success of RE2 made Resident Evil 4 take a big leap and become one of the best Resident Evil games of all time.
The sequel to the original Resident Evil brings a lot to the table. While RE2 is not the second game if we go by the Resident Evil games in order, it definitely makes the impact of the pioneer. With over 5.7 million copies sold, Resident Evil 2 is undeniably one of the most iconic horror games on PS1.
2. Metal Gear Solid
- Developer(s): Konami
- Release Date: September 3, 1998
As a fan of the best stealth games, I can never put Metal Gear Solid outside the top two from this PS1 best games list. Yes, it is a must-play for any kind of gamer. Especially, if you are a fan of spy thrillers, you could create one with Solid gameplay.
It whispered secrets hidden on the game’s box, blurring the lines between player and participant. It also made you fight a psychic who read your memory card. Forget cutscenes; this game staged a philosophical opera about heroes and war, where even a cardboard box became a tool of strategic genius.
1. Final Fantasy 7
- Developer(s): Square
- Release Date: January 31, 1997
Who thought we would be talking about a game almost 28 years after its release? That, too, cemented a genre legacy. Final Fantasy 7 is, eyes closed, a complete PS1 game with all the features a powerful console could run. But why did we select FF7 as our number one? Well, for starters, Final Fantasy 7 is considered one of the best RPG games on Nintendo and other devices. That shows from the game’s 10 million-plus sales figure.
One could argue that Final Fantasy IX or VIII should not be selected, but let us be honest: FF7 walked so future FF titles could run. From the stories of Cloud and Sephiroth, or the execution of music and animation, this game reached the peak of what the PS1 console was capable of. FF7 put the JRPG genre on the map by adding a fresh take on open-world games within the new console. Even the latest FF7 Remake showed us why the game was way ahead of its time.
That ends our list of the best PS1 games of all time. Do you agree with our list? Share your favorite PlayStation 1 games in the comments below.
