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The original PlayStation console was a huge hit when it was released in Japan in 1994 and elsewhere in the world in 1995. What originally started as a deal between Sony and Nintendo that fell through became the origin of a console that would kickstart Sony’s rise to the apex of the gaming world. The PS1 boasted, at the time, revolutionary 3D polygonal visuals and cinematic stories that just weren’t possible with 2D bit graphics.
The PS1 brought numerous titles, some of which would launch series that are still ongoing over 20 years later. Even though the best-aged PS1 games still show some wear, and some have even received remakes, there are still some games that are as enjoyable as ever.
10 Chrono Cross Very Much Stands The Test Of Time
Chrono Cross is the follow-up to the iconic Super Nintendo RPG Chrono Trigger. While Chrono Cross is not a direct sequel to Chrono Trigger, it is set in the same world. It tells a story centered around parallel dimensions. The protagonist Serge discovers that in another world, he died as a child. He’s accompanied by a vast roster of party members on a journey to discover why these worlds differ and why he died in this alternate world.
Following up Chrono Trigger was challenging, but Square’s experience with Final Fantasy VII, its two sequels, and Xenogears throughout the PS1’s lifespan would help make that task possible.
9 Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night Would Become The Blueprint For An Entire Genre
Few games have been more influential toward their genre than Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Symphony of the Night is far from the first Castlevania game in the series, but with its vast world, it would become the game many developers look to when creating their own Metroidvania games.
Symphony of the Night was released on PS1 in 1997. Despite the game’s difficulty to stand out among an industry that was starting to become crowded with 3D titles, Symphony of the Night still managed to find success thanks to its critical acclaim.
8 Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 Still Brings The Noise
It says a lot about a game that, when a song comes up on a playlist, players immediately think of the game that it was in over 20 years later. For many PlayStation owners, the first game that comes to mind is Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. Its sequel, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, took many things that made the original a classic, including its soundtrack, and took it to even greater heights.
THPS2 is still, to the day, among a very elite club of video games to maintain a 98 score on Metacritic. The game is the only PS1 title to achieve this high mark.
7 Resident Evil 2 Welcomes Players To Raccoon City
The original Resident Evil creeped out and outright horrified players when it was released in 1996. The game would become the gateway game for many players in the horror genre. In 1998, Capcom released a follow-up appropriately titled Resident Evil 2. RE2 would carry the series forward in both gameplay and story while introducing iconic series figures, Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield.
RE2 received a remake in 2019, and like the original, is often cited among the best games in the series and genre. It goes to show just how good the original game was and still is. Much like other games in the series, RE2 remains an extremely popular game within the speedrunning community.
6 Tekken 3 Perfected The 3D Fighting Genre
The fighting genre has a benefit few other genres can claim. It’s easy for them to age well. The genre is centered around gameplay first and foremost. Typically, the genre isn’t afraid to release revisions as opposed to moving forward with a sequel. Many fighting games are perfected throughout their lifespan, making them easy for players to revisit or play for the first time.
The Tekken series, along with Sega’s Virtua Fighter series, brought the genre to the third dimension. For Tekken, the vision for the genre was realized in the widely acclaimed Tekken 3. Even today, many within the Tekken fandom point to Tekken 3 as the peak of the franchise alongside Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, Tekken Tag Tournament (which utilizes Tekken 3’s engine and gameplay), and Tekken 7.
5 Final Fantasy Tactics Brings Greater Strategy To The Iconic Series
The Final Fantasy series has resulted in numerous spinoffs throughout its history, and none have produced a more passionate following than Final Fantasy Tactics. This tactical RPG was made in collaboration between Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and Ogre Battle creator Yasumi Matsuno. While it lacks the over-the-top flair that comes from more recent TRPG titles, such as those from the Disgaea series, FFT has an immense level of strategy that is sure to satisfy players seeking a good strategy game.
FFT did receive an enhanced version titled Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions initially for the PlayStation Portable in 2007 before later releasing on mobile devices.
4 Crash Team Racing Gave Mario Kart A Run For Its Money
Even today, many developers have attempted to capitalize on the kart racing success of the Mario Kart series. While many of these games have failed to reach those highs, one rival stood toe-to-toe with Mario: Crash Team Racing. Crash Team Racing, starring PS1’s flagship mascot Crash Bandicoot, is often considered the best kart racer outside of Mario Kart and one of the best overall.
CRT received a highly regarded remastered version in 2020. Despite this positive reception, the remaster received criticism for its microtransactions, leaving many players wishing the game would’ve stayed fully faithful to this classic racer.
3 Gran Turismo Popularized The Racing Sim Genre
The racing genre on the PS1 wasn’t just limited to CRT and the Wipeout series. Sony’s flagship racing simulation Gran Turismo debuted in 1997 to critical acclaim. Gran Turismo was a bit of an unexpected success for both Sony and Polys Entertainment (later Polyphony Digital). However, the game’s 140 vehicles and clever artificial intelligence made the game a hit among players, selling over 10 million copies. Gran Turismo, and its sequel Gran Turismo 2, is a must-play for fans of the racing sim genre.
The Gran Turismo series has grown to be one of the premier racing simulators and an inevitably on Sony consoles. A Gran Turismo game has been released on every Sony except for the PlayStation Vita.
2 Spyro: Year Of The Dragon Is Still One Of The Best Platformers Ever
Much like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon was one of the PS1’s most prominent mascots. No Spyro game has been better received than the third installment Spyro: Year of the Dragon. Year of the Dragon takes on everything Insomniac Games had learned from their previous two entries to end the trilogy on the highest note possible before the developer set off to create the Ratchet & Clank series.
Year of the Dragon would receive critical acclaim is frequently cited as one of the best platforming games of all time. Year of the Dragon, along with the previous two Spyro titles, would receive a remaster as a part of the Spyro Reignited Trilogy in 2018.
1 Metal Gear Solid Pushed The Medium To Cinematic Heights
It’s difficult to come up with a game that pushed the PS1’s limits further than Metal Gear Solid. MGS, the third game of the Metal Gear series, was well ahead of its time as creator Hideo Kojima and his team at Konami put forth an immense level of effort to create a game that could bridge the gap between gaming and the big screen. MGS had an engaging narrative and emotional scenes, complete with voice acting. The game’s cinematic cutscenes were rendered in-engine. MGS’s stealth gameplay was not sacrificed in the process, however, as the game’s stealth mechanics and intense boss fights would go on to create an experience that players still fondly remember to this day.
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