Top 15 Best PS1 Games of All Time

The PS1 is one of the best-selling games consoles of all time, and for a good reason: It had some truly excellent games on it. Here’s our take on the best PS1 Games.

Best PS1 Games – Metal Gear Solid

One of the most believable casts of characters in any video game ever. Best PS1 Games saw the rise of voice acting in video games, and Metal Gear Solid went all-out. It set the bar for storytelling in action games from then on. And let’s not forget that it’s an awesome stealth game, to boot.

Best PS1 Games – Gran Turismo 2

Gran Turismo 2 is one of those games that beautifully demonstrated what the PS One was capable of in terms of graphics. Whereas other racers of the time were more ‘arcadey,’ like the Saturn’s Daytona USA and the Nintendo 64’s Cruis’n USA, Gran Turismo 2 went the route of realistic racing simulation, and it paid off. best-selling

Best PS1 Games – Tekken 3

In the days before Soulcalibur, the only real 3D fighters in town were Tekken and Virtua Fighter, and Tekken was certainly leagues above the latter. The PS One wasn’t really known for its multiplayer games, but Tekken 3 was a game that justified the purchase of a second controller. Oh, and you can play as Gon in this one. Best game.

Best PS1 Games – Final Fantasy VII

It’s no doubt that Final Fantasy VII was an incredibly important game for the JRPG genre, but the main reason it’s still remembered so fondly today is that it’s such a darn good game. The story, the battle system, and the soundtrack have all stood the test of the time; younger folks should definitely still check this one out. Best PS1 Games

Best PS1 Games – Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Symphony of the Night took the series in a more Metroid-like direction, and thus the term Metroidvania was born. It gives its inspiration a run for its money. Symphony of the Night took you on a trip through a sprawling castle with dangerous foes and new RPG mechanics. And if you 100% the game, you can play it all over again with an inverted castle.

Best PS1 Games – Crash Bandicoot: Warped

Not enough companies really took a stab at linear 3D platformers during the PS One era; at the time, they were mostly collectathons with open-ended level design. That is, except, for Naughty Dog and Crash Bandicoot. Crash Bandicoot was —and still is— the king of linear 3D platformers. Mechanically and creatively, the series reached its peak with the third game, Crash Bandicoot: Warped. Best PS1 Games

Best PS1 Games – Final Fantasy IX

There are a lot of arguments about which Final Fantasy game is the best one, and Final Fantasy IX is definitely a contender. When VII and VIII featured more technologically advanced worlds, IX took a step back to a more traditional setting. Couple this with a lovable cast of characters and a great ability-learning system and you’ve got one of the best JRPGs ever printed on a disc (or 4 discs, to be exact). Best PS1 Games

Best PS1 Games – Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver

You may be surprised to hear that development of Legacy of Kain was cut short, and the team over at Crystal Dynamics were forced to make a lot of cuts before the game was released. Yet, it still stands as one of the best action-adventure games of its time. You play as Raziel, exploring the underworld of Nosgoth and devouring the souls of your enemies, all in an attempt to rid the world of Kain.

Best PS1 Games – Resident Evil 2

Resident Evil was one of the game’s that started the survival horror genre. Resident Evil 2 took it a step further, tightening up the mechanics, improving the voice acting, and further defining the differences between the game’s two campaigns. It’s no wonder why Capcom are giving this game the remake treatment.

Best PS1 Games – Spyro: Year of the Dragon

The Nintendo 64 may have had Banjo Kazooie, but the PS One fought right back with Spyro the Dragon. Spyro is up there with Banjo and company as one of the best collectathon-style 3D platformers. They even got Stewart Copeland of The Police to do the soundtracks! Year of the Dragon is similar to its predecessors but with the inclusion of the skateboard levels, which clearly makes it the best one.

Best PS1 Games – Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2

THPS2 was so big that it made non-skateboarders want to perform some ollies. It’s quite remarkable how they nailed a skateboarding game so soon after the industry made the switch to 3D. If only the latest games could be this good.

Best PS1 Games – Silent Hill

One of the most important horror games to ever exist. Silent Hill cleverly used the limitations of the system as a feature. By filling the world with fog, it overcame the issue of the PlayStation’s low draw distance while also increasing the spooks of the game.

Best PS1 Games – Suikoden II

Most RPGs only feature playable characters numbering in the single digits. Suikoden II, however, contains over 40 playable characters and over 100 characters in total that you can recruit. They’re not just throwaway though, they all tie in to the plot. It’s a game that is extremely well thought out and can easily take you hundreds of hours to do everything. Best PS1 Games

Best PS1 Games – Chrono Cross

Maybe more developers should start making RPGs with a huge number of playable characters, because if the PS One library is anything to go by, they tend to work out pretty well. Chrono Cross may be quite the departure from Chrono Trigger, but it definitely deserves the Chrono moniker and features a fantastic soundtrack by Yasunori Mitsuda. Best PS1 Games

Best PS1 Games – Parasite Eve

Squaresoft, now known as Square Enix, were on fire during the PS One era. Not only did they produce a plethora of great JRPGs, but they also branched into other genres, such as the survival horror/RPG hybrid Parasite Eve. It’s not quite as terrifying as Silent Hill, but its chilling soundtrack and grotesque enemy design make it worth a play.

What do you think of our list of the best PS1 games of all time? Let us know in the comments down below! Will you be picking up a PS1 Classic?