20 Best PS1 Games

With the PlayStation’s 20th anniversary in North America occurring today, it’s a time for celebration. Who knew that Sony’s home console would be such a hit that the brand would still be going strong 20 years later! It is also a time for reflection, and a look back at the company’s history.

Not all history lessons are fun, though! Plenty of games that were highly regarded in their time have aged rather poorly, so we here at PlayStation LifeStyle have put together a list of 20 of the best PS1 games. We’re not looking through rose tinted glasses, though, we’re looking for games that have withstood the test of time and are still fun to play in 2015. While there were dozens of great games on the original PlayStation, we limited the list down to just 20 games to go with the anniversary theme.

We hope you enjoyed our look at 20 of the best PS1 games. Taking a stroll through memory lane reveals that the PlayStation had an incredible lineup of games, and featured several of the greatest games ever made.

With so many great PS1 games released over the years, we most likely left off some of your favorites. Let us know in the comments which PS1 games you enjoyed the most, and which ones you still play to this day!

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20 PS1 Games

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night isn't just one of the greatest Playstation games, it is one of the greatest games of all time. It hasn't lost any luster with age, in fact, it is just as fun today as it was in 1997.
Chrono Cross

There is possibly nothing more difficult than following up Chrono Trigger. And while Chrono Cross didn't quite hit the highs of its predecessor, it is still a damn fine RPG. Come in with measured expectations and you'll find a lot to like!
Crash Bandicoot: Warped

While all three of the Crash Bandicoot games held up pretty well, Crash Bandicoot: Warped leaps out as the best of them. Naughty Dog improved their winning formula with every sequel, and created one of the most beloved platformers the third time around.
Crash Team Racing

Crash wasn't just good at running and jumping! As evidenced in Crash Team Racing he could also kart race with the best of them. CTR is still a blast to play with friends, and some would argue that not even Mario has had a better kart outing.
Darkstalkers 3

A good fighting game will always be fun, and such is the case with Capcom's Darkstalkers 3. The PlayStation version of this classic title featured three additional fighters not found in the arcade version of the game. There are few better ways to spend an afternoon than with B.B. Hood and the gang.
Final Fantasy Tactics

When Final Fantasy entered the genre of tactical role-playing games, they entered with a bang. Final Fantasy Tactics might be the greatest tactical RPG ever made, and is appropriately held in high regard. If you love video games then you owe yourself to play Square Enix's gem.
Final Fantasy VIII

This might not be the Final Fantasy game you were expecting, but Final Fantasy VIII has stood the test of time better than most RPGs of the time period. Featuring top-notch cinematics and a great story that spans four discs, Final Fantasy VIII is one of the most interesting entries in the series. It is certainly worth checking out, as its chances of ever being remade are slim to none.
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile

Klonoa: Door to Phantomile is an example of quality over quantity. While it isn't a very long game, Namco's platformer offers up a ton of fun as long as it lasts. If you are looking for a cute world to explore then you might want to take a trip back to Phantomile as it is still magical in 2015.
Mega Man X4

While the best days of the Blue Bomber may have been on Nintendo consoles, he still had some stellar outings on PlayStation. Perhaps the best of the bunch was Mega Man X4. The ability to play as either X or Zero was amazing at the time, and the tight platforming is just as fun today as it was in 1997.
Metal Gear Solid

Metal Gear Solid is just as relevant today as it was in 1998. The gameplay, which was promoted as stealth espionage action, engaged players, while the story of Solid Snake was told through great cutscenes. Metal Gear Solid brought video games to a new level of cinematic storytelling, and continues to influence games to this day.
PaRappa the Rapper

There is a reason why PaRappa the Rapper continues to be associated with the PlayStation brand despite not receiving a new entry in quite some time. That reason is that the original game was so revolutionary to the music genre, and is still more difficult than the majority of rhythm games released today! It is still a blast to train with Master Onion, and to get your driver's license from Instructor Mooselini.
Resident Evil 2

Resident Evil 2 is one of the greatest survival horror games ever made. Hideki Kamiya's masterpiece managed to somehow outdo the original. If you can't wait for the upcoming remake, then you can still have a blast by playing the PlayStation version of RE2.
Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!

Insomniac Games had a hit with their Spyro series of titles. Arguably the best of which was Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! which added more variety to the winning formula found in the original game.
Street Fighter Alpha 3

Obviously the king of fighters (oh wait, that is another series!) had to make the list. Street Fighter Alpha 3 is the final game in the Alpha series, and is also the best. Capcom's port practically brought the arcade to your home.
Suikoden II

If you've never played Suikoden II then you probably have a good excuse as it is one of the rarest games for the PlayStation. Despite critical acclaim, only a few copies of this stellar RPG were printed! Thankfully, this PlayStation classic is now available on the PlayStation Store so anyone can now enjoy it for a reasonable price.
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo

In 1996 Capcom put out one of the best puzzle games ever made. They also showed the ability to make fun of themselves by naming it Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo. Capcom had good reason to be confident as this tile swapping puzzle game quickly became a beloved classic.
Tekken 3

The fact that Tekken 3 ran on a PlayStation was a technical marvel. Namco's fighting game was a visual showpiece for the system, and still plays great. For many fighting fans, Tekken 3 was the peak of the series.
Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return

The Evil Pigs just won't let Tomba alone! Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return was exactly what fans of the original game wanted. Gameplay was refined, and the game looked considerably better than the previous entry. This is a game that platformer fans will absolutely adore.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 was the perfect step forward for the series that launched an entire trend of extreme sports games for the next decade. Adding in the ability to manual fundamentally changed the game, and THPS2 is one of the most beloved games in the series.
Wipeout XL

Even if the gameplay didn't hold up any (thankfully it does), Wipeout XL would absolutely be worth playing for its soundtrack alone. Featuring artists such as the The Chemical Brothers, and The Prodigy, Wipeout XL has one of the best soundtracks of all time. Oh, and the futuristic racing is still super fun to play!
20 PS1 Games That Are Still Good Today