What are the best PS1 games ever created?——RetroEliteStick Surprise you with the experience
Jan 23, 2024
Created to compete against the Nintendo 64 and Sega Saturn, the release of the original PlayStation heralded Sony’s rise to prominence in the video game industry.
Throughout its lifespan, 7,918 PlayStation games were released for the console, and many were stand-out successes that fans fell in love with.
However, some of these games were markedly more memorable than the others and stand out even today as some of the best ever created.
Here’s our list of the 10 best PS1 games ever created:
10. Final Fantasy IX
This Final Fantasy game embodied everything good about the series and combined it into one hell of a great game.
With a top-down perspective, fantastic monsters and enemies, and a whole load of secrets to learn, this game had everything that fans of the series could hope for and more.
9. Final Fantasy Tactics
It should be no surprise that a franchise that still ranks high on modern consoles holds so many spots on this list.
However, this tactical role-playing game is such a cult classic we couldn’t not give it the attention it deserves.
Featuring two gameplay modes, with battles taking place on a 3D isometric field, this game was as challenging as it was fun, and it could take some serious thought to get through it.
Thankfully, the soundtrack was so good that even if you were losing, it was still a great experience.
8. Resident Evil
The game that began it all.
While Resident Evil: Village has been taking the world by storm in modern times, this series is no stranger to the hype with the strong foundation that the first laid out.
With zombie bad guys swarming across Raccoon City, the dark and gritty feeling of this game immediately set the scene, and the story sucked you in and had you coming back for more.
7. Final Fantasy VII
As the 7th game in the series, it sets the stage with a science fiction theme that hadn’t been seen in the franchise before.
Featuring a massive map and engaging battle screen where you could take down your enemies, this is often considered one of the best PS1 games ever created, and fans of Cloud Strife particularly enjoyed it.
A remake of this game for the PS4 was also one of the most highly anticipated Playstation games of 2020!
6. Tekken 3
Although Street Fighter may be one of the most well-known fighting games on any console, it doesn’t hold a candle to Tekken.
Compared to many other fighting games, Tekken boasts some of the most unforgettable characters, as well as some of the most engaging gameplay to ever come to the PS1.
While Street Fighter fans may beg to differ, this game definitely was better. Its sales reflect this, with Tekken 3 having sold 8.36 million copies and Street Fighter Alpha 3 only selling 1 million.
5. Suikoden II
In the second installment in the series, this game sports an incredibly large base of characters with over 100 recruitable NPCs in total.
While the game itself is engaging and has an incredible story that features the son of the first game’s protagonist, it is largely considered a hidden gem, as there wasn’t a lot of widespread appeal, and sales were far from incredible.
It’s only in hindsight that it was able to get the recognition it deserved.
4. Xenogears
The first in the franchise that would go on to rival even Chrono Cross, Xenogears was all about non-linear exploration and working with other characters to become stronger in battles.
As a breakout success in both Japan and America, Sony even gave it a Gold Prize, as sales rose above 500,000 in Japan.
At the same time, critics applauded the story, gameplay, graphics, and soundtrack, with many going so far as to call it the best RPG of the year.
3. Resident Evil 2
Like Silent Hill, this game scared a lot of people, and it certainly wasn’t one to play alone in a dark room. While it may seem tame by today’s standards, when it was first released it was terrifying.
With the goal being to escape Raccoon City and avoid becoming a snack for the zombies, players really had to think hard about their strategies to stay alive in this horror-survival classic.
Although it was positively received on the PS1, it was also one of the best GameCube games of its time as well!
2. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Although this game almost tanked, it was saved by the praises of the critics who fell in love with it.
Symphony of the Night was a true non-linear RPG, and it featured a variety of weapons you could use as you worked your way through Dracula’s castle to save Richter Belmont.
It’s hard to go wrong with the Castlevania series, but this installment was certainly one of the best games of all time on the PS1.
1. Metal Gear Solid
Taking the top spot is by far one of the most impactful games ever released on the PS1.
Rising to become one of the most classic and iconic games in history, Metal Gear Solid introduced gamers to Solid Snake and challenged the skills of even the most well-versed stealth game veterans. Especially when it came to defeating Psycho Mantis, one of the toughest video game bosses ever.
Among these games, there's a home console that has a blend of games for the PS1 and beyond: the RetroEliteStick Home Retro Game, with 60,000+ retro games waiting for you to play.