15 Best PS1 Games of All Time [2024 Edition]

Sony took a bold first step into the realm of video game hardware with the original PlayStation, and it was a massive success that etched the company as a household name in gaming. The original PlayStation was not only home to some amazing first-party releases but also plenty of great third-party games, and with this feature – we take a look back at the history of this legendary console and count down 15 of the best games on the platform.

Tomb Raider

Tomb Raider was one of the earliest 3D action games on the PS1, and Lara Croft’s debut was an unforgettable adventure back in the day. Everything from the labyrinthian levels to white-knuckle platforming challenges and thrilling combat made for an experience that wasn’t too different from a blockbuster movie, and those elements laid the foundation for one of the most revered adventure games to this date. While the movement and combat haven’t aged all that well, but for its time, it was the next big thing in the action-adventure genre.

Gran Turismo

Polyphony Digital knocked it out of the park with its 1997 release Gran Turismo, a game that would later morph into one of the biggest household names in PlayStation’s first-party roster of IPs. Gran Turismo’s rudimentary graphics might look dated by modern standards, but it was a towering visual achievement for its time and the granular attention to detail in how the car models looked and how the tracks were laid out was almost unheard of at that time. Add to that a really strong simulation core that governs the feel and drift of every vehicle in the gargantuan roster, and Gran Turismo became an instant hit for motorheads.

Resident Evil 3

The fifth console generation revolutionized the horror genre and Resident Evil 3 played a big role in bringing about that change. Jill Valentine’s chronicles against the ferocious Nemesis are chock full of memorable encounters and close calls from undead creatures, and that combined with the brutal survival mechanics is what makes it an endearing survival horror experience through and through. It was one of the first games in the genre to feature an intimidating stalker resulting in exhilarating moments that will keep you at the edge of your seat.

WWF Smackdown! 2 – Know Your Role

Making its debut within a year of the release of the first WWF Smackdown game, WWF Smackdown! 2- Know Your Role didn’t disappoint wrestling fans in any way whatsoever. It made plenty of new and significant changes over what came before while retaining what made it great in the first place. In addition to the new game modes like Hell in a Cell, Ladder Matches or Iron Man, what makes WWF Smackdown 2 one of the most memorable wrestling games of all time is the excellent moment-to-moment gameplay that perfectly mimics the action that we love to see on the television screen.

Colin Mcrae Rally 2.0

The second game in the Colin McRae series which would later go on to be known as Dirt Rally, Colin McRae Rally 2.0 lets you race through a bunch of different courses while giving you a wide selection range of more than a dozen rally cars. Colin McRae Rally 2.0 features some of the most meticulous car handling mechanics that aim to provide the best rally racing experience, which is what made it such a big hit for fans of the sport. For instance, navigating your car through the gravel-infested tracks of Greece will be extremely different from the experience of gliding along an icy track of Sweden. While the game has its own shortcomings, Colin McRae Rally 2.0 has more than enough merits to cover its flaws and stand out as one of the best racing games on the platform.

Spider-Man

The friendly neighborhood Spider-Man has enjoyed a long and rich history with video games, and there are plenty of great games that feature this very superhero – including but not limited to Spider-Man on the PS1. Spidey’s quest to stop Dr. Octavius and his evil schemes is punctuated by varied missions and memorable combat encounters, and despite some obvious technical limitations – Spider-Man was able to largely fulfill the fantasy of shooting webs and beating down baddies in a convincing manner.

Metal Gear Solid

It’s safe to say that Metal Gear Solid largely laid the blueprint for the modern stealth game, and it also represents how games can be at the bleeding edge of cinema and interactivity. Hideo Kojima’s genius shines through in every aspect of the game ranging from the carefully laid out espionage plot to the timeless gameplay mechanics and even the boss fights, making Metal Gear Solid a game that’s worthy of its masterpiece status. The game effortlessly switches between shades of stealth to full-blown action and vice versa, and its contributions to the action-adventure genre like the SONAR radar continue to be staples in the modern gaming landscape.

Knockout Kings 2001

Boxing has always been a tough sport to replicate in the form of a video game, but it’s safe to say Knockout Kings does a good job of translating the thrill and depth of the combat sport in an effective manner. The boxing felt more responsive and fluid than contemporaries, and the ability to attack from different angles and perform dirty moves gives the action an additional layer of depth to the gameplay. Add some pretty detailed visuals and the occasionally hilarious commentary into the mix, and Knockout Kings becomes a game that’s tough to pass on for boxing fans.

Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix

Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix thrusts players into a Bladerunner Esque environment with cel-shaded character designs and a pseudo-3D environment as you experience the same storyline from different perspectives. Retro Helix offers plenty of tough puzzles for players to crack in addition to light combat sequences, and that combined with the multilateral perspective makes for a consistently engaging experience.

Bushido Blade

Bushido Blade is a fighting video game that allows players to fulfill their fantasy of taking part in a sword fight in an authentic fashion. You see, sword duels in reality are not defined by slick-looking combos, best of 3 rounds, or a visible health bar – and Bushido Blade tries its best to mimic that experience with its gameplay. Attacking the opponent’s hands or legs might lead to the loss of a limb which would obviously have tangible consequences in the course of the battle just as a direct blow to the chest will lead to instant death. In addition to the extremely realistic gameplay, Bushido Blade boasts some of the most detailed graphics of its time and that combined with its rhythmic soundtrack makes Bushido Blade one of the best games on the platform.

Medal of Honor (1999)

Developed with stunning visual effects and high production values for its time, Medal of Honor was one of the first games to really translate the intense action of war in a first-person perspective. It was a revolutionary game in more ways than one, right from the realistic depiction of war to pioneering linear-level design and much more. It was a bold first step that would give birth to one of the biggest gaming trends of the 2000s.

Colony Wars

Colony Wars is a space-action shooter game that tells the story of a pilot working for a rebellious organization fighting against the evil Imperial Navy. Set against the backdrop of a sci-fi universe, Colony Wars shows the true potential of the console by providing you with a distinct sense of immersion as you participate in thrilling dogfights against a wide variety of enemy ships. Right from the immersive gameplay to the memorable sequences and a story that changes according to your actions, Colony Wars is probably one of the best space games on the PS1.

Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit

Taking a sharp turn from the simulation gameplay of Gran Turismo, EA’s Need for Speed provided an adrenaline-pumping, rubber-scratching arcade take on car racing. Suffice it to say, fans lapped it all up and Need For Speed quickly became a household franchise in the racing space. EA released NFS 3: Hot Pursuit back in 1998 to some great reviews, and it added new elements like thrilling cop car chases into the mix – making for some absolutely slick action sequences.

NBA Live 2001

NBA Live 2001 might just be the best way to play basketball on the PS1, and a lot of that praise boils down to the excellent gameplay underpinning every moment of the experience and a vast roster of licensed players and teams from all across the globe. EA corrected almost all criticisms of the predecessors and implemented plenty of new features, making this franchise swansong on the PS1 a memorable one.

FIFA 2001 Major League Soccer

And if basketball isn’t really your thing, you cannot really go wrong with FIFA 2001 Major League Soccer on the PS1. The game featured some extremely polished gameplay mechanics and solid visuals for its time which made for a consistently enjoyable experience as you duke it out against your friends for hours and hours upon end.

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