10 Best PlayStation 1 Games Ever Made, Officially Ranked
The PlayStation 1 is one of the best-selling consoles of all time. With an enormous list of top-notch games, it can be extremely difficult to narrow down which ones are the best of the best. Many iconic franchises got their start on the original PlayStation console.
A wide variety of games could be enjoyed on this classic console. Racing games, fighting games, and 3D platformers all found their footing on the PS1, making it not only one of the best-performing consoles in terms of sales but also an extremely successful platform for developers and gamers alike.
10. Gran Turismo 2
Gran Turismo 2 was one of the most iconic games to come out of the PlayStation 1 era. The game followed the massively successful Gran Turismo and perfected many of the first game’s mechanics and features. While it didn’t sell as well as its predecessor, the game solidly sits as one of the best PS1 games.
Gran Turismo was not nearly the end of this iconic racing franchise. There have been several mainline Gran Turismo games since, most of which serve as a showcase to their origin console’s graphical capabilities. The latest game, Gran Turismo 7, received positive reviews.
9. Tomb Raider
The original Tomb Raider brought Lara Croft onto the screens of many, marking her as one of the greatest gaming heroines to date. Players will swim and climb through a harsh environment, fighting a wide assortment of enemies on the quest to retrieve a priceless item.
The Tomb Raider franchise has had a long and successful run. With several sequels and even some movies, this franchise is solidly one of the most influential to debut on the original PlayStation console.
8. Spyro The Dragon
While there are better Spyro games than Spyro The Dragon, the game that started the franchise holds a special place in the history of PlayStation. Serving as one of PlayStation’s original mascots, it is a sure thought that Spyro sold some consoles for the company.
Coming from the groundbreaking game Studio, Insomniac Games, Spyro The Dragon spawned several mainline and spinoff games since its original release in 1998. Spyro even got a modern-day remake, bringing the game’s graphics up to snuff while keeping the classic gameplay in place.
7. Tekken 3
The Tekken series brought new fans to the fighting genre and really peaked in its early years with Tekken 3. The story of Tekken 3 is a real pull for a lot of players. The Tekken fighting tournament pits characters against each other in a battle to decide the fate of the world.
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Tekken 3 had great gameplay and cool characters. What more could you ask for in a fighting game? The Tekken franchise is still going today and has a strong player base with much hype surrounding future entries in the series.
6. Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee
Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee is a great side-scrolling platformer. Its graphics can be a bit dated by today’s standards, but the gameplay and story hold strong. Abe’s Oddysee features a compelling, and strange, narrative that can be really nostalgic for players who played the game when it was first released.
The entire Oddworld series has featured interesting stories and gameplay mechanics, and though they are often overlooked, the games really have a unique feel and world.
5. Silent Hill
Silent Hill had a troubled development cycle but was eventually released to fantastic reviews. The game made its heavy mark on the horror genre, making players survive amidst the grotesque creatures found throughout the game.
Silent Hill is intense and holds a strong fanbase today, with heavy hype surrounding a rumored continuation of the series. A modern-day Silent Hill game has the potential to be truly terrifying. With current gen graphics and a long list of features not possible in years past, Silent Hill could make a strong comeback.
4. Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot is the game that started a fantastic franchise. The character quickly became a pseudo-mascot for Sony’s PlayStation console and has remained a mainstay in classic video game history.
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There are many other Crash Bandicoot games that could have made the list of best PS1 games. Crash Team Racing, Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped–less-so Crash Bandicoot 2, but still possible. The franchise has been very successful and set many standards for the 3D-Platformer genre.
3. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2
Skating games rocked the world of players who primarily enjoyed sports titles. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater brought a new and unique take on the sports genre, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 perfected the formula. From combo-filled gameplay to an amazing soundtrack that rivals even that of modern-day games, THPS 2 deserves its spot on the list of best PS1 games.
The Tony Hawk games spawned several successful sequels and spinoffs. The games were accessible by players on most platforms, leading to a loyal player base of fans. The popularity of skating games has waned drastically since the height of the Tony Hawk series, but other franchises like Skate have found success in the years since.
2. Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 2 was at the beginning of a long line of the massively popular game franchise. It took all of the suspense and anticipation left by the first game and fulfilled the expectations of players tenfold. With a great story, skin-crawling enemies, and fun gameplay, RE2 had it all.
While the franchise has never received the big-screen adaptations it deserves, the games serve as some of the best action-packed zombie experiences players can have.
1. Metal Gear Solid
The influence that Metal Gear Solid had on the stealth genre was considerable. The game’s combination of stealth and action gameplay immediately solidified it as a classic. There is a healthy speed-running community surrounding the game and keeps a considerable player count to this day.
The game came out in the 1990s and was helmed by incredibly famous game-maker Hideo Kojima. The game was followed by a massively successful franchise that concluded with Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.
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