5 Best PS1 Games Of All Time, Ranked

The original PlayStation, or PlayStation 1 as it widely became known retroactively, proved to be a popular draw after it launched in 1994. Featuring disc-based games at a time when Nintendo was still using cartridges, the PS1 came out of the gate swinging with an impressive library of games. Many of the franchises introduced during this generation are still recognized today, with many releasing modern titles that continue to thrill gamers. PlayStation cemented Sony’s growing place in the video game industry and spawned an entire line of increasingly powerful consoles from the company.

This was fueled by widespread gamer and developer support, with Sony’s PlayStation 1 accomplishing something no other console could by being the first such device to sell over 100 million units. But this couldn’t have happened without the platform having some truly stellar games, and the PS1 had marquee titles to spare. We’re highlighting the greatest games that the system had to offer, several of which were console-exclusive at the time of their initial release. Representing the greatest gaming experiences on Sony’s first console, these are the five best PS1 games of all time, ranked.

There was no shortage of fighting games on the PlayStation, but the console also ushered in Bandai Namco’s own franchise with “Tekken.” The pinnacle of the series on the console was “Tekken 3,” ported to the PlayStation in 1998, a year after its arcade release. Set 19 years after the events of the preceding game, the sequel completely revamped its roster with over a dozen new characters. The game’s story followed new protagonist Jin Kazama as he enters a martial arts tournament, while reconciling with his grandfather’s villainous legacy.

A near-perfect PS1 game that epitomized the franchise’s charm in its early days, “Tekken 3” is frenetic fun for fighting game fans. What really elevated the game above its predecessors is that the gameplay, rather than just its visual presentation, truly incorporated 3D mechanics. Characters could now sidestep and dodge incoming hits with this added dimension of movement, while the overall gameplay felt much smoother and more intuitive to control. A more robust and rewarding fighting game experience that truly began to embrace the console’s technical potential, “Tekken 3” set a high bar for its series moving forward.

While the original “Resident Evil” popularized survival horror games in 1996, the Capcom classic’s 1998 direct sequel went even bigger and better. “Resident Evil 2” saw the zombie outbreak from the first game spread to the nearby Midwestern metropolis of Raccoon City, turning most of its population into the ravenous undead. Rookie cop Leon S. Kennedy and college student Claire Redfield find themselves caught in the middle of the zombie uprising, taking shelter in the local police station. As the duo search for a way to escape the city, they discover what the sinister Umbrella Corporation’s link to the monsters truly is.

As seminal an experience that the original “Resident Evil” was, its follow-up surpasses it in virtually every way. From its more expansive setting, additional enemy types, and rewarding players for playing through the game with both characters to witness the true ending, Capcom provided a feature-rich sequel. Compared to the claustrophobic haunted house stakes of its predecessor, “Resident Evil 2” dialed up the horror to epic proportions. A vital chapter in the stunning transformation of “Resident Evil,” the 1998 PlayStation sequel took the franchise to new heights.

After years of being released on Nintendo platforms, the “Final Fantasy” franchise made the leap to PlayStation with “Final Fantasy VII.” Moving away from the more medieval and steampunk fantasy environments of preceding games, the 1997 game is set in a cyberpunk dystopia run by the exploitative Shinra megacorporation. Mercenary Cloud Strife joins a group of eco-terrorists who are trying to stop Shinra from draining the planet of its lifeforce to fuel their profits. This places him on a collision course with his former colleague Sephiroth, who has his own devious plans for the planet’s resources.

There’s a reason why “Final Fantasy VII” is the PS1 RPG that we keep coming back to more than any other on the console and it’s not just its commercial performance. The gameplay from the franchise’s Super Nintendo entries was largely retained, but the title took advantage of the console’s hardware, offering a more expansive world and cinematic cutscenes. But more than that, the game boasts an operatic story and memorable ensemble of characters — it’s understandable why the remake project had to retell the epic narrative as a full trilogy. Easily one of the best RPGs of all time, “Final Fantasy VII” is definitely worth its celebrated legacy.

The original “Metal Gear” and its direct sequel had initially been released for the MSX2, with the latter game launched in 1990. Creator Hideo Kojima pulled out all the stops for the franchise’s move to the PlayStation with 1998’s “Metal Gear Solid,” taking full advantage of the significantly more powerful hardware. Six years after the events of the preceding game in the “Metal Gear” timeline, spec ops soldier Solid Snake is brought back in action to infiltrate an Alaskan island under terrorist control. Snake must evade guards as he tries to stop the terrorists from launching seized nuclear weapons, contending with their leader Liquid Snake and his associates.

With “Metal Gear Solid,” Kojima created an immersive espionage adventure, with a cinematic feel and thorough attention to detail. The emphasis on stealth predated similar gameplay mechanics utilized by franchises like “Splinter Cell,” making players think carefully about how to approach situations rather than rushing in with guns blazing. The game also boasted a full voice cast bringing its memorable ensemble to life, including David Hayter’s debut as Solid Snake. The PlayStation had a lot of great action games, but “Metal Gear Solid” raised the bar for what was possible for the medium, both technically and in its storytelling.

The “Final Fantasy” franchise saw numerous permutations during the PS1 era, including the 1997 rogue-like “Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon” and 1999’s “Chocobo Racing.” With 1997’s “Final Fantasy Tactics,” the franchise went into turn-based strategy as it introduced the medieval kingdom of Ivalice as its primary setting. Players control a small squad of warriors from a variety of classes, each with their strengths and weaknesses, as they battle the enemy in different scenarios and terrains. The game features a sweeping story that chronicles a war for the throne of Ivalice after the recent death of its king.

“Tactics” is not just one of the best reinventions and expansions of what the “Final Fantasy” franchise can be, but one of the finest strategy games ever made. The story mode is particularly engrossing, with players easily dedicating countless hours to experiencing the epic narrative and its colorful characters. The gameplay, while not pulling its punches on difficulty, feels immensely rewarding, with every victory coming off as truly earned. A ’90s RPG that aged exceedingly well, “Final Fantasy Tactics” is one of the greatest games in the entire franchise.