Best PS1 Games Ever

The first Sony PlayStation console went on sale in 1995 in North America and changed the way the world played video games. While it had strong competition from the still-popular Nintendo 64 and the soon-to-die out Sega Saturn, the PlayStation was an instant success - breaking into an incredibly competitive industry.

Related

12 Consoles With The Most Games In Metacritic's Top 200 List, Ranked

Many consoles by Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft grace Metacritic's best games list, but which platforms appear the most frequently in the top 200?

Posts

Nintendo clearly dominated the market, and had pushed many smaller console developers to their breaking point, but Sony's fresh take on gaming proved to be worthy competition. Today, most gamers can't picture the gaming industry without PlayStation, and for good reason. Home to some of the most iconic and critically-acclaimed games ever made, it's hard to believe that it all started with the PS1. Whether its nostalgia or true enjoyment that keeps players coming back, there's no denying that the PS1 and its many excellent games were instrumental in making gaming what it is today.

13 Tomb Raider

Metascore: 91

The PS1 was home to the very first iteration of the now iconic video game character Lara Croft, and the game quickly secured its spot in the hall of fame. Coasting off the success of Indiana Jones and the treasure-hunting genre, Tomb Raider was an original and exciting game unlike anything else at the time.

The game was applauded for its creative approach, including an exciting and detailed world, as well as excellent graphics. It was able to balance all its genres well, combining puzzles with action and tension to create a truly entertaining introduction to the infamous archaeologist's stories.

12 Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night

Metascore: 93

Castlevania has been around since 1986, getting its start on Nintendo's Famicom, but in 1997, Konami helped it make the jump to Sony with Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Despite being something of a sleeper hit at the time, the game was highly-praised by critics and audiences alike - with many claiming it to be the best in the franchise.

The game was beloved for its huge map and detailed environments, which included many unique and exciting secrets that kept players coming back to explore. It was clear that this game was a labor of love. Gamers adored how exhilarating it was to play, and the multiple endings made it fun to replay. Now, most would consider this one of the PlayStation's must-play titles.

11 Street Fighter Alpha 3

Metascore: 93

Street Fighter first debuted in 1987 and quickly became one of the most popular arcade fighting games ever made. Spring-boarding off this success, developers quickly set their sights on consoles and, in 1998, the beloved arcade game was re-created for the PlayStation under the name Street Fighter Alpha 3.

The game has 28 playable characters with three different fighting styles. Players loved the additional game modes and the updated mechanics, which added new dimensions to an already great experience. The speed and new graphics made it a must-have in the fighting game world - and quickly secured it a place on the PS1's top games list.

10 Gran Turismo 2

Metascore: 93

While the PlayStation saw plenty of success with ports and multi-platform releases, to truly solidify its place in history, Sony knew it was essential to create some PS1-exclusive original titles. One answer to this was the immensely popular racing franchise Gran Turismo, two of which quickly became the PS1's most popular original games.

Praised for its realism and expansive selection of cars, Gran Turismo 2 drew in both gamers and racing enthusiasts, creating a whole new audience for the PlayStation. While some thought the game to be particularly challenging, it was beloved for its replayability and detail, making it a vivid addition to the racing genre.

9 Vagrant Story

Metascore: 92

Released in 2000, action RPG Vagrant Story quickly became a hit among gamers everywhere. It was one of the PS1's best-selling games, selling hundreds of thousands of copies upon release, making it an instant commercial hit. It was created by Square, now more well-known as half of the much-loved company Square Enix.

While Vagrant Story hasn't had the lasting legacy that many other classic Square Enix titles have enjoyed, it was met with overwhelmingly positive critical reviews at the time. It was remarkably cinematic and gripped players from start to finish, making it incredibly addictive. It didn't fall short in any way, setting the standard for game worlds, sound, and story.

8 Final Fantasy 7

Metascore: 92

Final Fantasy 7 is often thought of as the number one must-play game on the PS1. This epic high-fantasy RPG sold millions of copies in its first week of release, and became an instant hit. It was thought to achieve new heights previously never reached in gaming, and set the standard for all subsequent RPGs.

Flush with a tense story, an imaginative world and startlingly brilliant technology, critics and audiences found little to dislike. The graphics brought the characters to life in a vivid and captivating way, which, coupled with the high-stakes plot, made the game impossible to put down. Even today, Final Fantasy 7 is thought to be one of the best installments in the Final Fantasy franchise and a legendary PlayStation title.

7 Metal Gear Solid

Metascore: 94

First released in 1998, Metal Gear was originally a computer video game for MSX home computers. It was so popular that it spawned several sequels, and eventually grew into one of the most popular video game franchises in the world. One of the biggest sequels was the PS1 original Metal Gear Solid, released exclusively for the PlayStation and PC.

Related

Best Games Only Released On The Game Boy Color, Ranked

These Game Boy Color games no doubt provide a lot of fond memories for the fans who played them.

Posts

By  Alexandra O'Leary

Released in 1988, Metal Gear Solid focused on legendary solider Solid Snake and followed him as he tried to regain control of nuclear weaponry. It was instantly considered the greatest action game in the PlayStation's entire library, and allowed players to experience a dimension of being sneaky and stealthy instead of busting in guns blazing. This fresh take was exactly what players wanted, and quickly earned Metal Gear Solid its legendary status.

6 Chrono Cross

Metascore: 94

Aside from Kingdom Hearts, the series that OG game developer Square was most well-known for was the Chrono series. Going up against Nintendo's heavy-hitter series The Legend of Zelda was going to take some serious skill, and Square was confident they could rise to the challenge. Cult classic Chrono Cross was developed for the PlayStation, and it became clear that it would become one of the console's defining titles.

Chrono Cross kept the trademark, multi-ending style of C hrono Trigger, giving it immense replayability. It was also fresh and different to though, which not all players preferred, but nonetheless scored originality points. The proof of Chrono Cross' brilliance could be found in its reviews, with critics heralding it as a work of art.

5 ISS Pro Evolution

Metascore: 94

• Platform: PlayStation
• Released: 2000 (North America)
• Developer: Konami Computer & Entertainment Tokyo

For those who love a good sports simulator, there are a lot of great soccer games to choose from, but ISS Pro Evolution proved itself to be the PS1's best choice, and it's thought by many to be the best of all time. Released in North America in 2000, the game gave players great graphics and player movement, making it a brilliantly fluid experience.

It was praised for how much control players were given, meaning it was highly immersive and enthralling to play. It didn't take long for this award-winning game to become a legendary title among soccer games, a status it retains to this day.

4 Final Fantasy 9

Metascore: 94

Many believe the Final Fantasy franchise to be the king of RPGs, and since the very first installment was released in 1987, fifteen mainline games and many more spin-offs have been released - proving its success and popularity. Each game creates an original and exciting addition to the series, providing great range and engagement for a broad audience. One of the last Final Fantasy games to grace the PS1 was Final Fantasy 9, which took the console by storm.

Returning to the medieval style of the original games, Final Fantasy 9 was an exciting new look at the more classic iterations. It was a massive commercial success, selling millions of copies and becoming critically acclaimed almost immediately. It proved that sometimes, returning to the roots of a franchise can be the best move, and it was loved by critics and fans alike - making it a worthy addition to the beloved series.