ThePlayStation1 is one of thebest-selling consolesof all time. With an enormous list oftop-notch games, it can be extremelydifficult to narrow downwhich ones are the best of the best. Many iconic franchises got their start on the original PlayStation console.
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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 thebest-performing consolesin terms of sales but also an extremely successful platform fordevelopers and gamers alike.
10Gran Turismo 2
Gran Turismo2 was one of themost iconic gamesto come out of the PlayStation 1 era. The game followed the massively successful Gran Turismo andperfectedmany of thefirst game’s mechanicsand features. While itdidn’t sell as wellas 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 ashowcaseto their origin console’sgraphical capabilities. The latest game,Gran Turismo 7, received positive reviews.
9Tomb Raider
The originalTomb RaiderbroughtLara Croftonto the screens of many, marking her as one of thegreatest gaming heroinesto date. Players willswimandclimbthrough 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. Withseveral sequelsand even somemovies, this franchise is solidly one of themost influentialto debut on the original PlayStation console.
8Spyro The Dragon
While there are betterSpyrogames thanSpyro The Dragon, the game that started the franchise holds aspecial placein the history of PlayStation. Serving as one ofPlayStation’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 Dragonspawnedseveralmainline and spinoff gamessince its original release in1998. Spyro even got amodern-day remake, bringing the game’s graphics up to snuff while keeping the classic gameplay in place.
TheTekkenseries brought new fans to the fighting genre and really peaked in its early years withTekken 3. Thestoryof Tekken 3 is areal pullfor a lot of players. The Tekken fighting tournament pits characters against each other in a battle to decide thefate of the world.
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Tekken 3 hadgreat gameplayandcool 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 muchhypesurrounding future entries in the series.
6Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee
Oddworld: Abe’s Oddyseeis agreat side-scrolling platformer. Its graphics can be a bit dated by today’s standards, but thegameplay and story hold strong. Abe’s Oddysee features acompelling, andstrange,narrativethat can be really nostalgic for players who played the game when it was first released.
The entire Oddworld series has featuredinteresting storiesand gameplay mechanics, and though they areoften overlooked, the games really have aunique feel and world.
5Silent Hill
Silent Hillhad atroubled development cyclebut was eventually released tofantastic reviews. The game made its heavy mark on thehorror genre, making players survive amidst thegrotesque creaturesfound throughout the game.
Silent Hill is intense and holds astrong fanbasetoday, with heavy hype surrounding a rumored continuation of the series. Amodern-day Silent Hill gamehas 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.
4Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicootis the game that started afantastic franchise. The character quickly became apseudo-mascotfor 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 verysuccessfuland set manystandards for the 3D-Platformer genre.
3Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2
Skating gamesrocked the world of players who primarily enjoyed sports titles.Tony Hawk’s Pro Skaterbrought anew and unique takeon the sports genre, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2perfected the formula. Fromcombo-filled gameplayto anamazing soundtrackthat 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 aloyal player baseof fans. Thepopularityof skating games haswaned drasticallysince the height of the Tony Hawk series, but other franchises likeSkatehave found success in the years since.
2Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil2 was at the beginning of a long line of themassively popular gamefranchise. It took all of thesuspenseandanticipationleft by the first game andfulfilled the expectations of players tenfold. With agreat 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 thebest action-packed zombie experiencesplayers can have.
1Metal Gear Solid
TheinfluencethatMetal Gear Solidhad on thestealth genrewasconsiderable. The game’s combination of stealth and action gameplay immediately solidified it as aclassic. There is ahealthy speed-running communitysurrounding the game and keeps a considerable player count to this day.
The game came out in the1990sand was helmed by incredibly famous game-makerHideo Kojima. The game was followed by amassively successful franchisethat concluded withMetal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.
