Back in 1994, the entire gaming market was ruled by two companies and those were Nintendo, which created Mario had 40% of the market share and Sega, which created Sonic had 55% of the market share. Both these companies were battling toe to toe and Sony saw this as an opportunity to release their gaming console that could run 3D games flawlessly and Voila! on December 3 1994 Sony’s PlayStation 1 was released and it became the first ever gaming console to cross 100 million sales.
We believe that it is right to say that the PS1 crushed Nintendo and Sega back when it was released. The PS1 was no joke at the time it was released as it was the only gaming console that could render 3D models with reflections and it was priced at $299.
The PS1 games were a classic and there’s no way that any video game could replace them. Do you still remember your first PS1 video game? Playing the PS1 games once more in 2023 will surely bring nostalgia and that is why we have curated a list of the 10 Best Games for the PS1. These games that we’re going to mention on our list will surely bring back memories so let’s not waste any more time and jump straight onto the list.
Best PS1 Games of All Time
1. Tomb Raider
| Release Date | October 25, 1996, for PS1 |
| Developer(s) | Core Design, Aspyr |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Third-Person, Shooting, Platform |
We couldn’t think of a better game to start off our list other than the legendary Tomb Raider. This is the first game in the Tomb Raider series, a series that introduced us to one of the most legendary characters ever named “Lara Croft”. The storyline of the game follows Lara who is hired by a businesswoman named Natla to acquire the Scion (a strange artifact buried in the tomb of Qualopec within the mountains of Peru) after acquiring the Scion Lara is ambushed by a guy named Larson who later reveals after his defeat that she is just holding a piece of the Scion and Natla has sent a treasure hunter to retrieve the other pieces.
The gameplay of this stunning game is in Third Person and Lara can perform various flips and can use her pistols to eliminate any threat. Tomb Raider’s gameplay was something that fans will always remember because the developers managed to add great gameplay to the game even after having such hardware limitations. Tomb Raider game received tons of positive reviews from gamers and critics worldwide for its graphics, storyline, and gameplay. If you own a PS1 then Tomb Raider should be on your list of games.
2. Medal of Honor: Underground
| Release Date | October 24, 2000 |
| Developer(s) | Danger Close, Rebellion Developments, DreamWorks Development |
| Genre | Action, Shooting |
The second game on our list is Medal of Honor: Underground. This game is the second installment in the Medal of Honor franchise and it utilized the same basic principles as the first game but this time it featured a female protagonist in the French Resistance. The storyline of this game is set in 1940 and France has been occupied by Nazi Germany, players are given control of the first Female protagonist in the series named Manon Batiste who is assigned around North Africa and Europe to prevent the Nazi’s defenses and plans.
The gameplay in this game was much like its predecessor and missions in this game still involved sabotaging Nazi operations, however, this time the developers added enemy vehicles like tanks as well other than that there wasn’t much improvement in the game. This game received okay reviews from fans and critics worldwide. However, the PlayStation version of the game received positive reviews.
3. Gran Turismo
| Release Date | December 11, 1999 |
| Developer(s) | Polyphony Digital |
| Genre | Racing, Simulation |
Alright, Gran Turismo has got to be an all-time classic for people who played it back in the 90s. This game had it all from stunning visuals to great gameplay mechanics and physics for its time. There are two game modes present in this game for players to choose from. The first is the arcade mode and the other is the simulation mode. Players can freely choose the tracks and the vehicle in the Arcade mode. In the Simulation mode, players need to earn different levels of driver’s licenses to take part in events.
Our favorite game from this franchise is the fourth installment which we have covered in our list of the Best PS2 games. This game was a commercial hit and Sony awarded this game with a “Double Platinum Prize”. The sales of Gran Turismo crossed over 2 million in Japan alone. Gamers and critics worldwide loved this game. If you are a fan of Racing games then you should give Gran Turismo a try as we are sure that it would not disappoint you.
4. Spider-Man
| Release Date | August 30, 2000 |
| Developer(s) | Neversoft, Vicarious Visions, Gray Matter Studios, LTI Gray Matter |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Fighting |
Spider-Man has got to be one of the most loved superheroes of all time. No other superhero could be the fanbase of Spider-Man and this game made fans fall in love with the character even more. The storyline of this game features the spectacular Spider-Man as he tries to clear out his name after being framed by a doppelganger for a crime.
The gameplay of this game was a masterpiece for the time it was released as players could now control Spider-Man in a 3D environment and can even make him swing around New York City. The fighting mechanics were also pretty impressive and Spider-Man could webzip or even crawl walls. The only thing that disappointed gamers was that the game did not feature a complete open-world environment and Spider-Man would die after falling from a building, sounds funny doesn’t it? The game was announced on December 2, 1998, and it used the same engine as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.
Spider-Man received generally positive reviews from fans and critics worldwide. Now we will hop on to the next game on our list of the best games for the PlayStation 1
5. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
| Release Date | September 22, 1999 |
| Developer(s) | Capcom |
| Genre | Survival, Horror, Action, Adventure |
The PS1 had some of the greatest survival horror games ever made and one of them was Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. This game scared the crap out of everyone who played it and on top of that it was not easy to finish. This game had some serious difficult missions and I think video games nowadays aren’t that difficult or hit the same as they used to, well we’ll discuss this some other time. The storyline of this game takes place almost simultaneously with the events of Resident Evil 2 and players are given control of one of the greatest female video game characters ever named Jill Valentine. Jill attempts to escape from the zombie-affected Raccoon City.
The gameplay of Resident Evil 3 was pretty impressive but not quite up to the mark as most of the gameplay elements were taken from the previous game but hey! that isn’t a bad thing. The game is played from a third-person perspective with pre-rendered backgrounds. One thing that still scared me about this game to this day is the Tyrant and how he used to just appear out of nowhere right in front of our faces. Resident Evil 3 Remake was also a great game but if you ask me I’d choose the classic Resident Evil 3: Nemesis.
6. Ridge Racer Type 4
| Release Date | December 3, 1998 |
| Developer(s) | Namco |
| Genre | Racing |
Ridge Racer Type 4 is the fourth installment in the franchise and the last game in the franchise to be developed for the PlayStation. One unique thing about this game is that it is the first game in the Rider Racer series to utilize Gouraud shading.
The Driving mechanics in this game were super impressive and there are a total of 320 cars featured in the game which can be earned by completing different races. This game has a strong emphasis on power-sliding around the corner. Players need to tap on the brake button once to make the Drift cars drive along the curves. This game features different game modes like time attack, PVP split screen, and VS battle. Ridge Racer Type 4 received generally positive reviews from gamers and critics around the world and it received a score of 35 out of 40 from Famitsu.
7. Dead Or Alive
| Release Date | November 26, 1996 |
| Developer(s) | Tecmo |
| Genre | Fighting, Action |
This is the first entry in the long-going series Dead or Alive by Team Ninja and is also one of the best Fighting games. Dead Or Alive Features eight playable characters and each one of them has unique moves. The storyline of the game features a massive organization known as the “Dead or Alive Tournament Executive Committee” that hosts a fighting competition known as the “Dead or Alive World Combat Championship”. Kasumi enters this competition to seek revenge on her uncle Raidou who was responsible for the death of her brother.
The gameplay of this game is similar to the gameplay of Virtua Fighter however it is not the exact copy. Dead or Alive was the first game to feature a hold button instead of a guard button as almost all the fighting games feature a block/guard button Dead or Alive went out on a limb and features a hold button which makes the character hold their opponent’s limbs if they are attacking at the same time. Overall this was a great fighting game and many gamers enjoyed playing this game with their friends.
8. Silent Hill
| Release Date | January 31, 1999 |
| Developer(s) | Team Silent, Konami |
| Genre | Survival, Horror, Puzzle, Action, Adventure |
Another horror survival game on our list is Silent Hill. I know that this game needs no introduction and while the release date for Silent Hill 2 Remake is approaching, this might be the best time to revisit one of the classics from this stunning franchise. The storyline of this game features the fierce Harry Mason as he is on a search for his missing adopted daughter in an enormous fictional American town. Harry later discovers his daughter’s true origin. We’d recommend you play the full game and enjoy its staggering storyline.
The gameplay of this game features intense combat, exploration, and even puzzle-solving which I certainly hate! Players need to guide Harry through the town and search for his missing daughter. Harry will encounter many monsters along the way as well so be prepared to face some challenging events in the game as well. This game is no piece of cake so make sure that you’re prepared. Silent Hill received exceptionally positive reviews from gamers and critics worldwide and sold over 2 million copies, later a sequel to this game also followed up which was titled Silent Hill 2.
9. WWF SmackDown!
| Release Date | March 2, 2000 |
| Developer(s) | Yuke’s |
| Genre | Fighting, Sports, Simulation |
WWF SmackDown is the first game in this series to be released for the PlayStation by THQ. This game is based on the World Wrestling Federation. Who didn’t love WWF (now WWE) back in the day? Many teenagers would request their parents to buy them a new WWF game for Christmas. This game was revolutionary.
The gameplay of this game was really fast compared to the WWE 2K games now. If you ask me I’d choose the old WWE games over the new ones any day of the week. There are different game modes like a single match, tag team, season mode, steel cage, etc. WWF SmackDown received favorable reviews from critics and fans worldwide and it was also a bestseller in the UK upon its release. This was it for WWF and now let us move on to the final game on our list of the best games for the PlayStation 1.
10. Tekken 3
| Release Date | March 20, 1997 |
| Developer(s) | Namco |
| Genre | Fighting, Action |
Ah! This has got to be my favorite fighting game for the PlayStation 1. Tekken 3 was simply a legendary game. It features tons of new characters and was the third installment in the ongoing Tekken franchise. The events of this game take place fifteen years after the Iron Fist Tournament 2. Jin Kazama is again the main protagonist of this game.
Almost all the characters in this game have their unique special moves and abilities. Tekken 3 is still played by many gamers to this day. This game received exceptionally positive reviews from games and critics worldwide. This was the final game on our list.
11. Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee
| Release Date | 12 December 1997 |
| Developer(s) | Oddworld Inhabitants, Digital Dialect (PC), Saffire (Gameboy) |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Cinematic Platformer |
Moving on to the next game on our list, this game is quite strange but weirdly likable as well. Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee is a 2-D cinematic platformer where players will play as a lanky Mudokon slave named Abe.
In this game, players must help Abe in navigating his way through various dangerous locations and situations by solving puzzles, avoiding harmful enemies, rescuing fellow Mudokons, and bypassing various obstacles, to eventually escape from the power plant’s owner and his enslaver, Molluck the Glukkon.
During the course of the game, Abe will have to navigate certain areas by either rolling under objects and stealthily sneaking away from unsuspecting enemies, or telepathically mind-controlling weaker enemies like Sligs to use as distractions by causing chaos, to escape from the clutches of the vicious Magog Cartel.
The main goal of the game is for players to rescue as many Mudokons as they can by using the skills at Abe’s disposal and escape the plant in one piece while doing so. The more creatures the players manage to rescue, the better the chances for them to achieve the ‘good’ ending of the game.
12. Mega Man Legends 2
| Release Date | 20 April 2000 |
| Developer(s) | Capcom |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Shooter |
Coming to the next game on our list, Megan Man Legends 2 is an action-adventure, third-person shooter game in which players will they will play as Megan Man Volnutt and assist him in his ultimate quest to find 4 hidden keys somewhere on the planet that leads to a powerful and legendary source of infinite energy.
The gameplay of this game is quite similar to the other games in this series, albeit with a few necessary tweaks. Players will guide Mega Man through various forbidden ruins, fight enhanced enemies known as Reaverbots, and travel to other islands on Roll’s ship, to complete missions and progress the story of the game.
Additionally, players will also have to maintain positive relations with the other characters they meet in-game, as Mega Man’s relationship with these characters directly co-relates to his personality state, for good or for worse.
13. Syphon Filter
| Release Date | 17 February 1999 |
| Developer(s) | Bend Studio |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Shooter |
Moving on to the next game, Syphon Filter is a third-person shooter, an action-adventure game in which players will take control of a covert operations secret agent, Gabe Logan, as he plans to stop a catastrophe of epic proportions from taking place.
In this game, players will travel through subway tunnels, parks, a fortified military compound, and a museum, in their quest to not only stop the terrorists in their sinister plans but to also recover a stolen top-secret virus capable of destroying the world we know.
Players will play across 20 missions throughout the course of the game and will have access to an assortment of powerful weapons that they can use to accomplish their objectives in whatever way they see fit.
14. Final Fantasy Tactics
| Release Date | 20 June 1997 |
| Developer(s) | Square |
| Genre | Tactical RPG |
The next game on our list of best PS1 games to play is a tactical RPG that follows the story of a high-born cade, Ramza Beoulve, as he is caught in a military conflict between two noble factions known as The Lion War, where both factions are fighting for total control over the throne that governs the entire kingdom.
The game offers two game modes to its players, a battle mode and a world map. In the battle mode, players will engage in turn-based battles against the opposing forces where players will have total control over their playable character’s movements and attacks.
In the world map mode, players will be able to utilize predefined paths to travel between towns and battlefields. When player’s characters are over the icons of towns, for example, players will be able to access a lot of other features from a menu like visiting a bar to undertake sidequests, visiting a shop to buy supplies and equipment that players might need during their journey, and visiting soldier offices to recruit and add new characters to your brigade.
15. Driver (1999)
| Release Date | 25 June 1999 |
| Developer(s) | Ubisoft Reflections, Crawfish Interactive |
| Genre | Action, Driving |
Coming to the next game on our list, Driver is an action driving game in which players take on the role of John Tanner, a NYPD detective, and a former racer, who goes undercover to investigate and bust a crime syndicate run by a certain Castaldi. This game has been compared with various Grand Theft Auto games and anyone who has played the latter will find a few gameplay mechanics and styles to be quite similar.
In this game, players will play the campaign missions across 4 main cities – Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, as they aim to beat the infamous crime boss once and for all. Players will have to do odd jobs for various criminals for information, drive different varieties of cars during various missions, and also prevent an assassination attempt on the President of the United States of America in the process as well.
If you’re looking to play a game that is heavily inspired by popular GTA games of that era, then this game is a must-try for you.
Conclusion
This was our list of the 15 Best games ever created for the PlayStation 1. We hope that now you guys would have a better understanding of all the games that we have mentioned above and if you guys have any queries regarding the information that we have provided about the games above, feel free to share your thoughts and opinions down below.
