Top Ten Best PSX Games of All Time

Naughty Dog entered the mascot space, creating a game that became unofficially synonymous with the PlayStation. The first two entries were simply well-done mascot platformers, bringing in 3D elements that became iconic for the series. Warped took those foundations and multiplied them to the maximum, hammering players with all-new adventures and content to try. There is just so much more to explore and learn in this game, with the fun platforming experience to back it up. No PlayStation list would be complete without a Crash Bandicoot entry, and Warped perfected the trilogy.

9. Vagrant Story (PSX, PS2, PS3, PSP, PS Vita)

Vagrant Story is said to take place in Ivalice, a Final Fantasy universe, but it is not a Final Fantasy game. The developer is the same, though, Square, and they hit the ball out of the park with this entry. The cinematics are gorgeous and iconic, and ahead of their time. However, what made Vagrant Story so good was the depth of combat and the incredibly intricate story that wove multiple complex beats together into a seamless entry. Taking action, adventure, and molding it into a challenging and complicated, yet intriguing and captivating, politically based masterpiece. It may not be the most well-known, but it was ingenious in its execution.

8. Resident Evil 2 (PSX)

Resident Evil 2 took everything that made the original successful and amplified it to arguably the best entry in the entire storied franchise. This is truly a classic for the horror genre and has continued to define the category to this day. The game takes place in Raccoon City, and balances just enough typical horror elements with entirely new creations and experimentation. The two-perspective gameplay and innovative replay elements make RE2 an all-time great that truly influences the gaming industry even today.

7. Tekken 3 (PSX, Arcade)

Tekken 3 is one of the best in a long line of nostalgic, genre-defining fighter games. It was the top-tier 3D fighting franchise for Sony, and continues to be so to this day. It is not just fighting genre fans that loved this game, though. The change in combat that allowed dodging and the ability to circle opponents took the game to the next level. Add in great visuals and cinematics, an engaging cast of characters, and a captivating storyline, and Tekken 3 quickly established itself as a gold standard for the fighting genre, one that other games are still attempting to match today.

6. Tomb Raider (PSX, Sega Saturn)

Tomb Raider showed the gaming industry what an action-adventure game could become. The protagonist, Lara Croft, has become an entire pop culture entity all to her own. The series continued to grow and soar, but the original did more than just hold its own. The level design was fantastic, and the solo adventure was quiet in an eerie way, managing to balance both realism and fantasy, with silky smooth shotgun combat mechanics. The environments were the icing on the cake, a recipe the likes of which still stands the test of time in pop culture today.

5. Gran Turismo 2

Gran Turismo is the franchise that completely defined not just the racing genre, but how it could be applied to real life. The is no question the original entry was iconic- it remains the best-selling PSX game of all time- but the sequel built upon the first incredibly well. The game showed how much content could be packed in what was previously a fairly basic genre, and bit off more than any racing game ever had before. While other games carved out their own niche, it was Gran Turismo 2 that showed racing games could be more than just a joy ride; it could be a true-to-life simulation with incredible depth.

4. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (PSX, Dreamcast, GameBoy Color, Nintendo 64, PC, Mac)

Like many other games on this list, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 was an enhanced version of a genre-defining original. The game took extreme sports into the limelight and has kept it there. It is one of the most highly rated games in the history of gaming, and that is because of its smooth arcade-like quality that balanced perfectly with a pop culture-altering soundtrack, new depth to the gameplay, and even a first-of-its-kind skate park creator. This is as good as it gets in the sports game genre, and decades later remains among the best games of all time.

3. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PSX, Sega Saturn)

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night took one of the boldest strategies in the entire PlayStation era. While the entire industry was zigging to 3D models, Castlevania stayed two-dimensional, shocking game reviewers. That choice turned out to be perfect, as the game is still enjoyable today thanks to the beautiful pixel art that ages brilliantly. Instead, the focus was on improving the gameplay, and boy, did they nail it. With a beautiful soundtrack to finish off the piece, Symphony of the Night has become one of the most enjoyable action platformers of all time, and continues to inspire the genre for modern consoles.

2. Metal Gear Solid (PSX, PC)

Metal Gear Solid was the third entry in the Metal Gear series, but it is one that completely flipped the series on its head. The action game executed the concept of stealth brilliantly. However, it was the story that made the game magic. Metal Gear Solid took the cast of characters and truly shifted what a hero could be. It pushed cinematics to the absolute brink for the period, and truly changed the way video games were viewed and could accomplish. Even some of the more subtle additions, such as fourth wall breaches, made the game memorable in a way few others have ever accomplished.

1. Final Fantasy VII (PSX, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch, PC, Mobile)

There is not much to say about this game that has not already been said. Final Fantasy VII has become a true cultural phenomenon, inviting remakes, spinoffs, sequels, movies, board games, and just about every other piece of media imaginable. The game was revolutionary for the time, and was the game that truly launched the JRPG genre into popularity in North America. Besides the creative material system and strategic turn-based gameplay, the story and cinematics launched this game to an entirely new level.

The story told here is timeless. By utilizing 3D imagery and graphically enhanced cut scenes, Square was able to affect the player’s emotions like never before. The story makes sense and is highly engaging, but the emotional pull is what makes it stand out above the rest. The “famous scene” was the first of its kind to send players into an emotional tailspin. At the time, the direction was revolutionary. Final Fantasy has become one of the most iconic, best-selling JRPGs of all time, and it is all thanks to the success of the VII entry.

Final Thoughts

The PSX has a catalog so deep that it is simply impossible to cover it all here. Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy IX, The Legend of Dragoon, Spyro 2, Silent Hill, Medal of Honor, PaRappa the Rapper, and Syphon Filter could all make their case to be on this list. The reality is, PSX succeeded not just for its technological ingenuity, but for the ingenuity of the games associated with it. They each impacted their respective genres in ways never seen before, taking the possibilities the PlayStation system afforded them and pushing them to their limit. This is truly gaming at its finest: pushing far beyond the status quo and creating a legacy in its wake.