The 30 best PS1 games: the top classics of the PlayStation

The top 10 best PS1 games in a nutshell

In a hurry? Here are the top 10 in a glance, before we go into detail about the 30 games.

#	Game	Genre	Year
1	Final Fantasy VII	RPG	1997
2	Metal Gear Solid	Infiltration	1998
3	Castlevania: Symphony of the Night	Action / Exploration	1997
4	Resident Evil 2	Survival horror	1998
5	Gran Turismo 2	Course / simulation	1999
6	Tekken 3	Combat	1998
7	Crash Team Racing	Race / Kart	1999
8	Silent Hill	Survival horror	1999
9	Final Fantasy IX	RPG	2000
10	Spyro the Dragon	3D platform	1998

Our ranking of the 30 best PS1 games

1. Final Fantasy VII (1997)

It’s impossible to place it elsewhere. Final Fantasy VII introduced the Japanese RPG (the famous JRPG) to a whole generation of Europeans. Cloud, Aerith, Barret, and the terrifying Sephiroth, the factory town of Midgar, the CG cinematics that seemed unrealistic in 1997, the system for customizing each character… Distributed over three CDs, the game tells an ecological and intimate story, driven by a screenplay that still resonates today. A monument, simply put.

2. Metal Gear Solid (1998)

With Metal Gear Solid, Hideo Kojima turned video games into interactive cinema. Solid Snake infiltrates the island of Shadow Moses to neutralize a terrorist unit, and every minute holds a surprise: conversations in Codec, unforgettable bosses, and the famous Psycho Mantis that «reads» your memory card and forces you to change your controller port. A twisted screenplay and a script worthy of a spy film, which launched one of the greatest sagas in history.

3. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997)

At a time when everyone was swearing by 3D only, Konami released a game in 2D with crazy visuals. Playing as Alucard, the son of Dracula, you explore an immense castle where each new ability opens up new passages. Hundreds of objects, spells, familiar items, a sumptuous soundtrack… and a final twist that few players saw coming. An absolute reference, which defined an entire genre of exploration games that is still very popular today.

4. Resident Evil 2 (1998)

The sequel that surpassed the original. Leon Kennedy, a rookie cop, and Claire Redfield, searching for her brother, arrive in a Raccoon City overrun by zombies. Two CDs, two scenarios that intersect thanks to the «Zapping» system, a precinct that has become a cult classic, and moments of tension that still send chills down your spine. Even after its excellent remake, the PS1 version retains a unique charm with its pre-calculated environments and old-school gameplay, while remaining tense.

5. Gran Turismo 2 (1999)

The first Gran Turismo changed everything; the second expanded everything. Over 600 cars, rally competitions, permits to obtain, cars to improve piece by piece: Gran Turismo 2 is a bottomless well for car enthusiasts, and the favorite episode for many fans of the saga. Hundreds of hours of play took up two CDs, with the sensation at the time of finally driving «real» cars.

6. Tekken 3 (1998)

The king of fighting games on PlayStation. Tekken 3 introduces Jin Kazama, Eddy Gordo and his capoeira, Hwoarang and the mysterious Ogre. The combat is fast, readable and deep in a rare way, and the bonus modes (Tekken Force, Tekken Ball) have kept me busy for whole afternoons. Two against one on the same couch is one of the most engaging games on the console.

7. Crash Team Racing (1999)

The best kart game on PlayStation, by far. Crash Team Racing takes the Crash Bandicoot universe and adds a demanding system of drifts and turbo boosts that rewards the most skilled drivers. The adventure mode against Nitros Oxide is solid, but it’s multiplayer, on up to four players, that makes the game legendary.

8. Silent Hill (1999)

Where Resident Evil sends shivers down your spine, Silent Hill sends chills. Harry Mason searches for his daughter Cheryl in a fog-drenched city, and gradually drifts into a nightmare world. The fog, which obscured the technical limitations of the console, has become the signature of the game. Add in the industrial soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka and you get one of the most terrifying games ever created, which has since become a cult classic.

9. Final Fantasy IX (2000)

After the futuristic atmosphere of Episodes VII and VIII, Final Fantasy IX returns to its roots: castles, crystals, dark mages, and knights. Zidane, the thief with a big heart, and Vivi, the little mage in search of identity, bring a story that is both funny and deeply moving. Many fans consider it the most beautiful Final Fantasy on the PlayStation, and we can understand why.

10. Spyro the Dragon (1998)

The little purple dragon has given the PlayStation one of its finest 3D platform games. Spyro flies, charges, and spits fire to free his transformed statues and retrieve thousands of gems. The worlds are vast and colorful, the control is immediate, and the music by Stewart Copeland, drummer of The Police, remains unforgettable. A perfect game to discover the 3D of the time.

11. Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped (1998)

The best episode of the original trilogy. Crash and his sister Coco travel through time to counter Uka Uka and Dr. N. Tropy: Ancient Egypt, the Middle Ages, prehistory, the seabed… The levels alternate between platforming, tiger-back racing, jet-skiing and plane flight. Concise, varied and generous, with its time trials that have driven many players crazy.

12. Tomb Raider (1996)

In 1996, Lara Croft became a global icon. Tomb Raider offers an unprecedented 3D exploration: caves, temples, tombs, and puzzles, with a rare sense of isolation. Who can forget the appearance of the T-Rex in the Lost Valley? Today, the controls require a little time to get used to, but the sense of discovery hasn’t aged a bit.

13. Oddworld: The Lost Sector (1997)

Abe, a simple employee of the RuptureFarms factory, discovers that his Mudokon colleagues are going to end up as snacks. A daring escape begins, where he must guide, protect, and talk to his companions (the famous «Gamespeak» system) through levels full of traps. Unique art direction, dark humor, and tough difficulty: a game of a kind, that has left its mark on all who have completed it.

14. Driver (1999)

Before open-world games became the norm, Driver already offered racing in entire cities: Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. As Tanner, an undercover cop, you play the role of the gangsters« drivers. The parking lot tutorial was famous for its difficulty, and the »director” mode allowed you to replay the chases as in a 1970s movie.

15. Final Fantasy VIII (1999)

More melancholic and more romantic, Final Fantasy VIII follows Squall, a young mercenary trained at the Balamb Garden. His «junction» system, which allows you to combine magic and invocations with stats, still divides fans, but no one disputes the quality of its cinematics and universe. And then there’s the Triple Triad, the built-in card game that took millions of players hours to complete.

16. Vagrant Story (2000)

The little-known masterpiece of PlayStation. In the cursed city of Léa Monde, Ashley Riot leads a dark and political investigation staged as a comic strip. The combat system, which allows for targeting a specific part of the body, and the weapons forge are of impressive richness. Demanding, but technically stunning for the console: one of the most beautiful games released at the end of the PS1 era.

17. ISS Pro Evolution 2 (2000)

For a whole generation of French people, the real football on PlayStation was him. The direct ancestor of PES offered a more realistic and refined game than its competitors, with precise passes, dribbles, and shots that required technique. The player names were sometimes fanciful, but it didn’t matter: the evenings with two controllers were memorable.

18. MediEvil (1998)

Sir Daniel Fortesque is a hero by mistake: dead at the first charge of the battle of Gallowmere, he is awakened a century later when the wizard Zarok returns. A clumsy skeleton armed with swords, crossbows and even his own arm, he travels through cemeteries, giant pumpkins and haunted villages. A universe between humor and Gothic, like an animated film, that has aged very well.

19. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (1999)

Jill Valentine tries to escape Raccoon City, but a creature relentlessly hunts her: the Nemesis. This pursuer, capable of appearing anywhere and crossing doors, has changed the way fear is felt in video games. The game also adds real-time choices, an evasion system, and an addictive Mercenaries mode. More nerve-wracking than its predecessors, and incredibly effective.

20. Suikoden II (1998)

An RPG that tells the war with rare maturity. You recruit 108 companions, the «Stars of Destiny,» to build your army and castle, while also living a friendship that is broken by the conflicts. Strategic battles, duels, and a story that leaves no one unscathed. Long kept secret, it is now one of the PS1 games most sought after by collectors.

21. Colin McRae Rally 2.0 (2000)

The rally, in the PlayStation version, is at its best. Driving Colin McRae’s Ford Focus WRC or one of its competitors, you complete special stages in the forest, on snow, and on dirt tracks, guided by your co-driver. The driving is both demanding and exciting, and the arcade mode added for this second episode allows you to have fun immediately.

22. Wipeout 2097 (1996)

PlayStation wanted to appeal to an adult audience, and Wipeout 2097 is a brilliant example of that. Anti-gravity vessels, dizzying circuits, a graphic identity designed by The Designers Republic and an electro soundtrack featuring The Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers. Fast, stylish, demanding: a showcase of 90s club culture.

23. Dino Crisis (1999)

What if we replaced the zombies with dinosaurs? Shinji Mikami, the creator of Resident Evil, sends agent Regina to an island where Velociraptors roam the corridors of a scientific base. The environments are in real-time 3D, which makes the attacks even more unpredictable. Tense, cunning, and often surprising.

24. Ape Escape (1999)

The first game to require the DualShock controller and its two analog sticks, and it exploits them brilliantly. Monkeys equipped with headsets that make them intelligent have escaped in time: it’s up to you to capture them with your net, using the right stick to manipulate your gadgets. Inventive, funny and colorful, a real Sony game by the author.

25. Syphon Filter (1999)

Sony’s muscular response to Metal Gear Solid. Agent Gabe Logan faces off against armed terrorists with a virus in a series of missions that combine infiltration and gunfights. The game remains famous for its taser, as effective as it is spectacular. Rhythmic and accessible, it spawned a highly acclaimed trilogy on the console.

26. The Legend of Dragoon (1999)

Sony's big RPG, available on four CDs. Dart and his companions can transform into Dragoons, powerful winged warriors. The combat system is based on «Additions», chains of attacks that must be successfully completed by pressing the right button at the right time. Less well known than the Final Fantasy series, it has gained a true fan community over the years.

27. Rayman (1995)

The pride of French video games. Created by Michel Ancel, Rayman, the hero without arms or legs, travels through worlds hand-drawn with breathtaking beauty, between enchanted forests and giant musical instruments. Behind its cartoonish appearance lies one of the most challenging platform games on the console. A real challenge, and a real gem.

28. Tenchu: Stealth Assassins (1998)

Before the rise of infiltration games, Tenchu already offered the opportunity to embody real ninjas. Rikimaru and Ayame move in the shadows, climb on rooftops with their claws, and eliminate their targets without being seen. The game rewards patience and observation, and its feudal Japan atmosphere remains striking.

29. Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999)

Before 3D, GTA was played from above, and GTA 2 is the culmination of that formula. In Anywhere City, you work for different gangs whose respect evolves based on your actions: helping the first means putting the second at risk. Chaotic, funny, and completely free, it already shows the spirit that will make the series a success.

30. Tombi! (1997)

A wild child with pink hair versus evil pigs: that’s the premise of this game created by Tokuro Fujiwara, who is already the creator of Ghosts’n Goblins. Tombi! mixes platforming and adventure, with dozens of quests to complete and a world to explore in every direction. Rare and highly sought after by collectors, this is the real hidden gem of this ranking.

Honorable mentions

They came close to making the top 30 and deserve to be kept in mind:

• Medal of Honor : the World War II shooting game imagined by Steven Spielberg.
• Heart of Darkness : a French cinematic adventure, by one of the creators of Another World.
• Crash Bash : The Crash party game, ideal for four players.

How to play the best PS1 games in 2026?

Thirty years after its release, playing it on PlayStation has never been easier… provided you choose the right method. Here are the three options, with their advantages and limitations.

1. The original console

It’s the most authentic experience, but also the most demanding. You need to find a console in good condition (CD players get tired over the years), memory cards, and especially the games themselves, whose prices have risen sharply for sought-after titles on the used market. On a recent TV, the picture on the cable is often blurry, and you need a quality HDMI adapter to enjoy it.

2. The reprints

Sony offers a selection of PS1 games in its PlayStation Plus Premium subscription on PS4 and PS5. It’s convenient, but the catalog remains limited; it’s dependent on a paid subscription, and many of the classics from that list are not included.

3. A retro console ready to play

It’s the simplest solution for playing without hassle. A pre-loaded retro console connects via HDMI and gives access to thousands of games, without discs or setup. That’s the principle behind GearMaster: 20,000 games from 70 consoles, from arcade games to PlayStation, wireless controllers and up to four players, without a subscription.

	Original console	Reissues	GearMaster
Getting started	Cables, adapter, memory cards	Subscription and download	HDMI + power supply, 30 seconds
PS1 games available	Those you own	A limited selection	The great classics included
Other consoles	No	A few of them	70 consoles and the arcade
Cost	Console + used games	Monthly subscription	One-time purchase, no subscription required

How did we choose these games?

The PlayStation library has several thousand titles. To compile this ranking, we considered three criteria: the impact of the game upon its release, its influence on subsequent games, and the enjoyment it still provides today. We also made sure to represent all genres, from RPGs to racing games, survival horror, and platformers, so that everyone can find their next game to (re)discover.

Frequently asked questions about PS1 games

What are the 10 best PS1 games?

According to our ranking: Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Resident Evil 2, Gran Turismo 2, Tekken 3, Crash Team Racing, Silent Hill, Final Fantasy IX, and Spyro the Dragon. All of these games have marked their genre and remain very enjoyable to play today.

What are the 20 best PS1 games?

The top ten of our ranking is joined by Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped, Tomb Raider, Oddworld: The Lydian Wolf, Driver, Final Fantasy VIII, Vagrant Story, ISS Pro Evolution 2, MediEvil, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis and Suikoden II. Together, they make up the top 20 of the must-play PS1 games.

What are the most mythical PS1 games?

Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, Tomb Raider, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Resident Evil and Gran Turismo are the most iconic games of the console. They have spawned still-active sagas today and are often cited as the games that made the PlayStation a success.

What are the best PS1 multiplayer games?

Crash Team Racing and Crash Bash can be played by up to four players. Tekken 3, ISS Pro Evolution 2, Gran Turismo 2, and Colin McRae Rally 2.0 are perfect for two players. We have dedicated an article to the best multiplayer retro games.

Which PS1 games are worth anything?

The PS1 games that are most valuable today are mainly rare European titles, such as Suikoden II and Tombi!, which are highly sought after by collectors. Their value varies greatly depending on the condition of the disc and the presence of the box and manual.

When did the PlayStation 1 come out?

The PlayStation was released on December 3, 1994 in Japan, and on September 29, 1995 in Europe. It sold more than 100 million units worldwide, a record for the time.