When it was released in 1995, PlayStation completely changed the world of gaming. It was the first system to really transport players from the 2D realm to large, immersive 3D worlds. The console also launched numerous hit titles that would go on to become some of gaming's biggest franchises.
The PlayStation is also credited with being the final blow to SEGA. Upon release, the console completely destroyed the Sega Saturn and even gave the next-gen Dreamcast trouble gaining a foothold in the industry. The main reason why PlayStation took the top spot and has remained there for almost 30 years is its incredible library of awesome titles, and here are 10 PS1 games that still hold up today.
Street Fighter Alpha
Street Fighter Alpha (officially titled Street Fight Alpha: Warriors' Dreams) was one of the PlayStation's first fighting games, releasing just a few months after the console was launched. It was such a great game because it was building off the already-popular Street Fighter franchise, adding more characters and a deeper story to the game's growing universe. Street Fighter Alpha was also designed with a cartoonlike aesthetic which has really helped the graphics remain pretty solid, even by today's standards.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
When Symphony of the Night was released, it received some polarizing reviews. Many gaming critics hailed the game, calling it the best in the series. However, more mainstream outlets, and many gamers themselves, were a bit let down by the lackluster 2D graphics. The PlayStation and N64 were all about creating new, glossy 3D adventures, so Symphony of the Night immediately felt outdated.
However, as time went on and more and more players tried the game out, it grew in popularity and is now widely regarded as one of the best PlayStation games ever. The current wave of popularity in retro gaming has also helped fuel a new surge of interest in the game.
Cool Boarders 3
While snowboarding games may have gone out of style, there was a period where they were everywhere, and most notable were the Cool Boarders and SSX franchises. Cool Boarders 3 seemed to hit the sweet spot, combining a good amount of playable characters, snowboard options, and graphics that still look pretty decent given the limited hardware.
Most of all, though, the game was just plain fun. It became so popular that it went on to be one of the console's bestselling titles, earning itself a Greatest Hits rerelease with the special green label.
Gran Turismo 2
Gran Turismo is the bestselling game for the original PlayStation console, with over 10.8 million copies sold. Its sequel, Gran Turismo 2, is the third-bestselling PS1 game, just behind the original and Final Fantasy VII. While the original deserves the credit for quite literally creating the modern racing game, it's GT2 that wins for replayability.
The game offered more cars and race tracks and had slightly-enhanced graphics. As a sequel, the game wasn't a big deal, but, considering the excellent base it had to build from, all GT2 really needed to do was add more options, which is exactly what it did.
Dino Crisis 2
When the original Dino Crisis was released in 1999, it was called "Resident Evil meets Jurassic Park," which was enough to make the game a hit. However, it was Dino Crisis 2 that really stood out.
Rather than simply replacing zombies with dinosaurs like the first game, the sequel didn't feel like a Resident Evil spinoff but held its own as a stand-alone game, creating a unique world and intricate story. The game also added a lot more dinosaurs, and Dino Crisis 2 is a game that deserves a rerelease so a new generation of players can experience it.
Tekken 3
Another extremely popular fighting franchise is Tekken, and Tekken 3 is seen as the pinnacle of the series. It went on to become the fourth bestselling title for the console and was praised for its cutting-edge graphics, ease of controls, special movies, and minigames.
Tekken 3 also had a long list of playable fighters, including some very bizarre entries like Gon the dinosaur and Panda, the giant panda. While newer entries, like Tekken 7, have vastly improved the franchise's graphics, Tekken 3 is still seen as the game that helped revolutionize the fighting genre.
Metal Gear Solid
In Metal Gear Solid, players control Solid Snake, a soldier who must thwart a terrorist group's plans of launching a nuclear strike. Metal Gear's limited graphics and top-down camera angling slightly hinder the game's replayability for modern gamers, but the incredibly immersive story, excellent soundtrack, and building suspense still holds up today.
Metal Gear Solid is an excellent choice for any retro gamer looking for a classic throwback. For those who are interested, the game was included in SONY's PlayStation Classic system that was released in 2018.
Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot was PlayStation's response to Nintendo's Donkey Kong Country. The platformer game combined sidescrolling and 3D levels, all set within lush jungles and ancient ruins. One of Crash Bandicoot's most impressive feats was proving to the world that platformers still had a place in the 3D era.
The game also holds up incredibly well—as most platformers do—and almost never gets old, even twenty-some years later. Despite the franchise starting out as a PlayStation exclusive, the newest installment was released across all platforms to rave reviews.
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy VIII was a polarizing game. It was one of the console's bestselling titles, had massive graphical improvements compared to FF7, and was praised by critics. The only problem was that FF7 literally changed the gaming world forever, and no game that followed it could ever live up to the phenomenon it created.
However, seeing as FF7 has a completely remastered series of games and seeing how the original's graphics are atrocious by modern-day standards, The PS1 version of FF7 just isn't as fun to play these days. FF8, however, still has a special quirk and a devout cult following that insists it's the best in the series. Yes, the game can be frustrating, hard, and darker than others, but nobody can deny that it's one hell of an epic journey.
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
Any gamer looking to get the most bang for their buck by investing in a classic PS1 game should check out Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. While the original Resident Evil changed gaming forever and launched a multi-billion dollar gaming and movie franchise, the graphics of the 1996 original just don't hold up anymore. Plus, the original has been remastered twice over the years and can now be played on everything from the GameCube to the Switch.
While Nemesis received a remake in 2020, nothing compares to the original. In fact, many critics and gamers still hail Nemesis as being one of the best video game villains of all time.
