I’ll never forget the first time I got my paws on the PlayStation in 1996, a year after the console’s stateside release. I was at a family friend’s barbecue, still too young to party with the adults. Jimmy, the host of the celebration, proudly presented his new PlayStation, a copy of Crash Bandicoot, Batman Forever: The Arcade Game, and Rage Racer at the ready. I was in heaven. I’d played Batman Forever at a dockside arcade in California weeks before the party, and couldn’t wait to don the cape and cowl without the need for a pocket full of quarters. That coming holiday season, my parents surprised me with my own PS1 console, my own copies of Crash and Batman Forever, ready to rock.
When Sony unleashed the PlayStation, a competitor to Nintendo’s Super Nintendo Entertainment System, at-home graphics leveled up from 16-bit to 32-bit, giving players more camera control, fidelity, and visual fireworks than ever before. In the years before the system’s launch, Sony introduced the first installments of legendary franchises that continue to blow gamers’ minds to this day, several of which appear on the list you’re about to read. By the nature of a Top 10 list, only so many games can get their chance to shine, but we’re going to do our best to pick the most fun, influential, and enduring titles that we loved to play.
If you’re a Tetris fan, you likely played the original game on the NES until your fingers bled and the music became the soundtrack of your nightly dreams. When it became too much, Sega’s Columns was a decent distraction on the Game Gear. Still, nothing came close to the thrill of Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, a fast, frenetic, and panic-inducing puzzle battler inspired by the brutal fights of the Street Fighter Alpha and Darkstalkers games.
In Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, players raced against a clock by dropping gems into a claustrophobic space, similar to games like Compile and Puyo Puyo 2. By dropping like gems on top of one another, you’d build larger structures. Then, a Crash Gem would drop, setting off a chain reaction that would send gems crashing onto your opponent’s board. Playing against the AI was enough, but dropping a load of gems on your friend was priceless. Oh, the screaming! Add the game’s chibi art style to the mix, and you’ve got a hidden gem (see what I did there) on the PlayStation that never goes out of style.
When I say “boom, boom, boom,” you say “bam, bam, bam!” Kick! Punch! Everyone remembers playing the PaRappa demo disc, but when the full game arrived on PlayStation consoles in North America in 1997, Sony Computer Entertainment’s rapping rhythm game quickly became a gaming obsession with players of all kinds. PaRappa introduced a generation to music games, paving the way for games like Dance Dance Revolution, Elite Beat Agents, Rhythm Heaven, and more.
Everything about PaRappa the Rapper slaps with style, from the game’s earworm grooves to its colorful, paper-cutout art presentation, memorable characters, and a banging soundtrack that demands improvisation from the player to create something unique with each play session.
When I heard that Square, the same studio behind the legendary Final Fantasy series, was making a side-scrolling shooter based on Greek mythology’s Selene and Endymion, depicting a war between Earth and the Moon, I said, “What?!?” The last Greek mythology shooter I’d played (that I was aware of) was Namco’s Phelios on the Sega Genesis in 1990. What the heck is Einhander going to be like? I quickly got my answer when Einhander came out with literal guns blazing for a Gradius-like experience that hits all the right notes with shifting perspectives, badass upgrades, and multiple difficulty settings to test your mettle.
It might not look as impressive by today’s standards, but Einhander was a looker at the time. The game also offered variety through the use of gunpods, which could change your standard attack into a cannon, guided missile launcher, or a light saber-like beam. You could switch your gunpod position from atop your craft to the belly of your ship, altering your strategy for each level and insane boss encounter. For a genre that doesn’t get much love nowadays, Einhander still handles like a dream, making it one of the best side-scrolling shooters not just on the PlayStation, but overall.
When Namco’s Tekken franchise debuted in arcades, the skill and timing-based fighting game offered fans of the genre a new way to beat the snot out of opponents (or innocents dumb enough to put their quarters up on the cabinet). When Tekken 3 came to PlayStation in 1998, living rooms erupted with the sound of snarls and profanity as players gathered round to navigate third-axis gameplay with sidesteps, moderate jumps, and dodging maneuvers.
In addition to an exciting roster of varied characters, including Eddy Gordo, Kuma II, Gon, Ogre, Panda, Tiger Jackson, Julia Chang, Bryan Fury, and more, Tekken 3 features satisfying crack-and-snap combat that explodes onscreen, giving every punch and kick a gratifying pop. While not the prettiest entry in the long-lasting series, Tekken 3 relies on precision and timing to defeat your opponent, leaving button-mashers at a disadvantage. Oh, sure, you could go ham on the controller, but someone who’s trained on the game will surely wipe the concrete with your bruised and battered body.
I’ll never forget the first time I entered the pixelated fog of Konami’s Silent Hill. Focusing on the twisted tale of Harry Mason, Silent Hill finds our protagonist exploring a desolate town in search of his missing daughter, Cheryl. While Harry investigates his strange new surroundings, reality begins to shift, giving way to an alternate reality filled with horrors beyond his imagination.
Released several years after Capcom’s game-changing Resident Evil, Silent Hill helped launch a franchise of varying quality that’s shaped the survival-horror genre for generations. Even though there are more exciting entries in the series – like Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill f – there’s no denying the original’s impact, and how, in 1999, it was able to chill gamers to the bone while giving players a reason to wait until dark to press the power button on their PS1. Silent Hill might not be as pretty as other chapters in the franchise, but its disturbing atmosphere, sharp sound design, and terrifying enemy encounters make it a must-play for fans of the horror genre.
As pixelated as she was, everyone remembers when they fell in love with Lara Croft. At the time of its release, Tomb Raider was a revelation, tank controls and all. While other entries in the series are more action-packed, refined, and focused, Tomb Raider is an atmospheric adventure with surprises waiting around every corner (like the Tyrannosaurus Rex chase and panther encounters).
When Tomb Raider arrived on the scene, it was immediately clear that Eidos Interactive had introduced the world to an icon in Lara Croft. From pulling herself up a ledge into a handstand to dual-wielding pistols and pestering her butler, Winston Smith, in the garden, gamers lusted after Lara, and some wanted to become her. The character has grown by leaps and bounds since the release of Tomb Raider. Still, the charm, puzzle-solving, and risk-taking of the original game demand respect, and we’re gonna give it.
I’m not going to lie, it was a real toss-up between Resident Evil and Resident Evil 2 for this list, but ultimately, I had to go with my gut. While the gaming community celebrates Resident Evil 2 for its more action-focused gameplay and better controls, the feeling of isolation while exploring the Spencer Mansion remains the more iconic experience. Yes, the door-opening animation got tiresome after a while, but the classic (cheesy) dialogue, the puzzle-focused exploration, and that shot of your first zombie encounter are legendary. Oh, and let’s not forget that moment when the zombie dogs come crashing through the windows. I nearly pissed myself.
Contemporary Resident Evil games have indeed refined Capcom’s approach to the franchise. Still, there’s a lot to say about honoring your roots, and those who were around for RE‘s initial launch remember what a momentous occasion it was, and that feeling of knowing an instant classic had set the bar. I didn’t know what Resident Evil would become when I picked up my original copy from Planet Comics on a whim, and now I can’t imagine the gaming landscape without it.
Of all the Final Fantasy titles available on the PlayStation (and there are many), Final Fantasy VII is the gold standard in RPG goodness, with Square introducing (arguably) the franchise’s most iconic characters, locations, gameplay mechanics, and story. Nearly every Final Fantasy game boasts something unique and memorable about its overall experience, but ask any gamer, and they’ll be able to tell you where they were when they first traveled to Midgar, cross-dressed as Cloud, or watched as Aerith, one of gaming’s most beloved characters, fell to Sephiroth’s sword.
Whether you’re exploring the overworld map in an airship, gambling alongside Cait Sith at the Golden Saucer, or racing Chocobos, Final Fantasy VII offers an immense amount of gameplay. The multi-disc adventure set the tone and pace for many FF games to come, as each hoped to mimic the game’s grand scope, sense of discovery, and engaging, political story of rebellion. The Final Fantasy Remake is a fantastic way to experience the story, but nothing feels quite as influential and important as the original.
In 2000, sports gaming didn’t get any better than Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, Activision’s refined interactive skateboarding experience with a killer soundtrack, a sweet variety of tricks, iconic locations, and guest characters, making it arguably the best in the franchise’s long-standing history. There’s an argument to be made for 3 being the best in the business, but Tony Hawk 2 has Spider-Man, y’all, and 3 was better on the PlayStation 2 anyway, which we’ll get to in time.
You know shit was about to go down when Rage Against the Machine’s “Guerilla Radio” started blaring, welcoming you to Venice, School II, the Hangar, Bullring, or any of the other levels offering endless hours of fancy footwork, perfectly-timed nosegrabs, and getting a taste of that sweet, sweet air as you defy gravity with the game’s reality-bending physics to fufill the ultimate skateboarding fantasy. Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 came out of the gate swinging, but its addition of guest skaters like Spider-Man, Lee Hyori, Ock Joo Hyun, Lee Jin, and Sung Yu-ri made it a total package that still rips a hole in the universe every time someone fires it up.
“What is a man? A miserable pile of secrets!” Admittedly, I’m something of a Castlevania sicko. I’ve played (and beaten) almost every game in the franchise, but for my money, few come close to holding a candle as bright as Konami’s Symphony of the Night. Released in 1997, this entry in the long-standing Castlevania series refined the Metroidvania formula yet again, introducing new weapons, abilities, transformations, a compelling story, flawless map design, an unrivaled soundtrack, legendary sound design, and a castle that reboots itself by turning upside down to maximize replayability and exploration.
There’s nothing like the sweet sound of a coffin closing to save your progress, or the crash and tinkle when Dracula is hurling his goblet of blood to the stony floor of his elaborate fortress. I love the weapons, soul collecting, and vampire melodrama that await behind every glowing door, while a steaming platter of wall chicken hides behind breakaway bricks, waiting to fill you up with its finger-lickin’ goodness. Many Castlevania titles try to recreate the magic of Symphony of the Night, but only one game in the franchise sleeps eternal as its very best.
“Huh? What was that noise?” I’ll tell you what, random guard. It’s the sound of Solid Snake coming to choke every other contender for the top spot out, a wry smile on his lips, and a cardboard box to hide in after it’s over. Konami and Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid is the ultimate PlayStation experience. Adding to the foundation laid by the 1987 original for the Nintendo Entertainment System, MGS is an action-stealth experience that gives you the rush of sneaking into a densely populated stronghold to live out your assassination dreams with slick gameplay, charismatic characters, and a signature style that only Hideo Kojima can provide.
The Metal Gear franchise gets decidedly weirder as the series continues. Still, MGS establishes lore that lasts for generations, each subsequent chapter building on its refined gameplay, absurd personality, and inventive ways of interacting with the game, like when Psycho Mantis reads your PlayStation memory card, or how it forces you to change controller ports to bypass a psychic attack. It’s those kinds of moments that stick with gamers for a lifetime, resulting in an unforgettable, formative, and unique gaming experience that never comes again.
The original PlayStation changed gaming forever by pushing the medium toward cinematic storytelling, 3D exploration, mature themes, and experimental gameplay. Whether through the stealth innovation of Metal Gear Solid, the survival horror of Resident Evil, or the genre-defining RPG storytelling of Final Fantasy VII, Sony’s first console created a foundation that still shapes modern gaming today.
What do you think about our Top 10 PlayStation Games list? What’s your Top 10 list look like? Leave a comment below and let us know what your favorite games for the PlayStation One are!