Sony Playstation video games. All Playstation Console Models & Generations Ever Released (1994-2023)

All Playstation Console Models Generations Ever Released (1994-2023)

S ony’s Playstation brand was introduced on December 3, 1994, and since then, four major Playstation consoles have been released, all of which have received slim versions, and refreshed designs. The latest console, Playstation 4, broke a sales record of selling over 100 million units this year, keeping the number one position in the gaming industry.

From the original Playstation’s 3D polygon graphics to Playstation 4’s 4K resolution, the brand has made a fantastic journey with some of the best titles ever released, changing the way gaming used to be. In this list, we are going through each generation and model, taking a close look at their specs, and what made each one unique!

Playstation (1994)

CPU: RISC MIPS R3000A (32-bit) – 33 MHz GPU: R800A (32-bit) – 33 MHz Memory: 2 MB EDO DRAM Storage: Memory Cards of 1 MB Optical Drive: CD-ROM Video Output: S-Video, SCART (RGB) Resolution: 256×224, 640×480 (SD) Audio: 16-bit, 24 Channel ADPCM, Stereo

Release Date: December 3, 1994 Code Name: PSX Generation: Fifth Status: Discontinued, March 23, 2006 Release Price: 299 Units Sold: 102.49 million Best-selling Game: Gran Turismo, 10.85 million

Sony entered the market of consoles back in 1994 with the release of the Playstation. The product was announced under the name “Play Station” in May 1991 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in a corporation with Nintendo. After that partnership fell apart, Sony went on to release a console of its own. Playstation launched in Japan after the release of its rival Sega Saturn and the sales began with a stunning success with long lines in stores, selling 100,000 units on the first day, and then two million units after six months on the market.

Sony’s approach to third-party developers was a big part of the Playstation’s success. By the end of 1996, almost 400 games were being developed for the Playstation, while 200 and 60 games were for the Saturn and the Nintendo 64. A wild variety of games were offered for the original Playstation over its 11-year run and some of the best-selling games on Playstation are Gran Turismo, Final Fantasy VII, Crash Bandicoot, and Tekken 3.

The Playstation controller is the first controller released by Sony using geometric shapes of a green triangle, a red circle, a blue cross, and a pink square. The original version was released alongside the console on December 3, 1994. Besides the console and controller, the memory cards were valuable back then for saving your game progress, and they came out in a total of 1 megabyte. Sony released a few peripherals for the console such as a Playstation mouse, an Analog Joystick and a Link Cable to connect two consoles to play compatible multiplayer games on separate consoles.

As of March 2006, Playstation sold 102.49 million units worldwide. Games for the Playstation continued to sell until 23 of March 2006, were Sony ended the production of both Playstation consoles and games.

PS One (2000)

CPU: RISC MIPS R3000A (32-bit) – 33 MHz GPU: R800A (32-bit) – 33 MHz Memory: 2 MB EDO DRAM Memory Cards: 1 MB Optical Drive: CD-ROM Video Output: S-Video, SCART (RGB) Resolution: 256×224, 640×480 (SD) Audio: 16-bit, 24 Channel ADPCM, Stereo

Release Date: July 7, 2000 Generation: Fifth Status: Discontinued March 26, 2006 Release Price: 299 Units Sold: 28.15 million

Six years later, a redesigned, slim version was released under the name PS One, having the same hardware specifications. They replaced the original grey color with white and named it appropriately to avoid confusion with its successor, Playstation 2. It was the highest-selling console through the end of the year, outselling all other consoles, including Sony’s own Playstation 2.

The PS One is fully compatible with all Playstation software, but compatibility with peripherals may vary. The PS One model also had additional changes, including the removal of the parallel and serial ports from the rear of the console, and the removal of the reset button. Sony also released a version with a 5″ LCD screen compatible with the console, calling it a Combo pack.

The last PS One consoles were sold at the end of 2006 shortly after it was officially discontinued, for a total of 102 million units shipped since its launch eleven years earlier and less than a year before the debut of the Playstation 3.

Playstation 2 (2000)

CPU: MIPS R5900 (64-bit) – 294 MHz GPU: Graphics Synthesizer – 147 MHz Memory: 32 MB RDRAM Hard Drive: 40 GB HDD (Released on July 19, 2001) Memory Cards: 8 MB Optical Drive: CD-ROM, DVD-ROM Video Output: AV Multi Out Resolution: 720×480 (SD), 1280×720 (HD) Network: Playstation 2 Network Adapter Audio: 5.1 Surround Sound, Stereo

Release Date: March 4, 2000 Abbreviation: PS2 Generation: Sixth Status: January 4, 2013 Release Price: 299 Units Sold: 155 million (as of March 31, 2012) Best-selling Game: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, 17.33 million

Soon after the first sixth-generation console was released, Sega’s Dreamcast, Sony unveiled the Playstation 2 at the Tokyo Game Show on September 20, 1999, and released in July 2011. Sales of the console, games, and accessories pulled in 250 million on the first day, beating the 97 million made on the first day of the Dreamcast.

The hardware uses the Emotion Engine CPU, a custom-designed processor based on the MIPS architecture with a floating-point performance of 6.2 GFLOPS, and the custom-designed Graphics Synthesizer GPU, with a fillrate of 2.4 gigapixels/second, capable of rendering up to 75 million polygons per second.

Software for the Playstation 2 was distributed primarily on DVD-ROM, with some titles being published on CD-ROM. Also, the console can play audio CDs and DVD movies and is backwards compatible with almost all original Playstation games. The Playstation 2 also supports Playstation memory cards and controllers, although original Playstation memory cards will only work with original Playstation games and the controllers may not support all functions, such as analogue buttons, for Playstation 2 games.

Some of the following titles were released exclusively for the console, Grand Theft Auto, Final Fantasy, and Metal Gear Solid. Some of the most popular series started from Playstation 2, such as Kingdom Hearts, God of War, and Devil May Cry. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was the best-selling game on the console. Some games on the Playstation 2 support online multiplayer gaming through the use of a broadband internet connection and a Playstation 2 Network Adapter.

The Playstation 2 initially sold well and made a great success based on the Playstation brand, as well as, the console’s backwards compatibility feature. Announced in 1999, the Playstation 2 offered backward compatibility for its predecessor’s DualShock controller, as well as for its games. The Playstation 2 is the best-selling video game console of all time, having sold over 155 million units worldwide. Over 3,800 game titles have been released for the console, with over 1.5 billion copies sold.

Playstation 2 Slim (2004)

CPU: MIPS R5900 (64-bit) – 294 MHz GPU: Graphics Synthesizer – 147 MHz Memory: 32 MB RDRAM Hard Drive: 40 GB HDD (Released on July 19, 2001) Memory Cards: 8 MB Optical Drive: CD-ROM, DVD-ROM Video Output: AV Multi Out Resolution: 720×480 (SD), 1280×720 (HD) Network: Ethernet Audio: 5.1 Surround Sound, Stereo

Release Date: October 29, 2004 Generation: Sixth Status: Discontinued January 4, 2013 Release Price: 299

In September 2004, Sony unveiled its third major hardware revision. In late October 2004, a smaller, thinner, and quieter slim version of the Playstation 2 was released, including a built-in Ethernet port. Due to its thinner, the slim version does not support the internal hard disk drive. It also lacks an internal power supply and has a modified Multitap expansion.

At the beginning of 2005, it was found that some black slimline console power transformers manufactured between August and December 2004 were defective and could overheat. The units were recalled by Sony and replaced by a 2005 model.

In July 2007, Sony started shipping a revision of the slimline Playstation 2 featuring a reduced weight of 600 grams compared to 900 grams of the previous slim version, achieved through a reduction in parts. The unit also uses a smaller motherboard as well as a custom ASIC which houses the Emotion Engine, Graphics Synthesizer, and the RDRAM. The AC adaptor’s weight was also reduced to 250 grams from the 350 grams in the previous revision.

Playstation Portable (2004)

CPU: 20-333 MHz MIPS R4000 GPU: Custom Rendering Engine Surface Engine GPU Memory: 32MB of System Memory and 2MB of Video Memory Hard Drive: Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO Duo Optical Drive: UMD Drive (Playback only) Resolution: 480 × 272 pixels with 24-bit color, 30:17 widescreen TFT LCD Network: Wi-Fi (802.11b) Audio: Stereo speakers, mono speaker

Release Date: December 12, 2004 Abbreviation: PSP Generation: Seventh Status: Discontinued January 2014 Release Price: 249.99 Units Sold: 82 million Best-selling Game: Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, 8 million

The Playstation Portable (abbreviated to PSP) was Sony’s foray into the handheld business. Originally released in Japan back on December 12, 2004, the PSP was Sony’s first handheld system. At the time of its release, Nintendo was already dominating the market with its Game Boy Advance and the Nintendo DS. However, the coming of the PSP was Sony’s answer to Nintendo, as not only did it compete against the latter but also against other competitors such as N-Gage and Gizmondo.

Thanks to the massive support from third-party developers, the PSP boasts a fantastic library of video games to dig into. Similar to the PS2, the games’ library is diverse, brimming with a variety of fantastic genres such as JRPG, Hack and Slash, Beat’em Up, and especially Racing.

Playstation 3 (2006)

CPU: Cell Broadband Engine 6-core – 3.2 GHz GPU: Nvidia/SCEI RSX – 550 MHz Memory: 256 MB XDR Hard Drive: 2.5” Serial ATA 80 GB HDD Optical Drive: Blue-ray, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM Video Output: HDMI (Up to 1080p), AV Multi Out Resolution: 720×480 (SD), 1280×720 (HD), 1920×1080 (Full HD) Network: Ethernet, Wireless Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Release Date: November 11, 2006 Abbreviation: PS3 Generation: Seventh Status: Discontinued October 2016 Release Price: 499 Units Sold: 87.4 million (as of March 31, 2017) Best-selling Game: Grand Theft Auto V, 21.3 million

The console was first officially announced at E3 2005 and was released at the end of 2006. It was the first console to use Blu-ray Disc as its primary storage medium. The console was the first Playstation to integrate social gaming services, including the Playstation Network, as well as the first to be controllable from a handheld console, through its remote connectivity with Playstation Portable and Playstation Vita.

The Playstation 3 development began in 2001 when Sony announced a collaboration with Toshiba and IBM to the Cell microprocessor. Sony officially unveiled the Playstation 3 console to the public on May 16, 2005, at E3 2005.

Playstation 3 launched with 14 titles. After the first week of sales, it was confirmed that Resistance: Fall of Man from Insomniac Games was the top-selling launch game in North America. As of March 31, 2012, there have been 595 million games sold for Playstation 3. The best selling games are Grand Theft Auto V, The Last of Us, Gran Turismo 5, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception.

During its early years, the system was receiving negative reviews, due to its high price, 599 for a 60-gigabyte model and 499 for a 20 GB model. A big problem was also the complex processor architecture, and the lack of quality games, but that was praised for its Blu-ray capabilities and “untapped potential”. The system had a slow start in the market but managed to recover, particularly after the introduction of the Slim model.

Playstation 3 Slim (2009)

CPU: Cell Broadband Engine 8-core – 3.2 GHz GPU: Nvidia/SCEI RSX – 550 MHz Memory: 256 MB Hard Drive: 120 GB HDD Optical Drive: Blue-ray, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM Video Output: HDMI (Up to 1080p), AV Multi Out Resolution: 720×480 (SD), 1280×720 (HD), 1920×1080 (Full HD) Network: Ethernet, Wireless Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Release Date: September 1, 2009 Generation: Seventh Status: Discontinued October 2016 Release Price: 299

The slim version of Playstation 3 no longer provided the hardware ability to run Playstation 2 games. It was lighter and thinner than the original console and featured a redesigned logo and marketing design.

The slimmer version of the Playstation 3 features an upgradeable 120 GB, 160 GB, 250 GB or 320 GB hard drive and is 32% smaller, 36% lighter and consumes 34% less power than the previous model.

The Cell microprocessor has moved to a 45 nm manufacturing process, which makes it cooler and quieter than any previous model, redesigning the cooling system too. The RSX moved to a 40 nm process in the latest revision.

The Playstation 3 Slim no longer had the ‘main power’ button like the original console, similar to the Playstation 2 Slim version. After the backward compatibility was not featured on the Slim version, Sony announced a new series of Playstation 2 remasters, called Classics HD, including PS2 and PSP titles remastered in HD.

Playstation Vita (2011)

CPU: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore GPU: Quad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4 Memory: 512 MB RAM, 128 MB VRAM Removal Storage: Proprietary PS Vita memory card (4, 8, 16, 32 or 64 GB) Hard Drive: 1 GB flash memory (PCH-2000 model only) Resolution: 5-inch (16:9) OLED – 960 by 544 pixels Network: IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth 2.1EDR Audio: Stereo speakers, microphone, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Bluetooth

Release Date: December 17, 2011 Abbreviation: PS Vita/ Vita Generation: Eighth Status: Discontinued March 1, 2019 Release Price: 249.99 Units Sold: 16 million (estimates and not confirmed) Best-selling Game: Uncharted: Golden Abyss 1.47m units

The PS Vita is the successor to Sony’s critically acclaimed PSP with massive improvements over its predecessor. Perhaps the striking improvement at first glance is the addition of dual analogue sticks instead of the PSP’s solo-analogue stick. In addition to other improvements is the introduction of a 5-inch multi-touch capacitive touchpad.

While the PS Vita looked beautiful thanks to its eye-catching design, and how it felt comfortable to hold in one’s hands, the console was a flop on the commercial side outside of Japan. Perhaps one of the factors that contributed to the downfall of the PS Vita was underestimating the impact of mobile gaming at the time of the system’s release. The lack of support from renowned developers such as Capcom and Activision may have had an impact too. However, on the one hand, the Vita was home to a diverse line of indie games such as Velocity 2X, Axiom Verge, and more games which you can check up on the website.

Playstation 3 Super Slim (2012)

CPU: Cell Broadband Engine 8-core – 3.2 GHz GPU: Nvidia/SCEI RSX – 550 MHz Memory: 256 MB Hard Drive: 250 GB HDD Optical Drive: Blue-ray, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM Video Output: HDMI (Up to 1080p), AV Multi Out Resolution: 720×480 (SD), 1280×720 (HD), 1920×1080 (Full HD) Network: Ethernet, Wireless Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Release Date: September 1, 2009 Generation: Seventh Status: Discontinued October 2016 Release Price: 299

The Super Slim version of Playstation 3 was released in late 2012, refined and redesigned. The console came out on the market with the availability of either a 250 GB or 500 GB hard drive. One of the obvious changes was the sliding disc cover, instead of the traditional slot-loading drive.

In look, shape, and design, the Super Slim version resembles something of a hybrid between the Slim and the original Playstation 3. The console is much smaller, measuring 11.4 inches wide by 2.36 inches tall by 9.05 inches deep, 20% smaller and 25% lighter than the previous Slim console.

Beyond its smaller size and storage capacities, the Super Slim model doesn’t feature anything else. A vertical stand was also available for these models and launched on the same day as the consoles in their respective regions.

Playstation 4 (2013)

CPU: AMD Jaguar 8-core – 1.6 GHz GPU: AMD Radeon, 1.84 TFLOPS – 800 MHz Memory: 8 GB GDDR5 Hard Drive: 500 GB HDD Optical Drive: Blu-Ray, DVD Video Output: HDMI Resolution: 720×480 (SD), 1280×720 (HD), 1920×1080 (Full HD) Network: Ethernet, Wireless Audio: 7,1 Surround Sound

Release Date: November 15, 2013 Abbreviation: PlayStation 4 Generation: Eighth Status: Discontinued Release Price: 399 Units Sold: 102.8 million (as of September 30, 2019) Best-selling Game: Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, 16 million

The Playstation 4 is the eighth-generation console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced in February 2013 the critics were praising Sony for acknowledging its consumers’ needs, embracing independent game development, and not imposing the restrictive digital rights management schemes like those originally announced by Microsoft for the Xbox One.

The console features an AMD Accelerated Processing Unit built upon the x86-64 architecture, which can peak at 1.84 teraflops. AMD stated that it was the most powerful APU it had developed to date. Its optical drive is capable of reading Blu-ray Discs at speeds of up to three times that of its predecessor. The original PlayStation 4 console can output in 4K and play multimedia in the format but does not play games in 4K resolution. The console includes a 500 GB hard drive for additional storage, which can be upgraded by the user.

The console’s controller was also redesigned and improved over the Playstation 3, with improved buttons and analog sticks, and an integrated touchpad among other changes. The console also supports High-dynamic-range video and playback of 4K resolution multimedia. The shape of the triggers and shoulder buttons were refined, the D-pad buttons were given a steeper downward angle to provide a resting space in the center for the user’s thumb, and the handgrips were made thicker and given micro texturing to improve their feel.

Sadly, the Playstation 4 is not compatible with any game of the older Playstation consoles. Playstation 4 games are distributed at retail on Blu-ray Disc, and digitally as downloads through the Playstation Store.

PlayStation 4 allows users to access a variety of free and premium Playstation Network services, to play online on multiplayer games, including the Playstation Store access, giving its player up to three games per month for a limited time to play.

By the end of September 2019, over 102 million Playstation 4 consoles had been shipped worldwide, surpassing lifetime sales of the Playstation 3.

PlayStation Console Evolution Timeline. PS1-PS5

Playstation 4 Slim (2016)

CPU: AMD Jaguar 8-core – 1.6 GHz GPU: AMD Radeon, 1.84 TFLOPS – 800 MHz Memory: 8 GB GDDR5 Hard Drive: 500 GB HDD, 1 TB HDD Optical Drive: Blu-Ray, DVD Video Output: HDMI Resolution: 720×480 (SD), 1280×720 (HD), 1920×1080 (Full HD) Network: Ethernet, Wireless Audio:

Release Date: September 16, 2016 Generation: Eighth Status: Released Release Price: 299

The Playstation 4 Slim is the smaller version of the original console, which features an upgraded GPU and a higher CPU clock rate to support enhanced performance and 4K resolution in supported games. The addition of 5GHz Wi-Fi was added, and a UHD Blu-ray drive.

Like the original Playstation 3 and the PS3 Slim model, the PlayStation 4 Slim retains the overall shape of the PlayStation 4, with a glossy black synthetic and a textured matte finish. This makes it much less prone to collecting dust, fingerprints, and scratches. The sharp corners have changed into softer and rounded.

The power and eject buttons have been replaced with physical buttons. The power button is larger, while the eject button is in the shape of a circle. The power button also acts as a replacement for the color-changing LED strip that adorned the top of the original Playstation 4.

Playstation 4 Pro (2016)

CPU: AMD Jaguar 8-core – 2.1 GHz GPU: AMD Radeon, 4.2 TFLOPS – 911 MHz Memory: 8GB GDDR5, 1 GB GDDR3 Hard Drive: 1 TB HDD Optical Drive: Blu-Ray (UHD), DVD Video Output: HDMI, 4K support Resolution: 720×480 (SD), 1280×720 (HD), 1920×1080 (Full HD) Network: Ethernet, Wireless Audio: 7.1 Surround Sound

Release Date: November 10, 2016 Generation: Eighth Status: Released Release Price: 399

Three years have passed since the Playstation 4 Pro launched, and it is still considered to be one of the best consoles out there, especially for its 4K capabilities and premium quality.

The Pro design is a complete copy of the original PlayStation 4 console, there are a lot of similarities such as the flat parallelogram. Although, the Pro version is a little wider and a little taller than the original, and a bit heavier, too.

DualShock 4 was changed too, adding a light bar built into the touchpad, with a feature where you can see instantly which player you are by the color, but more importantly, the triggers have been tweaked and it feels lighter in the hand.

This new strategy by Sony, releasing a Pro version of its new console led to increasing the total player base and making another great success on sales, by also releasing exclusive games that would take advantage of the console’s capabilities.

Playstation Classic (2018)

CPU: ARM Cortex-A35 8-core – 1.5 GHz GPU: Power VR GE8300 Memory: 1 GB DDR3 Hard Drive: 16 GB eMMC Flash Video Output: HDMI

Release Date: December 3, 2018 Status: Released Release Price: 99.99 Units Sold: N/A

The Playstation Classic, it’s a deliberate model of the original Playstation console for the system’s 24th anniversary. It was announced in September 2018, with a full list of games and released a month later in December.

The Playstation Classic ships with two Playstation controllers, the original model without the analog sticks, an HDMI cable, and a USB Micro-A to standard USB-A cable. An AC adapter for the console is sold separately. The console weighs about 170 grams, approximately 80% smaller in volume than the original Playstation and 45% smaller in width and length. It includes ports for both controllers, HDMI output, and power via USB.

Internally, the console uses a MediaTek MT8167a Quad A35 system on a chip with four central processing cores clocked at @ 1.5 GHz and a Power VR GE8300 graphics processing unit. It includes 16 GB of eMMC flash storage and 1 GB of DDR3 memory.

The Playstation Classic comes preloaded with 20 games, running off the open-source emulator, PCSX ReARMed. Five games were revealed when the console was announced, and the full roster was revealed a month later, such as Tekken 3, Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, and Grand Theft Auto. The Playstation Classic does not feature the Playstation Network and doesn’t support an adapter. Each game can be suspended in a save state by pressing the console’s reset button.

Playstation 5 (2020)

CPU: Custom 8-core AMD Zen 2 Variable frequency up to 3.5 GHz GPU: Custom RDNA 2 – 2.23GHz, 36 CUs, 10.28 TFLOPs Memory: 16 GB GDDR6 – 256-bit Hard Drive: Custom 825GB SSD Video Output: HDMI 2.1

Release Date: 12 November 2020 Status: Present Release Price: 499 Base Edition/ 399 Digital Edition Units Sold: 10 million (as of July 18, 2021)

Last April, Sony unveiled the next-generation console, without any specific details. In August, Jim Ryan, President CEO, announced that the next console will be called Playstation 5, sharing also some exciting details about the new controller.

It features Haptic feedback that simulates touch, meaning the controller will output vibrations or movements to replicate a real-life touch experience. You will be able to even get a sense of a variety of textures when running through fields of grass or plodding through mud. This aims to improve the controller’s feedback and the player’s immersion.

The new console was expected to be released on the Holidays of 2020 (October – December), and the first official trailer for PS5 was released in June 11, 2020:

Playstation VR Consoles

Playstation VR (2016)

Release Date: October 13, 2016 Codename: Project Morpheus Developer: Sony Interactive Entertainment Manufacturer: Sony Type: Virtual Reality Launch Price: 399 Units Sold: 5 million (as of December 31, 2019) Successor: PSVR2

Display: 5.7″ OLED, 100° field of view Graphics: 1080p RGB (960 × 1080 per eye; 90–120 Hz refresh rate) Sound: 3D audio through the headphone jack Supported Controller: DualShock 4 controller, Playstation Aim, Playstation Move Compatible with: PlayStation 4, PS5 Input: Positional tracking with 9 LEDs via Playstation Camera

The Playstation Virtual Reality (Abbreviated PSVR) is Sony’s strong jump into the virtual reality niche, and an attempt by the company to deliver a new experience for long-time Playstation fans and newcomers alike.

The PSVR was not only impressive at the time for its smooth responsivity, visuals and controls, but Sony has also managed to strike a couple of strong deals with known companies like Capcom, Bethesda and even indie companies. This clever move by Sony acted as an incentive to convince players to purchase this fine piece of hardware. And to nobody’s surprise, the PSVR proved to be a massive success, yielding approximately 5 million units sold as of 2019.

Playstation VR 2 (2023)

Release Date: February 22, 2023 Codename:NGVR, or ‘Next-Generation VR Developer: Sony Interactive Entertainment Manufacturer: Sony Type: Virtual Reality Launch Price: 549.99

Display: OLED, HDR, 110° field of view Graphics: ~4K PenTile (2000 × 2040 per eye; 90–120 Hz refresh rate) Sound: 3D audio through the headphone jack Supported Controller: Playstation VR2 Sense controller, Dualsense Compatible with: PS5, PC Tracking: Inside Out Tracking (x4 Built-in Cameras)

Sony’s success with the PSVR has played a tremendous role in giving birth to its next successful jump into the virtual reality business, the PSVR2. powerful than its predecessor, the PSVR 2 comes loaded with a wealth of features that make it stand out from other competitors like the SteamVR and Oculus Quest 2.

Evolution of PlayStation with Startups. 4K

Apart from its advanced technical specifications for a virtual reality headset, the strongest asset of the PSVR2 are its games. Players can take their games to the next level. All they have to do is put on the headset and experience hits like No Man’s Sky, Resident Evil 4, and After the Fall fully on VR.

I’m just your average gamer who enjoys hunting hidden gems and underrated games. My love for Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams is like a truck and I recommend that you play it.

The 36 best Playstation games of all time, according to critics

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• Insider turned to review-aggregation site Metacritic’s list of the greatest video games ever to determine the best games on Playstation that were in the top 100.
• The games didn’t necessarily have to be Playstation exclusives; the critic scores are for the version of the game on a Playstation console.
• But we didn’t include repeats — if the same game was on Metacritic’s list for multiple Playstation consoles, such as Grand Theft Auto V, we only included the version with the highest grade.

Street Fighter IV (2009) — Playstation 3

Metacritic score: 94

This is an excellent return to form for a series (and genre) many had written off as dead. — Wired

Madden NFL 2004 (2003) — Playstation 2

Metacritic score: 94

Adding a mind-boggling level of depth is the Owner Mode, which lets you negotiate salaries, build a stadium, and — for the detail obsessed — even set at the concession stands. — Entertainment Weekly

Mass Effect 2 (2010) — Playstation 3

Metacritic score: 94

That’s what makes Mass Effect 2 great. Not the outstanding action, the compelling story, the huge depth of interaction, or any of the other ways in which the game demonstrates its outrageous surfeit of quality. It’s because this is a game so coherent, you start to believe that you could actually live in it. — Guardian

BioShock (2007) — Playstation 3

Metacritic score: 94

Really, though, the only glaring weakness we can find in BioShock is that it may be too unusual, too original, too artistic and too genius to be embraced by the general public. Please don’t let this game become that forgotten, one-of-a-kind masterpiece. We need sequels. We need more. — GamesRadar

Chrono Cross (2000) — Playstation

Metacritic score: 94

A truly epic role-playing game experience that has cemented its place in the annals of RPG history. — IGN

Madden NFL 2002 (2001) — Playstation 2

Metacritic score: 94

Madden is even deeper this year with the return of the Create-a-Team and the Two-Minute Drill, but that’s not why my jock is still on the field. Tiburon could have merely made these additions, but it went the remaining nine yards to make a football game that is that much closer to perfection, if it hasn’t already got there. — Game Informer

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) — Playstation 3

Metacritic score: 94

Start to finish, online or off, Call of Duty 4 is solid gold. Some might decry the single-player’s short length or that it’s more of the same, but its amazing quality and the Arcade mode. more than make up for it. Infinity Ward has delivered on every front, and there is no question in my mind that this is the best action shooter that I have ever played. — Game Informer

Devil May Cry (2001) — Playstation 2

Metacritic score: 94

Every bit of Devil May Cry’s been carefully orchestrated, and the effort pays off — there’s rarely a dull moment. — GamesRadar

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 (2002) — Playstation 2

Metacritic score: 94

Easily the best Tony Hawk game yet, and online multiplayer makes it the best complete package in the genre. — IGN

God of War (2018) — Playstation 4

Metacritic score: 94

In crafting a thoughtful fable about a man contending with surpassing his sins to keep them from his child, the new God of War has already transcended its bloody roots. — Slant Magazine

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009) — Playstation 3

Metacritic score: 94

Modern Warfare 2 is a masterpiece of careful iteration, with an unmatched presentation and a well of content that will take months to run dry. — Game Informer

Final Fantasy IX (2000) — Playstation

Metacritic score: 94

Final Fantasy could go on forever re-creating its particular spin on the traditional heroic quest, and it would be a success every single time, but I can’t help feeling as if something that features this kind of majestic visual craftsmanship ought to host a story built with equal care. — IGN

BioShock Infinite (2013) — Playstation 3

Metacritic score: 94

While it was a risk to move away from the depths of Rapture and into the clouds of Columbia, Irrational Games has once again crafted a dazzling new world, which succeeds in taking the franchise to stunning new heights. — Digital Spy

Portal 2 (2011) — Playstation 3

Metacritic score: 95

The game’s quality stays consistently outstanding throughout; there isn’t a minute of filler content to be found anywhere in single-player or co-op. — Game Informer

The Last of Us Remastered (2014) — Playstation 4

Metacritic score: 95

Like the best visual updates, Remastered plays like you remember it. If you played 2013’s Game of the Year near release and have been dying to return to the dark tale, then this is a great opportunity. If you never played The Last of Us at all, this is absolutely the way to do it. But be careful — you’ll never want to go back to the PS3 original again after reveling in all the improvements. — Game Informer

Persona 5 Royal (2020) — Playstation 4

Metacritic score: 95

Is Persona 5 Royal enough to justify purchasing a game fans have already played? Yes. The amount of change brought to the title is significant, and it all feels like a marked improvement. — Screen Rant

Madden NFL 2003 (2002) — Playstation 2

Metacritic score: 95

A can’t-miss because it accurately simulates NFL gameplay, NFL commentary, NFL uniforms, NFL stadiums and NFL players and that’s what football gamers are looking for. — IGN

The Last of Us (2013) — Playstation 3

Metacritic score: 95

The Last of Us is visually arresting, mechanically solid, maturely written and by turns heart-rending, tense, unnerving and brutal. — Guardian

Gran Turismo 3 (2001) — Playstation 2

Metacritic score: 95

The feeling of jubilation once you have Gold awards for every area of every test is immeasurable. — Eurogamer

Red Dead Redemption (2010) — Playstation 3

Metacritic score: 95

Red Dead Redemption is a masterpiece. This game is the perfect example of how a developer should work to create the best atmosphere and to represent a beautiful historical situation. The graphics, the gameplay elements and everything else is at top level. — Eurogamer Italy

LittleBigPlanet (2008) — Playstation 3

LittleBigPlanet is effectively ‘The Next Big Thing’ in the video game’s world, a game where the imagination, the feelings, the cooperation, friendship, beauty and genius are hand in hand. — Eurogamer Portugal

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) — Playstation 2

Metacritic score: 95

Helicopters make traversing the 13-section city a breeze, and there is a superb collection of motorcycles for Vercetti to fire an Uzi from. — Entertainment Weekly

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004) — Playstation 2

Metacritic score: 95

With Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Sony’s Playstation 2 has its own hot sequel of the season. The latest of the driving-and-killing games by Rockstar Games, San Andreas goes further than Halo 2 in introducing new features. — New York Times

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001) — Playstation 2

Metacritic score: 96

From the attention to detail that went into the graphics to the sophistication of gameplay, Hideo Kojima and his team set out to create the perfect game, and the result is nothing short of this. — Game Informer

Gran Turismo (1998) — Playstation

Metacritic score: 96

One of the most exquisite racers ever to hit the Playstation. Its alluring features will keep you glued to your seat for months, if not years. In fact I haven’t driven my real car in three weeks. — IGN

Resident Evil 4 (2005) — Playstation 2

Metacritic score: 96

It’s easily one of the top 10 Playstation 2 games you can lay your hands on. For me, it’s probably one of my top 10 games of all-time. There’s so much to enjoy, and even though PS2’s visuals aren’t quite as good as they were on GCN, my jaw still drops at the art design and how immersive the worlds are. — IGN

Tekken 3 (1998) — Playstation

Metacritic score: 96

The only gripe that we’d have with it is that Namco’s set the bar so high that we shudder with anticipation and dread over what the designers’ll have to do to top this. — IGN

Elden Ring (2022) — Playstation 5

Metacritic score: 96

Elden Ring is FromSoftware taming the monster they created, not by filing down its teeth and claws, but by giving players the weapons and armor to endure it. — Slant Magazine

Batman: Arkham City (2011) — Playstation 3

Metacritic score: 96

This game could be one of the biggest and most enjoyable time sinks of the year. Arkham City not only lives up to the standards set by Arkham Asylum, it bests its predecessor in every way and stands tall as one of Batman’s greatest moments. — Game Informer

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009) — Playstation 3

Metacritic score: 96

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. It looks amazing, plays like a dream and the voice-acting/story-telling will hook you in right from the off. — GamesRadar

Grand Theft Auto III (2001) — Playstation 2

Metacritic score: 97

A luscious, sprawling epic of a game and one of the most complete experiences I have ever encountered. If this is what I’ve waited a year to see on my PS2, then I would have waited ten. Magnificent. — Eurogamer

Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) — Playstation 4

Metacritic score: 97

A titanic videogame, a masterpiece that, like everything, will have passionate lovers and other players who will not get too caught up. Everything also depends on thematic genre and preferences. Maybe not everyone likes stories of ‘Indians and cowboys’. But this interactive universe created by Rockstar tells a fantastically-constructed story and allows us to live a unique adventure. — IGN Spain

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (2001) — Playstation 2

Metacritic score: 97

Should go down in history as one of the best twitch-fests on PS2. Yes, TH3 is that good. The perfect skating game remains just a tiny hair’s breadth out of reach, but if you are not satisfied with your purchase of this game, head examinations are recommended. — IGN

Grand Theft Auto V (2013) — Playstation 3

Metacritic score: 97

GTA5 does much more than repeat the San Andreas model, introducing many new features in the franchise. From those, the one that adds a whole new dimension to the game is the fact that for the first time we have three main characters instead of one. GTA is the king of controversy. long live the king. — Eurogamer Spain

Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) — Playstation 3

Metacritic score: 98

The single-player game, which you can still play long after you complete the story, is the series’ best by far, and the multiplayer features are good enough that you’ll likely have no problem finding people to play with for many months to come. — GameSpot

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (2000) — Playstation

Metacritic score: 98

If I ever wind up stuck on a desert island with nothing but a Playstation and a few select games, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 is one game I will definitely own. — IGN

The 50 Best PS1 Games Ever Created

The original Playstation, or PS1, sold a whopping 102.4 million units since its release in 1994. With an estimated 7,918 titles available for the console, which Playstation games are considered the best?

What are the best PS1 games ever created?

Created to compete against the Nintendo 64 and Sega Saturn, the release of the original Playstation heralded Sony’s rise to prominence in the video game industry.

Throughout its lifespan, 7,918 Playstation games were released for the console, and many were stand-out successes that fans fell in love with.

However, some of these games were markedly more memorable than the others and stand out even today as some of the best ever created.

The Best PS1 Games Ever Created

Our ranked lists are created by researching and rounding up information from the most reputable web sources.

If you enjoy this list, don’t forget to check out our other Playstation game lists:

Here’s our list of the 50 best PS1 games ever created:

Dead or Alive

The first game in the Dead or Alive series was first released as an arcade game before being ported to the Sega Saturn in Japan and the original Playstation across the globe.

Taking a lot of inspiration from Virtua Fighter, this game had an incredible fighting system, advanced graphics, and memorable characters.

Fans of the latest release, Dead or Alive 6, have this title to thank for kicking the entire franchise off.

Syphon Filter 3

As a third-person stealth shooter, this game was a PS1 exclusive, and it received a lot of solid praise when it was released.

While not the most critically acclaimed game, players loved it for its complex storyline, graphics, and wide selection of mission types.

Parasite Eve II

As an action RPG melded with horror and survival, fans couldn’t get enough.

Although critics didn’t like that the controls were a bit outdated, this didn’t hold back players.

The story, general gameplay, and ability to unlock harder tasks made it one of the best and most challenging games on the PS1.

Final Fantasy Anthology

Released in 1999, this anthology included Final Fantasy V and VI.

Instead of just a compilation of these two games, each had several changes, including CGI openings, access to concept art, a cinematics theater, a bestiary, and more.

Although the slow load times were criticized by fans, seeing as some modern games still struggle with this issue, it hardly overshadows the greatness of these games.

Brave Fencer Musashi

This action RPG included real-time combat and a well-designed 3D environment. It followed Musashi, a swordsman tasked with defending a parallel world from an invading empire.

Praised highly for its graphics and action elements, this game also came with several fun minigames and puzzles that players had to beat to advance the plot.

Breath of Fire IV

An RPG created by gaming titan Capcom, Breath of Fire IV follows the story of Ryu, a man with the ability to transform into a dragon.

Similar to Breath of Fire III, this installment uses both 2D and 3D graphics, along with turn-based combat.

Upon release, it was well-received in the West, with critics and fans praising its game design and beautiful soundtrack.

Alundra

Developed by Matrix as an action-adventure game, Alundra followed the main character of the same name, who develops the power to enter people’s dreams.

While the story itself was fascinating and fresh, the gameplay, puzzles, platforming, and emphasis on exploration helped make this game even more exceptional.

Having earned critical acclaim upon release, it even earned a sequel released in 1999.

Spider-Man

Based on one of the most popular Marvel characters, this game was originally published for the PS1 but later ported to numerous other consoles, including the N64 and Game Boy Color.

The action follows the adventures of our Spider-Man as he tries to clear his name after a doppelganger frames him. This title includes many of Spidy’s most recognizable villains, as well as narration from the one and only Stan Lee.

Gran Turismo

Originally released under the title Gran Turismo: The Real Driving Simulator in Europe and Japan, this game was one of the highest-rated racing games released for the PS1.

Selling 10.85 million copies across the globe and spawning ten spin-offs and sequel games, Gran Turismo was an incredible commercial hit, and the numerous awards it won further prove just how incredible this game was.

Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins

Bringing back Rikimaru and Ayame from the first game, this prequel shows their early lives and how they became Ninja Masters.

This title requires a lot of stealth and challenges players to take out enemies without being seen.

While not the highest-rated game by critics, it was still the sixth-highest selling title when it was released and is consistently considered to be one of the best ps1 games ever created.

Ace Combat 2

For players looking to live out their dreams of being fighter pilots, this sequel to Air Combat was a must-have.

With a selection of 24 different jets and 21 exciting missions, this game was exceptionally challenging and made players feel the heat when it came to getting into the cockpit.

Metal Slug X

After being ported to the PS1, this run and gun game was immediately embraced by players.

Not only did it have a lot of fantastic levels, but it had a lot of upgrades when compared to Metal Slug 2. These included stages that included time of day changes, less slowdown, more power-ups, more action, and brand-new enemies throughout levels.

Medal of Honor: Underground

In the second installment in the Medal of Honor series, this first-person shooter tossed players into the thick of 1940, when Germany occupied France.

While the Game Boy Advance version of this game didn’t receive as warm a reception, on the PS1 it was hailed as one of the best shooting games on the console.

Ridge Racer Type 4

The last Ridge Racer title to be made for the PS1, but also one of the best.

Praised for being fast and addictive, this game gave players the ability to unlock a massive library of 320 cars in total, which was absolutely incredible at the time, and many players wanted to collect them all.

Final Fantasy VIII

Final Fantasy games are staples of almost every console, and the 8th game in this series contains some of the best turn-based battles and most compelling plotlines of any in the franchise.

When it was released, it was simply stunning, and it pulled out all the stops that fans of the series have come to love.

Syphon Filter

As a Playstation exclusive, this third-person shooter was one of the best spy games to be released on the console.

With high stakes, puzzle-solving, and an incredibly compelling story, Syphon Filter was universally acclaimed, and it earned several sequels and spin-offs due to its success.

Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

This game was one of the most gore-heavy on the PS1, and it definitely wasn’t for the faint of heart.

When it was released, it received some of the highest praise of any game of the time, and fans immediately fell in love with how engrossing the characters and story were.

Featuring everything a great survival horror game needs, this game was so well-loved that it even earned a remake released in 2020.

Medal of Honor

With a story created by acclaimed director Steven Spielberg, this was the first in the Medal of Honor series, and fans of shooters instantly latched onto it.

Another game on this list that critics acclaimed, MoH, featured some of the most engaging gameplay in any FPS, and even today it holds up as one of the best games of all time for the PS1.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater

Set in a 3D environment with the best punk, ska, and rock mixed soundtrack, this game was iconic.

With several of the most popular skateboarders to control, numerous tricks, several gameplay modes, and multiplayer co-op mode, Pro Skater really gave players a chance to channel their inner Tony Hawk.

Wipeout XL

This futuristic racing game was the second game in the Wipeout series, and it served as a direct sequel to the original.

Building on the foundation of the first, this title featured faster and more competitive races, a new damage system, and brand-new tracks and new weapons.

Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete

A game that is still a cult classic today, this RPG was created as a remake of Lunar: The Silver Star.

As an updated game for the PS1, it featured new scenarios and a larger cast of new characters without compromising the original storyline.

Arc the Lad Collection

A compilation of the Arc the Lad trilogy, fans of the series were happy to get all these games within one collection, including the Arc Arena Monster Tournament and a Making of Arc the Lad documentary.

With each game building upon the last but featuring different characters as leads, getting them all in one collection made playing all of them sequentially much easier.

Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee

Oddworld, developed by the company Oddworld Inhabitants, was certainly an odd game. However, it was also one of the most enjoyable to play.

As a cinematic platformer, critics praised it for its incredible art, gameplay, and engaging cutscenes. While the learning curve for the controls was a bit steep, it did little to take away from how fun this title was to play.

Dino Crisis 2

Developed by Capcom, this action-adventure title was the second game in the Dino Crisis series, and it sees Regina return as one of the main characters.

If you’d ever wanted to take on dinosaurs like a hunter on holiday in Jurassic Park, this was your go-to game.

Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete

A sequel to Lunar: The Silver Star, Eternal Blue featured more extensive voice acting and more intricate cutscenes.

Taking place 1,000 years after the events of the first game, it contained some of the most memorable characters in the series. Since being released, it has amassed a dedicated fan base.

This game is so beloved that even today there are folks petitioning to have Lunar 3 created.

Tenchu: Stealth Assassins

One of the best stealth games on the PS1, it follows Rikimaru and Ayame as they complete ninja missions across Japan.

The main goal of the game is to complete tasks without being seen or detected, which is much easier said than done.

Although Sony didn’t originally plan to release this game outside of Japan, Activision was impressed enough to petition for the rights and release it in the West.

It’s hard to believe that we almost missed out on this incredible game.

Einhander

This side-scrolling shooter is named after a type of one-handed sword, and it refers to the manipulator’s arm that the player’s spacecraft has.

Although the story is based on Greek mythology, it takes place during a war between the Moon and the Earth.

Both fans and critics enjoyed this game when it was released, and even the soundtrack was praised for just how incredible it was.

Wipeout 3

Between the graphics, music, and minimalist design, there was a lot to love in this racing game.

While it wasn’t an incredible commercial success, fans of the series had a lot of love for this game, and the high level of difficulty that some tracks provided made for hours of fun trying to beat them.

Mega Man X5

Another great game created by Capcom, this was the fifth game in the Mega Man X series, and it was meant to be the final game. (Spoiler: It wasn’t.) But, it does have a feeling of finality to it that makes it stand out.

Although it received many positive reviews, some felt that it didn’t deviate enough from the previous games. However, fans didn’t complain because the gameplay and characters were already a winning combination.

Valkyrie Profile

With a strong influence from Norse mythology, Valkyrie Profile has some of the most inventive gameplay to debut on the PS1.

Positively received by critics and fans, the writing, plot, and characterization were particularly singled out for being some of the best in any PS1 game ever created.

The Legend of Dragoon

Not only was The Legend of Dragoon’s soundtrack incredible, but the monsters and characters were outstanding for an RPG.

No cost was cut when creating this game, and the developers spent three years and 16 million making it the best it could be. Fortunately, this was money well spent, as this game certainly earned a place as one of the greatest PS1 games ever created.

Silent Hill

Silent Hill takes the horror survival genre and dials it up to 10. It also features possibly some of the creepiest characters ever created.

The popularity of this game — and the whole series — has only grown stronger. With the 2006 film, an influx of fans was seen as people wanted to experience the horror for themselves.

Overall, this is one PS1 game that has exploded into the mainstream to be one of the biggest and most popular series of all time.

Final Fantasy Chronicles

A compilation of Final Fantasy IV and Chrono Trigger, this game was incredibly well received by both players and critics, and it helped to bring these classics to a new generation of gamers.

It also features several bonuses, such as additional cut scenes, art galleries, and a full bestiary.

Upon release, this game was hailed as a must-buy, and it became an immediate commercial success.

Spyro: Year of the Dragon

The last Spyro game developed by Insomniac Games, this title received critical acclaim and sold more than three million units worldwide.

This game expanded its environments, included more detailed graphics, and introduced additional player characters known as critters, which could be unlocked throughout the game.

As a Spyro game, it was by far one of the best, and fans still hold it in high regard.

Parasite Eve

We’ve seen the sequel further up on this list, but the original takes the 16th spot.

Created as a follow-up to the novel of the same name, this game follows an NYC officer as she attempts to stop Eve, a woman bent on destroying the human race.

Fast-paced with cinematic graphics and a well-written, if linear, plot, critics and fans loved Parasite Eve for its astonishing detail and exquisite backdrops.

Crash Team Racing

This title is the only one that comes even remotely close to matching the excitement of Mario Kart.

Featuring 15 of the most popular characters from Crash Bandicoot, players can choose from five different modes and 16 tracks, along with loads of unlockable content that can be earned by processing through the game.

Although not a critical success, fans still loved this game, and it still stands out as one of the best.

Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped

Speaking of Crash, this game was one of the best on the PS1, and the music alone instantly set the mood for a good time.

As the first-ever non-Japanese created game to hit one million sales in Japan, Warped was something truly special. Once you started playing it, it was hard to put down.

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver

Set after the first game in the series, Blood Omen, this game followed Raziel along a plot so complex that even Game of Thrones looks straightforward compared to it.

It fit right in alongside other titles like Castlevania, and as a third-person horror platformer, it was one of the best — and critics agreed.

Vagrant Story

As an action-adventure game, Vagrant Story is wholly unique in that it doesn’t feature shops or even interaction with any NPCs. Instead, players FOCUS on weapons, weapon customization, and puzzles.

For the month it was released, this game was the fifth best-selling title, and although it quickly was overshadowed by other titles like Chrono Cross, it definitely was a game worth picking up.

Gran Turismo 2

Building off the smash hit that was the first game, Gran Turismo 2 is often considered one of the best PS1 games ever created.

With more cars — 650, to be exact — and 27 tracks, this game was high-octane, pulse-racing, and absolutely addicting from day one.

Final Fantasy IX

This Final Fantasy game embodied everything good about the series and combined it into one hell of a great game.

With a top-down perspective, fantastic monsters and enemies, and a whole load of secrets to learn, this game had everything that fans of the series could hope for and more.

Final Fantasy Tactics

It should be no surprise that a franchise that still ranks high on modern consoles holds so many spots on this list.

However, this tactical role-playing game is such a cult classic we couldn’t not give it the attention it deserves.

Featuring two gameplay modes, with battles taking place on a 3D isometric field, this game was as challenging as it was fun, and it could take some serious thought to get through it.

Thankfully, the soundtrack was so good that even if you were losing, it was still a great experience.

Resident Evil

The game that began it all.

While Resident Evil: Village has been taking the world by storm in modern times, this series is no stranger to the hype with the strong foundation that the first laid out.

With zombie bad guys swarming across Raccoon City, the dark and gritty feeling of this game immediately set the scene, and the story sucked you in and had you coming back for more.

Final Fantasy VII

As the 7th game in the series, it sets the stage with a science fiction theme that hadn’t been seen in the franchise before.

Featuring a massive map and engaging battle screen where you could take down your enemies, this is often considered one of the best PS1 games ever created, and fans of Cloud Strife particularly enjoyed it.

A remake of this game for the PlayStation 4 was also one of the most highly anticipated Playstation games of 2020!

Tekken 3

Although Street Fighter may be one of the most well-known fighting games on any console, it doesn’t hold a candle to Tekken.

Compared to many other fighting games, Tekken boasts some of the most unforgettable characters, as well as some of the most engaging gameplay to ever come to the PS1.

While Street Fighter fans may beg to differ, this game definitely was better. Its sales reflect this, with Tekken 3 having sold 8.36 million copies and Street Fighter Alpha 3 only selling 1 million.

Suikoden II

In the second installment in the series, this game sports an incredibly large base of characters with over 100 recruitable NPCs in total.

While the game itself is engaging and has an incredible story that features the son of the first game’s protagonist, it is largely considered a hidden gem, as there wasn’t a lot of widespread appeal, and sales were far from incredible.

It’s only in hindsight that it was able to get the recognition it deserved.

Xenogears

The first in the franchise that would go on to rival even Chrono Cross, Xenogears was all about non-linear exploration and working with other characters to become stronger in battles.

As a breakout success in both Japan and America, Sony even gave it a Gold Prize, as sales rose above 500,000 in Japan.

At the same time, critics applauded the story, gameplay, graphics, and soundtrack, with many going so far as to call it the best RPG of the year.

Resident Evil 2

Like Silent Hill, this game scared a lot of people, and it certainly wasn’t one to play alone in a dark room. While it may seem tame by today’s standards, when it was first released it was terrifying.

With the goal being to escape Raccoon City and avoid becoming a snack for the zombies, players really had to think hard about their strategies to stay alive in this horror-survival classic.

Although it was positively received on the PS1, it was also one of the best GameCube games of its time as well!

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Although this game almost tanked, it was saved by the praises of the critics who fell in love with it.

Symphony of the Night was a true non-linear RPG, and it featured a variety of weapons you could use as you worked your way through Dracula’s castle to save Richter Belmont.

It’s hard to go wrong with the Castlevania series, but this installment was certainly one of the best games of all time on the PS1.

Metal Gear Solid

Taking the top spot is by far one of the most impactful games ever released on the PS1.

Rising to become one of the most classic and iconic games in history, Metal Gear Solid introduced gamers to Solid Snake and challenged the skills of even the most well-versed stealth game veterans. Especially when it came to defeating Psycho Mantis, one of the toughest video game bosses ever.

Upon release, Playstation Official Magazine – UK even called it “the best game ever made,” and it consecutively received incredible ratings from critics across the globe.

If you’ve never picked up this game, you’re definitely missing out because it is by far the best game to ever come out on the PS1.

Summary

The PS1 changed the world of gaming forever and gave us some of the most iconic games that are still beloved today.

While some games stood out more than others, ranking them is no easy feat, and all 50 on this list are worth playing at least once for the experience.

Here’s a quick recap of the 50 best PS1 games ever created:

• Metal Gear Solid
• Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
• Resident Evil 2
• Xenogears
• Suikoden II
• Tekken 3
• Final Fantasy VII
• Resident Evil
• Final Fantasy Tactics
• Final Fantasy IX
• Gran Turismo 2
• Vagrant Story
• Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
• Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped
• Crash Team Racing
• Parasite Eve
• Spyro: Year of the Dragon
• Final Fantasy Chronicles
• Silent Hill
• The Legend of Dragoon
• Valkyrie Profile
• Mega Man X5
• Wipeout 3
• Einhander
• Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
• Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete
• Dino Crisis 2
• Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee
• Arc the Lad Collection
• Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete
• Wipeout XL
• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
• Medal of Honor
• Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
• Syphon Filter
• Final Fantasy VIII
• Ridge Racer Type 4
• Medal of Honor: Underground
• Metal Slug X
• Ace Combat 2
• Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins
• Gran Turismo
• Spider-Man
• Alundra
• Breath of Fire IV
• Brave Fencer Musashi
• Final Fantasy Anthology
• Parasite Eve II
• Syphon Filter 3
• Dead or Alive

The best PlayStation 4 games in 2023

Whatever you like to play, the best PlayStation 4 games have something for everyone.

Now that we have the PS5, you’d be forgiven for wondering why you should care about the best PlayStation 4 games. But Sony’s last-generation console is still wildly popular and perfectly capable at delivering some compelling gaming experiences.

And thanks to a very mature library, as well as being able to run on the PS5 thanks to backwards compatibility, this list contains a range of games that are very much worth playing today. These range from epic action titles like the rebooted God of War to Tetris and the odd Death Stranding.

So if you’ve got a gap in your PlayStation 4 library or just want to know what we consider are the best PlayStation 4 games, then read on.

Bloodborne

Bloodborne was a bit of a surprise game from developer FromSoftware, which has an established reputation for making more fantasy sword-and-shield-style games with an emphasis on toughness. Now Bloodborne is equally challenging, but it drops the conceit of hiding behind a shield and choosing when to strike for much more aggressive combat augmented by a gun and health regeneration if you attack at the right time Oh and its frame in what feels like a dark, gothic Victorian take on London.

It’s an utter triumph. Bloodborne is one of FromSoft’s most atmospheric and engrossing games, which goes from a brooding claustrophobic street adventure into a dive into other dimensions with a dose of eldrich horror. You’ll fight and die against some horrific creatures and dexterous enemies. But each death is a learning moment and by the time you slay the final boss, you’ll have one of the best natural highs around.

Death Stranding

Hideo Kojima has always made games that veer into the strange; all you have to do is look at the overall story of the Metal Gear series. But Death Stranding goes further into the realm of oddness than previous Kojima games. What basically a game about delivering supplies in a post-apocalyptic U.S. is filled with strange creatures and atmosphere.

And the slow-burn nature of this open-world delivery simulator really lets the atmosphere sink in. Some might find the understated game action and mechanics, which effectively revolve around traversing the environment without dropping cargo, a little too slow. But others will find the setting absorbing and feel a reward when building the abilities of Sam Bridges to carry more items and assemble actual bridges. If you’re missing a hit of Kojima creativity, then Death Stranding is well worth your time.

Devil May Cry 5

Eleven years after Devil May Cry 4 hit shelves, Capcom has finally released a sequel worth waiting for. Devil May Cry 5 is a confident, stylish action game that’s satisfying for long-term fans and welcoming to newcomers. Playing as supernatural warriors Dante, Nero and V, you’ll fight enormous, grotesque foes with a gorgeous combination of gunplay, swordplay and platforming. It can be a difficult game, but once you find your rhythm, combat is its own reward.

The gameplay is particularly satisfying, since as you rack up higher combos, the soundtrack will change and become more elaborate to reflect your success. Devil May Cry 5 is a gorgeous, rewarding experience, and well worth a look if you’ve ever had any affinity for the series. And if you’re a newcomer, you can catch up with earlier titles in the Devil May Cry: HD Collection, also on PlayStation 4.

Dreams

LittleBigPlanet is great, but what if you could make your own entire games instead of just platformer levels? That’s the idea behind Media Molecule’s Dreams: a robust creation suite that lets you craft characters, structures, pieces of music, short films and even full-length games. While Dreams is arguably more of a development tool than a full-blown game, there’s still plenty of fun to be had crafting the surreal gaming experiences you’ve always wanted for yourself.

The game’s rich editing tools are complemented by handy tutorials, whether you’re looking to make a simple platformer or a deep multiplayer role-playing game. And if you’d rather just play, Dreams serves up a nonstop buffet of fresh community experiences, many of which are curated by Media Molecule itself. As with any user-generated content, there’s more chaff than wheat, but the Media Molecule team does a good job highlighting the interesting stuff.

Elden Ring

Elden Ring is arguably one of the best games ever. It takes the deep combat of the Dark Souls series, sprinkles in a little bit of Bloodborne fluidity and then drops you into a vast open world. And what an open world it its. Almost every corner, hilltop, rocky outcrop, ruined building, forest and more hides a secret or something to see; often a hideous enemy who’ll tear you to shreds if you take liberties.

The magic here is that if you get stuck on one particular area you can simply explore another until you return, better equipped and stronger to take down a challenging foe or vicious dungeon. A huge and deep suite of mechanics let you figure out ways to combat those enemies; you can be a super tanky warrior with dual-wielding colossal swords or stand back and bombard enemies with giant rock spells and the power of the cosmos. Or you can find a middle ground, being an agile spellsword who softens up enemies with a few spells before diving into melee to rapidly finish them off with a series if rapier thrusts. Whatever way you want to play Elden Ring almost certainly has the option, just be prepared to dive into some numbers and description-heavy menus.

Elden Ring is an essential game for nearly anyone who enjoys a challenge and exploration. ideally, play it on the PS5 to benefit from smoother performance and loading times, But it’s still a fantastic PlayStation 4 game.