The PlayStation 1 signaled a massive leap in console gaming, seeing a jump from the 16-Bit games of the past into the beginning of polygon graphics, kickstarting many of the franchises we know and love today. Many of these 32-Bit games remain near and dear to fans and are a large reason for so many fantastic remakes finding their way onto modern consoles for a whole new generation of gamers to enjoy.
The PS1’s enhanced visuals and memory allowance allowed for the creation of many incredible games in the later 90s, and whether it was in the grand and epic storylines, the enhanced 2D and 3D platforming, or memorable and original gameplay, here are some games we believe were way ahead of their time.
10 Spyro The Dragon Trilogy
Spyro the Dragon was for many the title that got them into gaming on the first PlayStation, hitting consoles for the first time in 1998 and reigning over the charts with a trilogy that even today, with a new remaster, is delighting fans new and old.
Spyro’s original trilogy was a wonder in PS1 open-world design and 3D platforming, with a story that enraptured fans far past the first game with the second and third titles arguably the best the series ever created. We can only hope that, with the success of these PS1 trilogies remasters, we haven’t seen the last of this little purple dragon’s adventures.
9 Crash Bandicoot Trilogy
The Crash Bandicoot trilogy was a titan of the PS1 charts, and similarly to Spyro is wreaking havoc to this day with an insanely popular remake and a new fourth game in Crash Bandicoot: It’s About Time, following on from the original platforming trilogy.
Crash Bandicoot was a PlayStation 1 staple and showcased some brilliant platforming mechanics we’ve only seen bettered all these years later within the modern sequel. It showcased the creation of challenging levels and addictive gameplay ahead of its time, creating levels that even today can stump and infuriate players decades on.
8 Vagrant Story
Square Enix was the unchallenged master of RPGs, producing several award-winning titles across multiple platforms. At the start of the new millennium, it dropped Vagrant Story, a PS1 exclusive title of the same high caliber we were seeing from their Final Fantasy releases but with an independent story that was quick to engage fans and critics alike.
Vagrant Story was a masterclass for PS1 game-makers on how to implement stunning graphics, engaging world-building, and immersive gameplay all around a beautiful independent plot that Square Enix has still sadly been yet to build on over 20 years later.
7 Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil has spawned a gaming franchise that even today holds up as some of the toughest horror gaming seen within the industry. Resident Evil 2 is among players’ favorite titles within the franchise, introducing Leon Kennedy, the protagonist of several games including the highly acclaimed Resident Evil 4.
Resident Evil began the popularity of survival horror, a fad that’s frankly never stopped, having spawned several hugely popular games across multiple platforms. Resident Evil 2 arguably built on the foundations of the first, thrusting players into a world of 3D nightmares and nail-biting tension made all the scarier for some by the blocky graphics and unintentionally hilarious dialogue.
6 Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 was among the most popular games to hit the PS1, and easily the best game to hit the system within the Tony Hawk franchise.
The combination of fantastic gameplay, missions, comedy, secret characters, and open-world levels put it miles ahead of other games on the system. It saw the Tony Hawk franchise begin to find its feet and kickstarted popularity for the game that would later see it far into the PlayStation 2.
5 Tomb Raider
The original Tomb Raider games are among the most memorable on the PlayStation and began a major breakthrough for 3D action-adventure games, offering large open levels with great combat, gripping storylines, and packed with a variety of secrets to find and collect.
Its influence on the genre can not be taken lightly, and looking at industry giants today such as Naughty Dog’s Uncharted, it’s easy to see how this pistol-wielding archaeologist had a major impact on the industry far past her entry onto the system 25 years previous.
4 Gran Turismo
Arguably the King of driving games on the PS1, Gran Turismo 2 showed everyone how to make a driving simulation game look and feel fantastic. It stretched PS1 graphics and gameplay to their limits and set the bar ridiculously high for all other driving games attempting to topple it.
Gran Turismo tried their hardest to create a realistic driving experience for PlayStation players, and, from the variety of cars you could choose to the abundance of beautiful racecourses, it’s safe to say they succeeded. Gran Turismo still stands today unrivaled on the platform and was pivotal for the genre in successfully drawing a crowd of fans who may otherwise have never picked up a racing title.
3 Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night
Castlevania Symphony of the night is well known as being one of the best 2D games to hit the PS1 of all time, and rightfully so. It sees you playing as the half-vampire, half-human Alucard, son of Dracula who makes his way through Dracula’s castle to halt his father’s resurrection.
Symphony of the night was ahead of its time even for 2D gaming and is still arguably the best and most recognizable 2D Castlevania game around. It showcased the gameplay we loved in Nintendo’s Metroid but threw in a story, stunning backgrounds, and fighting mechanics that hooked its fans from the get-go — and let’s not forget that toe-tapping soundtrack.
2 Final Fantasy VII
The game so big it had to be split into three PlayStation Discs, FFVII was a visual masterpiece for the PS1, even today achieving new records and enrapturing new fans with a critically acclaimed remake.
It goes without saying that Final Fantasy VII’s beautiful battle animations, backgrounds, and cinematic cut-scenes showcased some of the best in PS1 graphics. However, what put this game ahead of its time was the quite frankly epic, and striking storyline, one that even today boggles new players with its enormity and gravity. The bond between the party is one of the best in a Final Fantasy game, introducing characters such as Aerith and Tifa that have stuck with fans through the years. Sephiroth also served as a villain many players are likely never to forget.
1 Metal Gear Solid
The Metal Gear Solid series had an enormous impact on console gaming, and its titular title on the PS1 was the one to lead it. Players controlled Solid Snake, a soldier tasked with infiltrating a nuclear weapons facility from terrorists, mostly through the use of stealth-based missions.
Metal Gear Solid was a breakthrough on the PlayStation, with a fully voice-acted CODEC for cutscenes alongside a plethora of memorable characters and bosses we still can’t help but go on about today. It’s most well-known, however, for its introduction of stealth mechanics (and yes, I mean the cardboard box). Using stealth to complete missions meant that for the first time players needed to think and plan how to sneak through areas rather than fight their way through them. These new methods were an entirely original concept in gaming and went on to inspire an abundance of future titles, including the series’ own sequels.
NEXT: PS1 Or N64: Which Game Console Is Actually Better?
