The 25 Best PlayStation 1 Video Games

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Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Year: 1996

The cover for Twisted Metal 2 said it all: a shirtless man trapped between two very large wheels, smiling maniacally as he and two other vehicles burn Paris to the ground. Just as warped as its predecessor, Twisted Metal 2 satisfied our deviant side. Players were able to control an assortment of deadly vehicles and wreak havoc throughout the world with machine guns, missiles, and other weapons. This, along with the sadistic character portrayals, only added to Twisted Metal 2's appeal.

But the best part? Being able to battle your friends in multiplayer and crush them while simultaneously destroying the Eiffel Tower. Who would've known that a demolition derby video game on steroids would be one of the best releases for the PlayStation? Sure, the Twisted Metal series has failed to regain the success it once had. But we'll always remember Twisted Metal 2 for all of its enjoyable carnage.

Publisher: EA Sports

Year: 1999

A new decade called for a new (and improved) NFL Madden, which EA Sports supplied with Madden NFL 2000. The sluggish character models that plagued previous games in the series were much quicker in 2000, making for a more challenging and consistent football experience. Add in multiple play modes (thank you, video game sports gods, for blessing us with Situation mode), improved graphics (it was nice to be able to distinguish a wide receiver and center by their size), and customized play books, and you have a football game worth playing over and over again.

The only real problem with 2000 was the sound. How could we bask in the applause of our fans when they sounded like they were submerged underwater? How could we feel excited about a game when John Madden sounded like he was falling asleep in the press box? Regardless, Madden NFL 2000 made for an unforgettable gaming experience for sports amateurs and veterans alike.

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Year: 1999

Prior to Medal of Honor's release, the PlayStation essentially received first-person shooter hand-me-downs from the PC. However, the Steven Spielberg-directed and produced video game was a first-person shooter PlayStation owners could claim as their own. From the artwork and gameplay to the storyline and voice acting, there was so much this game did right. Sure, the controls were off at times, but Medal of Honor was an enjoyable experience for those in need of an exclusive PlayStation first-person shooter. Plus, the multiplayer mode gave us the opportunity to play as William Shakespeare and a velociraptor.

Publisher: 989 Studios

Year: 1999

With better controls and multiple playable characters, as well as memorable missions (having to kill someone with their assistant standing right next to them), Syphon Filter 2 is great in its own right. But the first Syphon Filter was more challenging and immersive. The levels encouraged exploration as well as strategy. In a room with one person? Use your Air Taser until you burn them to a crisp. Getting attacked by a lot of people? Shoot up the spot with an M-16 or blow it up with a grenade. Seriously, no other game at the time came close to having such a heart-racing ending quite like Syphon Filter, which included destroying a missile in under three minutes and fighting Rhoemer in a maze of electronic walls immediately after. Syphon Filter would become a commercially and critically successful video game series, but it all began with the original game.

Publisher: Eidos Interactive

Year: 1996

Before the Tomb Raider series experienced a reboot in 2013, and before Angelina Jolie became the face of Lara Croft in Hollywood, there was the original video game. In Tomb Raider we played as Croft, an English archeologist who's just as good at discovering ancient artifacts as she is being an absolute badass. The game was challenging and involved killing deadly animals, solving puzzles that varied in difficulty, and not burning, drowning, or falling to your death. The combination of action and suspense is what kept players coming back for more.

Croft was the cyber heroine video games needed. It was refreshing to see Tomb Raider alongside copies of Resident Evil and Duke Nukem 3D, proving to gamers that Croft could be just as deadly as her macho male counterparts. The Tomb Raider series would stumble a bit after the first game, but its reboot revitalized it.

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Year: 1998

As the last platformer in the Crash Bandicoot series, Crash Bandicoot: Warped was an ambitious grand finale. The game involved venturing through beautiful and detailed (for its time) settings in the past and future (riding across the Great Wall of China on a tiger's back is arguably one of the greatest moments in video game history), fighting everything from pirates and triceratops to a flamethrower-wielding “Dingodile,” and retrieving crystals, gems, and relics within each level. Warped was a fun and immersive experience, and Crash Bandicoot developer Naughty Dog has since gone onto make other great video game series, such as Jak and Daxter and Uncharted, as well as the one-off epic The Last of Us.

Publisher: Capcom

Year: 1996

Tetris + Street Fighter = Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo. One of the firsts of its kind, this game brought together an unlikely partnership between two genres (fighting and puzzle), and totally pulled it off. The cute caricatures of fighters such as Ryu, Ken, and Chun Li caught our curiosity, while the gameplay kept us entertained for hours. Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo was the light-hearted, hybrid video game we never knew we wanted. Plus, it practically inspired Mortal Kombat: Deception's Puzzle Kombat (which gave us an adorable but still deadly character model of Scorpion). 

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Year: 1998

Although a part of the Final Fantasy brand, Tactics was different in every sense of the word. Where other entries in the series were strictly RPGs, Tactics was a turn-based strategy game, with battles occurring on three dimensional, isometric fields. So, instead of immediate face-to-face fights, you had to make your way to your enemies. Patience was essential to mastering this game because you had to build up the strength of your team, get used to different battle scenarios (forming the right strategy against a group of powerful magic users, for example), and learn the nuances of the Job and combat systems. The colorful and vibrant characters and environments made traveling through the kingdom of Ivalice so much better.

Tactics had its problems, however. Although the game's narrative concluded on a profound note, chances are you probably gave up on it anyway because the localization was poorly written. Also, the battlefields could have been a little bit bigger, allowing for better strategy. Still, Tactics had guts and totally went against some of Square's other heavy-hitting RPGs. The game is considered a cult classic for a reason, after all.

Publisher: Capcom

Year: 1999

Street Fighter Alpha 3 is a magnum opus of the fighting genre. Most 2D fighters suffered on the PlayStation because of its lack of video ram. But Capcom managed to push out 30 frames per second from the system—all it needed to create one of the best games in the Street Fighter series. With that push came a character roster out of Street Fighter heaven, resulting in some insane matchups (like Evil Ryu and Shin Akuma). A new fighting system was also created, featuring three different playing styles that allowed for a combination of combos, reverses, mid-air techniques, and more. The single player mode was great, but it was all about the multiplayer mode. Friendships were jeopardized because of this game, and it was totally worth it.

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Year: 1999

Ape Escape was an underrated classic for the PlayStation. The game sort of just appeared with little to no promotion, with a premise that can basically be described as Planet of the Apes for children. But once you began playing Ape Escape, you realized that this was a game worth taking seriously.

The standout aspect of this game was its innovative use of the PlayStation's analog sticks. Need to slingshot a nearby monkey? Pull back on the analog stick and let your pellets fly. Going up with your Sky Flyer? Twirl your analog stick. The controls were not only easy to use but fun (and practically helped put Dual Analog controllers on the map). Ape Escape was one of those games that made us proud to be the owner of a PlayStation. Sure, we had to shell out some extra cash to purchase a DualShock controller, but it was worth every penny.

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Year: 1997

Often described as the first “modern” popular rhythm game, PaRappa brought out players' rhythmic side, as they delivered fun raps through timed button patterns. This, along with the colorful and vibrant world of the game, made PaRappa one of the best games to appear on the PlayStation. Nearly 18 years later, you probably still remember most of the lyrics from the “Full Tank” rap.

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Year: 1999

The series starter had already done so much right, offering PlayStation owners a gaming experience that couldn't be found on other racing games, but Gran Turismo 2 proved that the series was here to stay. For GT2 it was all about the additions: cars, licenses, modifications, music, and race tracks. This, along with the new off-road racing mode, resulted in multiple replays of the game. GT2 demanded a certain level of dedication and skill in order to be successful, but considering the payoff was an assortment of customized cars, we were fine with sacrificing our free time. Overall, GT2 was a much-needed experience for the racing game purist in us all.

Publisher: Square Electronic Arts

Year: 1998

Unlike other Square RPGs, Xenogears utilized both the Active Time Gauge system, as well as a combo attack system that allowed you to string together a series of attacks dependent on the Action Points you owned. Instead of one-button battles, your enemy encounters were more interactive, resulting in attacks ranging from powerful punches to massive swords being erected right under your enemies. The gameplay was satisfying in more ways than one; even simple actions such as climbing and jumping were fun.

And, of course, there was the story. As we tried to unravel the past of our protagonist, Fei Fong Wong, we also learned about the world of Xenogears, and its inhabitants. The plot might have been confusing to some (as if we needed to know about Hammer's feelings of inadequacy), with the second half of the game hard to follow. There was a lot going on in Xenogears, and whether you liked it or not, plenty of dedication and patience were necessary to understand it all. But what other game introduced you to Jungian psychology?

Publisher: Konami

Year: 1999

Silent Hill redefined the survival horror genre, distinguishing itself from its contemporaries with sheer psychological terror. Empty bathrooms filled with the muddled cries of a young child, a locker that bangs wildly only to stop upon inspection, and an alleyway that holds a deceased, skinless body—this is what players had to contend with. Silent Hill was practically video game's The Blair Witch Project or Paranormal Activity. 

As we ventured through Silent Hill as Harry Mason, we immediately realized that we weren't some gun-toting macho man, but an average Joe. This dose of realism with Silent Hill's heavy-handed surrealism made for gameplay that was frighteningly good, and the ambient soundtrack and various camera angles only added to that. People were quick to compare Silent Hill to Resident Evil 2 when it first came out, which unfairly undermined what the former was doing differently. Silent Hill offered a refreshingly new take that would inevitably be emulated by other survival horror games that came after it.

Publisher: Square Electronic Arts

Year: 2000

As protagonist Ashley Riot, we explored the fictional city of Lea Monde, and learned of its hidden powers and secrets. The story was nothing short of incredible, combining detailed visuals and compelling dialogue to create a world different from other role playing games at the time. However, Vagrant Story was divisive for its battle system, which required a lot of time to get used to.

The way in which players could handle their weapons, items, and magic, made for an experience that even seasoned gamers were intimidated by. But once you understood the gameplay, you truly understood the depth of Vagrant Story's ambitiousness. Vagrant Story wasn't for everyone—this was a game where people complained about enemy encounters being harder than boss battles, after all—but if you were brave enough to accept the challenge, you were rewarded with an immersive gaming experience that was nothing like other games at the time.

Publisher: GT Interactive Software

Year: 1999

Not many games could produce an adrenaline rush quite like Driver. The game essentially rewarded players for causing absolute chaos behind the wheel of a 1966 Pontiac Grand Prix, 1974 Ford Torino, or 1979 Cadillac DeVille (to name a few). Playing as NYPD detective John Tanner, the premise was simple: gain the trust of organized crime bosses by completing different driving missions throughout American cities, including Los Angeles, Miami, New York and San Francisco. Because of the game's open-world environment, players could cruise through each cities slamming through almost anything and everything. But, even in all of its over the top glory, there was a touch of realism to Driver that made the experience even better. The balance between true physics and easy-to-use car handling gave Driver a certain level of complexity, in that it was easy to pick up but hard to master. 

Publisher: Square Electronic Arts

Year: 2000

Sometimes nostalgia can be the best ingredient for a good game, which was totally the case for Final Fantasy IX. Although developed alongside Final Fantasy VIII, FFIX took an old school approach and felt like the first time we played Final Fantasy on the Super Nintendo. The game was all about the return—the return of the four-person party, the character class concept, and (for better or worse) random battles. The game also featured additions from newer Final Fantasy games to give the traditional gameplay style a little twist. From Active Time Events (which allowed players to view events occurring at different locations) to Trance mode (which was similar to FFVII's Limit Breaks), these inclusions made the gameplay feel new, without sacrificing its old school feel.

Additionally, the new graphics in FFIX were key. From the pre-rendered backgrounds to the battle sequences, there was so much to take in visually. This was the game that we needed amid all of the change occurring in the series, a nice reminder of what made us fall in love with Final Fantasy in the first place.

Publisher: Namco

Year: 1998

When Tekken 3 finally moved from our local arcade and into our living room, we knew nothing would ever be the same. As one of the best fighting games to ever be released, Tekken 3 was accessible to newbies and veterans alike with a roster of memorable characters: Eddy Gordo, Forest Law, Heihachi Mishima, Jin Kazama, and Ling Xiaoyu. You could even play as a tiny dinosaur named Gon, who farted on his opponents.

With an assortment of attacks and combos to learn, along with good controls, graphics, and sound, Tekken 3 was much more polished and smooth than its predecessors. And let's not forget the story, which featured an Aztec God apparently created by creatures from outer space, a power hungry man who goes so far as to kill his own grandson for his own benefit, and a young man who has the ability to transform into the devil. At a time where 2D fighting game series such as Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter reigned supreme, Tekken 3 made its presence known.

Publisher: Activision

Year: 2000

Spider-Man slinging a skateboard in mid air with his web, in a skate park placed in outer space, while listening to Rage Against the Machine: this is what Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 gave us (and then some). All the fun of skateboarding without the embarrassing wipeout videos, this game gave us the chance to embrace our inner skateboarding pro. You could create your own skater or just pick one of several professional skateboarders, and then spend your time landing multiple tricks, discovering all of the S-K-A-T-E letters, and completing other tasks. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 was the dose of extreme we craved in a video game, and the sequel proved the Pro Skater series was here to stay.

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Year: 1999

Where Final Fantasy VII innovated, Final Fantasy VIII simply polished the RPG powerhouse and kept things moving. From the game's cover you could tell VIII was going to be gorgeous, and it didn't disappoint. Even the battle sequences (specifically the Guardian Force attack) were stunning. The battle system, although complicated at times, was refreshing and allowed for endless attack possibilities. Through the Junction system, players had a wide range of customization options at their disposal. But one of the cooler aspects of the battle system was pulling off those interactive Limit Break sequences and watching protagonist Squall Leonhart slice up an enemy with his Gunblade (aka the coolest sword and revolver hybrid weapon ever).

As one would expect from a Final Fantasy game, VIII's storyline was complex and rich, sending players backward and forward through time to stop a sorceress bent on becoming an omnipresent goddess. The sub-plots of the game often did more harm than good, but overall the storyline was cohesive, ending in a way that was well worth the time spent. Composed of four CDs, FFVIII treated itself like an epic fairytale, bringing together crisp gameplay, beautiful graphics, and a memorable narrative.

Publisher: Capcom

Year: 1998

Resident Evil 2 immediately proved to be less sympathetic than its predecessor. At least you had a moment to catch your breath upon seeing a fellow S.T.A.R.S. member get eaten to death in the first game. Resident Evil 2 induced fear in more ways than one, with some of the best moments being subtle ones: the undead paws of a trio of dogs echoing in a silent hall, the deep breaths of a Licker patiently waiting for someone to walk underneath its large and skinless frame, and, of course, quickly turning a corner only to be greeted by a silent and menacing Tyrant. All of this, along with a storyline that, although predictable, was still compelling and enjoyable, is why Resident Evil 2 is still celebrated today. We entered Raccoon City expecting terror and left with more than we could handle.

Publisher: Square Electronic Arts

Year: 2000

As the successor to 1995's Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross quickly became well known among RPG fans. As protagonist Serge, you traveled through parallel dimensions to not only uncover the teenager's past, but to understand why some humanoid panther wants you dead. The theme of time travel was well executed in this game. The vastness of the game's combat system meant dedicating hours and hours to perfecting your battle strategies. From the elements based magic system to the Tech Skills and summon attacks, building a good group was more entertaining than it was tedious.

When you weren't organizing your squad, chances are you were marveling at the beauty of the graphics. From the bright and colorful character models, to the detail of the landscapes explored, to even the game's title screen (all of those yellow fish), the visuals of this game were hard to ignore. Chrono Trigger had set the bar so high for its successors, that it was hard to imagine any of them topping it. But Chrono Cross did just that.

Publisher: Konami

Year: 1997

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is surely the underdog of this list. Although the game did well in Japan, people doubted its success in America, resulting in little promotion for the game. The fact that 3D was gradually taking precedence over 2D in the video game world only made matters worse for Symphony. But the game ignored its haters and ultimately became a PlayStation classic.

Symphony was a traditional 2D side scroller in every way. As Alucard, you ventured through Dracula's castle, fighting the undead and ultimately the villainous vampire himself. The graphics were great; the music was unsettling in the best way possible; and the gameplay and controls were perfect.

Similar to Final Fantasy IX, Symphony was simultaneously new and nostalgic. Players didn't just have the whip as their primary weapon. They now had knives, swords, neutron bombs, and more. And the game's incorporation of elements common in RPGs was a nice touch as well. Symphony proved that 2D games could still be just as enjoyable as their 3D counterparts.

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Year: 1997

You could not help but assume Final Fantasy VII was destined for greatness when you saw its cover: a man with his back facing us, wielding one of the largest swords in video game history, and looking straight ahead at what appears to be a gigantic robot. FFVII brought the RPG genre into the mainstream. The pre-release promotion for the game supported by Pepsi definitely helped, and being associated with the Final Fantasy brand meant it was definitely going to get some attention. But that attention quickly turned into obsession.

The game felt like a movie. The cutscenes were gorgeous, the soundtrack was consistent (watching Aerith descend into a deep ocean hurt so much more with Nobuo Uematsu's somber accompaniment), and the story was absolutely thrilling. Of course, none of this would've really resonated with players if the gameplay wasn't good. Square kept things familiar while using the PlayStation's capabilities to truly bring battles to life. Each character possessed their own distinct attacks, which made attack animations fun to watch every time. The game's only real noticeable problem was the localization, but overall, FFVII was a joyride that maintained momentum through its three CDs.

Publisher: Konami

Year: 1998

Most of us experienced our first taste of Metal Gear Solid courtesy of Pizza Hut. We learned very quickly that trying to befriend guys in white uniforms would get us killed. We learned that foolishly walking in view of a surveillance camera would (likely) get us killed. And we learned that the worst possible way to die is having a heart attack in a holding cell. Then, it was over; we were left with more questions than answers, silently staring at a screen emblazoned with the words “to be continued.”

There's a reason why we talk about Metal Gear Solid nearly 17 years later. This game challenged the idea of what a video game could be. From the jump we were thrown into a compelling narrative driven by manipulation and violence. The deeper we ventured into Shadow Moses Island, the more we realized that maybe we weren't the hero but the pawn. Through Solid Snake, Konami turned the trained killer archetype on its head, providing players with the poignant portrayal of a man constantly returning to the battlefield (often against his own will).

In addition, the gameplay brought the narrative to life, which included crawling on cold floors to retrieve claymore mines, perfecting that now iconic punch-punch-kick combo against Gray Fox, outlasting Ocelot's torturing by pressing circle wildly, and, of course, destroying a walking battle tank capable of launching untraceable nuclear warheads across the world. The game was all about innovation. Even having to retrieve Meryl's Codec frequency from the back of the video game case was some next level stuff that had us thanking the video game gods for Hideo Kojima.

What you see in contemporary games, Metal Gear Solid pioneered. Everything was so precise and smooth. The game maintained a certain level of suspense that encouraged you to complete the game in one sitting. We saw the game as a testament to how far video games had come, and where they could be heading next.