With the Playstation 1 turning 25 years old, what better time to reminiscence on one of the most iconic consoles in gaming history. The PS1 not only shaped the landscape of gaming today with its powerful hardware that blew the competition out of the water or immense selection of games that spawned franchises that still stand strong today, but for many forged lifelong friendships and shaped their childhoods. While the console has spawned multiple successors, we still hold a special place in our heart for the system that started it all. Now what better way to look back on the great grey console than a look at the very best games it had to offer; and PS1 had not shortage of purely incredible titles. As you can already guess with all of the great games, its near impossible to narrow down the best games so we’ll be going off of Metacritic scores and keep it to one game per franchise to keep it fair; so don’t expect to see every Final Fantasy game here.

10) Vagrant Story 

Square Soft dominated the 90’s RPG genre between the incredible Final Fantasy titles, or their more action-oriented titles such as Vagrant Story. Vagrant Story offered new and unique battle system that was in-depth allowing for attack chaining, and the ability to dial in attacks on certain points on the enemy to maximize damage. With gorgeous visuals and a compelling narrative, if you haven’t tried Vagrant Story yet you definitely should.

9) Wipeout XL

Significantly expanding on the original game, Wipeout XL was THE futuristic racing game of the Playstation 1. Controls were refined to match the faster, and more frantic gameplay that Wipeout XL had to offer. Adding in more weapons, the increase to 12 racers per race compared the originals 4, and the ability to completely destroy other racers Wipeout XL was the racing game to own for the PS1.

8) Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Redefining the series, Symphony of the Night not only offered a whole new Castlevania experience but created a new genre in it’s wake. Ditching the linear landscape and the Belmont name, Alucard could explore Dracula’s castle freely with new powers unlocking more areas. Add in a new roleplaying elements such as the leveling and weapon equipping system, and it’s no wonder why the genre is called Metroid-vania.

7) Street Fighter: Alpha 3

The Alpha series improved upon already globally successful Street Fighter series; with the third game being regarded as the pinnacle of the series. Boasting a roster of over 30 characters each with three different fighting styles, balanced yet comprehensive gameplay mechanics, and 2D sprites that looked cleaner than ever it’s no wonder why Alpha 3 was considered one of the best that the PS1 had to offer.

6) Metal Gear Solid

The sequel to the 1987 Metal Gear, Metal Gear Solid was the reason many bought a PS1. Offering top notch stealth-action gameplay, gorgeous cinematic cutscenes, and fully rendered 3d environments, Metal Gear Solid had no rival on any console. While it may not have garnered the highest score based on reviews, Metal Gear Solid was easily the PS1’s most iconic game.

5) Chrono Cross

Being one of Gamespot’s 16 games to receive a perfect 10 score, it’s not a surprise that Chrono Cross is one of the best games the PS1 had to offer. Not only did Chrono Cross offer a complex combat system that still holds its own with RPG’s today, but an elaborate plot that spans across the game’s 45 playable characters; yes, 45 different characters.

4) Final Fantasy IX

While the Final Fantasy franchise could make up a large portion of this list, it was Final Fantasy IX that really stood out from the rest. The 9^th installment in the series aimed to bring the series back to its fantasy roots after becoming my sci-fi oriented in VII and VIII. Offering a more simplified job system, impressive visuals, and a compelling story that lasted over 30 hours and it’s clear to see why critics and gamers alike loved the final single digit Final Fantasy game.

3) Gran Turismo

Gran Turismo was easily the best thing to happen to racing games. Whereas many racing games prior were arcady, Gran Turismo brought upon a bit of realism without compromising the pure fun the game had to offer. With over 160 licensed vehicles and 11 tracks to choose from, there’s a reason that it’s the highest rated racing game to this day!

2) Tekken 3

Considered by many to be one of the greatest fighting games ever made, Tekken 3 dominated the fighting game genre on the Playstation 1. Tekken 3 not only offered great gameplay mechanics and gorgeous visuals, but a deep roster of 23 characters each with their own stories and huge movesets to learn.

1) Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2

Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 took what was great in the first game and made it better. Adding in larger maps, create a skater and map features, and the introduction of the manual and it’s easy to see why it’s not only the best game of the series; but also one of the best games that the console had to offer. While the series hasn’t held up all to well today, we’ll gladly startup our PS1’s to skate as our friendly neighborhood Spiderman anytime!

What games were your favorite on the PS1? Let us know on as we may create another list with even more games in the future.