My ‘HIGH 54’ Playstation One (PS1/PSX) Games That Are Still Fun Playing Now (+ 41 MORE GEMS TO MAKE IT AN EVEN 95, EH)
As I mentioned in my other top/fave retro video games lists, 2020 was the year I got back into playing retro video games from my youth. This was heavily influenced by me ordering a Sega Mini to hook up to the tv I won at a Super Bowl party right before the world went on a long-running lockdown quarantine, but the thing that really kicked the new hobby up a notch was realizing that my Sega Mini could be ‘hacked’ to add ANY old retro video game from any old retro video game console. And once one goes down that online retro video game rabbit hole, one eventually realizes that one could have been playing any old retro video game right on one’s old iMac the whole time.
I guess that’s why they say hindsight is 2020.
And after blahg’n about some of my Sega Mini adventures, I started noticing that my most visited website pages, month after month, were my blog posts about retro video gaming (even though I am a ‘not a music blog, not not a music blog’), and most of those visits were coming from Google’rs.
So, since I also did a lot of searching for “best ps1 games” or “most underrated ps1 games” or “ps1 games that are still worth playing today” or “hidden gem ps1 games” once I was done googling the same “how to hack a sega mini” queries that had started directing people to my blahg quite consistently, I figured I should probably put together some console specific lists too — out of my own interest in sharing my interests in these games (and in making lists), but also… because SEO, innit?
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Please keep in mind that this list is not really in a strict ‘ranked order’ and it is definitely not an attempt at creating a “Best PS1 games EVER” list (so prepare to adjust your “how could you not include ___?!” outrage appropriately). This is just a list of games that I still find personally enjoyable playing as an aging millennial in the 2020s + it should be noted that I don’t really care much for fighting games, button-mashing or turn based strategy RPG games (no matter how ‘critically acclaimed’ they may be on the Youtubes & Reddits… however, if you check the comments section below, you’ll find somebody else’s list of highly recommended RPGs missing from my list of personal PS1 picks).
Sure, specific-to-me nostalgia does come into effect here with my list (I was a person born in 1983 after all), BUT, I would say that the most important factor for me is “do I still find there to be something enjoyable and/or engaging with this game when I think about whether I would want to actually spend time playing it NOW, especially over all the other things I could spend limited time on instead?” — which means sometimes I make changes to this list as different games grow on me more while others fade out of my ‘jump back into’ queue.
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AND NOW THAT WE’VE GOT ALL THE EXPLAINERS & DISCLAIMERS OUT OF THE WAY… HERE’S MY LIST OF 54 PLAYSTATION ONE GAMES THAT are still engaging For Me Want to play today:
#1 - Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid on the PS1 is one of the best video games EVER (please note: I kinda stopped playing video games after the PS1). I realize that newer games on newer systems have taken the feeling of feeling like you’re a character inside an action movie to much higher heights, but back in the late 90s, when this game first came out, it was a mind-blowing step up from what the 16-bit era had offered for storylines and gameplay (at least as far as I had experienced). And one of the things that was so great about MGS is you had to sneak around rather than just button-mash shoot everything that came onscreen (and the computer baddies were even smart enough to notice your footprints in the snow!) — over 20 years later (f*ck, I can’t believe it’s over 20 years later) and the look & feel & gameplay still really holds up.
*****
#2 - Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2
Much like how Metal Gear Solid was synonymous with top shelf PS1 titles, the Tony Hawk series is another gold standard from that era of video gaming. You can’t really go wrong with any of the Tony Hawk games for the Playstation One, but if you’re only selecting one—and for the sake of this list, I’m only highlighting one—then I’d say you gotta go with number 2. Why? Well, the gameplay still holds up, as does the soundtrack + this is the one that I played all the time back in the day, so it also comes with a nice helping of nostalgia for me (even if I’m not anywhere close to being as good at landing tricks as I remember once being).
*****
#3 Crash Bandicoot + #4 Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back + #5 Crash Bandicoot: Warped
If the PS1 had an undisputed mascot like Mario or Sonic were for the Nintendo and Sega, it would probably have to be Crash Bandicoot, right? I mean, he definitely had the kind of ‘tude one looked for in a 90s video game mascot. And if you like one Crash game on the PS1, you’re going to like all three (because they’re all good and their contained-3D style aged pretty well). At first, Crash games can feel a bit too easy, but things get trickier pretty quickly, and like all old games that are still fun to play today, the Crash games handle really well and are the right mix of fun & challenging to keep the noggin’ engaged.
*****
#6 - Crash Team Racing
And in true console mascot fashion, Crash even got its own kart racing game! And just like how Super Mario Kart was one of my recommended SNES games, it should shock no one that the Playstation racing game that appeals the most to me is Crash Team Racing. Sure, there are much more “realistic” racing games in both looks and feel on the PS1, but I’m not really interested in earning money so I can buy new parts for a fake real looking car or worrying about how bumping into things damages my ability to drive or real world physics — just give me a cartoon character in a go-kart that handles enjoyably and let me try to pick up little bonuses that I can shoot at the other cartoons I’m racing against. I’ve got an actual car for all my realistic driving needs, thank you very much (in other words… I am always crashing on the turns in games like Gran Turismo, which lowers their appeal to me).
*****
#7 Spyro the Dragon + #8 Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! + #9 Spyro: Year of the Dragon
Spyro can almost feel a bit too easy at times and maybe better suited for a younger audience… but sometimes it’s nice to just play a game that looks and feels really great and is just relaxing and enjoyable and not very stressful to spend time in. And Spyro The Dragon looks and feels really great and is relaxing and enjoyable and not very stressful to spend time in. That’s probably why they made a few sequels — sequels that also look and feel great and are worth adding to your retro gaming collection because, if you like one, you’re going to like all three about the same.
*****
#10 - Muppet Monster Adventure
And, if like me, you enjoy the calming vibes of exploring ‘collectathon’ adventures that Spyro did so well — BUT — you’re looking for a non-dragon version to jump into because you’re all dragon’d out after 3 Spyro games (and especially if you have some built-in nostalgia for the creative world of Jim Henson), Muppet Monster Adventure is precisely the thing you’re looking for. It’s like a Spyro game got romhacked with muppet characters and humour (you play as Kermit’s nephew, but pickup powers from familiar muppets along the way)… and it surprisingly works much better than you might think.
*****
#11 - Skullmonkeys
It’s a shame that there weren’t more PS1 games that did what Skullmonkeys did — which is lean into the idea of making a visually/audibly more advanced 2-D platformer than what was previously possible on 16-bit hardware, rather than getting caught up in the new polygon characters / 3-D level layouts that you’ll find way more of on the PS1 (and that haven’t aged as nicely). Because this game looks really great with it’s stop-motion / claymation graphics and the soundtrack is really fantastic — and the song that plays when you make it to a bonus level, with its “don’t worry this is just a bonus room, there’s no bad guys in here, so take your time” lyrics, really wins you over and makes you want to keep playing to see what other kinds of creative touches have been done with the game. Really good stuff, and one of my personal faves on the console!
*****
#12 Medal of Honor + #13 Medal of Honor: Underground
Both Medal of Honor and Medal of Honor Underground are great 1st-person shooters on the PS1, so this in the list is an equal recommendation for both. Very well done for the era and they really pull you into the story and atmosphere. Call me old fashioned, but there’s just something nice about sneaking around Nazi-occupied France and taking out the one kind of baddie from history that we can all agree were definitely baddies (well, most of us can agree upon that these days, eh).
*****
#14 - Resident Evil 3
I haven’t tried Resident Evil 2 yet (can’t seem to get that multi-disc game to work on my Mini or even on OpenEmu), but the gameplay in Resident Evil 3 definitely starts off a lot more lively than Resident Evil 1, so when it comes to diving into this ‘survival horror’ video game series, I ended up starting off with the third. Maybe I’m missing some storyline context doing it this way, but I think I get the gist — shoot the zombies, right? R.E.3 definitely has some creepy vibes & jump scares as you wander around alleyways, slowly opening doors, never knowing when the next batch of undead is going to come stumbling towards you. Really good graphics and the kind of gameplay that will have you wondering what you’re supposed to do next and where did the last hour go? In other words, good stuff.
*****
#15 Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee + #16 Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus
Oddworld is an odd game that is kind of like an action puzzler in the vein of The Lost Vikings (which you’ll find on my Sega & SNES lists), but it is also not really like that game at all. You’re basically trying to escape from a meat packing factory where your people are not only working there as slaves, but you just found out that you’re all going to become the next type of meat that gets packed (Capitalism, amirite?). So, not only are you trying to get out, but you’re also trying to rescue as many other workers as you can (by saying “hello” and asking them to “follow me” and summoning some sort of portal thing). It’s got some great graphics, fun humour, and patient gameplay, and it’s an overall pretty engaging play. And the sequel is also good… but just be prepared to die & try again, A LOT.
*****
#17 - Tomb Raider 2
I had a PS1 for the last stretch of my high school years, but I never got around to playing any of the Tomb Raider games back then. Since it was such a big franchise in the pop culture, I was of course familiar with the games existence & general concept, I even saw a trailer or two for the movies that I’ve never watched, but when I actually got around to trying the PS1 series out all these years later, the gameplay was a lot different than what I was expecting. Less ‘run around shooting things’ and a lot more ‘looking around for things to climb on and jump to’. But, once you get used to the controls, it starts becoming a bit addictive trying to figure out how to make your way thru a level (even if the graphics sometimes make it a bit hard to see those damn spiders that keep biting me or where the edge of the next cliff is!). All 4 Tomb Raiders on the PS1 seem about the same level of playability, but, for whatever reason, part 2 seems to have caught my desire to play the most, so that’s the one I’m adding to my Top Shelf recommendations list (but, like with other well-regarded franchises, consider this a nod to check out any game in the series).
*****
#18 - Klonoa
Sometimes Klonoa the character can seem a bit too ‘Hello Kitty cutesy’ for its own good (especially during the cut scenes), but the actual gameplay and 2.5-d level design is really quite pleasant and makes you want to keep going + the difficulty curve as you progress increases at a nice pace. So, even though the old curmudgeon in me was initially skeptical and put off a little bit with the characters voice — once you start playing Klonoa, you quickly realize that it’s a pretty good evolvement in the platformer genre and well worth spending some time with.
*****
#19 - Intelligent Qube
My first attempt at this game, I figured that I’d be able to just jump in and figure out what I was supposed to do as I go… and because I couldn’t seem to figure things out, I figured that this game wasn’t for me (this is one of the downsides of playing games that don’t come with physical manuals). Luckily, this game comes with some built-in video tutorial instructions, and they are actually worth watching so you can understand the concept and how to play — because, once you do that, Intelligent Qube becomes a pretty unique & addicting puzzler that looks & sounds nice and is great to jump into whenever you’re feeling the kind of bored that is best beat with a few minutes of giant block dropping.
*****
#20 - Silent Hill
In the same ‘survival horror’ genre as Resident Evil, except Silent Hill takes the ‘horror’ element a little bit higher with the creepy fog everywhere and a missing little daughter that creepily keeps walking into the spooky fog while you chase after her. And when you’re walking down the back alley in the dark with a lighter to barely see in front of you while there is blood all over the ground… that genuinely gave me the same kind of chills I get when watching someone walk around a dark basement in a horror film. I find the controls on these ‘survival horror’ games can sometimes be a bit cumbersome and sometimes you spend a lot of time walking around trying to figure out where you’re supposed to go / what you’re supposed to do next (unlike on a traditional platformer, where you know you just have to keep going to the right), but I can see why these ‘survivor horror’ games were such a big hit back in the day, as they can still suck you into the story all these years later and you can’t help but want to figure out what the hell is going on.
*****
#21 - Dino Crisis 2
The first Dino Crisis game takes on a more ‘survival horror’ style like Silent Hill, but, for me, it’s the sequel’s decision to focus more on the action side of things (aka shooting dinosaurs with weapons you can buy more ammo for with the points you get for shooting more dinosaurs) that land Dino Crisis 2 on my favourites list (and leave the original somewhere in my ‘maybe one day I’ll come back to revisit). It took me a little bit to get into, but once I got a handle on the controls and strategy, it wasn’t too long before the storyline had my pulled right in (and the level where you are underwater shooting Mosasauruses with a nail gun is chef’s kiss for engaging vibes).
*****
#22 - Bust-A-Move 4
Speaking of shooting dinosaurs, the Bubble Bobble dinos bring their addictive marble shooting puzzler game Bust-A-Move to the PS1 and, for much the same reasons that this franchise landed on my SNES list, you’ll find a slightly more graphically advanced version here. What can I say… I like simple-to-grasp concepts that are easy to jump into. Slightly less stressful than the dinosaur shooting game I mentioned earlier, although, this game can get stressful in its cutesy low-stakes way too.
*****
#23 - Roll Away
Sometimes you just want to play a relaxing puzzle game that sees you maneuvering a beach ball around a 3-d environment trying to find keys and coins and exits before the time runs out. This game looks and handles really smooth and they really nailed the sound of a beach ball bouncing from one platform to another (sometimes it’s the little touches that make a big difference). Roll Away is just a nice, mostly stress-free play, and sometimes that is all my old brain is looking for these days.
*****
#24 - Syphon Filter
Syphon Filter has kind of got a bit of a ‘Metal Gear Solid’ vibe to it, but instead of sneaking around all the time, you do a lot more of that ‘running around and shooting everyone’ vibe that you’ve come to expect in a video game. Which is a vibe that I like slightly less than MGS, but only slightly. And like MGS, it does a good job of making you feel like you’re controlling an action star in an action movie—because one can only watch so many Tom Cruise movies before you get bored being the passive passenger all the time.
*****
#25 - c-12 Final Resistance
Quite similar in the look and feel as the previously recommended 3rd-person shooter Syphon Filter, but c-12 takes on a more futuristic storyline — which basically means that instead of shooting people, you’re shooting robots. Also like Syphon Filter (and Metal Gear Solid), you get to feel a bit like you’re controlling the action star in an action movie, and that’s always a decent way to kill an hour or so every now and again (it sure is a lot less confusing than spending that time watching an action movie like Tenet instead — full disclosure: I recently watched Tenet before writing this blurb).
*****
#26 - Gex
The more I try out games on the newer gaming consoles (“newer” as in PS1 and N64), the more I wish that they would have made more ‘improved, but still old school’ style platformer games. Like, I get that being able to have characters move through a 3-D world was a cool new thing at the time, and when done well it works/looks cool too, but it just seems like not enough developers played around with using the new technology to make some better 2-D games than what was possible on the 16-bit systems. And this GEX game isn’t even a great example of a 2-D game done right on the PS1 (Skullmonkeys is the better example), but GEX is an example of the 2-D style game being funner to play than the 3-D styled game that followed in this series (although a part of that might also have to do with them really turning up GEX’s ‘tude and one-liners to an annoying level on the 3-D ‘Enter The Gecko’ world). But, still, the original GEX on the PS1 is a fun 2-D platformer that looks and controls well, which makes it fun to pick up and play for a level or two every now & again.
*****
#27 - FIFA 2001
For the most part with sports games, I found that the PS1 didn’t really improve on what the 16-bit sports gaming experience offered. Graphically, the PS1 wasn’t near ready to offer the more ‘realistic’ gameplay that they eventually got to with the PS3+ consoles, so a lot of sports games just felt a bit clunky and polygonal-y (especially the basketball games), and they lost some of the fun gameplay from the 16-bit era in the process (ie. the NHL series on the Sega/SNES is just funner to play than the PS1 hockey, at least for me). But one sport that definitely felt much more improved from the 16-bit era was soccer. Especially if you keep the camera angle zoomed out, the graphics and gameplay and sound is a major step up from the 16-bit FIFA games, which makes it a lot more enjoyable to play — even if I can’t play as Nottingham Forrest like I could on FIFA 96 on the Sega.
*****
#28 - Frogger 2: Swampy’s Revenge
This is not the first time I’ve added a Frogger game to a list of mine, but Frogger 2 on the PS1 is so much different than the original version that you can find on the Sega Genesis, it deserves its own spot on this PS1 list. This updated take on the Frogger series is still just as enjoyable & addictive to jump in and start hopping around trying not to get hit by things, but now you’re navigating a 3-D environment while also adding in new moves and goals other than just trying to cross a busy 2-D road / river. It’s good, addictive fun.
*****
#29 - Ms. Pac-Man Maze Madness
Speaking of re-worked versions of old skool games that I’ve added to previous gaming lists, Ms. Pacman also gets a facelift into the 3-d polygonal world with a new take on gobbling yellow dots and, despite some background music that feels at little uninspired & maybe some gameplay that can feel a bit too easy at times (you even get a life bar instead of one-hit deaths), there is just something quite addictive about progressing through the levels/mazes and trying to 100% all the categories. And often times that’s the kind of low effort entry point my brain is looking for when I only have a spare 30 minutes to put towards a video game break to clear my head & process some thoughts.
*****
#30 - 40 Winks
I know I was going on earlier about how I wish there should be more 2-D platformers on the PS1, but 40 Winks is an example of a 3-D platformer done right. Yes, sometimes the camera angle can add an extra layer of difficulty onto things that shouldn’t be that difficult (ie. making jumps or fighting enemies), but, for the most part, the world created in 40 Winks is big and interesting to explore and the overall storyline/gameplay creates a fairly unique gaming experience that will appeal to that almost mostly dead inner child of yours (or at least it does with mine).
*****
#31 - Rayman
The Rayman series on the PS1 is a good example of the difference between using the upgrade in console power to make a really good looking ‘left-to-right’ 2-D platformer that really outshines what was possible in the 16-bit era (ie. the first Rayman game) OR use the upgrade in console power to make another new style 3-D platformer like everyone else was doing on the PS1 and N64 at the time (ie. what Rayman 2 is). Not to say that Rayman 2 isn’t a good game (it is more than fine), but the first Rayman just appeals so much more to my ‘old guy’ video game nostalgia (and visually holds up much better than the 3-D sequel). Also, it’s just really quite good.
*****
#32 - The Adventures of Lomax
Speaking of really good looking 2D platformers on the PS1, The Adventures of Lomax is also a really good looking 2D platformer on the PS1. It handles really nicely, although sometimes the deaths do feel a bit cheap/easy for a game that looks and feels so nice. But maybe that just means that this game is a lot harder than I always think it will be at first glance… but it’s definitely good enough to keep wanting to come back and get better at it.
*****
#33 - Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Legacy of Kain is just a really well executed action adventure game. You’ve got a great dark storyline, with some top notch voice acting that pulls you in further than most, and the gameplay & graphics is very well done. They could have easily made this another typical button-smashing beat-em up, but instead you’ve got to throw some baddies in fires or impale with sticks and then you gotta remember to suck in their souls and, just in general, your brain is way more engaged than on your typical video game action adventure. I’ll also give a shout-out to ‘Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain’, which can pull you even further into the storyline with entirely different gameplay (ie. it’s more of an action RPG, and it seems pretty good, I just haven’t had time to properly check it out yet).
*****
#34 - Medievil
In a similar vein as Legacy of Kain, Medievil comes with a ‘back from the dead to avenge’ storyline, with some olde english voice acting to guide you along the way — although Medievil has got more of a cartoon-ish vibe to it (with a lot more hack n’ slash mechanics), so it feels a bit lighter than Kain (although you also do a bit of soul collecting from the dead here too). All in all, MediEvil a good 3-d action adventurer that plays well and has an engaging story… which is probably why it was given the sequel treatment (and part two continues the goodness, so consider this recommendation spot a 2-for-1 deal or continue scrolling down to see part two get a shoutout in my list extension).
*****
#35 - Castlevania Chronicles
While we’re on the topic of slaying the undead, this seems like a good place to mention that Castlevania Chronicles, the fantastic remake of the original Castlevania, is a perfect blend of nostalgia and updated gameplay/music. Also, for me, it’s more enjoyable to play than the more lauded PS1 Castlevania, Symphony of the Night (oh boo yourself). CC retains the series' signature gothic atmosphere and challenging platforming, while adding new visuals and sound. If you love a good ol’ retro vampire hunt, Castlevania Chronicles is worth seeking out (and another great 2D game on the Playstation).
*****
#36 - Apocalypse
Was there a bigger star to lend their voice & likeness to the PS1 than Bruce Willis in the fun run ‘n gun game Apocalypse? This one had me googling to see which 90s Bruce Willis movie this game was based off of that I had somehow missed (because the cover art looks like it totally was a real 90s Bruce Willis movie license), only to find out that this one was just a straight up original video game project (clever way to break the ‘licensed games are often trash’ jinx). And Apocalypse is quite good in its simple shoot everything you see while escaping from a futuristic prison gameplay (with a few new Bruce Willis catchphrases being repeated again and again as you go blow everything away). It’ll give you those “Yipee ki-yay motherf*cker!” vibes… except you say stuff like “these guys need a little more lead!” instead.
*****
#37 - Expendable
Expendable—which sounds like it could be a Bruce Willis film from the 90s (and with Bruce later being in The Expendables, I guess it kinda was)—is an adrenaline-fueled run-and-gun shooter that comes with a variety of weapons and power-ups to keep things interesting (and 2-player mode if you have any friends). Controlling your character can take a little to get used to, but once you get a grasp of the mechanics, its relentless pace makes it a satisfying blast-anything-that-moves arcade style shooter.
*****
#38 - Blasto
Bruce Willis wasn’t the only big name 80s/90s star to voice a PS1 character, as the 3-D action platformer Blasto was given life by the late-great Phil Hartman (whose wife would later… actually, I’m not even going to make the ‘blasto’ joke you’re thinking of). This game has a lot of charm, even if some of the Duke Nukem-ish sexism about scantily clad pixelated babes hasn’t aged super great (hey, it was the 90s!), and a lot of that charm comes down to Phil Hartman’s great line delivery of could-be-corny-otherwise lines. A pretty good game that will have you dying quite a lot as you miss judge jump after jump and fall to your death (or maybe it’s just me who sucks at 3-d platform jumping). Blasto gets a lot more difficult than you think it will be when first getting started, but there’s enough good stuff here to keep you wanting to come back and progress a little further.
*****
#39 - Herc's Adventures
This fun overhead action platformer (that comes with 2-player co-op mode & 3 playable characters) has a lot of cartoon-y humour and creative ideas (for example, instead of dying, when your life power hits zero you are sent to the underworld where you have to battle your way back to the main game — although, if you do that too many times, eventually you just get a game over). Graphically, it can feel like a polished up 16-bit era action platformer (bit of a Zombies Ate My Neighbours vibe in the look). And with the voice acting and cut scenes, it will have you feeling like you’re playing an old Saturday morning cartoon. Which can be a nice experience to jump back into every now & again.
*****
#40 - Shipwreckers!
This is just a fun, nice-looking game where you drive around a pirate ship shooting other pirate ships whilst trying to collect treasures (y’know… typical pirate stuff). Luckily, your ship handles more like a remote-controlled motorboat than an actual wind-powered pirate ship, so it makes maneuvering around and shooting stuff an enjoyable thing to jump into and play for a “just 20-minutes more” chunk of your day every now & again. Honestly, it grows on me as a personal favourite every time I play it.
*****
#41 - Lode Runner
This game is all about the atmosphere — very minimal background sounds and tiny little characters running around a spread out jungle scene really pulls you in for a hypnotic play (that, as you would expect, gets more and more challenging as you go). As for the gameplay itself, your character needs to collect all the gold on a level to make a doorway appear, all while avoiding these creepy little red guys that will devour you if they catch you (making this Lode Runner A LOT darker feeling than past cartoon-y versions of this game concept). Your only “weapon” here is the ability to dig insta-holes that the little red guys will fall into (although, they can also climb out of those holes most times — and even if they don’t climb out before the hole refills, the bastards just re-spawn and come after you all over again). Very easy game to find yourself getting sucked into.
*****
#42 - Loaded
If Lode Runner is a bit too atmospheric for you, you might want to try running around the loud and violent world of Loaded. With its dark humor and over-the-top gore, this top-down shooter offers a twisted, yet highly entertaining experience. The game's punk rock soundtrack and unique characters make it a standout title for those who enjoy a bit of madness in their gaming.
*****
#43 - Heart of Darkness
Take the die-until-you-figure-out-what-to-do-next cinematic platforming from a game like Out Of This World (which you’ll find on my Top Sega Games list) and then amp up the gorgeousness of the graphics to 11, and what you’ll be left with is the quite-amazing-once-you-get-into-it Heart of Darkness. Now, I mentioned that Herc’s Adventures is a bit like playing a Saturday morning cartoon, well, Heart of Darkness is a bit like playing a full-length animated film, what with the cut scenes & storyline and amazing gameplay graphics. Just be prepared to die A LOT as you progress thru the plot.
*****
#44 - Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue!
Speaking of games that’ll have you feeling like you’re playing a full-length animated film, Toy Story 2 is a great licensed platformer that captures the magic of the beloved Pixar flick. Playing as Buzz Lightyear, you'll navigate colourful levels filled with puzzles, enemies, collectibles, and beyond! The game strikes a nice balance between challenge and accessibility, making it a joy for players of all ages/skillz.
*****
#45 - Robotron X
Robotron X—which almost feels like it could be taken from a knock-off Buzz Lightyear universe—takes the classic arcade twin-stick shooter and injects it with a hefty dose of 3D laser-blasting robot good times. The frenetic pace and relentless waves of enemies will have your thumbs working overtime. While the graphics may seem a bit dated, the core gameplay remains as addictive & chaotic as ever.
*****
#46 - The Next Tetris
Take some of those retro 3D vibes from Robotron-X and apply them to the classic puzzler Tetris, through in some new modes and multiplayer options, and The Next Tetris takes the classic block-stacking puzzle game and gives it a fresh twist. The game introduces cascading blocks and fusion pieces, adding a strategic layer to the familiar gameplay, and its vibrant graphics and catchy soundtrack make for a familiar addictive experience. Perfect for both casual play and intense head-to-head battles, The Next Tetris brings enough newness to the plate that makes it worth adding to your retro Tetris rotation.
*****
#47 - Rapid Reload
Rapid Reload is a very nice looking & handling 2-D run ‘n gun game that will remind you a bit of Gunstar Heroes (or a more Mega Man-y version of Metal Slug). So, in other words, it’s a great game that’s fun to play. And I say this as someone who isn’t often the biggest fan of run ‘n guns / shooters, but Rapid Reload does a good job of getting the challenge and amount of action on screen just right for a satisfying play (which is why you find Rapid Reload on my PS1 list, but you don’t find Gunstar Heroes on my Genesis list).
*****
#48 - CT Special Forces
Speaking of 2D run-and-guns on the PS1, CT Special Forces is a nice-looking walk-and-gun game that plays like a less chaotic (and therefore much easier) version of Metal Slug, which, for me, makes it a slightly more enjoyable game to jump into (and why you won’t see Metal Slug X until we get to my list extension). Look, sometimes I like to feel like I’m a highly capable special forces agent systematically taking out my enemies with precision & ease — AND — sometimes that requires me to play a game where it is easier to time the enemies’ bullets/attacks (to be fair, there are hard parts to this game too).
*****
#49 - Quake II
I prefer the gameplay & storyline of the Medal Of Honor games a bit more, but there’s no denying that Quake II is a very good looking & handling first person shooter on the PS1. It also sounds great / has a pretty nice soundtrack, and I find it more enjoyable to play than Final Doom, making Quake II a must play from the retro-era for anyone who fancies shooting things from the first-person viewpoint. It’s really quite impressive and still holds up.
*****
#50 - Final Doom
Final Doom brings the iconic demon-slaying action of the Doom series to the PS1 with all its brutal charm intact. The game packs in two hefty campaigns, Plutonia Experiment and TNT: Evilution, offering a relentless barrage of intense firefights and labyrinthine levels. It’s a no-nonsense, adrenaline-pumping shooter that will test your reflexes and patience. If you crave a hardcore FPS experience, Final Doom delivers in spades.
*****
#51 - Alien Trilogy
Alien Trilogy thrusts you into the terrifying world of the Alien franchise with a first-person shooter that’s equal parts thrilling and nerve-wracking. You’ll navigate dark (like, very, dark), claustrophobic corridors, battling Xenomorphs with an arsenal of weapons. The atmospheric graphics and eerie sound design capture the essence of the films quite nicely.
*****
#52 - Spider: The Video Game
As you can see by the cover art, there is a spider with a knife and a gun attached to its legs — and the cool thing about this game is you get to play as that spider. Well, technically you are the mind of a scientist implanted into the Terminator spider, and technically you only have the knife arm all the time, and the other weapons you have to pick up throughout levels and they often come with very limited ammo, but, still, it’s a pretty cool idea for a nice little 2.5-D platformer. Sometimes hit detection can seem a bit harsh and you can die quite easily, especially with how close you need to be to other robot insects in order to shiv them, but overall it’s a pretty unique & fun game that always manages to keep me coming back for more.
*****
#53 - Wild 9
A unique looking/feeling 2.5D action platformer (although it does remind a bit of Oddworld in the vibes in places), brought to you by the folks behind Earthworm Jim. Instead of your typical jump on or shoot the baddies gameplay, Wild 9 has you grabbing the baddies with an energy beam / laser lasso (?) and then swinging them over your head and smashing them into the ground a bunch of times (which is quite satisfying, tbh). You can also use your energy beam / space lasso to swing yourself to higher ground and move crates to jump on and et cetera (and you’re nicely walked thru all of the unique game mechanisms at the start of the game). All in all, it’s some good stuff that often gets overlooked in the list scene.
*****
#54 - Turnabout
Turnabout is a nice looking, smooth handling puzzle game where, as the name suggests, you have to ‘turn’ the screen ‘about’ to make things move/fall where they will in order to complete a level by lining up coloured balls with their matching coloured squares. It’s a pretty easy one to get the hang of (no video tutorials needed here), as it’s all pretty self-explanatory as to what your objective is. There’s a bunch of different levels/puzzles that get more challenging as you go + it makes for a great game to put on while you listen to podcasts and want to feel like you’re being more productive than just sitting around listening to podcasts (for example, now you’re also solving puzzles while you listen to another podcast and/or audiobook).
*****
Ok, that’s it for my personal “HIGH 54” Top Playstation One (PS1/PSX) Games That Are Still Fun To Play Now list — I know that there may be some classic titles that seem crazy not to have included, BUT, again, this is not meant to be a ‘Top 54 All-Time Best Ever’ list and it’s also not meant to be your list. Besides, reading another list that just confirms what’s on every other ‘best of’ list is a bit boring and pointless, especially if you’re looking for games that might not be top of mind (and especially when you consider how all this stuff is individually subjective & doesn’t really matter beyond the enjoyment that comes from thinking/talking about your own experiences & finding temporary moments of connection/agreement/discovery with others).
So, on that note, here’s FORTY-ONE more Playstation One games (the cover art is linked to Youtube gameplay) that are of the kind of quality that have them constantly circling just outside my personally subjective “HIGH 54” list looking for an opening (and for fans of math, yes, that does make this a list of 95 PS1/PSX Games That Are Still Fun To Play Now):
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And while we’re listing things, here’s my other lists of retro video games that are still fun playing today… if you happen to be looking for more than just PS1 games to check out (and if you think you might have some crossover tastes in retro games with me):
Finally, please feel warmly encouraged to hit up the comments below if there’s any games that I left off that would definitely be on your ‘Fave PS1/PSX Games’ list (whatever number you cap your list off at; whichever factors you consider more), as I’ve been known to make tweaks to my lists when a new ‘old game’ starts making a stronger case for more of my limited attention span.
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JEREMY / @HI54LOFI
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