Best PS1 Games 1
Image: Push Square

What are the best PS1 games? As we look back fondly on where it all started, the PS1 really does have an incredible library of games. While the real highlight of the original PlayStation is just how diverse and varied its catalogue is, we're here to discover which are the very best PS1 games.

Sony's first console is legendary, pushing the entire medium forward with an emphasis on 3D graphics and high-quality sound. It also plays host to some of gaming's most iconic titles. The legacy of titans like Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider, Metal Gear Solid, Gran Turismo, and so many others begins with PS1, and the Japanese RPG exploded in popularity thanks to the likes of Final Fantasy VII. The PS1's importance in gaming's history can't be overstated.

It would be impossible to highlight every great game released for the console, so we'll have to settle for the best PS1 games — and we need your help. As with all our lists, your user ratings define which games appear in this feature, and in what order. You can use the search bar below to find PS1 games and then rate them accordingly, directly impacting this list's rankings.

Please note that a game will need to have at least 35 ratings before it appears on this list, just to keep things consistent and fair. If a personal favourite isn't showing up here, it's likely because it simply doesn't have enough votes yet.

So, to business — here are the best PS1 games, as chosen by our community.

50. Destruction Derby (PS1)

Destruction Derby really showcased the unique capabilities of the PS1, offering a racing game where it was encouraged to crash into your opponents. These advanced physics really highlighted the progression of technology at the time, as nothing like it had existed before. The graphics were extraordinary, placing dozens of cascading vehicles all on screen simultaneously, and your car would actually handle differently depending on the damage you’d endured. It may seem trivial by today’s standards, but this was ground-breaking stuff in 1995 – and it remains entertaining decades later.

49. Ape Escape (PS1)

Ape Escape is a PlayStation classic. Built with the then brand new DualShock controller in mind, this is one of those early 3D action platformers that was still experimenting with the idea of analog sticks. While the controls show their age these days, the game itself is still a blast. Varied, tightly designed levels are filled with the titular apes, and it's your job to round them all up with Spike's array of primate-grabbing gadgets. A colourful, lighthearted game that deserves its spot in gaming history.

48. Die Hard Trilogy (PS1)

A true gem of the PS1 era, and a callback to a time when licensed games were among the finest you could find on console. Die Hard Trilogy was unique in that it actually spanned three completely different games, each dedicated to a different Bruce Willis movie. This included a third-person shooter, a Time Crisis-style rails shooter, and a GTA-style joyriding game. All three experiences are fun in their own way, and it makes for a uniquely varied compilation.

47. Twisted Metal (PS1)

One of the earliest first-party PS1 hits, Twisted Metal was iconic for gamers of a certain age. The pioneer of the car combat genre, which would go on to spawn several copycats, this vehicular shooter fused dark comedy with aggressive gameplay. It would go on to spawn several sequels and sell millions of copies, and characters like Sweet Tooth remain an iconic part of PlayStation today. It even spawned a hit television show recently, starring Anthony Mackie.

46. Driver (PS1)

The original Driver is notable for a few reasons, not least of which is its notoriously difficult tutorial, but the big key to its success was its handling model. While visually it aimed for a grounded look, the game is heavily influenced by car chase action flicks, and the driving reflects that brilliantly, allowing you to drift around with tremendous style. It has spawned many sequels that carry the idea forward, but the fundamental driving was pretty much there from the offset.

45. Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee (PS1)

Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee not only taught a generation the wrong way to spell "odyssey", it also represented Sony's gambit of releasing diverse, interesting, and unusual games on PS1. This strange sci-fi adventure casts you as the downtrodden Abe who, against all odds, breaks free from the corporate machine and rebels against it. The combination of puzzle solving and platforming is still pretty unique today, and the game itself remains a cult favourite among PlayStation die-hards.

44. Final Fantasy IV (PS1)

Before Final Fantasy VI came along and made a whole generation realise that Japanese RPGs could tell mature stories with great characters, Final Fantasy IV basically set the standard. The plot focuses on Cecil, a warrior at odds with himself after his kingdom sparks the flames of war. Cecil's own character development is at the heart of events, but he's joined by a varied and delightful cast of characters as he seeks the truth of the world and its inhabitants. Still an expertly paced game with loads of memorable moments.

43. Crash Bandicoot (PS1)

When one thinks of the PS1, Crash Bandicoot naturally follows. Naughty Dog's pioneering 3D platformer really showed the power of polygons as you collect wumpa fruit, spin enemies, and run from giant boulders with lots of lush, colourful detail everywhere you look. So successful was Crash that he quickly became an unofficial PlayStation mascot. Later games would enhance the core formula, but the first remains a fun, if tough, platforming gauntlet.

42. Ridge Racer (PS1)

Riiidge Racer! Namco's classic racing series started on arcade hardware and was ported to PS1 in time for launch. A technical marvel at the time, this 3D arcade racer blew minds with its impressive visuals and speedy, drift-heavy gameplay that still feels satisfying to this day. While later entries improve and build on the formula, it's still amazing that the signature gameplay at its core was pretty much nailed from the start.

41. Parasite Eve II (PS1)

It hasn’t enjoyed the enduring popularity of Square’s other franchises, but Parasite Eve 2 remains one of the most iconic outings on the PS1. Starring protagonist Aya Brea, this instalment ditched the Active Time Bar of its predecessor, opting for a more contemporary real-time combat system. While some reviews lamented its archaic tank controls, which had waned in popularity by 2000, the release was praised for its sublime presentation and engaging storyline.