Honestly, the mid-90s were a mess. A glorious, polygon-heavy, gray-plastic mess. When the original PlayStation dropped, nobody really knew if this "CD-ROM" thing was going to actually work or if we were just going to be stuck with five-minute loading screens forever. It worked. Boy, did it work. The list of psx games eventually swelled to thousands of titles, ranging from cinematic masterpieces to weird experimental stuff that wouldn't even get a green light today.
You've got your heavy hitters. Everyone knows Cloud Strife and his oversized sword. But the PS1 was deeper than just the stuff you see on "Best Of" lists. It was a time when developers were basically learning how to breathe in 3D for the first time. Sometimes they tripped. Other times, they built Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
The Heavy Hitters: A List of PSX Games Everyone Needs to Know
If you're looking at a list of psx games to start a collection or just fuel a weekend of emulation, you have to start with the ones that sold millions. These weren't just popular; they changed the "DNA" of gaming.
- Gran Turismo: This is actually the best-selling game on the system. Over 10 million copies. It wasn't just a racer; it was a car-lover's obsession.
- Final Fantasy VII: This is the one that made JRPGs "cool" in the West. It moved over 10 million units and broke a lot of kids' hearts (RIP Aerith).
- Tekken 3: Still considered by many as the peak of the 3D fighter. It was fast, looked incredible for 1998, and had a tiny dinosaur named Gon.
- Metal Gear Solid: Hideo Kojima basically invented the "playable movie" here. It was stealth, philosophy, and fourth-wall breaking. Remember Psycho Mantis reading your memory card? Pure genius.
- Tomb Raider: Lara Croft became a literal cultural icon. The first game was more about puzzles and isolation than the action-heavy reboots we have now.
The Weird and the Wonderful
The 32-bit era was the Wild West. Sony was way more relaxed about what they allowed on their console compared to Nintendo’s strict "seal of quality." This led to some genuinely bizarre stuff.
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Take LSD: Dream Emulator. It's barely a game. You just walk around dreamscapes. If you touch a wall, you teleport. It’s unsettling, weird, and now costs a fortune if you want a physical copy. Then there's PaRappa the Rapper. A paper-thin dog rapping about getting his driver’s license? It shouldn’t have worked, but the music was catchy as hell.
We also saw the birth of survival horror. Resident Evil and Silent Hill took two very different paths. RE was all about B-movie thrills and tank controls. Silent Hill went for psychological dread and fog—which, fun fact, was mostly there to hide the fact that the PS1 couldn't render a whole town at once. Limitations breed creativity.
The Games That’ll Empty Your Wallet
If you’re a collector, the list of psx games is a bit of a nightmare for your bank account. Prices have spiked like crazy since 2020.
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A copy of Suikoden II is going to set you back hundreds of dollars. Why? Because Konami didn't print nearly enough of them, and people finally realized it's one of the best RPGs ever made. Same goes for The Misadventures of Tron Bonne. It’s a Mega Man spin-off that was largely ignored at launch but is now a "holy grail" for collectors.
Then there's the NFL Blitz 2000 "Greatest Hits" version. Usually, the red-label Greatest Hits versions are cheaper. Not this one. It was recalled almost immediately, making it one of the rarest finds for the system. If you see it at a garage sale for five bucks, buy it. Seriously.
Why the PS1 Still Matters in 2026
It’s about the "vibe." Modern games are beautiful, sure, but there’s something about the "PS1 jitter"—that way textures warp and wobble—that feels tactile. It feels human.
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We’re seeing a massive resurgence in "low-poly" indie games right now. Developers are mimicking the PS1 aesthetic because it hits a specific nostalgic nerve. It represents a time when games felt like they were jumping into the unknown. Every new release felt like a potential revolution.
How to Start Your Own PS1 Journey
If you're ready to dive into the list of psx games yourself, don't just stick to the top 10. Check out Vagrant Story for some of the most complex RPG mechanics ever seen. Look at Klonoa: Door to Phantomile if you want a platformer that will actually make you cry.
- Emulation is your friend: Unless you have a CRT television and a lot of spare cash, use an emulator like DuckStation. It makes these games look crisp on modern monitors.
- Get a controller with a good D-pad: Most PS1 games weren't designed for analog sticks. The original "Digital" controller or the first DualShock is the way to go.
- Don't fear the jank: The cameras will be frustrating. The controls will feel stiff. Give it thirty minutes; your brain will "click" back into 1996 mode.
The PlayStation wasn't just a console; it was the moment gaming grew up. It moved from the toy aisle to the entertainment center. Whether you're playing Spyro or Silent Hill, you're playing a piece of history that still holds up remarkably well.
Your next step: Download an emulator or dust off your old console and try one "hidden gem" from the list above—Vandal Hearts is a great tactical RPG to start with if you've already finished the usual classics.