Summary

• PlayStation's success can be attributed to iconic games like Crash Bandicoot, Metal Gear Solid, and Resident Evil that paved the way for future titles.
• Metal Gear Solid revolutionized the stealth genre, incorporating third-person gameplay and a captivating story that influenced many other games.
• Final Fantasy 7's use of 3D design and engaging story made it one of the most beloved and definitive games on the PlayStation console.

Sony Interactive Entertainment's hold on the console gaming market all began with the original PlayStation. This now classic system brings to mind classics like Resident Evil and the Tekken series, and they remain some of the best-known releases to date. These days, PlayStation is a familiar name, with the PS5 being a leading system in the video game community. Back in the mid-1990s, however, PlayStation needed to fight for a place in the market against the big names of Nintendo and SEGA.

With PlayStation's ever-growing popularity and solidifying its place at the top almost three decades later, it’s worth taking a look back at the titles whose critical success paved the way for the future. Long before the first Ratchet & Clank or God of War titles were created, PlayStation introduced the world to exclusives like Crash Bandicoot and Metal Gear Solid. Here are ten of the most iconic games for the PS1.

Street Fighter Alpha 3

Released June 29, 1998

Street Fighter Alpha 3 was a hard-hitting entry in the series that many weren’t prepared for but were delightfully surprised by. Still ranked among the best Street Fighter games, it was well-received for delivering a complete entertainment experience with an extensive roster and multiple fighting styles. The game offered players a choice of how they wanted a particular character to fight, empowering them to play according to their own tactics. Street Fighter Alpha 3 was released at a time when the fighting genre was becoming more and more creative, with the title still holding a coveted place in gaming history.

Twisted Metal

Released November 5, 1995

Twisted Metal is a series of games developed by Sony exclusively for PlayStation, with the original game releasing for the PS1 in 1995. This memorable vehicle combat game lets players drive one of 12 weaponized vehicles in a competition to try to destroy everyone else while hopefully staying alive. Its gameplay was over-the-top and intense. In addition to solo, two-person local multiplayer competitions were a popular way to play, with players facing off to virtually shoot at each other on the streets of Los Angeles. Twisted Metal gained so much popularity that a television series of the same name debuted earlier this year.

Gran Turismo 2

Released December 11, 1999

Gran Turismo is another racing series that spread to other media due to its popularity, with a movie of the same name releasing in 2023. Gran Turismo 2 offered one of the franchise’s critical successes by bringing back the same aspects that made the first so great and becoming one of the racing games that immediately comes to mind when the PlayStation 1 is brought up. As a racing simulator, Gran Turismo 2 brought a clean driving experience that felt unlike any other present in the genre. While other titles were relatively fantastical in presentation, Gran Turismo 2 played it more realistically with how cars actually drive, and that was its appeal.

Metal Gear Solid

Released September 3, 1998

The stealth genre was primarily on the back of the Metal Gear series, but it wasn’t until Metal Gear Solid that it incorporated genuine third-person gameplay elements. Metal Gear Solid was revolutionary for its sneak-'em-up style that focused primarily on covertness over action. Another major plus point was Metal Gear Solid’s story, which emotionally connected audiences to Solid Snake’s journey. It ultimately set the stage for multiple entries in the series to follow, with the debut title credited with influencing the stealth genre en masse, as many other games were released to emulate Metal Gear Solid’s success.

Resident Evil

March 22, 1996

The PlayStation 1 had the honor to debut the 3D horror game Resident Evil, which has since gone on to have many additional titles in the series, movies, and a remake of this first quintessential game. Resident Evil consists of action, exploration, puzzles, and inventory management in a survival horror atmosphere. The original game was the highest-selling PlayStation game for a long time, selling roughly 4 million copies by December 1997.

Tomb Raider

Released October 25, 1996

The first Tomb Raider game was released for PC, Sega Saturn, and PlayStation 1 and introduced the world to the now iconic archaeologist-adventurer Lara Croft. For the time, it had revolutionary graphics, and its puzzle-solving mechanics and environments were some of the most novel released at the time. The female protagonist and unique platforming design and plot made it an instant hit that led to many more games. A remastered compilation of the first three games in the series will be available for PlayStation and other systems in early 2024.

Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back

Released November 6, 1997

The Crash Bandicoot franchise was developed by Naughty Dog as an exclusive series for PlayStation that took inspiration from Super Mario Bros., Sonic, and Donkey Kong Country. Both the first and second games were popular releases for the PS1, with Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back being one that still holds up today. It is a linear platformer with an engaging story that takes players across 25 fun levels.

Tekken 3

Released March 20, 1997

The Tekken series took a giant leap in quality with Tekken 3, featuring larger-than-life characters and hard-hitting action. The introduction of characters like Jin Kazama, Hwoarang, Ling Xiaoyu, Eddy Gordo, and more changed the series for years to come, with every player having their own fighting styles. The revamped roster and new elements like side-stepping through the 3D environment offered a fighting platform few had experienced before. Tekken 3 remains the best-received entry in the series by far and is seen as the peak for the franchise that few other titles in the genre have matched.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

Released September 19, 2000

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 remains in a league of its own. Featuring highly addictive gameplay, players are placed in a world where the three-dimensional skateboard movements are fit for the taking, with breathtaking stunts and tricks performed. There are multiple modes in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, running from career mode where the player has to move up the ranks, to free-play and multiplayer modes where winning through showcasing skills is the way to go. Not many sports games of the time offered such diverse entertainment, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 remains evergreen more than two decades later.

Final Fantasy 7

Released January 31, 1997

The Final Fantasy series is the most well-known JRPG in the gaming world, with many popular titles that are each uniquely incredible. Final Fantasy 7 was the first in the franchise to try using a 3D design, and that, combined with its memorable and engaging story, captured the attention of many. The game continues to be one of the most beloved games, leading to the trilogy remake of the game that is currently being released. As far as noteworthy games on the PlayStation console, Final Fantasy 7 is easily the most memorable and definitive game that the console launched.