What are the best PSP games? First released on 12th December, 2004 in its native Japan, Sony’s initial foray into the handheld arena followed years and years of speculation. The company officially acknowledged the device a year prior, at E3 2003, with PlayStation creator Ken Kutaragi describing it as a “Walkman for the 21st Century”. In many ways, the product was a trailblazer, launching several years before the first iPhone and offering media capabilities such as MP3 playback and UMD movies. It’d later receive add-ons to transform it into a satnav, webcam, and much more.
Of course, in addition that free copy of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man 2 which was available alongside the delayed European release, the PSP played hosted to a wealth of outstanding games. Packing the kind of horsepower that its rival the Nintendo DS could only dream of, Sony marketed it as a console you could take on a road trip. And third-party support was impressive: in North America, specifically, it launched alongside games like Metal Gear Acid, Lumines, WipEout Pure, and Twisted Metal: Head-On. It would go on to receive three original Grand Theft Auto games, and even high-profile spin-offs to Ratchet & Clank, Jak & Daxter, and God of War.
Sony revised the hardware a number of times over the years, improving the form factor and functionality. While the PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 merely iterated on the launch model, the sliding model PSPgo was noteworthy for being the first digital exclusive console to ever reach retail. This version also introduced the ability to suspend games at any time, really enhancing the portability of the unit. It was succeeded by a budget PSP Street model in Europe only, which reinstated the UMD drive but cut back on some of the core features in order to bring the price point down.
The PSP was also notable for its pioneering XMB interface, which would later be adopted by the PS3 as well. Also known as the Cross Media Bar, this aggregated all of the system’s core media features into a series of tabs, allowing players to transition seamlessly between music, movies, and games. It also introduced the PS Store, which players could use to download demos and purchase games, including classic PS1 titles which ran flawlessly on the format. As a result of its many functions, the PSP would go on to sell 80 million units, and proved particularly popular in Japan, where games like Monster Hunter became cultural touchstones.
In this article, we’ve rounded up the best PSP games based on your votes. This is a definitive list determined by your ratings, so if you happen to see anything you disagree with, remember you can do something about it. Please do keep in mind that a game will need at least 20 ratings in order to appear on our list, so that may explain why your favourite is missing. Nevertheless, if you would like to submit some scores, you can do so using the search panel below to do so.
With all that said, scroll down for our definitive list of the best PSP games, as determined by you...
30. Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (PSP)
Size doesn’t matter – but we suppose that was the joke! Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters was the first handheld instalment in Insomniac Games’ action-platformer franchise, although development duties were led by High Voltage Games. Despite later being ported to the PS2, the gameplay felt right at home on Sony’s portable platform, sticking closely to the blueprints established by the main console games. That means plenty of explosive armaments, including some returning favourites like the Hypershot and RYNO.
29. Resistance Retribution (PSP)
Sony Bend was the one of the unsung heroes of the PSP era, making a bunch of excellent Syphon Filter titles that often flew under the radar. When it turned its attention to Insomniac Games’ Resistance in 2009, it arguably delivered one of the best third-person shooters for the system. Set in Paris, this felt like more of a successor to the original Resistance: Fall of Man than any of its subsequent console sequels, and delivered a strong, engaging campaign – despite the limitations of its parent system.
28. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP)
Crisis Core can be an immensely frustrating game to play, but its portrayal of Final Fantasy VII's world and characters as they existed before the main game has always been enough to make it something of a fan favourite. You play as Zack Fair, the surprisingly cheerful SOLDIER whose actions help shape the Final Fantasy VII timeline. Crisis Core also hinges heavily on Sephiroth and his relationships with his fellow SOLDIERs, which makes for an interesting character study. Oh, and there's that cutscene where Sephiroth spars with his companions — complete with his iconic theme — and to angsty teenagers the world over in 2008, it was just about the coolest thing ever conceived.
27. Gran Turismo (PSP)
After years upon years of rumours, the eventual arrival of Gran Turismo on PSP was met with a muted response, despite being a technological marvel. Polyphony Digital, perhaps expecting most fans would play the game in short bursts, stripped back this handheld instalment of its driving simulator – focusing purely on individual races, time trials, and drift challenges. Without any real single player structure, many felt the release wasn’t worth the wait, although connectivity with Gran Turismo 5 made it a great way to expand your console garage on the go.
26. Daxter (PSP)
There was definitely a trend on the PSP of breaking up iconic PS2 platforming double-acts. Secret Agent Clank would release a few years later, but Ready at Dawn got the party started with Daxter in 2006 – a fairly traditional collectathon platformer that saw Jak incarcerated and his furry sidekick take centre stage. It’s perhaps best remembered for its unlockable Dream Sequence minigames, which riffed on famous scenes from movies like The Matrix and Braveheart.
25. Patapon 2 (PSP)
Sony, specifically its Japan Studio unit, came up with some brilliant concepts for the PSP, rhythm-based strategy mash-up Patapon among them. The original was such a critical darling that it was inevitable the platform holder would expand on concept, and so Patapon 2 launched in 2009. While the release was largely similar – you had to beat out drum patterns in order to command monochrome minions – it did introduce some new unit types, and was ultimately well received by critics owing to the overall novelty of its gameplay loop.
24. MotorStorm: Arctic Edge (PSP)
For MotorStorm's debut on PSP, BigBig Studios wasn't content with taking what came before and shrinking it down to size. Instead, it explored all-new territory for the off-road racing series, taking the action to snowy mountain peaks. After the original's scorching desert and Pacific Rift's exotic jungle, MotorStorm: Arctic Edge was a fresh spin on things, introducing new vehicle classes and dangerous hazards. While not as technically accomplished as its PS3 brethren, the PSP racer was a surprisingly solid portable version, allowing fans to get some adrenaline-pumping thrills on the go.
23. LittleBigPlanet (PSP)
LittleBigPlanet was already a technical achievement on PS3, but squeezing all of that Play Create Share goodness onto a UMD? Sony's Cambridge Studio pulled it off brilliantly, with a portable entry that offered the full-fat console experience. An original campaign of levels takes you through another adventure with Sackboy before jumping into a fully-featured level editor. While it was understandably a little pared back, the create mode still afforded players lots of opportunity to unleash their imagination and share it with the community. An impressive conversion of the fan favourite franchise.
22. Dissidia: Final Fantasy (PSP)
A Final Fantasy fighting game has always seemed like a total no-brainer, and Square Enix actually gave the concept a fair shake back in 2009 with the awkwardly titled Dissidia: Final Fantasy. The release would go on to be a fan favourite, and although it was rendered pretty much redundant by Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy — an enhanced semi-sequel — the original remains a high quality spinoff, which is something that the series doesn't always get right.
21. Tomb Raider: Legend (PSP)
After Angel of Darkness failed to impress, Tomb Raider: Legend put things back on track. A reimagined Lara Croft starred in this fresh take on the series. The game takes you on an epic journey as our heroine searches for the mythical sword Excalibur. While it's impressive the title was ported to PSP, Sony's handheld struggles to run it, with various technical problems holding it back. A great game, but this is perhaps not the best version.
Comments 56
Dissidia 012 deserves a waaaay higher spot Imho haha
Notable mentions that may not be on many people's lists...
Then a nod to the never released Resident Evil Portable that many in the community believe eventually became RE Revelations for 3DS.
I'd add Dungeons and Dragons: Tactics to the list as well as Worms: Open Warfare. Untold Legends: BOTB was a top notch top down dungeon crawler as was Dungeon Siege: ToA (on the PSP-2000/3000 series at least)
I miss the PSP - shame Sony never released most of the catalogue for the PS Vita.
This list is all the feels. I miss this Sony so much
Daxter was better than Jak 2 and 3. Fite me.
Another overlooked game from the indie pool: Pixeljunk Monsters and Fat Princess. They've been reborn a few times and seems archaic now, but they were part of the heart of the PSP.
Jeanne d’arc is one rating short! Tactics Ogre needs another 4.
Just dug out my PSP 1000 and am looking to try and pick up some games so this is a handy list.
Lots of great games on this system. Just to name some of my favorites... Ridge Racer, Twisted Metal Head-On, Lumines, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror and Logan's Shadow, Resistance Retribution, Killzone Liberation, Ratchet & Clank Size Matters, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Rockband Unplugged, GTA Liberty City Stories, Soul Calibur Broken Destiny, Tekken Dark Resurrection, Kingdom Hearts Birty by Sleep, God of War: Ghost of Sparta, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, The 3rd Birthday as well as the MLB The Show series Madden NFL 09. Plenty of others as well but those were the ones I spent the most time playing. Very underrated system, imo, liked it much better than the DS.
My psp didn’t have much of a life. I bought it about a week before the vita was announced which was just my luck…
But I played some good games on it, the best in my opinion being Peace Walker.
Runners up would be the two god of war games with Chains of Olympus bring my favourite of the two (just), persona 3 portable which got me into the series and…. Ye. That’s about it. Looking forward to trying crisis core though.
Loved the xmb found it so easy to use.my favourite UI
I have a PSP Go (pearl white!) in the basement I keep meaning to locate…such a slick looking, and playing, device
GHOST OF SPARTA MADE THE TOP 5 ! i’ll take that , it’s one of the best GoW games and my personal fav ; non-stop button mashing , unga-bunga , gameplay at its finest ! 🔥🔥🔥
@Moonmonkey same , i loved the aesthetic of the PS3/PSP . the XMB was so smooth with so many features and amazing themes , and the little ringing sound it used to make when you navigated the menus was timeless .
atleast the PS5 is somewhat reminiscent of sonys stylish aesthetic . i think the ps5 UI is 1000x better than the ps4 and Xbox - though it’s absolutely bare-bones and barren as *****
@NEStalgia i remember getting daxter with the silver psp bundle back in christmas ‘07 as a kid , so i’m inclined to agree with you based off nestalgia alone
Syphon filter was my favourite PSP game, it came out early in the life cycle and amazed me what they managed in a hand held. The GTA games were also great. I feel having the top games all being from 2010 when the PSP was close to dead misses the impact and importance of those earlier games in showing what hand held gaming could be.
PSP is still excellent to this day, I bought a lot of PSP games digitally on Vita and really enjoyed them
I'd add...
Tekken 5 and 6 (These are really great)
The Legend of Heroes
Ys 7 - Ys Oath of Felghana
Tactics Ogre Let us Cling Together
Persona 2
Power Stone Collection
Lunar Silver Star Harmony
Breath of Fire 3
Corpse Party
Mana Khemia
Spectrol Souls
Riviera
Just a few of my faves
Anybody who actually played Metal Gear Acid would know that the 2nd one is far superior while the first, while alright, shouldn't make the list. Also had Jean de arc , Logan's shadow and tactics ogre missing.
Outrun coast 2 coast should be on the list along with Colin McRae rally in my humble opinion but then again I don't play RPGs at all so what do I know
@Blue_Rover Awesome, let us know what you get!
@supergurr Coast 2 Coast is incredible!
I worked in game retail during the PSP launch. It was a great time to be a store manager because those systems just flew off the shelves as soon as someone saw it running. Such an amazing system. Myself and my colleagues spent hours creating the ugliest possible characters in Tiger Woods and then playing some incredible golf action. The fidelity and physics on a handheld were mind blowing at the time. Wonderful days.
Grand theft auto liberty city stories.grand theft autovice city stories.daxter.resistance retribution.dead head fred.final fantasy crisis core.god of war chains of olympus. God of war ghost of sparta.metal gear peacewalker.pursuit force. Kingdom hearts birth by sleep.etc.word up son
PSP had tons of AAA games. If only Sony had put the same effort into Vita, which I loved, but it did not have the same caliber of AAA games like PSP did.
Syphon filter dark mirror and Syphon filter logan shadow is amazing.word up son
@ChrisDeku I loved that one so much.
@__jamiie Blew my mind the first time I played WipEout Pure!
That was a stunning game. I still play my PSP today because of WipEout and the GTA Stories games. Chinatown Wars was better on DS IMO.
"The PSP was also notable for its pioneering XMB interface"
Actually, it 1st appeared in a Japanese PS2 VCR called the PSX
Ys: The Oath in Felghana and Corpse Party are nowhere to be seen. Absolutely scandalous. For a long time, the latter was my go-to tech demo for the potential 3D audio had in horror games.
Dracula X Chronicles is kind of a mediocre remake of Rondo of Blood, but the fact that it had both SotN and a fully english-translated version of Rondo hidden inside was reason enough to purchase it.
Would anyone recommend getting PSP and or PS Vita and why?
A good list overall, but there are a couple other PSP games I can think of that deserve just as much recognition. Namely Star Ocean: Second Evolution and Jeanne D'arc. Both of those were excellent JRPGs, the former of which is a solid remaster of what many people consider the very best Star Ocean game.
tactics ogre let us cling together should be on this list. it was a psp exclusive for 11 years and is arguably the best sjrpg on the platform. looks like we might be gettting a remaster soon though.
as for mgs peace walker and portable ops, they are good games, but are borderline unplayable on the psp due to shoddy performance and horrible controls. the controls really are a dealbreaker.
I can't believe TxK isn't even in the list.
How is Tactics Ogre not on this list?
But seriously Peace Walker is most certainly the pinnacle of the PSP catalog, in my opinion. No contest.
ChrisDeku wrote:
Great shouts. I can fix the first and help with the second.
Anyone else? Bueller? Anyone?
@somnambulance It's a community list. YOU (and others) have to vote for it here or using the search on page 1 of this article. Currently just 2 votes short of having the required 20 to make the list. Deserves top 5 for sure.
@themightyant I already voted for it! Tactics Ogre should definitely be second place, in my opinion. But, honestly, as much as I love Peace Walker, if Tactics Ogre came first, I’d be proud of the Pushsquare community for truly choosing a choice that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.
One of my favorite PSP games.
Pop'n Music Portable 2
No Legend of Heroes Trails in the Sky 1 or 2. Lame.
Happy to see Jean D'Arc so high. My biggest time sink on psp
"The PSP was also notable for its pioneering XMB interface, which would later be adopted by the PS3 as well."
Little know but interesting factoid (to me, anyways): the XMB pre-dated the PSP. The first iteration appeared on the Playstation 2, specifically the PSX which was a Japan-only turbocharged PS2 with digital video recording capabilities. It looks like a huge white TiVo and was the most "fully featured" version of that console.
I'd add crash tag team racing & midnight club 3 dub edition
@UnlimitedSevens just searched it I always thought it was just another name for ps1 but your right doesn't look anything like any of the ps2's either
Katamari, Gitaroo Man, Outrun, Lumines?
@KnightRider1982
Because they have lots of games, of varying quality, and you can play them when not home and with no internet. Go for the VITA of course, you can still play all the psp games (plus the VITA games have trophy support).
I love the PSP (and Vita systems). Seriously, I wish Sony got back in the portable game, maybe let us play PS4 games on the go, earn trophies, access the PS+ Catalog, natively, perhaps, with a new system? We've come a long way for technology, it's not an impossible ask for them.
Very nice, although what ps vita can do better than the psp is full on ps4 remote play throughout wifi and I cherish it the most on the go!
Can someone explain why Dissidia has a rating of 8, while 012, which is effectively a straight upgrade, has a score of 6.7? 🤔
Nice list otherwise, a lot of solid titles from a range of genres and devs that showcase the strength of the PSP’s library (though admittedly I’ve only played a half dozen of the titles mentioned).
@thetraditional a portable ps4 (or ps3 for that matter) in the style of a switch would be awesome.
My wife, my son and I have recently tracked down a trio of PSP-3000 series consoles and have been picking up some absolute bargain UMDs for a few quid each - Worms: Open Warfare 1 & 2, Lego Star Wars: The Original Trilogy, etc.
It's true that I still prefer playing PSP digital titles on my Vita but there's no getting away from the classic mini-discs that never got onto the PS Store and those lovely, colourful, chunky consoles.
Fine list. I'd put Crush, EchoShift or Mercury for puzzle games myself. Disagea 2 maybe for tactics. I don't know enough about Jeandarc or others. Coded Arms is the best shooter/roguelike in a time when we didn't have many like the Indie focus on them these days of roguelike/lites. The other noteble games are in the list of course. Not sure what racing I'd put over GT PSP (other than IP name it's a terrible entry every other racing game on the PSP is better than it for content so GT PSP is a worthless entry here) or Midnight Club though. Toca 2&3 or an NFS game maybe.
Tekken: Dark Ressurection was probably my favourite game, but besides that this list is pretty good.
I've gotten back into PSP lately, having bought a replacement one at work and purchasing some new games for it. But redownloading games has been a pain because of the limited store and outdated Wi-Fi.
In terms of games, I'd like to add Final Fantasy Type-O to the list. Sure, it never came out in English on PSP, but it's still a top-shelf game regardless.
Easily my favourite console of all time and I would argue the first console that truly ushered in the modern age of gaming. I cannot speak for other regions but in the UK it had the web browser, direct DLC downloading, downloadable demos, a multimedia emphasis and an actual useable OS rather than just a memory management system. The fact it was on a handheld was even better. In 2005 it was a slice of the future.
I don't have the console anymore but I quite happily emulate all my existing discs and PSN purchases on PPSSPP on Android.
Its a great top list missing only IMO Lumines which I consider the best falling block puzzle title ever made. Honourable mentions include Outrun 2006, Test Drive Unlimited (They squashed the whole of Oahu onto a UMD) and Phantasy Star Portable 2, the only good installment* since the Dreamcast original.
The console was also peak Sony, by which I mean that lovely way they release pieces of consumer electronics that look so cool, are way ahead of their time and cost an absolute fortune. By this I mean the Location.Free capability that meant with the right hardware you could (in 2006) watch Live TV from your home anywhere in the world streamed to your PSP. I also had all the dorky addons like the camera, GPS module (which had Sat-Nav software in Europe!) and the buggy-but-clever Talkman game.
Mega Man Powered Up needs more votes! It definitely deserves to be here!
Looks at list, sees many repeats of series. The obvious big titles and barely much in-between. Yep it's a fan/reviewer list alright. Sigh.
My Top 5 would be Shining Hearts, Phantasy Star Portable 1 & 2, Tekken 5 - Dark Resurrection, and Final Fantasy Reishiki.
Then there's other good stuff like Prinny, Tales of the World - Radiant Mythology, Ys 3 & 7, Tengai Makyou - Daiyon no Mokushiroku, Strike Witches - Hakugin no Tsubasa...
And let's not forget the huge selection of PSOne Classics. You could end up spending more time on those than actual PSP games. The Japanese store even has a solid number of PC Engine games. They've got some nasty input lag, though, but it's not unplayable. Accessing the Japanese store on a Vita/PSTV won't be possible, though, if you've already connected it to a western PSN account. I got a second PSTV myself just so I could get the Japan exclusive stuff.
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