The PlayStation Portable has remained an underrated console. Best PSP Games. Just look at our selection of the best games for the console to be sure.
The PSP failed to become what its creators hoped for – a compact version of the PS2, but the set-top box remains in our memory for its ambitious set of functions for its time. Best PSP Games. On it, one could watch movies, listen to music (mostly downloaded from YouTube), and, of course, play strange and creative games at the same time.
If you were willing to put up with some of this platform’s awkwardness, you quickly discovered one of the main strengths of PSP games – they were the perfect intermediate between short games for, for example, GameBoy and long PS2 adventures. It’s time to remember the 25 best PSP projects, each of which has managed to pass the test of time.
Table of Contents
1. Half-Minute Hero: Best PSP Games
Do you have a minute? How about 30 seconds? Great, because that’s exactly how much you need to save the whole world.
Half-Minute Hero, developed by Marvelous Entertainment, turns the RPG genre’s foundations on its head, offering players in just 30 seconds to go through the typical hero’s path – to defeat all enemies pump their skills, and ultimately save the world. Fortunately, the timer can be restarted repeatedly, and the main fun in local Groundhog Day is learning the actions of opponents, which can then be turned against them. Half-Minute Hero is so unusual that it is tough to define its genre, but believe that you will not worry about it during the game.
2. Killzone: Liberation: Best PSP Games
Although the game is about death and destruction, Killzone: Liberation looks like one of the most beautiful on the PSP and is rightly considered one of the best projects in the Killzone series.
Liberation is ditching the usual FPS mechanics in favor of an isometric top-down view, where a reaction is as important as tactical thinking. The game is quite tricky, so it is almost impossible to complete any mission without preparation.
Instead of pumping numerous weapons, a profound system of equipment and skills is presented here, allowing you to adapt the hero to your passing style. Considering that the game has the best multiplayer mode among all PSP projects, Liberation can deservedly be called a reason to buy this console.
3. Jeanne d’Arc: Best PSP Games
No one knows why Studio Level-5 decided to retell Joan of Arc’s story instead of creating a new heroine with French ancestry. But this is not particularly important because we have a somewhat surprising look at a historical figure (with magic and fights with demons). Best PSP Games. Presented in the form of an outstanding tactical role-playing game.
Like Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics, battles in Jeanne D’Arc take place on a shared map, and players will have to recruit new heroes to their squads and pump them. Among the game features – a limited time for each battle, anime-style, and rather intense and dynamic wars-Jeanne D’Arc surpassed many competitors in its genre.
4. Secret Agent Clank: Best PSP Games
His name is XJ-0461. Clank XJ-0461. Remember this name. If you liked the original Ratchet and Clank, then we strongly recommend that you check out the excellent spin-off – Secret Agent Clank.
This adventure mixes traditional Ratchet and Clank gameplay with interesting 3D platformer elements. You will find levels with vehicles, missions to capture objects, levels with Quark’s funny memories, and vivid firefights with Ratchet. This spin-off has preserved everything for which we loved the original – a lot of incredible gadgets and weapons, colorful characters, and inventive presentation.
5. Every Extend Extra: Best PSP Games
Q Entertainment’s Every Extend Extra screenshots almost always look like a multicolored mess, which scares off many potential gamers. However, it is enough to spend a few minutes in the game to master the basic mechanics, and you will understand what the beauty of Every Extend Extra is.
The mission is simple: to blow up the ship and start a chain reaction, which ideally should destroy the main boss. Each level here is a sophisticated puzzle where you need to calculate all your actions to demolish everything in your path at the touch of a button. Moreover, at each level, you will find new enemies, new locations, and contemporary tunes recorded by Tetsuya Mizuguchi (Rez, Lumines), which bring the necessary variety to the gameplay Extend Extra.
6. Ys Seven: Best PSP Games
Seven was a lucky number for Nihon Falcom’s RPG franchise. Ys Seven can be viewed as an evolution of the series – typical of the old Ys, 2D sprites and environments have given way to a full-fledged 3D adventure with colorful characters, new systems, and a rather entertaining storyline.
You might think that a 30-hour RPG is overkill for a handheld console, but trust me, Ys Seven, with its gorgeous battles, rich world, and well-written storyline, will not let you get bored for a minute.
7. Mega Man Powered Up: Best PSP Games
Mega Man Powered Up isn’t just a remake of the classic NES game. She ended up on this list thanks to a complete rethinking of the original. The game pleases with updated graphics, new levels, and modes to switch between the titular hero and robot bosses.
It all would look like the show The Muppet Babies if it had explosions, battles, and the ability to steal other people’s abilities. And if this is not enough for you, as an old-school fan of the series, then especially for you, there is a level editor in the game and the ability to share them with other gamers.
8. Ape Escape On the Loose: Best PSP Games
Ape Escape: On the Loose is a beautiful remake of the original PS1 game with updated graphics and tons of themed minigames. Of course, the project’s translation cannot be called outstanding, and the management of times is inconvenient. Still, you close your eyes to all this in light of the advantages of Ape Escape – excellent platforming, creative gadgets, and the game’s general charm.
9. Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep
Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep could have been a mediocre game designed only to raise as much money as possible from the series’s fans while they wait for a full-blown sequel. But instead, Square released one of the most critical installments in the series, which blended into the lore of this universe as gracefully as the epic Kingdom Hearts 2. Long before Kingdom Hearts 3 was announced for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, Birth By Sleep was perceived as an objective third party.
The place of Sora, the main character of the previous parts. It is taken by Terra, Aqua, and Ventus, which is confusing at first. But you can get used to these changes relatively quickly – the familiar surroundings and the battles performed at the highest level help us in this.
10. Gran Turismo PSP
Gran Turismo PSP surprisingly proved to be a worthy successor to the series. Even though it was released on a handheld console. Studio Polyphony Digital. Which developed the exclusive GT for the Sony set-top box, did not think to slow down. She was presenting us with an excellent project in every sense.
The first thing that catches your eye is the gorgeous graphics of GT, but this is far from the only advantage of the game. There are more than 800 cars, 35 tracks and perfectly implemented support for 60fps gameplay, which allows you to forget about the absence of a traditional career mode and dive into deep customization of cars. Moreover, GT PSP pleases multiplayer races and the ability to share your cars with friends.
11. Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
If the first Dissidia Final Fantasy was a humble declaration of love for the series, then in the sequel, the amount of fan service in the FF universe has grown at least 12 times Dissidia 012, conceived as a prequel to the first Dissidia, blends standard JRPG mechanics with flamboyant, high-octane 1×1 battles. It also fixes some balance issues and introduces some familiar heroes to all FF fans. This is a true paradise for the series’s lovers, but even beginners will be interested in playing Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy and appreciating the local atmosphere.
12. Persona 3 Portable
The main advantage of adapting Persona 3 (the original which came out on PS2) for PSP attention to detail was carried out with the new platform’s porting. The game world is perfectly optimized for the console, and a girl acts as the main character. Best PSP Games. This noticeably changes the story’s general tone, allowing you to take a fresh look at familiar events.
The PSP version of the famous JRPG is also notable for the dungeon system carried over from the original, without which none of the best games of the genre can do. Perhaps the only project that managed to surpass the third part is Persona 4 Golden for PS Vita.
13. LocoRoco 2
LocoRoco 2 is impossible to hate. After spending just a few minutes in a charming puzzle game from Japan Studio, you, without noticing it. Salesforce social studio. Will sing along with the heroes of the game, exploring the vast world with interest.
Everything that made LocoRoco memorable is back in the sequel. Including the mechanics that let you tilt the game world at all sorts of angles to solve problems. And you will have to become a real expert in this matter if you want to find all the secrets. And bonus missions scattered across various locations. But don’t let the cute graphics fool you. LocoRoco 2 is incredibly difficult to complete.
14. Valkyria Chronicles II
There were fears that the portable sequel to Valkyria Chronicles, released on PS3. Would lose the depth of the original, but Sega has proven that these fears were unfounded. Valkyria Chronicles II continues Avan Hardin’s story from the same point at which the last part ended. An intense adventure awaits us at the Royal Military Academy. It will be necessary to resolve conflicts both on the battlefield and beyond. It is vital that in the portable Valkyria Chronicles, every activity, whether it be infantry management, customization of military equipment, or large-scale battles. Is performed at the same level as in the original game.
15. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
As an updated remake of Final Fantasy Tactics released on PlayStation, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions expands the tactical potential of the original, adding new heroes, professions, and cutscenes that are worth playing for.
If you do not get lost in the intricacies of the local plot, you will probably spend more than one day thinking over a strategy and forming your army. Like the original, the game is pretty tough on newbies; however, those willing to learn from their mistakes will appreciate the gameplay rich in trivia.
16. Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles
For many years, Dracula X: Rondo of Blood remained a Castlevania diamond inaccessible to most gamers, which only owners of the Japanese Turbo-Grafx 16 CD console could admire. And then Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles came out, which included a 2.5D remake of Rondo and a modified version of the legendary Symphony of the Night for PlayStation 1. best true wireless earbuds 2021. This collection is of real value for any fan of the game who will be crazy about many new heroes and boss fights.
17. Power Stone Collection
A project that is essentially a compilation of two parts (Power Stone and Power Stone 2). Power Stone is famous for popularizing multiplayer 3D brawls long before the release of the PlayStation All-Stars. There are many colorful characters, each of whom can turn an ordinary battle in the arena into explosive action.
The decision to move the Dreamcast exclusively to PSP was the right one, not only because the handheld was great for arcade gameplay. But also because the PSP had already gained a reputation as a platform on which forgotten hits take on a second life. This is what happened with the Power Stone Collection.
18. Monster Hunter Freedom
Monster Hunter Freedom demands a lot from players. It would help if you had the patience and endurance to appreciate the game. If you are ready to do this, you will discover one of the most impressive PSP projects.
Inspired by Monster Hunter G, Freedom is a massive monster-hunting simulator with the power to set the pace. It is noteworthy that each monster must look for a different approach. And the planning of the operation can sometimes drag on for long hours. You will spend a lot of time in Monster Hunter Freedom in vain attempts and experiments. Which sooner or later will bear fruit. It is worth noting that it was with this part that the series brought international recognition.
19. Final Fantasy 7: Crisis Core
Final Fantasy 7: Crisis Core brings fans back to the best world ever seen in previous games. There are tons of familiar FF7 heroes (including Zach). And an impressive set of creative missions that allow you to go through the adventure at your own pace.
The gameplay mechanics are a lot different from what we’re used to seeing, however. Crisis Core retains all the classic FF7 components while ingeniously retelling a familiar story. Best computer speakers. It was one of the first major projects for Hajima Tabata to return as Game Director in Final Fantasy 15.
20. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (VCS) is not the first GTA spin-off for handheld consoles, but it is arguably the most detailed of its kind. A prequel to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (released on PS2). VCS uses all PSP functionality to make the GTA world as realistic as possible. To do this, the authors used a new game engine, which made it possible to achieve amazing graphics by the standards of portable consoles. Even in the light of GTA Online, VCS remains an outstanding achievement.
21. Patapon 3
This is extremely difficult to explain the gameplay details of this PSP exclusive to those who first hear about this series. It’s a game that uses elements of rhythm games to create a unique gameplay experience. Somewhat reminiscent of a mixture of Lemmings and Elite Beat Agents. Or LocoRoco and Donkey Konga. See? It’s Complicated.
In Patapon 3, the Pyramid developers have perfected their formula. Here we again have to lead the army of the Patapons and defeat the seven archives, controlling the actions of our subordinates with the help of drumming. Intuitive controls, rich graphics, and multiplayer allowed the third part to surpass its predecessors in all respects.
22. Daxter
Daxter is a spin-off to Jak & Daxter for PS2 that came out quite unexpectedly. Set during the events of Jak 2, a mix of platformer and open-world shooter from Ready at Dawn tells the story of a charismatic ocelot
Daxter is trying to save his friend Jack from the clutches of Baron Praxis. If you haven’t played any of the Jak & Daxter parts (you should be ashamed), you probably didn’t understand anything from the previous sentence. This is logical since the game is primarily aimed at longtime fans of the franchise.
The graphics and variety of Daxter looked incredible for its time, given that the project came out on a portable console, and even today, the game seems like a worthy representative of the Jak & Daxter series. It’s got everything: action, drama, humor, boss fights. LAN multiplayer, minigames, collectibles, and a host of other things worth getting Daxter on PSP for.
23. God of War: Ghost of Sparta
Ready at Dawn and SCE Santa Monica Studio has expertly brought the God of War series to Sony’s handheld console. In contrast, it is retaining its core element – brutal and uncompromising gameplay. She managed to surpass even God of War: Chains of Olympus, which is deservedly considered exemplary in its genre.
In the center of the plot of the game is another adventure of Kratos. During which he searches for his brother Deimos. Which, by the way, is an essential part of the cross-cutting plot of the entire series. And although the project is still noticeably inferior to the details released on home consoles. It manages to surprise us with new techniques and locations. By the time you pass through the depths of Atlantis. Sail along the River of Wailing and sweep through the Kingdom of the Dead. You will feel like a full-fledged hero of Greek myths.
24. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker brings the blockbuster atmosphere of the previous installments to a portable console. Which gives the impression that Hideo Kojima secretly updated our PSPs. Because there is no other explanation for how this console manages to cope with such a large-scale game. The insane storyline, tons of bonus content. And the army formation that will later move into Metal Gear Solid 5. The Phantom Pain will keep you busy for at least 30 hours. Yes, thirty hours, you heard right.
Here you will find classic Snake gadgets, profound control of squads, and the Mother Base. And training of your charges, who will go on various missions. Throw in the multiplayer co-op and competitive modes for Peace Walker, one of the best handheld consoles in their history.
25. Lumines
Lumines is an immortal masterpiece. The psychedelic puzzle game Tetsui Mizuguchi, even a decade after its release, manages to capture our minds. Intelligently using lighting and voice acting, and every match here looks like a work of art. Lumines uses a concept familiar to every gamer, taking it to hitherto unseen heights.
It is noteworthy that one of the first games released on the PSP topped our list. And I think you will agree with our choice if you spend at least a couple of minutes in it, despite being followed by sequels on PS3, PS Vita, and even iOS with Android. The original on PSP remains the best.
