5 PlayStation Games From the 1990s That Still Hold Up Today

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Sony made a huge impact when it entered the video game console market with the PlayStation in 1994. While the PlayStation 2 later became even more popular, the original PlayStation established Sony as a major competitor. A key to its success was Sony’s commitment to publishing quality games – they didn’t have all the best titles, but they had plenty. Fortunately, many of Sony’s classic games remain enjoyable and well-regarded even now.

Here are five PlayStation games from the 1990s that are still enjoyable today. We’re only including games published by Sony themselves, so you won’t find titles like Metal Gear Solid or Resident Evil on this list.

5) Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back

The Crash Bandicoot series has long been popular on PlayStation. While not directly intended to compete with Mario and Sonic, it was Sony’s closest attempt at creating a similar platforming icon. Many fans consider the second Crash game to be the best in the series, and it’s a significant improvement over the first. It introduces new moves like sliding and climbing, letting players explore levels in more inventive ways.

The addition of things like the jetpack and rocket surfboard levels really kept the gameplay interesting. Players also appreciated that the game gradually got more challenging, building up to the hardest parts. Even today, it’s still incredibly fun to play, despite all the advancements in game design over the last 30 years. You can check out the remastered version, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, if you want, but the original is great too.

4) Twisted Metal 2: World Tour

The Twisted Metal series is remembered as one of the most fun and exciting car combat games ever made. It combined simple, arcade-style driving with a memorable group of characters and over-the-top weapons. Twisted Metal 2 is generally considered the best game in the original 90s run (though some fans prefer Black, which was released in 2001). It significantly improved on the first game with much bigger and more detailed levels.

While the graphics might seem a bit dated now (and Twisted Metal wasn’t known for its beauty to begin with), this is still a really fun car combat game. It’s too bad the genre isn’t as popular anymore, because Twisted Metal shows there’s definitely still an audience for exciting, destructive car battles.

3) PaRappa The Rapper

PaRappa the Rapper is a charming and simple rhythm game about a rapping dog – a truly unique concept! It perfectly captures the style of the 1990s, and if you’re looking for a game that embodies that era on the PlayStation, PaRappa is a perfect choice.

Fortunately, the game is as fun to play as it is to look at. Rhythm games tend to stay enjoyable over time, and PaRappa is a great example. Plus, the rhymes are surprisingly good! They’re a bit goofy, but PaRappa and his friends actually have clever lyrics.

2) Gran Turismo 2

The graphics in the Gran Turismo series have improved dramatically over the years. It was once a stunning game, and it’s interesting to look back and see how much gaming visuals have advanced.

It’s amazing considering how quickly GT2 was made. Despite the rushed development, it was widely considered the best racing game of 1999 and is still worth playing today. GT2 was a truly exceptional game and laid the groundwork for Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec, which many fans consider the peak of the entire series.

1) Final Fantasy VII

The collaboration between Sony and Square came as a big shock, especially since Square had a long-standing relationship with Nintendo and its Final Fantasy games. However, when Nintendo chose to continue using game cartridges, Sony developed the disc-based PlayStation, and Square decided to go with Sony’s technology.

Nintendo’s game cartridges held much less information than PlayStation’s discs, which created a big opportunity for Square. The company seized that chance and created what many consider the best role-playing game ever made. It was a smart decision by Sony to have the disc-based system.

It’s hard to say anything new about Final Fantasy VII. Cloud’s adventure through Midgar is a truly unforgettable story, largely thanks to the compelling villain, Sephiroth. The remake is excellent too, but it significantly expands on the original story, making it almost essential to play the original FF7 before starting the Remake series.

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2026-03-01 23:41