Best PS1 Games of All Time
The PlayStation library spans over 3,000 titles. These are the ones that hold up best in DuckStation at upscaled resolutions.
Action & Adventure
Crash Bandicoot trilogy
The system-defining platformers. All three run beautifully in DuckStation at 4K with PGXP — the wobbly polygon effect that plagued the originals is completely eliminated.
Spyro the Dragon trilogy
Open-world platformers with surprisingly large environments for the era. PGXP geometry correction makes a dramatic difference on Spyro's smooth curves.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
The gold standard of Metroidvania design. Still holds up as one of the greatest games ever made. NTSC-U version recommended for the better voice acting debate.
Tomb Raider 1–3
Defining 3D action-adventure games of the era. The PAL versions include minor improvements — use SCPH-5502 (PAL) if you prefer those releases.
RPG
Final Fantasy VII
The game that brought JRPGs to Western mainstream audiences. Run at 8x resolution in DuckStation — the pre-rendered backgrounds look stunning at high res.
Final Fantasy VIII
A polarising but technically impressive sequel. Triple Triad alone is worth revisiting. Upscales exceptionally well.
Final Fantasy IX
Many consider it the PS1's finest RPG — a love letter to classic Final Fantasy with stunning art direction. Essential.
Chrono Cross
A visual and audio masterpiece. 45 playable characters and one of gaming's greatest soundtracks. NTSC-U only — no PAL release existed.
Xenogears
Ambitious, dense, and unforgettable. The late-game disc 2 budget compression is legendary but the first disc alone justifies the experience.
Vagrant Story
Square's most technically ambitious PS1 game. Incredible art direction and complex combat. Criminally underplayed.
Survival Horror
Resident Evil 1, 2 & 3
The games that defined survival horror. The tank controls are an acquired taste but the atmosphere is unmatched. RE2 in particular holds up remarkably well.
Silent Hill
Arguably the most unsettling horror game ever made. The PS1's polygon limitations accidentally created the fog system that defined the series aesthetic.
Clock Tower
A cult classic point-and-click horror game. Slow and methodical — a completely different take on horror than Resident Evil.
Action / Stealth
Metal Gear Solid
Hideo Kojima's masterpiece. One of the most influential games ever made. The codec conversations alone contain more story than most modern games.
Tekken 3
The best fighting game on the PS1. The arcade-perfect port from 1998 still holds up competitively. Runs at a locked 60 FPS in DuckStation.
Dino Crisis
Resident Evil with dinosaurs, made by the same team. Faster-paced than RE and genuinely terrifying in its set-pieces.
Racing & Sports
Gran Turismo 1 & 2
The simulation racing games that defined the genre on consoles. GT2's enormous car list remains impressive even now. PGXP makes a notable difference on track surfaces.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 & 2
Redefined the skating game genre. The THPS2 soundtrack is one of gaming's greatest. Both run perfectly in DuckStation.
Wipeout 2097 / XL
Futuristic anti-gravity racing with a techno soundtrack that was ahead of its time. The PAL version is widely considered superior.
Best BIOS for These Games
Most titles listed here are NTSC-U (USA) releases. Use SCPH-1001 or SCPH-5501 for USA games. For Japanese exclusives like Xenogears (Japan original) or Chrono Cross pre-US release, use SCPH-5500. For PAL titles like Wipeout 2097 or Tomb Raider PAL, use SCPH-5502.