The 10 Most Nostalgic PS1 Games To Play in 2026

Published Sep 3, 2026, 3:33 PM EDT Writing from the Chicagoland area in Illinois, Robert is an avid movie watcher and will take just about any excuse to find time to go to his local movie theaters. Robert graduated from Bradley University with degrees in Journalism and Game Design with a minor in Film Studies. Robert tries his best to keep up with all the latest movie releases, from those released in theaters to those released on streaming. While he doesn't always keep up with the latest TV shows, he makes it a goal to watch nearly every major new release possible. He has been honing his craft and following any and all movie news all his life, leading up to now, where he has a vast knowledge of film and film history. He also logs every movie that he watches on his Letterboxd page, and has hosted a weekly online movie night with his closest friends for over 6 years. Few home consoles have as much baked-in nostalgia and appreciation for them as Sony's original PlayStation, a hallmark of the early years of 3D polygonal gaming and one of the best-selling video game consoles of all time. The stature and legacy of PlayStation as one of the greatest and most timeless brands in gaming begins here. Indeed, many of the classic games that built its reputation still have a special place in the hearts of gamers. From the fledgling beginnings of soon-to-be massive franchises to prominent leaps into the latest technology from timeless franchises of previous generations, these PS games exude a charm and joy that make them all the more memorable to those who grew up with them. While not all of these games are the be-all best games that the PS1 has to offer, they feature an inherent fun factor that makes them perfect for nostalgic revisits. 'Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue!' (1999) Image via Activision Back in an era when licensed video games ranged wildly in quality and weren't completely abandoned in favor of Fortnite collabs, Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue takes the cartoon antics of the fan-favorite movie to create a fun, 3D-platformer collectathon. With levels based on the story beats of the movie and even including FMV clips taken directly from the film, it was arguably one of the very best video game tie-ins for its era. It largely follows in the footsteps of other prominent collectathons of the era, like Banjo-Kazooie and Super Mario 64, focusing on large, sprawling levels filled with collectables, enemies, and platforming challenges to complete. As one of the best licensed games of the era, it was a must-play for many young PS1 players. Especially with Toy Story 5 and the upcoming Toy Story 3 game remake releasing this year, there's no better time than the present to get in the Toy Story mood with this PS1 classic. 'Mega Man X4' (1997) Image via Capcom While previous games in the Mega Man and Mega Man X franchise found great success on previous Nintendo consoles, Mega Man X4 made for a stark departure as the first game to be released on PlayStation and initially not on any Nintendo console. While many other franchises were making the jump to 3D, Mega Man X4 stuck to 2D, still utilizing the technological growth of the PlayStation for animated cutscenes and beautiful 3d background and level design. The game succeeds in the classic Mega Man formula with the added bonus of some exceptionally beautiful visuals and one of the best standalone stories in the Mega Man franchise to date. Even if the game gets cheesy at times, the gameplay is so seamless, and the visuals are so immaculate that many fans still consider it to be one of the greatest games in the Mega Man X franchise. 'Final Fantasy Tactics' (1997) Image via Sony Computer Entertainment The traditional, numerical turn-based RPG games in the Final Fantasy franchise are often the ones that fans think of first when considering the greatest Final Fantasy games. However, one major exception is the spinoff title Final Fantasy Tactics, whose engaging story and tactical RPG gameplay make it one of the best games in the franchise and one of the best RPGs ever made. It helps that the game is helmed by Yasumi Matsuno, who already had prolific experience with tactical RPGs through his celebrated Ogre Battle series. Final Fantasy Tactics proves to be one of the most accessible tactical RPGs ever made, seamlessly blending the genre's strengths with the character class system and storytelling of the Final Fantasy franchise. Complete with an engaging story and incredibly memorable characters, it isn't surprising that the game has amassed such a powerful legacy, even receiving a remaster for modern consoles last year. 'Ape Escape' (1999) Image via Sony Computer Entertainment An incredibly charming 3D platformer that made a point of pushing the strengths and brilliance of PlayStation's DualShock controller for platformer gaming, Ape Escape became an instant fan favorite thanks to its innovative controls and pure charm. However, it's the goofy creative antics of the central apes and the colorful high-energy style of the game as a whole that have made it one of the most endearing classics in the PS1 library. Even after the series has seen a wide array of different spinoffs and sequels, there is something so endearing and charming about the PS1 original that continues to make it one of the best games in the franchise. Especially with the game having been ported and remade for many modern consoles, it's easier than ever to re-experience this all-time classic that launched one of PlayStation's goofiest and most charming franchises. 'Tekken 3' (1998) Image via Namco Fighting games were arguably at the height of their popularity in the late '90s, dominating arcades and home consoles alike. Logically, many legendary franchises came into their own during this time. The PlayStation 1 had its own fair share of memorable fighting games to choose from, yet easily the best and most nostalgic fighting game on the console is Tekken 3. Still considered one of the greatest fighting games ever made, Tekken 3 is where Tekken as a franchise truly evolved from a novelty 3D fighter to an icon of the fighting game genre. The graphics are considerably greater than previous entries, the gameplay is smoother and built for skill expression, and the PS1 port plays as seamlessly as possible, playing almost exactly the same as the original arcade version. There's a good reason that the game was the 5th best-selling on the console, as the endless fun of battling against friends will always have an appeal. It has only grown more effective with the added aspect of nostalgia, as it feels just as fresh and fun as it did decades ago. 'Crash Team Racing' (1999) Image via Sony Computer Entertainment One of the very few kart racers as good as Mario Kart, Crash Team Racing succeeded not only because of the inherent name-brand value of Crash Bandicoot as the mascot for the console, but because its high-octane gameplay is still fun all these years later. With hours of multiplayer racing fun to be had and a surprisingly layered single-player experience, Crash Team Racing was one of the defining titles of the PS1's later years and is still one of its most fun titles to date. In many of the same ways that a game like Mario Kart 64 is one of the most nostalgic titles for its console, the endless racing fun that Crash Team Racing provides makes it one of the system's greatest multiplayer offerings. The fact that it can be enjoyed again and again is the cherry on top. One doesn't even have to be a fan of the original Crash trilogy to enjoy this racing title, as its strengths are wholly standalone as one of the PS1's best games. 'Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage' (1999) Image via Sony Computer Entertainment One of the two major trilogies that defined the PS1, Spyro the Dragon blended fantasy elements with classic 3D platformer elements to create one of the most charming and accessible experiences on the console. While each of the games in the PS1 trilogy is iconic in its own right, arguably the best and easily the one that would garner the most nostalgia is Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage. With more prominent level design and an infinitely more memorable central villain, Spyro 2 evolves the formula set up by the original film to make that much more of a compelling gaming experience. Especially for those who experienced the PS1 in their youth, the Spyro trilogy, and Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage specifically, were some of the most charming and endlessly engaging games to experience. It had the depth and intricacy required of a truly great platformer while also being incredibly easy to pick up and understand. Every aspect of the game exudes a sense of raw nostalgia for those who experienced it. 'Final Fantasy VII' (1997) Image via Square/ Square Enix Arguably one of the first games that come to mind when considering all-time classics released on the PS1, Final Fantasy VII is a timeless JRPG masterpiece that pushed the genre forward with its exceptional storytelling and groundbreaking 3D visuals. The overwhelming influence and stature that it has had in gaming culture is staggering, still being celebrated as the peak of Final Fantasy and one of the greatest video games ever made. There's so much content and memorable experiences in the game that always make re-experiencing it special. From memorable boss fights to surprising plot twists that shook gamers to their core, the feelings that Final Fantasy VII stirs up in those who experienced it cannot be easily replicated as a true icon of gaming culture for the era. Even as more amazing Final Fantasy games were released on the PS1, there is still something special about Final Fantasy VII that makes it so nostalgic and memorable for gamers. 'Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2' (2000) Image via Activision Few game franchises speak to the culture and zeitgeist of the '90s and early 2000s like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, whose mixture of engaging gameplay with the countercultural vibes of professional skateboarding made the games incredibly lucrative in the previous era. While the original game was already great enough, the sequel, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, is unanimously seen as the height of the franchise and one of the greatest sports games ever made. This pretty much perfect video game does just about everything one would want out of a skateboarding sim, with fluid gameplay, memorable maps that encourage creativity in tricks, and an overwhelming passion at every moment. Especially considering just how much the series isn't as massive as it once was, there is a palpable nostalgia in revisiting this legendary skateboarding classic. Today, its quality miraculously lives up to all of the nostalgia that has been built up for it. 'Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back' (1997) Image via Sony Computer Entertainment It's impossible to discuss nostalgia for PS1 classics without bringing up one of the biggest mascots for the console, Crash Bandicoot. Each of the games in Naughty Dog's legendary platformer trilogy is iconic in their own right and oozes nostalgia for anyone who owned a PS1 back in the day. The choice as to which game in the trilogy takes this slot could change on any given day, yet Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back finds the perfect nostalgic balance of timeless gameplay and overwhelming charm in its levels and characters. While the original game had some issues with difficulty balancing, and Crash Bandicoot: Warped loses focus with vehicle levels, Cortex Strikes Back is pure Crash Bandicoot platforming greatness. Even outside of the gameplay elements, there are so many memorable levels and joyous charm that serve to amplify the nostalgic reverence that gamers have for this legendary title.