Despite its age, the PlayStation 1 remains one of the most fondly remembered consoles of all time. Its library was full to the brim with imaginative titles that dealt with everything from tight platforming to riveting stealth-action gameplay. Of course, one of the biggest draws of Sony's little gray box was the sheer number of games that players could enjoy with their friends on the console.
There are several great PS1 multiplayer games that are worth a mention in this regard, with the best of the bunch being highlighted below. If players are still able to get their hands on the console and have copies of the following games available to them, then they can still call over a bunch of friends and have a fantastic time.
10 Tekken 3
Tekken 3 is a great fighting game that still stands strong to this day courtesy of its tight fighting mechanics. Sure, the later games in the series have brought with them several modern innovations, but there's something about the classics that make them so infinitely playable.
As is par for the course when it comes to fighting games, players can battle each other by choosing their preferred fighters and duking it out. Even after so many years, playing Tekken 3 with a friend is a blast in every sense of the word.
9 Gran Turismo 2
Gran Turismo has been a long-running racing franchise on the PlayStation for quite some time. The earlier games in the series made a strong impression, especially when it came to Gran Turismo 2.
This game was easily one of the very best that the PlayStation had to offer in terms of racing games. What made the experience even better was split-screen multiplayer with a friend and it is still enjoyable to this day.
8 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 is one of the greatest video games ever made. The fact that the remaster of the first two games sold like gangbusters is enough to prove just how impactful this title really was.
Taking turns with a friend on the original PlayStation after a wipeout made for a great time that still holds up even now. Of course, most people would just opt for the remasters instead, but there's something about the allure of the classics that's special in its own way.
7 Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot is one of the most legendary platformers of all time. Even with the release of the remakes, most people find that the hit detection of the original coupled with its undeniable charm still makes it worthwhile to check out.
Nailing the jumps in this game and evading countless dangers that can take Crash out in one hit makes for a great time. Switching controllers around after every death is a pretty fair and fun way to play this game.
6 Street Fighter Alpha 3
The Street Fighter series is another long-time fighting game franchise that made a massive mark on the original PlayStation with the release of Street Fighter Alpha 3. This great fighting title still holds up and is a ton of fun to play with friends.
With a slew of fan-favorite characters, players can have a great time fighting each other with special move sets and groundbreaking combos. The game might not have the modern nuances in later Street Fighter games, but it's clear that a lot of people don't mind this at all.
5 PaRappa The Rapper
One of the hardest games on the original PlayStation, most players never expected PaRappa the Rapper to be so challenging. After all, the game's cute visuals and light-hearted nature made it seem like nothing more than a casual experience.
However, all of these expectations were dashed when the rapping started and players realized just how tough the game really was. Players need to be almost frame-perfect with their inputs, and it's definitely a great game to play with friends when the controller is being passed around after every failure.
4 Driver
There was a time when people went crazy over the Driver games. The tight mechanics and a mature approach to the tone of these games set them apart from the majority of the other driving games from the era.
Driver's first level might be one of the hardest any game had to offer at the time, but the game definitely opens up after this challenge. Playing with friends and tacking missions in the most ostentatious manner is part of the reason why Driver is beloved by so many players.
3 Twisted Metal 2
Speaking of driving games with a mature emphasis, it would be hard to not mention the Twisted Metal series. This racing franchise might be dormant right now, but most people still recall the glory days of the franchise even now.
Twisted Metal 2 is a great game on the PlayStation where players can cycle through a bunch of game modes that require them to reach the finish line intact or destroy as many cars as possible. Each mode is a blast, especially if players have a friend to enjoy this carnage with.
2 Metal Slug X
A classic run-and-gun side scroller that everyone must've heard of by this point, those who've played it will know just how hard yet engaging Metal Slug X is. The art style of these games is iconic in their own right, with the chaotic action leading many players to an early grave over and over again.
Players who want to make the experience more manageable and exciting should look no further than the co-op of this title. Two players are better than one when it comes to tearing through the stages in Metal Slug X, after all.
1 Crash Team Racing
One of the first kart racers to be released on the PlayStation, Crash Team Racing filled the void many players felt after being ardent fans of Mario Kart. It might not be the most innovative kart racer around, but it gets the job done.
The fact that players absolutely love its remake shows just how fun Crash Team Racing really is. Once players get the hang of this title, playing it with friends is an absolute blast.