Sony is the undisputed master of the console exclusive. While Microsoft has its fair share of contenders, like Halo and...um...Halo, Sony is simply on another level. OK - Gears of War and Sea of Thieves are okay too. Ever since the glory days of the OG PlayStation though, Sony has been releasing console exclusives at a steady rate, many of which have gone on to enjoy immense amounts of critical and commercial success.

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The PS5 is certainly no different and is already home to some fantastic exclusives with more soon on the way. Never mind exclusives - Sony is out here making fantastic games, period. These are the twelve best PlayStation games ever made, ranked according to Metacritic. It's also important to note that only one entry will be included per franchise and only games that started life as PlayStation exclusives will make the cut.

12 Chrono Cross (94)

It's not easy following up the masterpiece that is Chrono Trigger, but Square somehow managed to pull it off. The game, which was released in Japan in November of 1999 and in North America the following year, was an instant success in both countries, becoming an Ultimate Hit and Sony Greatest Hits title, respectively.

Critics praised many aspects of the game's production, including the complex battle system, the gorgeous graphics and score, and, of course, the intricate plot. Not many people were taking video games seriously in the late '90s and early 2000s, but Chrono Cross really helped to change that.

11 Devil May Cry (94)

Sadly, there aren't too many hack and slash games being released these days. Devil May Cry, the first in an ongoing series, was released in August of 2001, at a time when arcades were beginning to die and arcade-style gameplay was transitioning to home consoles.

Devil May Cry is a perfect example of that transition, as it features very arcadey gameplay, complete with letter grades based on performance, a "stylish" rating, and an emphasis on collectibles. Its fast and fluid action was highly praised, as were its graphics, Gothic world, and fair difficulty, which was seen as a breath of fresh air by more seasoned gamers.

10 God Of War (94)

Who says they don't make good video games anymore? Just when the God of War franchise was beginning to grow a little stale, God of War (2018) was emphatically let loose upon the world and single-handedly revived the entire franchise.

The game was adored by critics and audiences alike, and many aspects of its creation were lauded. These include the mesmerizing graphics and intricate combat system, not to mention the surprisingly deep and touching story. It was just what the God of War series needed, and is now rightfully regarded as one of the greatest games on the PS4.

9 Final Fantasy IX (94)

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While Final Fantasy IX has been ported to numerous consoles over the years, its original home was the PlayStation 1 back in July of 2000. The game introduced a few new mechanics to the well-worn and popular series, including "Active Time Event" cutscenes and the skill system, further complicating (in a good way) an already complex series.

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The game turned out to be a major hit both critically and commercially, and it currently holds the highest Metacritic score in the Final Fantasy series (and that's saying something). It was an instant classic, and is still regarded as one of the greatest Final Fantasy games of all time to this day.

8 Persona 5 Royal (95)

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Prior to the release of Persona 5, the Persona series was relatively unheard of in the west, as too was the Shin Megami Tensei franchise from which it spun off. That all changed pretty quickly, however, with Atlus' epic masterpiece helping to catapult Joker and the rest of the Phantom Thieves into near-instant stardom.

Persona 5 Royal is an expanded version of that game, with additional storylines and side quests to keep players busy for a little longer. As a result, completing the whole thing can take players well over 100 hours, making it one of the longest JRPGs on the PS4 as well as one of the very best. There's still no word on when the next Persona game will finally arrive, but one suspects that it won't stray too far from the successful formula established by its predecessor.

7 The Last Of Us (95)

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The Last of Us is arguably Naughty Dog's magnum opus, as it is more highly regarded by critics, and seemingly more popular with players than the Uncharted series. Virtually every aspect of the game was celebrated, particularly the emotional story that touched on mature themes like fatherhood, sacrifice, depression, and family.

Its technical components were also praised, from its terrifying and immersive sound design to its mind-blowing graphics that both horrified and amazed. It has become one of the most awarded games in history, winning over 240 Game of the Year awards! It's controversial sequel performed just as well, and currently holds a 93 average rating on Metacritic.

6 LittleBigPlanet (95)

LittleBigPlanet was a huge surprise to everyone. Puzzle platformers are often niche games that are quickly forgotten, and the childish visual design all-but-guaranteed that it would be ignored by most adult gamers. However, it turned out to be a monumental success that very few saw coming.

The game was released on the PlayStation 3 back in October of 2008 and was an instant critical success, garnering near-perfect reviews for its stellar presentation, unique gameplay mechanics, and impressive level of customization. Despite being released the same year as Grand Theft Auto IV, LittleBigPlanet still took home numerous "Game of the Year" awards from various publications, proving just what a powerhouse this little game could be.

5 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (96)

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Save for its very first installment, the Metal Gear franchise has always been strongly associated with the PlayStation brand. This is because the series' first big breakthrough in the west came courtesy of the original Sony system. Metal Gear Solid still boasts an impressive rating on Metacritic today, though is actually tied for the title of worst modern mainline Metal Gear game, with each subsequent numbered installment either matching or beating its average score.

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The highest-rated Metal Gear game is Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, which was released for the PS2 back in 2001 and holds a mighty 96 rating on the review aggregator site. The Xbox One port of Metal Gear Solid 5 takes second place with a 95 average, while the series' third and fourth numbered installments both sit back with Metal Gear Solid on a still-impressive 94.

4 Gran Turismo (96)

Whenever the subject of the greatest video games of all time is breached, few ever pay any consideration to the sports/racing genre. That is doing a major disservice to Gran Turismo though, which most consider to be the greatest sports-related video game ever made.

At the time, Gran Turismo was considered the best racing game on the market, and it helped raise the bar for what was possible in the genre. It featured award-winning graphics, and has since been named the greatest racing game of all time by various publications. Those who still doubt its quality need only take a look at its near-perfect Metacritic score. That fat 96 proves that Gran Turismo deserves a place in the annals of video game history.

3 Tekken 3 (96)

Tekken 3 was released at the height of the fighting game genre, and, as such, it became a huge success. Originally released in arcades, the game was later ported to the original PlayStation, which undoubtedly helped its branding and recognition in the west. The game eventually sold over eight million copies, making it the fourth-best selling PlayStation 1 game of all time (behind only Gran Turismo, Final Fantasy VII, and Gran Turismo 2).

Of course, Tekken 3 was quite the critical success as well, as evidenced by its incredibly impressive 96 Metacritic average rating. It's now regarded as one of the finest and most popular fighting games of all time, even if the Tekken series was eventually overshadowed by the fierce competition provided by the likes of Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat.

2 Grand Theft Auto III (97)

Together with Sega's Shenmue series, Grand Theft Auto III helped to change video games forever. As a quick aside, it's worth pointing out that Grand Theft Auto IV has a higher Metacritic rating at 98, but that game was released on multiple consoles, whereas Grand Theft Auto III originally started life as a PlayStation 2 exclusive.

There's simply no conveying just how massive, popular, and monumental this game was at the time. The huge open-world, while rudimentary by today's standards, was simply breathtaking, and the gameplay options were quite literally limitless. Whatever players wanted to do, they were able, and wherever they wanted to go, they could go. Through Grand Theft Auto III, players were introduced to the future of gaming, and it was glorious to behold.

1 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (98)

Believe it or not, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 has one of the highest Metacritic scores of all time. Sure, everyone knows that it's fun, but this will likely still be surprising to some. The game took everything that was great about the first Tony Hawk's title - the arcade-style gameplay, large environments, and natural controls - and simply made everything better.

The gameplay was more fun and arcadey, the environments were even larger, and the controls were even tighter. Add in a few new components to the recipe, like cash rewards and manuals, and the end result is an unexpected masterpiece. Few could have predicted that a skateboarding series would become one of the most beloved franchises in gaming history, but that's exactly what Tony Hawk's did!

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