Recently, reports started circulating that Sony is going to shut down the PlayStation Stores for the PSP, PS3, and PS Vita, making hundreds of digital games completely inaccessible. These reports have yet to be confirmed by Sony, but it has made some fans worried about losing access to certain games, especially older, rare games that would otherwise cost a significant amount of money to access legally.
In particular, there are some classic PS1 games that were only ever released for the console and are otherwise incredibly expensive if players have to purchase the physical versions. Some may want to purchase the much cheaper PlayStation Store versions while they still can, as they tend to cost around $6 a pop, as opposed to spending hundreds of dollars to get the same experience for the game.
Here is a full rundown of rare PS1 games that are available on the PlayStation Store and why fans may want to consider prioritizing them. More in-depth descriptions for the games can be found below, but for those that just want a quick guide describing what they should be looking for, here are the PS1 games that will be much more expensive to play if fans have to get the physical versions instead of buying them through the PlayStation Store.
Rare PS1 Games on the PlayStation Store
- Alundra
- Arc the Lad
- Arc the Lad 2
- Arc the Lad 3
- Arc Arena: Monster Tournament
- Bloody Roar
- Breath of Fire 4
- Castlevania Chronicles
- Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors
- Darkstalkers 3
- Dino Crisis
- Dino Crisis 2
- Echo Night
- Front Mission 3
- Herc's Adventures
- Hogs of War
- Jumping Flash!
- Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
- Mega Man Legends 2
- Parasite Eve
- Parasite Eve 2
- Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
- Pocket Fighter
- Saiyuki: Journey West
- Shadow Tower
- Suikoden
- Suikoden 2
- The Misadventures of Tron Bonne
- Threads of Fate
- Tomba!
- Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return
- Um Jammer Lammy
- Vagrant Story
- Vanguard Bandits
- Wild Arms
- Wild Arms 2
- Xenogears
Alundra
The popularity of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda franchise has inspired countless other games to follow in its footsteps. But out of all the Zelda-like games out there, one that stands above most of them is Alundra. In Alundra, the title character has the ability to enter peoples' dreams, with Zelda-like exploration built entirely around this mechanic. The game's story is still regarded highly to this day, with plenty of praise heaped on it for its challenging puzzles as well. Alundra was only ever released on the original PlayStation, and just getting the disc will likely set players back nearly $100, so it's definitely one that fans will want to consider downloading.
Arc the Lad Series
Purchasing each individual game in the Arc the Lad series won't set players back all that much, but getting the collection together is when things start getting pricey. With that in mind, it seems like it would be much simpler to purchase the games through the PlayStation Store while they're still available. The Arc the Lad games are highly regarded as some of the better tactical RPGs available on the PS1, and they're still worth a look today. Those interested can pick up the first three Arc the Lad games on the PlayStation Store, in addition to Arc Arena: Monster Tournament.
Bloody Roar
Buying the complete set of Bloody Roar on PS1 will likely cost well over $100, but those looking for just the disc can get it for a comparatively lower asking price. Even so, the disc alone will likely cost around $30-$50, so this is another game that fans may want to consider picking up from the PlayStation Store. For those unfamiliar with Bloody Roar, it's a fighting game where the gimmick is that each character can transform into a beast mid-battle. The original game earned relatively positive reviews, and it's definitely worth checking out for fighting game enthusiasts.
Breath of Fire 4
Capcom's Breath of Fire franchise may be defunct now, but it managed to get six entries before it was shuttered. One of the more popular Breath of Fire games is the PS1's Breath of Fire 4, which typically sells for around $80 for just the PS1 disc. Breath of Fire 4 earned some acclaim at the time of its release, though people were split on its art style. Regardless, it's generally considered one of the better JRPGs available on the PS1, which is saying something when one looks at the PS1's library of JRPGs, and so genre enthusiasts should consider picking it up before it's too expensive.
Castlevania Chronicles
The original Castlevania is available on numerous platforms, and so this particular game isn't necessarily as must-have as some of the other games listed here. However, this specific version of the original Castlevania is going to cost hundreds of dollars if players want to play it after the PlayStation Store is shut down. Castlevania Chronicles may not be the best take on Castlevania, but it's still something that diehard fans may want to try while they can.
Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors, Darkstalkers 3
Capcom's Darkstalkers fighting games are pretty niche, but they still have plenty of fans. Darkstalkers 3 is especially expensive online, so fighting game fans should keep these titles in mind if the PlayStation Store shutdown is confirmed.
Dino Crisis, Dino Crisis 2
Fans have been asking for a Dino Crisis remake for years, and it's not hard to see why. Essentially Resident Evil with dinosaurs, both of the Dino Crisis games on PlayStation 1 earned high scores from critics and are some of the better survival-horror games available on the platform. Anyone looking to buy the disc versions will likely have to spend around $50, or more, per game, so the chance to get them digitally isn't something that should be passed up.
Echo Night
FromSoftware is best known nowadays for its Dark Souls franchise, but it got its start developing games for the original PlayStation. One of the early FromSoftware games is the oddity Echo Night, and it also happens to be one of the rarest physical PS1 games in existence, going for hundreds of dollars on eBay and other online sites. It's a creepy game where players have to avoid ghosts.
Front Mission 3
The first two Front Mission games were exclusive to Japan, so Front Mission 3 is arguably the most well-known game in the series. It's also considered one of the best Front Mission games there is, and it goes for $50+ if players are looking to get just the disc. The recent game Left Alive was an attempt to revisit the Front Mission universe, but it fell way short of the high bar set by games like Front Mission 3.
Herc's Adventures
The PS1 may be best known for its 3D games, but it had plenty of 2D titles as well, and some that were quite good. Herc's Adventures is one such game, giving players a 2D open world to explore with endearing characters and an interesting premise. The disc-only version of the game is typically around $70 or more online, so it's a PS1 Classic that should be prioritized for sure.
Hogs of War
Hogs of War is one of the strangest games available on the PS1. It's about anthropomorphic pigs battling it out in turn-based battles, with British comedians Rik Mayall and Marc Silk providing voice work. Disc-only versions go for roughly $50 in many cases, so anyone interested should get the digital version while they still can.
Jumping Flash!
Jumping Flash! is one of the first games to attempt 3D platforming, and even though the genre was brand new, many agree that it did a pretty good job at it. The physical PS1 version regularly goes for over $100, so while it may be outclassed by many of today's 3D platformers, anyone that wants preserve this piece of gaming history can do so now without breaking the bank.
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile
One of the absolute rarest PS1 games is Klonoa: Door to Phantomile, with the game selling for $500 and more online. There is a 2008 remake for the Nintendo Wii that is typically available for a much lower price online, but the digital PS1 version is the cheapest way to experience the game.
Mega Man Legends 2
The original Mega Man Legends isn't too expensive if players go the disc-only route, but Mega Man Legends 2 is nearing the $100 mark on online marketplaces. The Mega Man Legends games have become somewhat of cult classics among the Mega Man community, though neither game is held in quite the same regard as the 2D classics. Unless Capcom decides to re-release the Mega Man Legends games, Mega Man Legends 2 will likely become even rarer.
Parasite Eve, Parasite Eve 2
The Parasite Eve games from Square are an incredibly unique combination of the JRPG and survival-horror genres, and there really hasn't been anything much like them since. Fans are still calling for Parasite Eve revivals, though it remains to be seen if that will ever happen. In the meantime, they can check out the original PS1 games for relatively cheap through the PlayStation Store.
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
The Persona series has become somewhat of a juggernaut in the JRPG space in recent years, with Persona 5 taking the franchise to dizzying new heights. However, there once was a time when the Persona games were considered fairly niche and weren't all that popular. This has caused the older games in the series to become quite rare collector's items, including the original PS1 version of Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, which is often sold for hundreds of dollars online. It's quite possible that Persona 2 and other older Persona games will make the jump to other platforms at some point, but that's not guaranteed.
Pocket Fighter
Pocket Fighter reimagines the Street Fighter cast with a chibi art style and adds some additional gimmicks on top of the fighting. It admittedly earned pretty mixed reviews at the time of its release, but that hasn't stopped it from becoming a highly sought-after PS1 game. Physical versions go for $70-$100, so those that miss out on it while it's on the PlayStation Store can expect spending quite a bit to play it.
Saiyuki: Journey West
Journey to the West has been adapted countless times, perhaps most famously inspiring Dragon Ball. It also was the inspiration for a PS1-era tactical RPG that is around $150 used online.
Shadow Tower
FromSoftware made quite a few games for the PS1, and a handful have ended up on the PlayStation Store as PS1 Classics. This includes Shadow Tower, a first-person action RPG that has gameplay similar to FromSoftware's King's Field games, themselves the precursors to titles like Demon's Souls and Dark Souls. It hasn't aged particularly well, but it being a FromSoftware game has boosted its popularity quite significantly, and so anyone that goes for the disc version will likely have to spend hundreds of dollars.
Suikoden, Suikoden 2
Suikoden and Suikoden 2 are two of the most underappreciated JRPGs ever made. Both games earned some acclaim from critics when they launched, but it wasn't until years after their release that they finally started getting the recognition they deserved. Unfortunately, this meant that the games weren't as widely available as some other popular JRPGs, and so both have become rare. The first Suikoden tends to go for $50 to $100 a pop, whereas Suikoden 2 is much rarer and more expensive, likely costing players at least $250 if not more if they want to purchase it.
The Misadventures of Tron Bonne
A spin-off of the Mega Man Legends series, The Misadventures of Tron Bonne remains one of the rarest PS1 games there is. While not exactly a critical darling, the fact that it was only ever released for the original PlayStation means it will definitely be one that's hard to track down, and so those interested should consider picking it up before it will cost them hundreds of dollars to do so.
Threads of Fate
Square may be best known for its JRPGs, but Threads of Fate is a well-received action platformer from the company. The disc-only version of the game costs around $70, and like most of the other games on the list, Threads of Fate was only ever released for the original PlayStation.
Tomba, Tomba 2
Both Tomba! and its sequel Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return have become cult classic games, but neither game sold well at release. This lackluster commercial performance has made physical copies hard to come by, jacking up the prices to the $100 or more range.
Um Jammer Lammy
PaRappa the Rapper is a well-known PS1-era rhythm game, but its follow-up isn't nearly as well-known. UmJammer Lammy is technically the second game in the PaRappa the Rapper franchise, and so anyone who wants to experience the full series may want to jump on it now as the physical PS1 disc can cost around $100.
Vagrant Story
Square Enix has a fictional universe called Ivalice where it has set several of its games, including Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy 12. The Ivalice setting has been mostly used for Final Fantasy games, but it was also used in the non-Final Fantasy title Vagrant Story. Vagrant Story is one of the highest-rated PlayStation 1 games ever made, and like many other PS1-era JRPGs, it is quite pricy if fans are trying to get the physical version.
Vanguard Bandits
Fans of tactical RPG games had plenty to love on the original PS1, and Vanguard Bandits is yet another game that fits in the genre. While it didn't receive the greatest reviews when it launched, the game still has its fans, and the physical PS1 disc is expensive.
Wild Arms, Wild Arms 2
When the Wild Arms games first launched, they were generally overshadowed by bigger JRPG franchises like the Final Fantasy games. However, they are still worth a look, and their physical PS1 discs have become increasingly more expensive. Those that are fans of the series and want to continue it can do so fairly easily on PS4, as Wild Arms 3 is available in digital form on that console, and there are no signs the PlayStation Store for it will be shutting down anytime soon.
Xenogears
Nowadays, Tetsuya Takahashi is best known as the founder of Monolith Soft, the studio behind the Xenoblade Chronicles games. The Xeno- games originated in 1998 with the PS1 JRPG Xenogears, which has remained a strict PS1 exclusive ever since its initial release. It's also one of the most critically-acclaimed games available for the PS1, and should definitely be something that Xenoblade fans consider.