Highlights

• The PSP had a devoted audience and showcased impressive games that pushed the hardware limits.
• Games like LittleBigPlanet, Jeanne d'Arc, Ridge Racer, and Tekken: Dark Resurrection were standout titles on the PSP and still hold up today.
• The PSP also had successful ports of beloved games like Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, and God of War: Chains of Olympus, showing that the handheld platform could deliver high-quality gaming experiences.

Nintendo has been steadily dominating the handheld video game market, but that doesn't mean that Sony and Sega both didn't make a go in the field. Sony's PSP may not have been as popular as its follow-up, the Vita, which also struggled. However, the PSP still had a devout audience and it did some impressive things for a handheld.

However, most of the gems that were released on the PSP are easy to overlook or were trapped in obscurity. Those that gave the handheld a proper chance were pleasantly surprised and there are plenty of games that pushed the hardware to its limit and still hold up today.

Updated on March 9, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: The PlayStation Portable is one of the best handheld consoles ever made, especially for its era, and it's a shame that Sony didn't build upon this success with the PS Vita. The company had a great stranglehold on the portable console market, so to see them throw it all away and focus solely on home console gaming didn't sit well with its fans. It didn't help that the PSP featured a wealth of amazing games, which made it all the more puzzling that Sony completely gave up on a good thing they had going for them. That said, the PSP's catalogue is extensive, and there are always more games worth adding to this list.

15 Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together

Metascore: 87

Tactics Ogre is a beloved series of strategic role-playing games that reward tactical acumen and well-thought-out moves. Let Us Cling Together is one of the many celebrated entries in the series that fans absolutely adore.

There's a reason why many people consider this Tactics Ogre game to be one of the very best in the genre, making it all the more painful that this series doesn't hold the same prominence it used to during its heyday. Still, that's not to say that Tactics Ogre has lost its luster, and players need only check out Let Us Cling Together to understand firsthand why this franchise has so many loyal fans who continue to praise these titles even now.

14 Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror

Metascore: 87

• Platform(s): PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 2, PSP
• Release Date: March 14, 2006
• Developer: Bend Studio

A stealth action series that more players should check out for themselves, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror is a PSP classic for fans who were lucky enough to play this underrated title. The series has faded into obscurity in modern times, but there was a time when Sony fans were eager to get their hands on the latest Syphon Filter game.

Unfortunately, unlike titles like Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell, which made the most of their stealth-action gameplay to become legendary in their own right, the same doesn't apply for Syphon Filter. There's no denying that Dark Mirror is a great game, but the franchise didn't manage to capitalize on its quality and failed to maintain a steady stream of well-receieved games.

13 Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops

Metascore: 87

Metal Gear Solid is a series that needs no introduction. This amazing franchise is the brainchild of Hideo Kojima, who wowed fans with a story-driven stealth game that featured a wealth of memorable characters along with an overarching plotline that was hopelessly convoluted in the best way possible.

Along with its home console offerings, Metal Gear Solid was also blessed with a series of portable games that were pretty engaging in their own right. One such title is Portable Ops, which makes the most of the PlayStation Portable's hardware, resulting in a riveting experience where completing a string of challenging missions is deeply engaging.

12 LittleBigPlanet

Metascore: 87

LittleBigPlanet could've been Sony's answer to Sonic and Mario in the new generation of gaming. This platforming title certainly had something going for it, but the company's unerring focus on mature gameplay experiences led to LittleBigPlanet becoming a casualty of their approach to gaming.

The games the lovable mascot has been featured in are pretty excellent in their own right, with the version of this game on the PSP being lauded too. The mainline console version had higher scores, showing just how much of a waste it really was that the developer never built up on this promise barring a few sequels and an excellent PS Vita title.

11 Jeanne d'Arc

Metascore: 87

The PSP was home to some great JRPGs, and Jeanne d'Arc is no exception. The game focuses on the story of Joan of Arc with a much-welcome fantasy twist that makes the events of the plot all the more engaging.

The strategic gameplay present in the series coupled with a masterful narrative made Jeanne d'Arc one of the best PSP games of all time. The fact that this game hasn't been ported to modern systems is genuinely unbelievable!

10 Ridge Racer

Metascore: 88

• Platform(s): PSP
• Release Date: March 24, 2005
• Developer: Namco

The Ridge Racer series was a staple of the 90s, but one of the most celebrated versions of the game is the PSP release, which also happens to be one of the best racing titles on the handheld platform. PSP's Ridge Racer picks and chooses cars, tracks, and music from the previous games to create the best possible version of the franchise.

Ridge Racer helped prove what could be accomplished on Sony's handheld and in addition to the impressive visuals and soundtrack, it even allows for eight-player multiplayer through online play.

9 Tekken: Dark Resurrection

Metascore: 88

• Platform(s): PlayStation 3, PSP
• Release Date: July 25, 2006
• Developer(s): Namco, Eighting

Tekken: Dark Resurrection is the PSP port of the fifth entry in the popular fighting game. Fighters like Tekken can excel on a handheld and this port not only brings the arcade update to the home, but it's an extremely polished package. Dark Resurrection features the regular Tekken staples, but the PSP delivers the fighting at a remarkable 60 FPS.

There's also a heavy incorporation of online features, as well as some of the more enjoyable mini-games and extra features from other Tekken titles. The PSP even released a special D-pad attachment to make the Tekken experience as authentic as possible.

8 Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories

Metascore: 88

Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series is still one of the most popular and lucrative video game series of all time. Liberty City Stories is the first handheld entry for the PSP, but it’s an absolute success. The game functions as a prequel to Grand Theft Auto 3 and it captures the same manic energy as the console releases.

A major selling point is the game’s extensive soundtrack, which also includes the ability for players to rip and build their own soundtracks. Liberty City Stories performed so well that it was eventually ported over to the PlayStation 2.

7 Final Fantasy Tactics: The War Of The Lions

Metascore: 88

Final Fantasy Tactics is an interesting departure for the series. A decade after its release on the original PlayStation, Final Fantasy Tactics was updated for the PSP. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions gives a new audience the chance to experience the intricate tactical RPG with a wealth of new features.

The PSP is the ideal platform since the portable aspect allows the game to be experienced on the go. Online capabilities, connections to other Final Fantasy games, and new cinematics all help The War of the Lions become the definitive version of Final Fantasy Tactics.

6 Wipeout Pure

Metascore: 88

• Platform(s): PSP
• Release Date: March 24, 2005
• Developer: Studio Liverpool

The Wipeout series is Sony's solution to Nintendo's F-Zero as a futuristic and fast-paced racer that caters more to quick decisions and trippy visuals than a realistic racing experience. Set in 2197, Wipeout Pure leans into the futuristic aspect and creates some highly memorable cars and tracks that feel truly unique.

Wipeout Pure looks and plays like a dream, but it was also a big deal for being the first PSP game to feature downloadable content, with new cars and tracks becoming available, and all free of charge.

5 Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Metascore: 89

Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid is one of the biggest video game series of all time. Following the success of the PSP’s Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Peace Walker perfects the gameplay and creates a Metal Gear Solid title that's as satisfying as any of the mainline games.

Peace Walker offers both standard stealth missions, but also a mode that caters to army management. The incorporation of cooperative play also helps the game stand out from its predecessors. Peace Walker was so well received that an HD remaster was eventually released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

4 Lumines: Puzzle Fusion

Metascore: 89

• Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
• Release Date: December 12, 2004
• Developer: Q Entertainment

There's a rich history between handheld platforms and puzzle games, but the PSP's Lumines: Puzzle Fusion is a great example of the kind of magic that can be accomplished. Lumines began as a new Tetris game until licensing issues led to it forging its own path for the better.

Lumines pulls from other popular matching puzzle games like Tetris and Columns, but the game puts a heavy focus on the integration of music into its puzzles through the use of the PSP's headphone jack. Lumines started as a humble experiment, but it's turned into a massive franchise.

3 Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 Portable

Metascore: 89

The Shin Megami Tensei series, more commonly known as Persona, took some time to catch on outside of Japan, but the franchise is now one of Atlus' biggest successes. Persona 3 Portable is an updated PSP port of the PlayStation 2 classic.

The biggest change in the PSP version is that it adds a female protagonist, which opens up many different opportunities with the game's social links and interactions. It also incorporates gameplay features and characters from Persona 4 to help make the sequel better tie into the franchise.

2 Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Metascore: 90

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is another impressive spin-off title in the series that speaks to how handheld platforms are a strong fit for the franchise. Chinatown Wars deals with a struggling Triad member who's trying to solve the mystery of his father's murder, as well as recover a missing family heirloom.

Chinatown Wars is a huge game and it even saw release on the Nintendo DS alongside the PSP. The PSP version supports superior graphics, which ditch the cel-shaded aesthetic, updated mini-games, and several extra missions and soundtrack options that are not present in the DS version.

1 God Of War: Chains Of Olympus

Metascore: 91

The God of War series has become a staple of Sony consoles, but God of War: Chains of Olympus is proof that the franchise could transition to a handheld platform with little compromise. Set before the events of the original God of War, Chains of Olympus has Kratos on the hunt for Helios, the Sun God.

Chains of Olympus features a simplified control scheme and it’s easily the best-looking PSP game that shows what can be achieved with the handheld. Chains of Olympus is such a triumph that a remastered version was later released for the PlayStation 3.