A huge shoutout to our fellow retro gamers who love their PSP games. We’re about to dust off our beloved Sony handheld, the PlayStation Portable, and its fine collection of games.
Yep, with the recent nostalgia bug that’s not going away anytime soon, now’s the perfect time to revisit the classics. So, gather around; we’re about to go on a trip down memory lane and rate the best PSP games.
Which PSP Games are the Greatest Of All Time?
Right then, we’ll go over every pick and briefly explain our reasoning for putting it higher or lower on the list. With 10 slots to fill, we’ve got room for plenty of obvious choices. However, we’ll throw in a few surprise entries to keep you all guessing. It’s part of the fun when compiling these kinds of lists.
Obviously, no list is without a bit of bias, and today’s is no different; we have favorites, sue us. We’re placing a limit of one game per franchise to give plenty of other underrated gems a chance to shine. So without further ado, let’s see which excellent PSP games make the cut. As Dante would say, let’s get this party started!
10. Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow – One Of The Best Stealth-Shooter Games Ever on the PSP
Here’s a spoiler alert! When it comes to fantastic stealth games, you’re bound to think of Metal Gear Solid, right? We can’t blame you; it’s synonymous with the genre. However, when compiling today’s list of excellent PSP games, Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow grabbed our attention. This third-person stealth-action shooter is a joy to play every step of the way, and it still holds up today.
With impressive graphics for a handheld console, Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow will immediately grab your attention. Gameplaywise, Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow offers plenty of freedom to explore a level and scope out enemies. The button timing to strategically eliminate enemies and positioning behind cover to avoid enemy fire are the game’s key features.
Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow is a fine showcase of how well the games can perform on the PSP. The animation while you’re taking an enemy soldier hostage to use as a human shield feels incredible. The game’s physics allows players to take advantage of the environment around them. There is an intriguing story in Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow with plenty of twists that’ll also keep you hooked.
9. Monster Hunter Freedom – The Debut Monster Hunter Entry On the PSP Proved Spectacular
Keeping in line with the theme of surprising gamers, our next entry for the best PSP games sure got the drop on us. Monster Hunter Freedom marks the debut of the long-running series on a handheld console. And you know what? The game’s freaking awesome! Not only are the visuals stellar, but the attack animations are colorful and crisp, having that extra oomph to them.
There’s plenty of monster variety to keep players on their toes. Seriously, Monster Hunter Freedom, while a fun PSP game, is by no means an easy one. You can’t button-mash endlessly and expect to slay the gigantic creatures. Instead, the focus should be on progression through completing smaller quests in the beginning. Once you get the hang of the basics, you can take on the high-end quests.
The more challenging a creature is to slay, the more rare and powerful weapons you can craft from its drops. To make things easier in Monster Hunter Freedom, players could team up in the online mode. But remember to be mindful of the monster’s increased health in online mode. If Monster Hunter Freedom on the PSP tickles your fancy, you’ll love our selection of top PS4 hunting games.
8. WWE: All Stars – A Fun Wrestling Game that’ll Keep You Entertained
Coming up next is a PSP game that’s not only super accessible but also highly entertaining to play. WWE: All Stars is the most fun we’ve had playing a wrestling game since their golden era during the PS2 days. Anyway, in WWE: All Stars, the players will see professional wrestlers of past and present and can set up dream fantasy match-ups. The game’s exaggeration of physics and physiques is a riot.
From the gameplay side of things, WWE: All Stars embraces its absurdity, which gives the wacky PSP game its charm. If you perform a finishing move, the animations will leave you bursting into laughter, as the wrestlers will perform super-human feats. Sometimes the ring itself will rumble when you slam an opponent on it. These little touches make us like this game more than we thought initially.
We’re not kidding when we say that WWE: All Stars on the PSP is perfect for dipping your toes into wrestling games. If you don’t like it, then it’s not for you, but if you enjoy WWE games, then WWE: All Stars is a must-play. If wrestling’s not your thing, then perhaps you might enjoy our curation of excellent boxing games on the PS5.
7. Twisted Metal: Head-On – A Super Fun and Addictive Vehicular Combat Game
For the next entry on our list of groovy PSP games, we’re going with a really astounding one that’ll impress. Twisted Metal: Head-On is such a highly entertaining vehicular combat title that you’ll lose hours without even realizing it. The story’s the same as other games in the series. Calypso, the man with the power to warp reality, is still looking for contenders in the Twisted Metal competition.
Players can select from a variety of characters who will compete to win the top prize. Twisted Metal: Head-On is all about the signature chaotic mayhem and destruction of the opponent’s cars. Of course, the catch here is that not every character is available in the game from the get-go. Instead, there are a series of mini-games and races that players must win to get access to the full roster.
The race against the clock is a constant source of stress in this PSP game. If you can handle the pressure and the annoying obstacles, then Twisted Metal: Head-On is well worth it. If not, perhaps it’s best to steer clear of it. If Twisted Metal: Head-On isn’t your cup of tea, you might wanna check out our picks for the top PS5 racing games that cut back on the absurdness.
6. Mega Man: Powered Up – The Capcom Resident Mascot’s Game is Tons of Fun
We’re capping the first half of our list of PSP games with a remake of a classic side-scroller platformer. The reimagining of the very first Mega Man game, titled Mega Man: Powered Up, carries a unique aesthetic, particularly the character designs. Mega Man himself doesn’t have his traditional look. Instead, it’s an anime-esque chibi-style design that’s front and center, even on the enemies.
If you’re a fan of the visuals, then you’ll love our choices for the cutest PC games. Mega Man: Powered Up has slick action, as each animation of the character feels like there’s weight behind it. So, every time players land a hit, it’s an incredibly fulfilling feeling. The defining trait of every Mega Man game that’s also in Mega Man: Powered Up is the ability to pick up weapons of defeated bosses.
Mega Man: Powered Up has superb level design, which gets even more intricate as there’s a level creator mode. The combat is an adrenaline rush. Players must focus on dodging and charging up the Mega Buster, Mega Man’s signature weapon, and ensure the blast hits enemies to get the win. Mega Man: Powered Up is one of the most delightful yet stress-inducing and addictive PSP games ever.
5. Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles – The Drop Dead Gorgeous Vampire Game is Fantastic
Entering the final half of our top-tier PSP games list, we look toward Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles. This is the remake of the 16-bit era Castlevania: Rondo Of Blood, and it is extraordinarily good. Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles works perfectly with the handheld capabilities of Sony’s PSP. The responsive controls make the action super pulse-pounding, adding to the ambiance.
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is famous for its 2.5 D platforming and intense boss fights. The game’s got a lot of unique enemy designs that suit the gothic-style theme of Castlevania titles. The voice acting is highly believable and will hook players to see how things play out. Critical decisions regarding progression impact if you’ll get a bad ending or a good one, which is great for replay value.
Another excellent feature of Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is the boss rush mode, that’s now commonplace in the modern Castlevania game. If Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is a game you enjoy playing on your PSP, then congrats! You’ve got excellent taste, like us! We have a feeling you’ll also have a blast playing all of the PS4 vampire games we’ve compiled and ranked.
4. Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters – One of the Greatest Platform Adventure Games of All time
Gearing up for the top 4 games on the PSP, our choice is a no-brainer really; Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters. The players control the anthropomorphic wombat, Ratchet, and his sentient android, Clank. The duo is like the buddy cop pairing that you won’t tire of seeing, even after a hundred times. Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters has all of the 3D action and platforming of the home console games.
You’ll have a hard time telling once the incredible engrossing PSP game has you immersed in its gameplay and story. Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters may very well be a spin-off title, but it can hold its own against the mainline entries. The game has players control giant Clank for crying out loud! That’s an instant bump in the rankings! Also, there are plenty of races and challenges to compete in for extra bolts.
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters on the PSP is full of logical puzzles and platforming sections. You’ll need to solve these conundrums to progress in the plot. The shooting element with various quirky weapons and gadgets feel incredibly well implemented. If you enjoy these kinds of funky and ever-green games, you should take a gander at our favorite games where you play as an animal hero.
3. Persona 3 Portable – One of the Best Roleplaying Games Ever Plays Magnificently on the PSP
We’re almost to the finish line, and our list gets some much-needed spice to make things livelier. There’s no better PSP game that’s as funky, mystical, cool, and above all, haunting as Persona 3 Portable. Right from the off-set, the game depicts disturbing imagery that’s as unsettling as it is ominous. The story is shrouded in mystery, and there’s an allure of mystery that will make players stay the course.
Gameplaywise, Persona 3 Portable is also highly addictive. The turn-based battles require a fair bit of strategic element. Don’t worry, though, as it’s not super complex like Fire Emblem, so everyone can grasp the ins and outs of combat. Persona 3 Portable is a PSP game with a mesmerizingly catchy soundtrack that you’ll hum constantly. The perspective and dialogue shifts depending on the player’s choice of protagonist.
That’s right; Persona 3 Portable also features the choice of playing as a male or female protagonist for the first and only time in the franchise’s history. We recommend playing as the female in your second playthrough to notice the differences. If you’re a gamer girl searching for more gaming suggestions, feel free to check out our curation of top PS5 games for girls. It’s well worth checking out.
2. God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta – The Worthy, Spin-Off God Of War PSP Game, is Our Runner-up Pick
For our runner-up choice on the list of amazing PSP games, we’re going with the one that silenced all the doubters of Sony’s handheld console. God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta is a worthy companion game that supplements the original mainline God Of War games. The action is intense, and the combat is incredibly satisfying. The fixed camera perspective gives it a Dialo-esque vibe, which is neat and makes sense.
God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta borrows all the elements of the traditional console versions’ hack-and-slash style gameplay. There’s also a great deal of emphasis on exploration, as Kratos will need all the help he can get. There are also quick-time events that are vital to perform correctly; otherwise, it can lead to a sudden game over or a do-over. Kratos’s visceral execution animations are just as wild and wicked.
God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta has magical attacks as well to add a nice bit of variety to combat. Lore-wise, this PSP game takes place just after the events of the first God Of War game and before God Of War 2. Kratos goes to the realm of the Dead, where his brother Deimos is imprisoned and tortured. Ultimately the plot is of little consequence, but it is canon, should the devs ever revisit it at some point.
1. Marvel Ultimate Alliance – The Best Marvel Co-op Action Game on the PSP is Our Top Choice
Alright! This is it! Our final entry is the most enjoyable PSP game ever, not to mention worthy of fanboying over. We’re referring to Marvel Ultimate Alliance, the first game in the series and, in our opinion, still the best one. This gem of a game has got it all to make it the perfect game. That includes a cinematic vibe and feel, all the popular fan-favorite and some underrated Marvel characters, and highly enjoyable gameplay.
If you’re still looking for a reason to play Marvel Ultimate Alliance, how about this one? Its gameplay isn’t only single-player, but there’s a tremendous multiplayer or co-op component, up to 4 players! So if you’re into 4-player co-op games, Marvel Ultimate Alliance is for you. Let’s face it, the feeling of performing combos with your favorite Marvel characters is a high like no other. We love Iceman and The Human Torch pairing.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance has an incredibly entertaining plot that goes nicely with the gameplay. Players will love facing the who’s who of Marvel’s villains, and the main bad guy is none other than Dr. Doom himself. Believe us when we say Marvel Ultimate Alliance handily eclipses all the other greatest PSP games of all time. It is rightfully deserving of the top spot, and we’re ready to die on this hill.
Final Thoughts About the Greatest PSP Games Of All Time
And that’s a wrap, folks; our list of top-tier PSP games concludes with a bang! Hope you all enjoyed the ride. We know we sure did, and if you’re feeling ditto, shoot a comment down below. Your feedback is always muchly appreciated and helps us map out future content like today’s list.
If the retro gaming fire still burns within you, take a gander at our GBA games to tide you over. Oh, and don’t forget to share your own picks for the best games on Sony’s PlayStation Portable. What can we say? We love to compare notes and geek out with fellow gamers. Welp, that’s it for now; we’ll sign off until next time. Take care, everyone, and happy gaming!
