The 20 Best PSP Games

20 Best PSP Games

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we are looking at the often forgotten, but heavily influential handheld console, by talking about the 20 Best PSP Games. Let’s do it!

#20: “LittleBigPlanet” (2009)

For new fans who don’t know, Sackboy has a solid PlayStation legacy, including the PSP spin-off LittleBigPlanet. Though PlayStation isn’t as known for platforming icons today, LittleBigPlanet is a testament to the brand’s ability to create platformers that are genre defining. While more streamlined than the PS3 installments, this PSP entry shines with its diverse levels and the beloved feature allowing players to craft their own. Even though it dropped on PS3, it thrived on PSP, I’m a poet and I didn’t even mean to rhyme just now .. Wait.

#19: “Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror” (2006)

Now primarily recognized for the PS4 exclusive Days Gone, Bend Studio originally developed the third-person stealth series Syphon Filter (which is actually set in the same universe, but that’s info for another list). The game was well-received critically, marking a return to form after the mixed reception of its predecessor by focusing on a more streamlined main storyline. It also enhanced gameplay by offering players greater options during stealth segments and introducing new weapon types for third-person combat. Syphon Filter on the PS1 walked, so Syphon Filter on the PSP could run.

#18: “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars” (2009)

The Grand Theft Auto franchise achieved notable success on the PSP, with Chinatown Wars emerging as the most acclaimed entry on Sony's portable system. Originally released for the Nintendo DS, the PSP version maintained the top-down perspective of the former, reminiscent of the first two games in the main series. Despite its different presentation, Chinatown Wars received widespread praise. The comic book-style art direction resonated with players, effectively accommodating the lower specifications of handheld gaming compared to home consoles. It was a change in style that never stuck, but landed hard, maybe it didn’t stick because it was SO SMOOTH!

#17: “Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles” (2007)

For years, Dracula X: Rondo of Blood was seen as a hidden gem in the Castlevania series, long confined to a rare, Japan-exclusive release. Then came Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles, which offered not only a 2.5D remake of Rondo of Blood, but also the original game and an enhanced version of the iconic Symphony of the Night from the PlayStation. It was SO much bang for your buck, that it seems ALMOST too good to be true. To this day, it stands as one of the best horror games in the Castlevania series.

#16: “Secret Agent Clank” (2008)

If you're after a stylish and capable Ratchet & Clank spin-off, Secret Agent Clank is your guy, so much so that it’s kinda shocking this entry hadn’t dropped sooner. Clank takes on this solo adventure with finesse, mixing the classic Ratchet & Clank gameplay with diverse 3D platforming challenges. Packed with gadgets, outlandish weapons, and familiar allies, Clank’s spin-off brims with the series' signature creativity and polish. The PSP was defined by these spin-off titles, almost intentionally bringing smaller side characters to the smaller side console.

#15: “Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy” (2011)

The original Dissidia Final Fantasy dialed up the fan service, but its sequel, Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, turns the love dial for Final Fantasy up to M, and if you don’t understand just how funny that joke is, you’re dead to me. Serving as a prequel to the first Dissidia, the newer entry combines traditional JRPG elements with high-energy, one-on-one fighting mechanics, while also addressing balance tweaks from the first game and introducing nine new FF characters. The game was just insane for fans, and combined with near perfect gameplay, it’s the recipe for a standout game on the console .. In fact, at least top 20.

#14: “Gran Turismo” (2009)

Gran Turismo PSP is a game that defied expectations with its impressive visuals and performance on the PSP. It stands as one of the best racing titles on the console, the game went so far under the radar, that when you google ‘Gran Turismo PSP’, the top result is a thread asking if the game was good, from someone who missed it. The game doesn’t just look stunning, it’s packed with content, featuring over 800 cars, 35 tracks, and smooth 60fps gameplay. 60fps on the PSP, yummy.

#13: “Valkyria Chronicles II” (2010)

Many worried that this portable sequel to the PS3's Valkyria Chronicles would lose the series' signature depth .. Those fools will never doubt the PSP again. Valkyria Chronicles II continues the first games’ story seamlessly, guiding players through the Lanseal Royal Military Academy and immersing them in complex, rewarding conflicts on and off the battlefield. With extensive troop management, vehicle customization, and strategic gameplay in Gallia’s war, it quickly becomes clear that this handheld entry stands confidently alongside its console counterpart.

#12: “Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII” (2007)

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 brings fans back to one of gaming’s most beloved worlds in a way that feels perfectly suited for handheld play, it’s also MY personal favourite entry on this list, so I’m gonna talk about it for a bit longer .. oops. With plenty of time to spend alongside Zack and other FF7 favorites, the game’s short-burst missions let you dive into the adventure without the lengthy grind typical of RPGs. The unique slot-machine system, keeps battles lively, adding an element of luck and surprise to every encounter. This was also an early project directed by the same man who went on to make Final Fantasy XV .. But don’t let that deter you … I actually LOVE FF15, I was just dogpiling for comedic effect.

#11: “LocoRoco 2” (2008)

LocoRoco 2 is simply impossible to dislike. Go ahead, try. Within minutes, Japan Studio's irresistibly charming platform-puzzler will have you singing along with its delightful blobs and exploring their vibrant, colorful world at every opportunity. This sequel brings back everything that made LocoRoco a hit, like Loco, and Roco, guys I’m funny. You’ll find yourself eagerly rolling, bumping, and squishing the LocoRocos through imaginative landscapes to uncover all its secrets and bonus missions. Go buy a PSP, and get yourself some LocoRoco.

#10: “Patapon 3” (2012)

Describing this quirky, PSP-exclusive series without using the word Patapon itself is nearly impossible, it’s like trying to eat food without your tongue. Mixing rhythm mechanics with strategic elements, Patapon feels like Lemmings meets Guitar Hero. In Patapon 3, developer Pyramid refines the formula to perfection, tasking you with leading an army of Patapons to victory against the Seven Evil Archfiends by tapping out drumbeats to command their actions. And I fully understand for those who never played it, I may as well have just said ‘the games tasks you with leading the bingabangbooms to victory against riggledediggeldy bah bah boom pow by liggiding the spliggidy’.

#9: “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories” (2006)

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories may not be the first GTA game on a portable console, but it’s undoubtedly the most polished on the PSP. As a prequel to the PS2’s Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, VCS pushes the PSP’s limits to deliver a vibrant, immersive experience that ties into the main game in REALLY interesting ways, not un-similiar to Better Call Saul! With a revamped game engine, it showcases a cleaner, visually striking version of Vice City on a handheld device.

#8: “Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of The Lions” (2007)

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions takes the tactical RPG classic from the original PlayStation and enhances it with new characters, job classes, and beautifully animated cutscenes, giving even longtime fans reason to dive back in. Even to this day, it is mentioned in the never ending ‘how to do a remake right’ debate. The plot is complex, but if you stick with it, you’ll find yourself captivated by the strategic depth as you build and fine-tune your army. The game isn’t particularly forgiving for newcomers, but those who commit to learning its systems will be thoroughly rewarded. It’s not THAT hard .. Just play it coward.

#7: “Persona 3 Portable” (2009)

The PSP adaptation of Persona 3 takes the PS2 original and infuses it with a fresh feel that enhances its handheld experience, it’s somewhat abridged, but to its benefit, not its demise. By optimizing the overworld for quick exploration and changing the protagonist's gender from male to female, the narrative tone shifts, offering longtime fans something new to engage with. These impactful changes make the PSP version a standout entry in the JRPG genre, but its greatest strength lies in its exceptional dungeon crawling, which remains unparalleled in the RPG landscape, rivaled only by Persona 4 Golden on the PS Vita. Handheld versions of Persona truly do f***. I’m worried that’s only an Australian saying, it’s a good thing.

#6: “Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep” (2010)

Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep could have easily been a quick cash grab, a portable title designed to appease fans anxiously awaiting a true sequel. Instead, Square Enix crafted one of the series' most significant games, enriching the unique lore with the same meticulous attention found in other installments. A few trips to familiar Disney locations quickly immerse players back into the Kingdom Hearts experience. If you’re craving more Disney, this one has been ported to every console, and it’s well worth your time.

#5: “Monster Hunter Freedom Unite” (2008)

This. Game. Defined. My. PSP. Experience. Serving as a sort of "definitive edition" of Monster Hunter 2, Freedom Unite offered players the chance to embark on exhilarating new hunts against now-iconic monsters. Various quality-of-life enhancements, including the introduction of the Felyne Comrade system, which has evolved with each new installment, made Unite a joy to play with friends via the PSP's wireless connection. If nostalgia for the PSP had a face, it would undoubtedly resemble the countless hours spent playing Monster Hunter Freedom Unite.

#4: “Lumines: Puzzle Fusion” (2004)

Lumines is a timeless classic and one of the best puzzle games you can experience, hands down. The psychedelic puzzler satisfies our synesthesia cravings by creatively blending light and sound, ensuring that every round feels as fresh and exhilarating as the last, even more than a decade after its release. It arguably rivals Portal, and THAT is a big call. Lumines transforms block-matching into an art form, with each new skin changing the gameplay landscape and evolving a familiar concept into a trippy, rhythm-infused, zen-like retreat for the senses. That was fun to say.

#3: “Daxter” (2006)

If there is a game that comes to people's mind when they think of the PSP, this is probably that game. Daxter is the unexpected spin-off of the Jak & Daxter PS2 series that you never knew you wanted. Set at the beginning of Jak 2, filling in those 2 years Jak underwent Dark Eco infusion, the open-world platformer/shooter follows the wisecracking ocelot Daxter as he embarks on a mission to rescue Jak. The impressive visual and gameplay quality of Daxter on such a compact portable console was remarkable at the time, and it still stands strong today as a premium action-adventure featuring a cohesive story worthy of the Jak & Daxter name.

#2: “God of War: Ghost of Sparta” (2010)

Ready at Dawn and Santa Monica Studio truly captured lightning in a bottle by bringing the God of War series to Sony's handheld with God of War: Chains of Olympus, which was an impressive feat. However, Ghost of Sparta takes it a step further with one of the best God of War entries EVER made. I played this in the back seat of my parents car on a long road trip, and they were concerned by the sounds. While it may not match the epic scale of its console counterparts, it comes remarkably close and introduces a few new combat moves along the way. Explore, enjoy, wear headphones.

#1: “Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker” (2010)

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker captures the blockbuster essence of its console counterparts in a way that makes us wonder if Hideo Kojima secretly enhanced our PSPs. The game defined the PSP as a legitimate console, by showing players that if there was a series entry on the handheld system, it was probably going to be powerful enough to effect the plot of console entries in the series .. Which forced us all to get PSP’s to keep up with the story of God of War, and Kingdom Hearts, and of course, Metal Gear Solid. The outrageous plot, abundant bonus content, and intricate army-building mechanics, later featured in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, keep you engaged throughout its impressive 30-hour runtime. Yes, thirty hours. With the addition of multiplayer co-op and versus modes, these features make Peace Walker feel like a real, full, console game.