100 Best PlayStation Games of All Time (Top 20)

We’re finally here – the top twenty absolute best PlayStation games of all time.

Whittling down PlayStation’s greatest ever video games to a top twenty wasn’t easy, but the monkeys at GoombaStomp HQ have worked tirelessly around the clock to separate the Metal Gear Solids from the Metal Gear Survives all for your reading pleasure. Nobody ever completely agrees with lists like these, and while we’re sure there’ll be one or two placings that are guaranteed to make your blood boil – hey, I’m still furious No One Can Stop Mr. Domino! didn’t crack the top ten – what’s certain is that if you pick up any of these titles you’ll be in for a good time.

So, sit back with a mug of hot coffee and take a trip down memory lane as we reminisce about games from long, long ago, and some from not quite so long ago, in our quest to slap the GoombaStomp Seal of Approval™ on what we think is the absolute best PlayStation game of all time.

* * Nominations for games released as of 11/28/2018

The 20 Best PlayStation Games

20 – Ico

When Roger Ebert famously said video games can never be art, I would have pointed him in the direction of Ico – a visually brilliant, thematically rich fable that isn’t just a game, but a powerful emotional journey for anyone who’s ever experienced it. Players assume the role of Ico, a courageous young boy born with horns who has been delivered to a mysterious castle to be sacrificed so that, according to legend, the community will be saved. From there, you must try and escape the grounds and save a princess through a variety of mazes and other brain-twisting puzzles.

Under development for a very long time and released with little fanfare, Ico is a true cult hit. The game was developed by a relatively fresh internal team at Sony, and didn’t receive a big enough marketing push. It was not a commercial success, but it was critically acclaimed for its art and story elements and received several awards, including “Game of the Year” nominations and three Game Developers Choice Awards.

At its core, Ico is a simple, almost classical game, but it served as a strong testament to the potential of video games when released; influencing subsequent games thanks to its minimal dialogue, bloom lighting, and keyframe animation. Anyone who relishes seeing the reach and scope of the genre redefined should not miss this marvelously accomplished work of art. (Ricky D)

19 – Persona 4

18 – Final Fantasy Tactics

What would you get if you were to take a medieval setting, throw in a couple of warring factions fighting for dominance over a kingdom, add a hefty dose of political intrigue, some religious fanatics, and toss in a few dragons for good measure? Yes, A Game of Thrones is a perfectly valid answer, but I was actually thinking about Final Fantasy Tactics. Seeing as the first book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series does pre-date FFT, it’s possible that Hironobu Sakaguchi got inspiration from George R.R. Martin’s work, because Final Fantasy Tactics truly is to video games what A Song of Ice and Fire is to books (and television), with its beautiful settings, mesmerizing-yet-believable characters, and above all else, its truly epic story.

With that said, all would be for naught if the gameplay wasn’t up-to-snuff. Thankfully, though, FFT not only met the bar, but raised it, becoming the gold standard for all Tactical-RPGs moving forward. Paving the way for games like Advance Wars, The Banner Saga, Disgaea, and many more, the influence of Final Fantasy Tactics can still be seen in games being released today.

Right from the get-go, the odds were stacked against FFT gaining main-stream popularity, as it released just 6 months after the titan known as Final Fantasy VII. With the world still enamored with Cloud Strife and co., and tactics-based games being a niche genre, many would simply look upon the game as a silly spin-off, not worthy of the praise given to its Roman numeral-numbered cousins, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Not only is Final Fantasy Tactics the pinnacle of T-RPG gameplay, but to many its the rightful king of the Final Fantasy series and the epitome of video game storytelling. A true masterpiece. (Matt De Azevedo)

17 – Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty

One of the most controversial ideas from the Hideo Kojima super series, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty has you playing as series newcomer Raiden for an overwhelming majority of the game, making the Solid portion of the title misleading for one who expects the playable hero to be the character you grew to love from the game that preceded Sons of Liberty – Metal Gear Solid.

Controversial idea though it was, it was an idea that worked, as Sons of Liberty was one of the most well-received Metal Gear Solid games of all time upon release. The game opens to find Solid Snake infiltrating a tanker on the Hudson River, seeking a prototype Metal Gear being developed by the United States Government. Soon after the opening introduces the player to the villainous (or not?) Revolver Ocelot – who’s been darn busy – a mysterious military group invades the ship and we see the last of Solid Snake. The next sequence catches up to the boyish and mysterious Raiden, who’s playing the infiltration game himself.

Metal Gear Solid games perfected the action-stealth genre, and Sons of Liberty is as responsible as any of the titles in this series for building the reputation. The stealth sequences haven’t passed their sticker dates, as they’re still fresh fifteen years later – this is a game that has aged remarkably well – and the cinematics were top notch in their day. Trying to follow the story without consulting Wikipedia is only slightly easier than gleaning coherence from Leviticus, which may be the only consistent blemish the game has. Though, to be fair, mixing cyberpunk themes and political conspiracies could never be easily followed without being criticized as simplistic and watered-down. A tough, intriguing, and incredibly memorable game, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was, for at least a time, one of the best PlayStation exclusives ever released. (Tyler Sawyer)

16 – Silent Hill

Considered by many to be the definitive survival horror video game, the first entry in the Silent Hill franchise kick-started the genre’s golden age by foregoing the typical action-oriented approach that was popularized by Resident Evil and taking a more subtle approach to its gameplay and story.

The game follows Harry Mason’s search for his lost daughter after crashing his car in the titular town of Silent Hill. Deserted and blanketed in a thick fog, the town gradually becomes darker and more terrifying as its past is revealed through its remaining residents such as the religious fanatic, Dahlia Gillespie, and the mysterious Dr. Kaufmann. By never overtly explaining its events, the setting maintains its permeable sense of mystery, making the town feel like a character in and of itself.

Although the voice acting hasn’t aged particularly well, the writing and atmosphere are as brilliant as ever and are leagues ahead of what was being released at the time. What truly makes the game shine is how its mechanics support its narrative. Emphasizing the ‘horror’ aspect of survival horror, the player’s movement and vision are extremely limited, requiring Harry to stand still to aim firearms or slowly wind up melee attacks, and the environments are kept dimly lit or obscured by fog to effectively use the fully-3D world. Enemies are expertly placed to surprise and overwhelm the player, who already has a low amount of health to begin with and a short supply of healing items. Complicating matters further, the game’s use of controller vibrations to convey the player’s health instead of a HUD adds to the immersion.

Similar to successful horror films, Team Silent’s minimalistic sound design and composer Akira Yamaoka’s industrial soundtrack heighten the overbearing sense of dread throughout the game, most notably in the use of the series’ staple radio static to signal the presence of monsters, and the game’s iconic theme song. Whether roaming its abandoned streets or fending off its nightmarish inhabitants, Silent Hill continues to be one of the most horrific experiences in gaming. (Matt Bruzzano)

15 – Persona 5

Persona 5 is a JRPG triumph. The latest in the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, its tried and tested turn-based combat and unique mechanics are out in full force, and what results is one of the best games in recent years, if not ever.

As a Japanese teenager, you do typical Japanese teenager-y things, like attending school, hanging out with friends, and infiltrating the minds of corrupt adults to battle their evil desires. Y’know, the usual. Persona 5 grants players the freedom to spend their finite time as they see fit. Will they kick back with Ryuji to increase their teamwork in battle? Will they study to increase their knowledge? Or perhaps they’ll make coffee and curry to aid their adventure? Multiple playthroughs are incentivized through Persona 5’s grandiose depth and endless possibilities.

Persona 5’s interface pops with style, modernizing the traditional turn-based combat by eliminating the tedious list approach of command selection. The Phantom Thieves members (the main characters) are superb, with each being entertaining and relatably flawed (also, the English dubbed voices fit the characters perfectly). Persona 5’s story is super long but thoroughly engrossing with immeasurable payoff upon its conclusion (and this comes from someone who almost always dislikes video game stories).

Truthfully, explaining the excellence of a game as gigantic as Persona 5 in a capsule review is impossible. But it’s one of my favorite games ever, and you’d do yourself a disservice to miss it. (Harry Morris)

14 – Shadow of the Colossus

13 – Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Like most Konami series of late, Castlevania is in a bit of an identity crisis at the moment. From the God of War meets Shadow of the Colossus design of the Lords of Shadow reboot, to the ongoing parade of me-too clones that drag off the coat tails of this classic: Symphony of the Night.

While it’s uncertain that we’ll ever get another Castlevania game at all – let alone a good one after the recent shake-up at Konami – the fact that we were ever graced with a gem like this at all is reason enough to be satisfied…and what a gem it is!

The first masterstroke was casting the lead as a someone other than a Belmont; a series first that allowed for a redemptive plot line rather than the squeaky clean “Holy warrior, killer of demons” schtick. The second is that this character happens to be the badass son of Dracula himself. Alucard (read it backward and then marvel at what a cool name it still is) is a far cry from the Belmont clan, and even though he’s on the same mission, he can go about it in a lot of different ways. Roaming Castle Dracula as a wolf, a bat, or even mist, Alucard’s powers mixed the old school Castlevania gameplay of battling undead legions with a Metroid-style progression and exploration system that opened the world up as you gained more abilities. In addition, it also melded action platforming with RPG elements, becoming one of the very first successful action-RPGs in the process.

If you’ve never battled a giant monster made up of slithering dead bodies in an upside-down castle, then you’ve never truly un-lived. Get it together and play catch up with this game, you miserable pile of secrets! (Mike Worby)

12 – Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Grand Theft Auto III was a game that revolutionized the industry as much as any game ever has. To follow up such an enormous success, Rockstar released Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, shockingly, only one year later, which was bigger, prettier, and far more depraved. Taking place in fictional, Miami-esque Vice City, players follow the antics of former mafia hitman Tommy Vercetti, as he seeks vengeance on those who put him in the clink. All the cocaine, neon lights, and ’80s music in Vice City compel me to make a comparison to a druglord movie here, but I just can’t think of a perfect one – I guess Vice City is a kind of original source for mafia media. Someone call Al Pacino.

I can imagine a person who would be slightly disappointed with Vice City as the game doesn’t do much different from GTA III, but I really don’t know if that person exists. Vice City is the perfect successor to a nearly perfect game – for its time – in GTA III, an enjoyable satire on the drug and party culture of Hollywood’s representation of Miami, and a helluva good time blowing things up.

Helicopters and motorcycles, seemingly minor additions, improved the game by breaking up the monotony of the car-only travel in GTA III. It became such a pleasure threading between cars on a PCJ 600 that I obsessively combed the streets in search of one of these bikes anytime I lost mine in a five-star shootout – an obsession that I feel to this day. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was the first GTA I ever played, and, for me, quintessential GTA. It enhanced the greatness founded by GTA III through better graphics, a more compelling setting, and, most importantly, motorcycles. (Tyler Sawyer)

11 – Final Fantasy IX

10 – God of War (2018)

The God of War franchise looked ready to be put out to pasture after 2013’s coolly-received Ascension, but maybe all it needed was a change of scenery. Enter 2018’s God of War – not a remake, not quite a reboot, but certainly the reinvention that the struggling series sorely required.

This time around the perennially angry spartan Kratos is found living in a hut in the snowy wilds of Midgard – one of the nine realms of Norse mythology – and sets out on a quest to take the ashes of his recently deceased wife to the highest peak in the land. Kratos’ young son Atreus comes along for the journey, and so begins the story of a man desperately attempting to stifle his worst traits in order to raise his son to be a better man than he, all while hitting things in the face with a massive, gnarly axe.

God of War is the rare game that absolutely excels in every category. It’s not a strong story propping up lackluster gameplay, fantastically paced combat encounters resulting in suffocating linearity, or a wonderfully realized open world crafted at the expensive of a strong narrative focus. God of War nails it all, somehow managing the incredible task of making Kratos a somewhat likeable and sympathetic character, while also building a new combat system from the ground up that is absolutely thrilling from the first battle to the last.

Throw in some wonderful storytelling full of fantastical characters, a semi-open world jam-packed with worthwhile optional objectives to enjoy, and an absolutely glorious orchestral soundtrack, and God of War is not just the best game in the long-running franchise, but one of the best PlayStation games of all time. (John Cal McCormick)

9 – Journey

Visionary. Emotional. Other one word sentences.

Journey was released in 2013 on the PlayStation 3 to incredibly high praise. From critics, anyway. To the general gamer crowd, though, Journey wasn’t quite as highly regarded. Some said it was dull, empty, or pointless, and even went to chastising games media for honoring it the way they did. And it all comes down to prejudices. Whether we want to or not, every gamer approaches a new game prejudging it. Without any experience of a particular thing, we make conclusions about it based on past experiences and things that are probably wholly irrelevant factors.

Instead of letting the game take us somewhere new or guide us through an unfamiliar experience, we assume it has to conform to present ideas of what that game portrays. What this does not mean, though, is that there is to be a huge nebulous of subjective opinion where no one gets to say whether a thing is good or bad; what this means is that there are creators, artists, in our world who want to communicate their perception of the world to those around them who may be interested. That’s what Journey is.

Journey is a game of struggle and ambition. A game of depression and rebirth and interpretation. In it, you are a crimson-cloaked stranger who has to find her way to the mountains in the vast distance. Along the way you’ll encounter monsters who act as guards, trying to halt any progress. Your only job is to evade and escape. There’s no battle mechanic, no way to destroy the mindless foe, just find a way around. After some time and several breathtaking landscapes traversed, you will have found your way.

An unconventional developer and game company that has been one of the only consistent sparks to the “games as art conversation,” and they did it again with Journey. A truly one of a kind, must-play game. (Tyler Sawyer)

8 – Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

After a change in direction, a bit of internal strife, and a few delays, fans could have easily been forgiven for being a tad worried about Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. Luckily, though, as anyone who has played it will no doubt tell you, the 4th installment in the incredibly implausible adventures of Nathan Drake delivers in spades.

The first thing worth noting here is just what an incredibly gorgeous game this is. Now, I know we live in an age where one in every five triple-A titles seems to get the “MOST BEAUTIFUL GAME EVER” moniker bandied about, but rest assured, this is no hyperbole. Uncharted 4 is authentically the most intricately designed, incredibly detailed, and indelibly jaw-dropping game that I have ever seen–and I’ve played a great many games in my life.

Now, for those of you used to Uncharted‘s particular brand of tricks, this game is not going to have too much new to show you, generally speaking. The set pieces are crazy, the goose chase is wild, and the characters talk to each other (and themselves) as if their always sure they’re on-camera. However, look closer and you’ll see the extra effort that’s been put into an insane degree of understated wonder. Marvel at how there is almost always multiple ways to reach your destination, let your mind boggle at the sheer size of the areas you explore, and simply quake at the amount of gravitas that this hilariously unlikely series of events is able to instill in you. (Mike Worby)

7 – Resident Evil 2

Sequels sometimes get a bad reputation, and not without reason. From rehashing the conflicts and ideas of their forebears to shamelessly running their stories into the ground, sequels can be so detrimental to the stories and experiences that preceded them as to tarnish their legacies entirely.

Luckily, Resident Evil 2 is exactly the opposite of that kind of sequel. Literally, everything here is an improvement over the original. The storytelling is better, the gameplay is smoother, the environments are more diverse, and, thank the gods, there’s no horrible live action opening.

Resident Evil 2 is a true pioneer of game design, from the dual interceding campaigns of its two leads, Leon, and Claire, to its A/B scenario system that allowed for 4 different stories to be experienced through its undead lens. It even introduced the stalking monster trope, which has since become a staple of the entire genre, and would find itself as the lynchpin of the next title in the series, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. Resident Evil 2 is a standout classic of the PSX era and one of the most enduring titles the survival horror genre has ever produced. (Mike Worby)

6 – Silent Hill 2

Silent Hill 2 is a bit of an odd duck in the Silent Hill series, and it always has been. Of the three original, classic games, all well regarded in their own rights, Silent Hill 2 is of a decidedly different ilk than its younger brother and older sister. Whereas Silent Hill and Silent Hill 3 focused ostensibly on the history of Silent Hill and the how the Mason family connects with that history, Silent Hill 2 is largely a completely independent entity, and it couldn’t be better for it.

Silent Hill has always drawn from the works of David Lynch, and this is the series at its most Lynchian, with one particularly disturbing scene being a deliberate homage to Blue Velvet. The game also has a clear lineage to Mulholland Drive, with players never exactly sure how much, if anything, is actually real as the game goes on.

A living, shifting, ever-changing box of horror, Silent Hill 2 is easily the best entry in this franchise, and with the recent restructuring of Konami, it will probably remain that way indefinitely. (Mike Worby)

5 – Bloodborne

What could possibly be better than Dark Souls? How about Dark Souls with a hefty dose of HP Lovecraft thrown in?

Bloodborne took what was already one of the best and most revolutionary series of the previous console generation and amped it up the point of perfection. Introducing trick weapons which could be altered to fight in two different ways, nixing the defensive aspect of the Souls series in favor of perfectly timed momentum, and rewarding players even more for gambling with their souls…err blood echoes, Bloodborne made a lot of changes to the formula and, through some miracle, all of them worked out.

To wit, the series’ notorious attention to detail was catapulted even further via the technology of the PS4. The design of the world, the enemies, and especially the bosses, is arguably the best the series has ever seen, and the tighter narrative and theme of the game make for a more focused experience in general.

Plus, Bloodborne is creepy as all hell. When you’re not being stalked by werewolves and other eldritch horrors, you’ll be finding them crucified and on fire as warnings to people just like you. When you swallow your fear and go on anyway, you make a choice that can’t be undone. This game will beat you, bloody you and leave you nearly weeping with fear and frustration, but when those credits roll, you better believe you’re gonna find yourself satisfied…if you can make it, that is.

The first, and still the best, reason to own a PS4, Bloodborne will certainly be fondly remembered as one of the standout games of this era. (Mike Worby)

4 – Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

What more can be said of Naughty Dog’s great generational touchdown? A bigger, better Uncharted game that solidified their reputation for amazing playable action scenes, likeable characters, and gorgeous in-game graphics. It was a huge step up from the first game and, at the same time, is more focused and iconic than its successor, Drake’s Deception.

I suppose that’s a start. With Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Naughty Dog were able to cement their blockbuster chops, bringing us a franchise so critically praised and audience-approved that it outlasted its original console – a first for the studio.

Taking everything that worked in the first Uncharted title and polishing it to a mirror shine, while leaving behind some of the more rough elements, Among Thieves is a true, playable Indiana Jones-style adventure with high stakes, a terrifying villain and fantastical locales for the player to shoot, climb and puzzle their way through. Throw in a few brand new characters that have proven to be fan favorites (Chloe and Tenzin) and you’ve got a monumentally memorable game.

Of course, Uncharted 2 isn’t perfect (what game is?); the writing and characters are as surface-level as any Indiana Jones-wannabe movie. A really well-written wannabe, but a wannabe nonetheless. The cover-based shooting mechanics, while far from boring, never evolve much and were simple even in the year of the game’s release. The levels are also crushingly linear, much more so than any of the other games in the Sony Top 10. Those who want more from their adventure than a single, wonderfully scripted route need not apply.

These criticisms aren’t to be dismissed, but they are by no means deal-breakers. The Uncharted series, like Half-Life 2, or the contemporaneous Modern Warfare series, is best enjoyed as a meticulously designed roller-coaster with (at the time) unparalleled graphics and a thrilling story. (Mitchell Akhurst)

3 – Final Fantasy VII

A game has to be more than just a game. In order to truly make itself stand out, a game has to be an experience, not a mere piece of electronic components on a disc. It has to be an adventure, something larger than life that you as the player can immerse yourself in, and become one with. As soon as the game displays the title screen, you have to be there in spirit, and then, if the game is truly remarkable, you will find yourself in tune with the game you’re experiencing alongside the characters. You’re feeling the same emotions as the characters, you’re even fighting the same battles, facing the same struggles, and overcoming the same obstacles as the characters.

Final Fantasy VII is this kind of game. As you progress through the levels of the game, you progress on a personal level. You get to bond with Tifa and Barrett as if you were truly Cloud incarnate. The game is so well put together, the combat system manages to be exciting and thrilling, unlike many other games where the combat is turn-based. Sure, the graphics are a little outdated now, but the positive aspects of the game are so great in number that they completely redeem the damage time has inflicted upon its visuals.

One may wonder why exactly this game stands out so much from the other Final Fantasy installations, and truth be told, it’s near impossible to say for sure. Chances are, Final Fantasy VII just struck gold, as the characters are appealing, the levels are intricate-yet-inviting, the combat is exciting, and the story itself draws you in and refuses to let you go until you have seen everything the game has to offer. This is truly a remarkable game, and we’re all excited to see the HD remake that’s in the works right now. Can the technology of today stand up to the mesmerizing original work? Only time will tell. (Johnny Pedersen)

2 – Metal Gear Solid

The PlayStation 1-era was a time of fast-paced, chaotic, loud platforming games. The main plot of games like these were to transport yourself from A to B in a simple fashion – you’d go forth, running and beating up every enemy on your way with no discretion, rampaging through the various breakables in the levels in order to find some sort of power-up that would make you able to beat up even more enemies, and break even more of the scenery. Sure, it was a glorious mess, but at one point, things had to change.

1998 marked the debut of Metal Gear Solid. Instead of relying on your ability to rampage through everything that could possibly be broken, you had to really sit back and think for a while, as stealth and cunning were the main aspects of the game. You play as Solid Snake, an elite super soldier who can infiltrate pretty much anything, anywhere. Sure, you did have the option to simply shoot at the opposition and attempt to fend off the retaliation. However, developer Hideo Kojima had managed to create a game where the sophisticated mannerisms of operating in a covert fashion were fun.

Because of this groundbreaking game, we’re now faced with an abundance of stealth games on pretty much every major platform. Metal Gear Solid managed to make slow-paced, intelligent gaming just as appealing as the rowdy platformers of the same era. Eventually, Metal Gear Solid became just as essential a game as Crash Bandicoot, Ape Escape, Final Fantasy, Tomb Raider and Tekken. Hideo Kojima managed to revolutionize gaming forever, and every video game enthusiast should try this game. (Johnny Pederson)

1 – The Last of Us

With The Last of Us, the cinematic-loving geniuses at Naughty Dog proved themselves once again as one of the most accomplished development teams in the world. The confident and handsome survival thriller was instantly hailed as the new bar for what gaming could and should be moving forward. The Last of Us is Hollywood stuff, of course, and it borrows from dozens of carefully chosen inspirations, among them George A. Romero’s original Dead trilogy, The Walking Dead, 28 Days Later and Cormac Mccarthy’s The Road. While the game’s cynical portrayal of survivors turning on each other is a very familiar premise – The Last of Us is also the rare video game that follows a traditional storyline and then improves upon it. Set twenty years after a pandemic radically transformed civilization – The Last of Us follows Joel, a salty survivor, who is hired to smuggle a fourteen-year-old girl, Ellie, out of a rough military quarantine. What begins as a straightforward, albeit risky job, quickly turns into a highly emotional, palm-sweating journey that you won’t ever forget.

TOP 100 | TOP 80 | TOP 60 | TOP 40 | TOP 20