The PlayStation Portable is one of the most underrated systems out there. The games supported on it were great, the system felt great to play on, and it was a fantastic option in the handheld market that consisted of the Nintendo DS and its later iterations. Since the PlayStation Store for PSP shut down in 2022, finding the best games can be difficult. However, if you can find any of these top 10 PSP games in a retro game store, they’re worth picking up.
10. Valkyria Chronicles 2
The Valkyria Chronicles series has long been revered – the original even has its own anime. The game is a tactical turn-based game that also includes combat. Players take control of a squad in the middle of a war, and while the combat is as enthralling as it is stellar, the real treat of the series lies in the characters and the stories.
Valkyrie Chronicles 2 in particular stands out because of how well it blends gameplay with narrative, and the cast of characters featured in it is enough to keep players coming back for more. For the PSP, it was a knockout title that brought many to the system in general.
9. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy is a franchise that’s hard to ignore on any Sony system, and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII is no different. The game’s story and music were pretty different from past Final Fantasy games, but it worked, and players and critics alike loved it. The combat was also a hit as well – while it wasn’t the first Final Fantasy title to use real-time combat, it was the first one to do it well.
The game was such a hit among Final Fantasy lovers as a whole that it’s been remastered for PlayStation 4 and 5, the Nintendo Switch, and PC.
8. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is the tactical game for the PSP. Of course, there are a few others on the portable system, but Final Fantasy Tactics does it better. It may be due to the fact that the title is actually an improved version of the 1998 Final Fantasy Tactics. The PSP version of the game was vastly improved, updating graphics and even adding new classes and better translations.
If you don’t have a way to play PSP games, then you’re in luck. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is available on iOS and Android.
7. LocoRoco 2
If you’re looking for wacky, tacky platformer action that doesn’t feature a sack boy, then LocoRoco 2 is the game to go to. With bright levels and addicting gameplay, the game offered plenty of reasons to forget the outside world and focus on colorful little blobs of emotion instead.
While the main part of the game offered a solid platforming experience, there were also minigames that included rhythm and racing elements. LocoRoco 2 charmed people of all ages and united people in a way that many games can’t. It might not offer the same heart-pounding action or compelling story, but it’s worth giving a play for the enjoyable vibes alone.