40. Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft (PS1)

By the time Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft released, there was a sense that developer Core Design was beginning to milk the franchise just a little bit. Nevertheless, this game still sold millions of copies, even if reviewers were teensy bit softer on the overall familiarity of the experience. With locations like India, London, and Antarctica, however, this remains a memorable entry in an iconic property – and a title worth including in any PS1 owner’s collection.

39. WipEout (PS1)

Up to PS5 (come on, Sony), there's been a new WipEout game of some kind on every new console, and it's easy to understand why. The original is a legendary launch title for PS1, pushing the edgy image Sony was going for with this futuristic but gritty combat racer. Hard as nails but very satisfying once you learn its quirks, WipEout's floaty, anti-grav action would be refined to a real sheen over the years, but much of its success can be traced all the way back to the start, where the music and presentation are still iconic.

38. Tekken 2 (PS1)

Tekken 2 represented an immediate and gigantic step forward for the franchise, building and improving upon everything that the original game brought to the table. This incredibly popular sequel was responsible for introducing an entirely new audience to fighting games, and although there's no question that the series' early era peaked with Tekken 3, Tekken 2 remains a pivotal moment in the genre's — and Namco's — history.

37. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (PS1)

The PS1 entry people, unfortunately, seem to forget about, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis deserves so much more praise than it traditionally gets. Returning fans to Raccoon City, the third mainline entry depicts Jill Valentine's attempt to escape its zombie-infested streets. Building on what it achieved in Resident Evil 2, Capcom introduced Nemesis, a Tyrant that would stalk Jill and force you into in-game decisions over whether to fight it or run away. Some locations from RE2 were recycled, but so too was its excellence by and large. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis deserves better, because it's a PS1 great.

36. Medal of Honor (PS1)

It’s perhaps difficult to recall, in this era of Call of Duty, that back in 1999, first-person shooters were predominantly the domain of PC players. Of course, games like DOOM had enjoyed successful conversions on PS1, but Medal Of Honor felt like a wholly original experience. Produced by legendary director Stephen Spielberg, this played like an interactive movie, with its cinematic portrayal of World War 2 leading to universal critical acclaim.

35. Twisted Metal 2 (PS1)

Bigger, better, more bad ass. That was the mantra for Twisted Metal 2, which took everything that was successful about its predecessor, and really amped it up. The game features some of the most iconic maps in the series, like Paris, with its shootouts in and around the Eiffel Tower, and Hong Kong, with its ridiculously detailed urban streets.

34. Tomb Raider (PS1)

PS1 gaming doesn’t get much more memorable or iconic than Tomb Raider, arguably one of the most famous games ever made. The legendary 3D platformer introduced the world to heroine Lara Croft, and also a level of cinematic gameplay never seen before. With its stunning, sprawling environments and tough as nails puzzle platforming gameplay, it’s one of the most important titles of all time.

33. Resident Evil (PS1)

Where it all started, the original Resident Evil will remain a bonafide classic for eternity. As one of the first survival horror games, its popularity helped birth a new genre that's only gotten better and better ever since — both in its own seminal instalments and original games from other developers. The Spencer Mansion is still one of the most iconic settings in gaming, and while its gameplay certainly feels dated by this point, what Capcom was going for remains obvious. The survival horror formula has been done better in the decades since, but the first Resident Evil will forever remain relevant, and a true classic of the industry.

32. Final Fantasy VIII (PS1)

How did Squaresoft follow up the immense success of Final Fantasy VII? Why, it did something completely different, of course. Final Fantasy VIII is one of the series' most experimental mainline instalments, replacing traditional levelling mechanics with the complex, but ultimately quite rewarding, Junction system. Said system still divides opinion, but there's no doubt that it helps Final Fantasy VIII establish a unique identity. What's more, the futuristic setting, premise, and characters of VIII ensure that it's still a strikingly memorable entry in a series filled with memorable entries. It's also a game that redefined the word "whatever" for an entire generation.

31. Spyro the Dragon (PS1)

While not Insomniac Games' first PS1 title, Spyro the Dragon really put the studio on the map. This colourful 3D platformer has lots of wide open levels to explore at your leisure as you look for dragons to rescue and treasure to collect. Spyro's simple move set allowed for some fun, imaginative platforming design, and some novel special stages added some variety to the mix. Still a good time today, Spyro is up there with Crash Bandicoot as a top tier mascot platformer for Sony's first console.