The original PlayStation changed gaming forever. It dragged us into the 3D era, gave RPGs a cinematic makeover, and delivered a library so deep that people are still discovering hidden gems decades later. It is also, happily, one of the most rewarding systems to revisit on a modern retro handheld.
The PS1 sits right in the sweet spot for devices like the R36S. PlayStation emulation runs beautifully on this class of handheld — every game on this list plays at full speed — and the 3.5-inch IPS screen actually flatters the PS1's chunky low-poly visuals, giving them a warm, nostalgic charm.
Here are 25 of the best PS1 games to load up on your handheld, grouped by genre.
RPGs
The PS1 is arguably the greatest RPG machine ever built. These epics are perfect for a handheld you can play anywhere.
- Final Fantasy VII — The game that made JRPGs mainstream in the West. An unforgettable story, iconic characters and a world you can lose yourself in for 40+ hours.
- Final Fantasy IX — A love letter to classic Final Fantasy with charming characters and a beautiful fairy-tale world. Many fans' favourite.
- Final Fantasy VIII — Ambitious, divisive and unforgettable, with the unique Junction system and a sweeping romance at its core.
- Chrono Cross — A gorgeous, ambitious sequel with one of gaming's finest soundtracks and a sprawling cast.
- Suikoden II — A beloved, story-rich RPG with 108 recruitable characters. A genuine hidden masterpiece.
- Vagrant Story — A dark, intricate action-RPG with a deep weapon-crafting system from the FF Tactics team.
- Dragon Quest VII — A vast, sprawling adventure with hundreds of hours of classic turn-based questing.
Action & Platformers
- Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped — The peak of the trilogy. Tight, varied platforming and a perfect pick-up-and-play game for short handheld sessions.
- Spyro the Dragon — A bright, joyful 3D platformer with open levels and bags of charm. The whole trilogy is brilliant.
- Metal Gear Solid — The stealth game that defined a genre. Cinematic, clever and still gripping today.
- Castlevania: Symphony of the Night — One of the greatest games ever made. The definitive "Metroidvania", packed with secrets and that legendary inverted castle.
- Tomb Raider II — Globe-trotting exploration and puzzle-solving with the iconic Lara Croft.
- Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee — A dark, funny puzzle-platformer with a distinctive style all its own.
Fighting Games
Quick matches make fighters ideal for handheld play, and the PS1 had some of the best.
- Tekken 3 — Often called the greatest 3D fighter of its era. A huge roster, fluid combat and superb arcade-perfect feel.
- Bushido Blade — A one-hit-kill samurai fighter with a tense, unique approach to duels.
- Street Fighter Alpha 3 — The definitive home version of a brilliant 2D fighter with a massive cast.
Racing
- Gran Turismo 2 — A staggeringly deep racing sim with hundreds of cars. The original "real driving simulator".
- Ridge Racer Type 4 — Gorgeous, stylish arcade racing with one of the best soundtracks of the generation.
- Crash Team Racing — A kart racer good enough to rival Mario Kart. Fast, fun and full of personality.
- Wipeout 3 — Sleek, fast anti-gravity racing with a pumping electronic soundtrack.
Horror & Other Classics
- Resident Evil 2 — A landmark survival horror with two interlocking campaigns and unforgettable tension.
- Silent Hill — Psychological horror at its finest, with an atmosphere that still unsettles today.
- Final Fantasy Tactics — A deep, brilliant tactical RPG with a political story far ahead of its time.
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 — The perfect arcade skater. Endlessly replayable and ideal for short bursts on the go.
- Ape Escape — An inventive, joyful platformer built around catching monkeys. A true PS1 original.
Getting the Best PS1 Performance
PS1 emulation runs smoothly on the R36S family, but a few tweaks help everything sing:
- It just works — Even the entry-level R36S handles the entire PS1 library at full speed. This is one of the systems it does best.
- Memory cards — PS1 games use virtual memory cards for in-game saves. Combined with save states, you never lose progress.
- Disc-swapping — Multi-disc epics like Final Fantasy VII handle disc changes through the emulator's in-game menu — no fumbling with physical discs.
- Texture smoothing — If you prefer a cleaner look, the emulator can smooth those classic jagged textures. Or leave it raw for the authentic 90s feel.
If you want a bigger canvas for those cinematic RPGs, the R36S Max steps up to a 4.0-inch screen, while the R36S Ultra adds WiFi, Bluetooth and extra grunt that also makes light work of PSP and Dreamcast titles.
Why PS1 Games Look So Good on a Handheld
There is a reason the PlayStation library feels so at home on a device like the R36S. The PS1 output a relatively low resolution, and its 3D games used soft, dithered textures and simple geometry that were always meant to be viewed on a CRT television from across a living room. On a giant modern 4K screen, those visuals can look harsh and exposed. On a compact 3.5-inch IPS panel, however, the smaller pixels blend together naturally — the dithering smooths out, the textures look warmer, and games like Final Fantasy IX and Metal Gear Solid take on the cosy, atmospheric quality they had back in the day.
The handheld form factor also suits the PS1's pacing. So many PlayStation classics are long-haul RPGs and adventures built around frequent saving and steady progress — exactly the kind of game you dip into for half an hour at a time. Being able to put the device to sleep with a tap of the power button, then resume instantly where you left off, transforms how you play these epics. A 40-hour RPG stops being a commitment you sit down for and becomes something you chip away at on the train, in bed, or during a lunch break.
Combine that with save states for the genuinely brutal moments — a tough Resident Evil 2 boss, a tricky Crash Bandicoot platforming gauntlet — and the PS1 arguably plays better on a good retro handheld than it ever did on the original grey box.
Where to Buy Your Handheld
One important buying note. A lot of cheap clone handhelds are imported directly from China and can take weeks to arrive, frequently turning up faulty or with a corrupted SD card. At GameBro we keep every console in UK stock and deliver in just 2–3 days — each unit tested, pre-loaded with thousands of games (every PS1 classic above included) and supplied with a free protective hardcase.
The PlayStation 1 library is one of the richest in gaming history, and a retro handheld is the perfect way to carry it everywhere. Start with Final Fantasy VII or Crash Bandicoot 3 and work your way down.
Ready to play? Browse the full range at the GameBro shop, or grab our best-selling R36S. For our wider picks across every system, see the 50 Best Games to Play on Your R36S guide, and don't miss our Best PSP Games for Retro Handhelds if you fancy stepping up an era.
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