When gamers talk about the best games across all PlayStation platforms, it’s impossible to ignore the contributions of the PSP. While the home consoles often took center stage, the PSP quietly built a legacy of its own, filled with groundbreaking PlayStation games that rivaled anything on the PS2 or even the PS3. With a combination of original IPs and beloved spin-offs, the PSP played a vital role in expanding the PlayStation universe.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker was one such game that proved just how cinematic and deep a PSP experience could be. Directed by Hideo Kojima himself, Peace Walker wasn’t just a side entry—it was a mainline Metal Gear game with full-fledged hulk138 story arcs, intricate gameplay systems, and multiplayer co-op. It later received an HD remaster, cementing its place among the best games in the Metal Gear series. Its presence on a handheld showed that PSP games could carry the weight of AAA expectations.

Then there’s LittleBigPlanet PSP, which took the creative platforming mechanics of the PlayStation 3 hit and seamlessly translated them to a smaller screen. Players could still design their own levels and share them with others, a feature that wasn’t common in handheld gaming at the time. It maintained the charm and ingenuity of its console sibling while offering a unique on-the-go experience. This portability gave new meaning to PlayStation games, allowing creativity and fun to be accessible anywhere.

One of the most critically acclaimed PSP games was Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, a deep and complex tactical RPG that offered dozens of hours of gameplay and multiple story paths. It was a remake of a classic, but it introduced so many enhancements that it felt like a brand-new title. Its success on the PSP helped reinvigorate interest in strategy RPGs and influenced later PlayStation releases in the same genre. For fans of deep storytelling and intricate combat, it’s still one of the best games to play on the system.

The PSP also paved the way for digital distribution of PlayStation games. Through the PlayStation Store, players could download games directly onto their handheld device—years before that became the standard. This helped PSP gamers access classics, demos, and indie titles, forming a foundation for today’s PlayStation Network ecosystem. The convenience and freedom offered by the PSP made it more than just a device—it became a lifestyle for portable gaming enthusiasts.