When the PSP was first introduced, many questioned whether a handheld could truly deliver the same experience as home consoles. That skepticism quickly faded as the system launched with some of the TUNAS4D best games the PlayStation brand had ever offered in a portable format. It was a bold experiment that paid off. Not only did the PSP broaden the scope of what portable gaming could be, but it also set a new standard for handheld consoles that would influence future devices for years to come.

PlayStation games have always stood out for their innovation and ambition, and the PSP was no exception. From story-driven adventures like Jeanne d’Arc to action-packed entries like Resistance: Retribution, the system provided a wide range of genres with surprisingly rich depth. These games weren’t shallow time-killers. They carried the weight of full console titles, compressed into a pocket-sized experience. This design philosophy is why many still consider the PSP home to some of the best games ever made for a handheld system.

Unlike mobile games that came later, PSP games weren’t limited by microtransactions or always-online requirements. They were self-contained experiences, designed to immerse players whether they had ten minutes or two hours. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII and Persona 3 Portable didn’t just enhance their franchises—they offered must-play entries that were critical to the overall story arcs. This kind of quality storytelling in a portable format was unprecedented at the time.

Even today, many of these titles are revisited and remembered not just as “great for a handheld,” but as some of the best PlayStation games overall. The PSP proved that portable systems could deliver console-quality experiences, and the best PSP games remain a proud part of the broader PlayStation legacy.