Thirty years of PlayStation have produced hundreds of great games, so any list like this is going to start an argument. That’s fine. These are the ten we keep coming back to: games that changed what people expected from the console, and that still hold up if you play them now.
We’ve listed them in release order, not ranked them, and added a line on the easiest way to play each one today.
Final Fantasy VII (1997)
For a lot of players this was the first RPG that felt huge: a city of steel, a world map full of secrets and a story that wasn’t afraid to hurt you. The original has been re-released many times, and the Remake series retells it with modern combat.
Play it today: the original is on PS4 and PC; the Remake series is on PS5 and PC.
Metal Gear Solid (1998)
Hideo Kojima’s stealth classic made a PS1 game feel like a film without ever taking control away from you. The fourth-wall tricks in the Psycho Mantis fight are still talked about for a reason. It’s dated in places, but the ideas are not.
Play it today: look for the Master Collection release on modern consoles and PC.
Shadow of the Colossus (2005)
Sixteen giants, a horse and a huge empty land. Team Ico’s game is quiet, lonely and unforgettable, and each colossus is a puzzle you have to climb. Bluepoint’s 2018 PS4 remake rebuilt it beautifully while keeping the original’s mood.
Play it today: the 2018 remake on PS4, which also runs on PS5.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009)
Naughty Dog’s sequel set the template for cinematic action games for the next decade. The train level alone is a masterclass in pacing. It’s lighter and funnier than most of what followed, and it’s aged better than you’d expect.
Play it today: the Nathan Drake Collection on PS4.
The Last of Us (2013)
A late PS3 game that felt like a goodbye to a generation. Joel and Ellie’s trip across a broken America is tense, sad and brilliantly acted, and the ending still divides people. Few games make you think this hard about what you just did.
Play it today: The Last of Us Part I on PS5 and PC, or the Remastered version on PS4. Compare The Last of Us prices in India.
Bloodborne (2015)
FromSoftware took everything that worked in Dark Souls and made it faster and more aggressive. Yharnam is a gothic nightmare that keeps folding back on itself, and the trick weapons make every fight feel like a dance. Hard, yes, but fair.
Play it today: on PS4, which also runs on PS5. See the current Bloodborne price.
God of War (2018)
Santa Monica Studio moved Kratos to Norse mythology, gave him a son and told the whole story in one unbroken camera shot. The axe throw and recall never stops feeling good, and the father and son story gives the action real weight.
Play it today: on PS4 or PC. Its sequel, Ragnarok, continues the story. Check God of War prices in India.
Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018)
Insomniac nailed the most important thing: swinging through Manhattan feels incredible. Add a smart take on Peter Parker and a combat system borrowed from the Arkham games, and you get one of the best superhero games ever made.
Play it today: the Remastered version on PS5 and PC, or the original on PS4. If you’ve already played it, the follow-up Miles Morales is shorter and often on sale.
Ghost of Tsushima (2020)
Sucker Punch built an open world that guides you with the wind instead of a map full of icons. The standoffs are tense, the duels are sharp and the island looks like a painting. The Director’s Cut adds Iki Island.
Play it today: the Director’s Cut on PS5 and PC, or the original on PS4. Compare Ghost of Tsushima prices.
Astro Bot (2024)
Team Asobi’s platformer is pure joy, packed with ideas and a celebration of PlayStation history. It won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2024, and it’s the best showcase there is for the DualSense controller.
Play it today: on PS5.
Before you buy
Older PlayStation games turn up in PlayStation Store sales all the time, and some appear in the PlayStation Plus Extra catalogue, which changes every month. Check the game’s page on GameJila for the current India price across the PS Store and disc retailers before you pay, or browse every PS5 game and PS4 game we track. If you’re new to hunting for deals, our guide to buying games in India without overpaying covers when to wait and which edition to pick.
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