10. LocoRoco 2 (PSP)

There was an eccentric spirit to the PSP and a lot of its software that PlayStation is unlikely to ever replicate. LocoRoco, and its successor LocoRoco 2, embodied that. A relatively rudimentary platform game, this colourful sequel found you once again “tilting” the world to roll the titular blob through increasingly challenging environments. The sequel introduced a ton of new features, including the ability to swim underwater, all of which added to the inventiveness of its incredibly quirky predecessor.

9. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (PSP)

Ask most people about Final Fantasy, and they probably won't even mention the excellent Final Fantasy Tactics. But among more hardcore enthusiasts, Tactics is often name dropped as one of the greatest strategy RPGs ever made. Superbly worked and brilliantly well realised, Tactics is an original PlayStation masterpiece — and The War of the Lions brought the experience to PSP years later. What we wouldn't do for a proper remaster or remake on modern consoles...

8. Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (PSP)

Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is a 2.5D remake of the legendary 1993 PC Engine title Dracula X: Rondo of Blood, which, for a long time, was totally exclusive to Japan. The core game is retooled drastically, with the anime art style of the original being replaced by Ayami Kojima's more mature designs. While the new visuals arguably haven't aged as well as the 2D graphics of the PC Engine version, it's still well worth a play – and even if you don't fancy the remake, the fact that Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night are included as unlockable extras makes this an essential purchase for Castlevania fans, and followers of the action adventure genre in general.

7. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (PSP)

The release of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, an upgraded and expanded re-release of Monster Hunter 2, cemented the series as a Japanese phenomenon. The game sold a mind-boggling 670,000 units at launch, and went on to top 3.8 million units in the region. It’d be a little while longer before Nintendo swooped in and secured 3DS exclusivity for future instalments, effectively resigning the PS Vita to failure, but this game helped drive PSP sales for years to come. Such was its success that Sony created a new feature called AdHoc Party for the PS3, effectively allowing players to enjoy online multiplayer when they weren’t able to team up locally. As for the game itself, well, it was massive – with new missions, monsters, and mechanics to master.

6. God of War: Ghost of Sparta (PSP)

Released around six or so months after mainline PS3 entry God of War III, but set shortly after the events of the first game, protagonist Kratos and his hack-and-slash escapades were beginning to feel a little long in the tooth by the time God of War: Ghost of Sparta arrived. Nevertheless, this was an impressive portable instalment from developer Ready at Dawn, cramming some of the most incredible visuals onto the pocketable platform at the time. The story, too, written by God of War II director Cory Barlog, was particularly personal, examining the relationship between the series’ iconic skinhead and his brother Deimos. With a ton of combat variety and some truly jaw-dropping set-pieces, this spin-off managed to stave off the stench of franchise fatigue for a little longer.

5. Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection (PSP)

The PSP became a great destination for RPGs, and that trend continued with the release of Square Enix's Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection. Packaging together the original game and its follow-up adventure, this is the ideal way to experience the whole saga. The retro JRPG might be showing its age, but it remains an excellent entry in this storied series, and the extra content is the cherry on top — although not as essential as the main event.

4. Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (PSP)

Set prior to the events of the original Kingdom Hearts on PS2, the PSP’s Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep digs deeper into the stories of Ventus, Aqua, and Terra – a trio of characters who briefly featured in Kingdom Hearts II, who would go on to have key roles in the series’ muddled story moving forwards. Despite being a portable entry, the release introduced some pretty pivotal mechanics to the property, including the Shotlock system, as part of a complete revision to the way magic works. It also added multiplayer modes, including Keyblade Racing and co-op arenas, in addition to new worlds from the Disney universe.

3. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (PSP)

There were a contingent of Metal Gear Solid fans who were disappointed when Hideo Kojima announced Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker for PSP, as it had been a couple of years since Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots released on the PS3 and there was anticipation for a new console game. This mainline instalment, set in 1974 Costa Rica, was a superb entry in the series, however – offering bitesized missions perfect for portable play, and full four-player co-op inspired by the success of the Monster Hunter games. It also introduced elements like the Mother Base management mode, which would later go on to comprise a core component of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.

2. Jeanne d'Arc (PSP)

Inspired by the Joan of Arc legend, the story centers on a young crusader named Jeanne and her quest to turn back an unrelenting English army. While the Hundred Year’s War rages between France and England, an army of demonic creatures attempts to invade the human world.

1. Persona 3 Portable (PSP)

Persona 3 Portable brought Atlus' superb PS2 RPG to Sony's handheld system, complete with the option of playing as a female main character. An intriguing selling point to be sure — especially for those who were already familiar with the original release — but it's worth noting that other parts of the game were scaled back. For example, explorable city areas were removed, and were replaced by flat map screens. A bit of a shame, but there's still no denying that Persona 3 Portable is one of the PSP's finest — an intoxicatingly stylish title with an almost episodic gameplay structure that actually lends itself to portable play.

And that just about concludes our best PSP games list! Remember, this article is designed to update and evolve over time, and it relies on your ratings – so if you’re not happy with the order, be sure to do something about it by submitting your votes using the search box on the first page. Alternatively, if you think there’s a game missing from our PSP Games Database, then be sure to let us know.

With all that out of the way, thank you so much for reading our best PSP games list, and be sure to share your personal favourites in the comments section below.

Best PlayStation Games by Platform