5 Classic PlayStation Games That Still Hold Up Today and Provide the Perfect Nostalgia Trip

These 5 retro video games made exclusively for PlayStation consoles are still entertaining.

playstation, god of war 1

SUMMARY

  • These 5 classic nostalgic PlayStation games from the bygone era still hold up today.
  • Most of these exclusive classic games can be played for free on PS4 or PS5 if players purchase Sony's Premium PS Plus membership.
  • The Classics Catalog features many more retro video games that will remind you of your childhood.
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Sony’s PlayStation has created many exclusive video game titles that many gamers grew up playing. Video games have changed drastically in the past three decades but nothing compares to those days when you stayed up late on a school night playing those retro video games with horrible graphics.

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Thanks to Sony’s Classics Catalog it is now easier to relive those memories as many retro games from PS1, PS2, PSP, and PS3 eras can now be played on modern consoles.

These Classic PlayStation Games Are Available On PS Plus Classic Catalog

We’ve specifically picked these 5 games from the bygone era as most of these can be played on your PS4 or PS5 consoles even today thanks to Sony’s Premium PS Plus Membership, but if that’s not your cup of tea, then there are plenty of emulators out there.

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5) Jak II

in-game screenshot of Jak 2
Jak 2 was also popular for being one of the most difficult games on the PS2. (Image via Sony Computer Entertainment)

The second game in the Jak and Daxter series, Jak II, took the core elements of the first game and took things to the next level. The game featured new weapons, devices, playable areas, and storyline. Released in 2003, it was labeled as one of the best PlayStation 2 games back in the day.

The game is available for PS4 and PS5 on the PlayStation Store for $14.99. The rest of the Jak and Daxter games are also available on the store, including the spin-offs such as Daxter.

4) Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus / Sly Racoon

In-game screenshot of Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
Sly Cooper popularized the stealth game genre (Image via Sony Computer Entertainment)

2002’s Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus (known as Sly Raccoon in the PAL region) kicked off one of the most popular action stealth video game series of all time.

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The game was initially remastered for PS3 and PS Vita but if you wish to play it today, it can be purchased on the PS store for $13.49.

3) Ape Escape

Ape Escape (Image via Sony Computer Entertainment)
The game was particularly praised for the innovative use of the dual analog controls. (Image via Sony Computer Entertainment)

Undoubtedly, Ape Escape is one of the most popular video game franchises of all time. The first game in the series, Ape Escape, was released in 1999 for PS1 and the unique gameplay quickly captivated gamers around the world.

Many spin-offs and party games of this franchise were eventually made but nothing compares to the original, which is available on the PS Store for $9.99.

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2) God of War 3

God of War III poster
God of War III was the ninth best-selling PlayStation 3 game of all time. (Image via Sony Computer Entertainment)

The God of War series has proved to be one of Sony’s most popular and profitable possessions of all time. 2010’s God of War III may not be the highest-selling title of the franchise but it was indeed the one that popularised the franchise.

The remastered version of the game was released for the PS4 on July 14, 2015, and it is still available on the PS store for $19.99. God of War III Remastered was able to sell 4 million copies by 2020.

1) Gran Turismo

first Gran Turismo game
It took 5 years to create the first Gran Turismo game. (Image via Sony Computer Entertainment)

In the racing department, the Gran Turismo series is easily Sony’s most popular exclusive, however, it always wasn’t as realistic as it is today.

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Today, many won’t find 1997’s title visually pleasing. But back in the day, it was the most realistic racing simulation game.

Unfortunately, the game can be only played in 2024 using emulators but it is definitely worth it as the game truly has that retro feel that will remind you of your childhood.

How many of these titles have you played? Let us know in the comments below!

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Written by Farhan Asif

Articles Published: 1151

With over 2 years of experience in content writing, Farhan Asif is a seasoned writer at FandomWire where he specializes in bringing the latest news and insights from the world of entertainment and gaming to readers around the world. With over 700 published articles for FandomWire, he has also written more than 750 articles for AnimatedTimes. Apart from this, he has a passion for coding and is pursuing a degree in computer science. During his free time, Farhan loves to play video games and hopes to create a video game of his own one day.