Best RPGs Only Available On The PS1, Ranked

Without a strong supporting library of RPGs, the PS1 may not have been a smash hit. One of the smartest decisions Sony ever made was re-releasing PS1 games digitally on PSN to be enjoyed on both the PS3 and PSP. That moment when players realized they could play games like Final Fantasy 7 on the go must have been eye-opening.

2:41

Related

6 Best PS1 Turn-Based JRPGs, Ranked

The original PlayStation was a haven for JRPGs, and these are the best ones the console saw during its lifetime.

Final Fantasy 7 and many other Square Enix and non-Square Enix RPGs have made it past the PS1 via those aforementioned digital ports and through other versions too. These other games are still trapped on the PS1 though without any way to play them besides emulation or a hard copy and a good old PS1.

6

Beyond The Beyond

Sony’s First Sun

• Developer: Camelot Software Planning
• Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
• Platform: PS1
• Released: September 11, 1996 (NA)

Beyond the Beyond was one of the earliest RPGs released for the PS1. It was developed by Camelot who was a small name then but it grew in size thanks to Nintendo. They’re the team responsible for Golden Sun and the various Mario sports titles which are borderline RPGs.

Beyond the Beyond’s battle, U.I. looks a lot like Golden Sun’s with big sprites and colorful animations. Sony has been re-releasing PS1 games on PS4 and PS5 recently with small upgrades, so maybe one day Beyond the Beyond can return like The Legend of Dragoon. For now, though, it’s trapped on the PS1 and Sony should get ahold of Nintendo to make a deal on this one.

5

Brave Prove

Go West Young Man

• Developer: Data West
• Publisher: Data West
• Released: April 16, 1998 (Japan)
• Platform: PS1

Brave Prove was only released in Japan in 1998 when the PS1 was cooking with gas. It’s an action RPG developed by Data West, a company fans should not confuse with Data East, makers of fine games like BurgerTime and Joe & Mac. Brave Prove has big, bulky-looking sprites but they are well-detailed as compared to the more polygonal backgrounds of the game.

Related

6 Best PS1 JRPGs That Are Not Part Of A Franchise

Sony’s first console had a lot of one-off JRPGs that went nowhere. Despite the lack of a larger franchise, they still made waves.

For 1998, it might have looked too dated to release it outside of Japan. However, retro fans can appreciate it now especially since there are fan translations of it in English and the hack-and-slash gameplay is satisfying even if it can get old.

4

Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins

The First Is Safe But Not The Sequel

Alundra was the PS1’s answer to The Legend of Zelda with a heavy emphasis on dreams. It was a top-down action-adventure game that was re-released on digital storefronts like the PS3. Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins was a more ambitious sequel that featured full 3D backgrounds and characters.

It played similarly to Mega Man Legends, another hidden gem from the PS1, but with sword gameplay instead of using a gun. Unlike its predecessor, Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins never made it off of the PS1 and hopefully, pirating adventure can see the light of a console once again.

3

Thousand Arms

Befriend Woman, Become A Master Smith

Your changes have been saved

My List

My Favorite Games
My Played Games
My Games Wishlist

Thousand Arms

Systems

Released

October 14, 1999

Developer(s)

Red Company
, Tose

Thousand Arms would fit right at home in a Persona fan’s collection and not just because it was published by Atlus. It too is a turn-based RPG that features romance mechanics. Players are a young blacksmith named Meis who can only grow stronger with his hammer if he falls in love.

Related

7 Best PS1 JRPGs With No Random Encounters, Ranked

These PS1 games were ahead of the randomized curve.

Players will meet various female party members on their quest and dialogue options can increase or decrease these relationships. It’s a very goofy story akin to a harem anime like Tenchi Muyo or Love Hina except with a lot more turn-based battles.

2

Koudelka

A Precursor To Shadow Hearts

Your changes have been saved

My List

My Favorite Games
My Played Games
My Games Wishlist

Koudelka

Survival Horror

Adventure

Systems

Released

December 16, 1999

Developer(s)

SNK

Koudelka is a turn-based horror RPG set in 1898. Players can move their party on a grid-based tile set on the battlefield though sort of like a mini-tactical RPG. Players assume the role of the titular Koudelka, a psychic who is sent in to investigate a mansion similar to Resident Evil.

It is the precursor to Shadow Hearts, another obscure RPG, which takes place in the same universe. There were plans to port Koudelka onto the Neo Geo Pocket Color and Steam at separate points in time but those plans fizzled out and now the game is forever trapped officially on the PS1.

1

Dragon Quest 7: Fragments Of The Forgotten Past

A Forgotten Past Indeed

• Developer: Heartbeat
• Publisher: Enix
• Released: November 1, 2001 (NA)
• Platform: PS1

Dragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgotten Past was a late game for the PS1 and a late entry overall in the Dragon Quest series. The sixth entry was a SNES game and that was in 1995 in Japan. Because of the late release and the seemingly dated-looking graphics, many passed this PS1 classic by and then it became rare.

Eventually, it was remade for the 3DS which is truly the best way to play it and then there was a mobile version too based on the remake. So, it is possible to play Dragon Quest 7: Fragments of the Forgot elsewhere technically but not in this original form which is a different experience on the PS1. Dragon Quest purists would assuredly love a chance to play this time-traveling game once more.

More

7 Best PS2 JRPGs That Are Not Part Of A Franchise

Fans are eagerly waiting for the return of these PlayStation 2 JRPGs that, for now, have been on-offs without a franchise.