Top 10 PSP games

After years as a sidekick, the wise cracking ottsel finally got to be the star in this game. After his buddy Jak gets captured, Daxter gets hired as an exterminator. As much as he loves killing bugs with his extermination tank, which releases a bug spray that stuns his enemies, he’s still determined to rescue his friend. It’s tough not to distracted along the way, because the minigames, referred to as “Dream Sequences,” are a blast.

As with the console installments in the series, this title combines elements and characters from Disney movies with those from Final Fantasy, but this time around the revamped battle system improved the concept. Birth By Sleep is a prequel to the original PS2 game, and focuses on three different characters, each with their own different scenarios, so there’s plenty of neat things for Hearts fans to sink their keyblades into.

Call us controversial for choosing this “Final Fantasy” game over “Dissidia” and “Crisis Core” but we didn’t love any of them quite as much as this one. Like the other “Tactics” games, “War of the Lions” offers a turn-based version of the classic RPGs, set in the kingdom of Ivalice. Part of the fun of the game, aside from the ultra keep tactical battles, is building up your roster of characters in order to collect one of each class.

Very few console style shooters worked on the PSP because of the absence of a 2nd control stick, but this title was one of those exceptions. That said, not just shooting that you’ll be doing if you’re going to take down terrorists and save the day. You’ll sneak around, fight bad guys with hand-to-hand combat, and take part in an impressive variety of mission scenarios.

Music and rhythm games have taken the gaming world by storm in recent years thanks to their popularity with casual gamers, but this title isn’t exactly “DDR.” You control a hero through his battles with opponents like giant crabs by beating drums in rhythm, which are connected to the four face buttons. A simple concept goes a long way here, as this proper timing allows for epic battles to unfold. Style and substance mesh perfectly here.

Don’t let the bright colors and childish music fool you—this game is seriously fun. Instead of controlling your blob of LocoRocos, you tilt and shift the world itself, allowing your ball, or balls of cuteness to roll and hop over and around various hazards. The goal is to get to the end with as many Rocos as possible, harking back to the days of Lemings, but the unique art style and undeniably cute characters make for an experience unlike any other.

Some gamers were shocked when Sega announced that the sequel to this game’s PS3 predecessor would be handheld only, but they changed their minds once they played it. The title seamlessly brings in the turn-based shooter gameplay from the first game, and it even improves it. As much as we enjoyed the five classes in “VC I,” the new additions like the Armored Soldiers meant we never looked back.

Like its follow-up, “Vice City Stories,” this title proved that the expansiveness of the “GTA” games could be replicated on handheld. It allows you to experience all that the GTA 3 version of Liberty City has to offer, no matter where you are. With impressive graphics, an unrestrictive open world and a fully voiced cast of characters, LCS stood on equal footing with it living room counterparts.

Since this series was one of our favorite exclusives for the Sony consoles, we couldn’t wait to see how it would work on the PSP. Thankfully, this game, and its predecessor, “Chains of Olympus,” exceeded our high expectations. Protagonist Kratos is as brutal as ever, and he has to be when he fights enemies like Thanatos. He’s not alone, though—he’s got awesome new weapons like the spear and shield known as the Arms of Sparta.

Before we get to our number one, let’s take a look at some honorable mentions:

“Wipeout Pulse” (2008)

“Lumines II” (2006)

“Mega Man Powered Up” (2006)

“Persona 3 Portable” (2010)

“Jeanne D’Arc” (2007)

The PSP had great games, but none packed quite the same punch. It wasn’t just a good version of the series for handheld, it was one of greatest “Metal Gear” games to date, period. The title features some of the best storytelling we’ve seen in the games, involving us in Big Boss’s search into the reappearance of his dead mentor. It has the trademark stealth gameplay you love, and along with it you can build your own army and even create your own Metal Gear. There’s so much to do, you’ll finally have a reason to go on the 36 hour bus trip you’ve been postponing.


Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite PSP game? For more portable top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.