Quick answer: Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and Persona 3 Portable are the only two PSP games on all six “best PSP games” lists we compared, so they top our ranking, followed by Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions and God of War: Ghost of Sparta. A loose UMD of a top-25 game had a median price of $17.77 on 31 October 2026, and 16 of the 25 can now be played without a PSP, through a remaster, a PS3 collection, a mobile version or PlayStation Plus Premium.
What this page adds: a combined ranking (not one site’s opinion), today’s UMD price for every game, the easiest legal way to play each one now (only 9 of the 25 still need the original UMD), which PSP games are in PlayStation Plus Premium, and the PSP, PS Vita and PPSSPP catches. Prices change weekly, so treat them as a guide.
How did we rank the best PSP games?
We did not invent a ranking. We combined six published lists, ordered the games by how many of them include each one, and broke ties by average position (as a share of each list’s length):
- GamesRadar’s 25 best PSP games (by Nick Thorpe of Retro Gamer; updated 8 October 2026)
- IGN’s 10 best PSP games (September 2023)
- Metacritic’s top PSP games by Metascore (the 27 games scoring 85 or more)
- Push Square’s 30 best PSP games (ranked by readers’ ratings, with at least 20 ratings each; updated 20 January 2026)
- PSU’s 16 best PSP games (2024)
- Digital Spy’s 10 greatest PSP games (March 2016)
Prices come from PriceCharting. PlayStation Plus availability is from Thumbsticks’ list of every PlayStation Plus Premium classic (updated 24 October 2026), because Sony does not publish one complete list.
The 25 best PSP games, ranked
| # | Game (year) | On how many lists | Loose / complete price | Easiest way to play today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010) | 6 of 6 | $29.73 / $49.99 | Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 (2026), or sold on its own |
| 2 | Persona 3 Portable (2009) | 6 of 6 | $90.00 / $130.00 | 2023 remaster (PS4, Switch, Xbox, PC) |
| 3 | Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (2007) | 5 of 6 | $14.50 / $18.99 | iPhone, iPad and Android version (updated October 2026) |
| 4 | God of War: Ghost of Sparta (2010) | 5 of 6 | $39.99 / $59.99 | God of War Origins Collection (PS3, 2011) |
| 5 | Lumines: Puzzle Fusion (2004) | 4 of 6 | $5.77 / $9.99 | Lumines Remastered (2018; PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC) |
| 6 | Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010) | 4 of 6 | $19.54 / $25.62 | Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX (in the 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX collection) |
| 7 | LocoRoco 2 (2008) | 4 of 6 | $12.00 / $14.99 | LocoRoco 2 Remastered (PS4, 2017) |
| 8 | Daxter (2006) | 4 of 6 | $8.75 / $18.11 | PS Plus Premium (Classics) |
| 9 | God of War: Chains of Olympus (2008) | 3 of 6 | $23.21 / $34.75 | God of War Origins Collection (PS3, 2011) |
| 10 | Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (2009) | 3 of 6 | $24.34 / $38.91 | Original UMD only |
| 11 | Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (2007) | 3 of 6 | $12.06 / $16.82 | Crisis Core –Final Fantasy VII– Reunion (2022) |
| 12 | Wipeout Pure (2005) | 3 of 6 | $6.51 / $9.92 | Original UMD only |
| 13 | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006) | 3 of 6 | $27.99 / $39.03 | Original UMD only |
| 14 | Jeanne d’Arc (2006) | 3 of 6 | $28.88 / $45.00 | PS Plus Premium (Classics) |
| 15 | Patapon 3 (2011) | 3 of 6 | $20.00 / $39.97 | PS Plus Premium (Classics) |
| 16 | Burnout Legends (2005) | 3 of 6 | $10.35 / $15.50 | Original UMD only |
| 17 | Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (2011) | 2 of 6 | $18.74 / $26.49 | Tactics Ogre: Reborn (2022) |
| 18 | Tekken: Dark Resurrection (2006) | 2 of 6 | $14.96 / $21.99 | PS Plus Premium (Classics) |
| 19 | Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles (2007) | 2 of 6 | $27.00 / $44.73 | Castlevania Requiem (PS4, 2018; the two classic games only) |
| 20 | LittleBigPlanet (PSP) (2009) | 2 of 6 | $14.49 / $19.23 | Original UMD only |
| 21 | Ridge Racer (2005) | 2 of 6 | $12.70 / $23.24 | Original UMD only |
| 22 | Gran Turismo (PSP) (2009) | 2 of 6 | $17.77 / $27.33 | Original UMD only |
| 23 | Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005) | 2 of 6 | $15.00 / $29.43 | Original UMD only |
| 24 | Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror (2006) | 2 of 6 | $7.00 / $9.31 | PS Plus Premium (Classics) |
| 25 | Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006) | 2 of 6 | $18.79 / $27.68 | Original UMD only |
“Loose” means the UMD disc in its case shell only; “complete” means disc, box case and manual. “PS Plus Premium (Classics)” means the game is in the PlayStation Plus Premium Classics Catalogue, which runs PSP games on a PS4 or PS5.
Why is Peace Walker number one?
Because it is the only game near the top of every list: first on IGN and Digital Spy, second on GamesRadar and PSU, and fifth on Metacritic and Push Square, with a Metascore of 89. Persona 3 Portable is also on all six lists but sits lower on most of them (14th on GamesRadar, for example), so it comes second. The top-rated game on Metacritic, God of War: Chains of Olympus (91), is ninth here because GamesRadar, IGN and Digital Spy all leave it out, while all three include its sequel, Ghost of Sparta.
If you only play five
- Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. Hideo Kojima’s 1974-set sequel, built around base-building and four-player co-op missions. The easiest version today is in Konami’s Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2, released on 27 August 2026; a loose UMD is $29.73.
- Persona 3 Portable. The PSP version of Atlus’s school-life RPG, which added a female protagonist. It is the dearest game in our top 25 at $90.00 loose, so the 2023 remaster for PS4, Switch, Xbox and PC is the cheap route.
- Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions. A tactics RPG that re-translated the 1997 PS1 game and added new jobs, story scenes and characters. Square Enix’s 2025 remake, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, is based on the original PS1 version and does not include the War of the Lions additions, so for those you need the UMD ($14.50 loose) or the iPhone, iPad and Android version, which Square Enix updated on 19 October 2026 with controller support and 60fps.
- God of War: Ghost of Sparta. Kratos’s second PSP game, and also in the God of War Origins Collection for PS3.
- Lumines. Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s music-puzzle launch game, number one on GamesRadar. At $5.77 loose it is the cheapest game in the top 25.
What do the best PSP games cost now?
- Cheapest classics: Lumines ($5.77 loose), Wipeout Pure ($6.51), Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror ($7.00), Daxter ($8.75), Burnout Legends ($10.35) and LocoRoco 2 ($12.00).
- The expensive ones: Persona 3 Portable ($90.00 loose, $130.00 complete), God of War: Ghost of Sparta ($39.99), Peace Walker ($29.73) and Jeanne d’Arc ($28.88).
- Complete copies cost less of a premium than on older consoles. PSP games came in plastic cases that survived, so in our top 25 a complete copy typically costs about 1.5 times the loose price: Peace Walker is $29.73 loose and $49.99 complete.
- Check for a cheaper version first. 5 of the 25 are in PlayStation Plus Premium and 11 have a remaster or a newer collection. Only 9 still need the original UMD: Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, Wipeout Pure, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, Burnout Legends, LittleBigPlanet (PSP), Ridge Racer, Gran Turismo (PSP), Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.
Which of the best PSP games are on PlayStation Plus Premium?
Five of our top 25 are in the Classics Catalogue: Daxter, Jeanne d’Arc, Patapon 3, Tekken: Dark Resurrection, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror. Thumbsticks’ list counts 33 PSP games in total, including Killzone: Liberation, Resistance: Retribution, Ridge Racer 2, Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow and Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters. The catalogue changes and differs a little by region, so check the PlayStation Store before you subscribe. In the UK, PlayStation Plus Premium cost £14.99 a month or £119.99 a year on 31 October 2026.
Which version of each game should you get?
| PSP game | Newer version | Where it runs | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker | Master Collection Vol. 2 (2026) | Switch 2, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series, PC | The HD Collection version; Portable Ops is not included |
| Persona 3 Portable | Persona 3 Portable (2023) | PS4, Switch, Xbox, PC | Higher resolution; same game |
| Crisis Core | Crisis Core –Final Fantasy VII– Reunion (13 December 2022) | PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox, PC | New graphics and full voice acting |
| Tactics Ogre | Tactics Ogre: Reborn (11 November 2022) | PS5, PS4, Switch, PC | Reworked battle system and voice acting |
| Lumines | Lumines Remastered (26 June 2018) | PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC | HD version of the original |
| LocoRoco 2 | LocoRoco 2 Remastered (2017) | PS4 | HD remaster |
| Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles | Castlevania Requiem (26 October 2018) | PS4 | Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night only, not the 2.5D remake |
| God of War: Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta | God of War Origins Collection (2011) | PS3 | HD versions of both |
| Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions | Mobile version (updated 19 October 2026) | iPhone, iPad, Android | Controller support and 60fps added |
The two GTA “Stories” games were rated for PS4 in 2017 but never released on it, so for Liberty City Stories ($15.00) and Vice City Stories ($27.99) the UMD is the realistic option.
How can you play PSP games today?
| Option | Best for | What it costs | Catches |
|---|---|---|---|
| An original PSP (1000, 2000 or 3000) | Your UMDs, and the 9 games with no newer version | A console plus games; see our price guide | Old batteries; the PSP Go (N1000) has no UMD drive |
| PS Vita | Digital PSP games | A Vita plus a memory card | No UMD drive, so it cannot play discs |
| PlayStation Plus Premium | 5 of these 25 on a PS4 or PS5 | £119.99 a year in the UK | You lose access if the subscription ends |
| Remasters and collections | 11 of these 25 on modern consoles and PC | Varies by game | Some change the game (Reunion, Reborn) |
| PPSSPP emulator | Playing your own UMDs on a PC, phone or Steam Deck | Free | You need a PSP to copy your own discs |
What to know before you buy a PSP:
- Models: the PSP-1000 (2004), PSP-2000 (2007), PSP-3000 (2008) and PSP Go (2009) are the main ones. The PSP-E1000 “Street” was sold only in Europe and has no Wi-Fi. Our PSP price guide covers what each costs and what to check.
- Region: PSP games are region-free, so a US UMD plays on a UK PSP. UMD films are region-coded.
- Storage: the PSP uses Memory Stick Pro Duo cards, which are no longer made, and the PSP Go uses Memory Stick Micro (M2). Most owners use an adapter that takes a microSD card instead; check the price of microSD to Memory Stick Pro Duo adapters on Amazon.
- Batteries: a 15-year-old battery may hold little charge or have swollen. If yours has, check the price of PSP replacement batteries on Amazon, and stop using a swollen one.
Affiliate links: if you buy through the Amazon links on this page we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices change, so check the current price on Amazon.
For the Vita route, our PS Vita price guide lists current prices by model.
Can you play PSP games on PC or a phone?
Yes, with PPSSPP, a free, open-source PSP emulator for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. The current version on the official download page was 1.20.4 on 31 October 2026. PPSSPP runs most PSP games well, and they can be rendered at higher resolutions than the PSP’s 480 × 272 screen.
PPSSPP does not need any PlayStation system files. You do need the game, and the legal route is to copy your own UMDs. PPSSPP’s own guide to dumping games does this with a PSP running custom firmware: connect it to a computer by USB, choose UMD Disc as the USB device, and copy the ISO file across. Digital PSP games you bought can be copied from the PSP’s memory card in the same way. Copyright law on personal backups varies by country, so check yours. Never download PSP games you don’t own. For other systems, see our guide to the best retro emulators.
Honourable mentions
These are high on one or two lists but miss the top 25: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (second on Metacritic with 90, but on no other list; $43.00 loose), Monster Hunter Freedom and Power Stone Collection (8th and 9th on GamesRadar), Valkyria Chronicles II, Dissidia Final Fantasy, FIFA 14 and Ridge Racer 2 (3rd and 4th on Push Square), Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow, Resistance: Retribution and Killzone: Liberation.
Related guides
Sources: GamesRadar, IGN, Metacritic, Push Square, PSU and Digital Spy lists; PriceCharting loose and complete prices on 31 October 2026; Thumbsticks for the PlayStation Plus Premium Classics list; PPSSPP documentation; RPG Site for the War of the Lions mobile update; publisher announcements for remasters. We ranked the games from published lists and did not play them for this article.
FAQ
What is the best PSP game of all time?
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. It is on all six lists we combined and first on IGN and Digital Spy. On Metacritic alone the top PSP game is God of War: Chains of Olympus, with a Metascore of 91.
What are the top 5 PSP games?
By agreement across six lists: Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Persona 3 Portable, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, God of War: Ghost of Sparta and Lumines.
Which PSP games are on PlayStation Plus Premium?
Thumbsticks’ list (updated 24 October 2026) counts 33 PSP games, including Daxter, Jeanne d’Arc, Patapon 3, Tekken: Dark Resurrection, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror, Killzone: Liberation and Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters. Availability varies by region.
What is the most expensive of the best PSP games?
Persona 3 Portable, at $90.00 loose and $130.00 complete on PriceCharting on 31 October 2026, followed by God of War: Ghost of Sparta at $39.99 loose.
Are PSP games region-locked?
No. PSP games are region-free, so US, Japanese and European UMDs play on any PSP. UMD films are region-coded.
Can a PS Vita play PSP UMDs?
No. The PS Vita has no UMD drive. It can play digital PSP games bought from PlayStation Store, but not discs.