As a PlayStation fan, I’m always checking out what’s available on PlayStation Plus, and I’ve been really impressed with the older games they’ve added. While everyone talks about the PS1 and PS2 classics, there’s a surprisingly great collection of PSP games hiding in there too! Even though Nintendo was king of handhelds back then, Sony really delivered with the PSP, and it’s awesome that we can still play those hits now thanks to PlayStation Plus.
The top games for PSP on PlayStation Plus offer both familiar spin-offs and unique, original titles. Many of these original games are remarkably inventive – a great reason to play them even now. While some PSP games aren’t as polished as their console counterparts, most hold their own against popular PlayStation games across all platforms.
Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
While not the strongest title in the series, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters is a good PSP game. It doesn’t quite reach the level of other platformers from that era, but it still delivers a fun and enjoyable experience worthy of the Ratchet & Clank franchise.
The main drawback of Size Matters is its slow pace – tough enemies and how the game’s difficulty increases can make certain sections feel tedious. However, it features enough unique and interesting ideas to balance out these issues. As it’s currently the only Ratchet & Clank game on PlayStation Plus, you won’t be tempted to compare it to the stronger entries in the series.
God Eater Burst
If you want the best way to play God Eater, Burst isn’t it. God Eater Resurrection improves on the original, and God Eater 2 adds even more great features.
As a PlayStation Plus member, I was really excited to see God Eater Burst available for free in the classics catalog! Even though it’s an older PSP game, it’s still a pretty fun action RPG. If you’re a Monster Hunter fan, you’ll probably enjoy the tough, long battles against cool monsters. It’s not quite as open-world as Monster Hunter – the areas are smaller and there’s less exploring – but it’s still worth checking out if you like that style of combat.
Resistance: Retribution
While not created by the original developers of Resistance, Bend Studio – the team behind Syphon Filter – did a great job with Retribution. The game didn’t drastically change the formula, but it offered a solid campaign and a good cover system, resulting in consistently enjoyable gameplay.
Considering Bend Studio’s work on games like Resistance: Retribution and the successful Syphon Filter series for the PSP, it was natural for Sony to choose them to develop Uncharted: Golden Abyss for the PlayStation Vita. However, the Resistance franchise didn’t fare as well with a different developer, ending with the disappointing Resistance: Burning Skies.
Daxter
The Jak & Daxter games initially overlooked Daxter, leaving his name off the titles for the PS2 sequels. However, he got his moment to shine on the PSP. Daxter takes place while Jak is imprisoned at the beginning of Jak 2, and it’s a surprisingly great platforming adventure for a handheld system, filling in the story gaps nicely.
While not as great as the first two Jak & Daxter games, Daxter is surprisingly good. Even though it’s a shorter game, it features well-designed levels and offers a lot of different gameplay experiences, making it a great fit for both PS4 and PS5. If you’re choosing between this and Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, Daxter is the better option.
Killzone: Liberation
For the past ten years, Guerilla Games has been known for the Horizon series. Before that, they were famous for the Killzone games. One standout title, Killzone: Liberation on the PSP, switched from the first-person shooter style to an overhead perspective, but still kept the fast-paced action fans loved. Notably, Guerilla Games developed this PSP game in-house, rather than outsourcing it to another studio.
Interestingly, Liberation continues the story of the original Killzone, picking up with the same main character just two months later. It’s also one of the few Killzone games you can play on the PS5, as earlier titles before Shadow Fall on the PS4 were never updated for newer consoles.
Patapon 2
Patapon is a unique game from Sony Japan Studio that doesn’t easily fit into one genre. While it’s primarily a rhythm game – you play by drumming to the beat – it also involves strategic elements. You guide a tribe of small creatures called patapons on adventures using the rhythm of the drum.
Honestly, you can’t really go wrong with any of the Patapon games, but if I had to pick just one for someone new to the series, I’d say start with Patapon 2. It keeps everything great about the first game and adds a bunch of cool new stuff, making it the perfect entry point. It’s how I wish I’d started, actually!
Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror
The original Syphon Filter games were a big hit on the first PlayStation, but the series struggled to maintain its success on the PS2. Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain tried a new approach with a more open-ended campaign, a focus on multiplayer, and RPG-like features. However, this didn’t appeal to fans of the earlier, more linear games. While not a terrible game, it didn’t capture what made the original Syphon Filter so popular.
After a slight detour, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror revitalized the series with its classic third-person shooter gameplay, putting players back in control of Gabe Logan. Its sequel, Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow, is also available on PlayStation Plus, and together, these two games demonstrate just how successful the series was on the PSP.
Locoroco 2
Does this sound familiar? A unique game series from Japan Studio with a cute, cartoon look that really got good with the second game. While it shares some similarities with Patapon, Locoroco offers a completely different kind of platforming experience.
The follow-up to LocoRoco adds new moves like swimming and squeezing into tight spaces, which makes for even more interesting gameplay. While the original LocoRoco is enjoyable, LocoRoco 2 is the better game to play first.
Lumines Remastered
Often, the most enjoyable puzzle games are surprisingly simple. Classics like Tetris and Puyo Puyo demonstrate that rotating shapes can be incredibly fun. Lumines takes this basic idea and challenges players to rotate blocks to match colors before a line sweeps across the screen.
Similar to classics like Tetris and Puyo Puyo, Lumines is incredibly well-designed, though its captivating gameplay can be intensely addictive. If you enjoy Lumines Remastered, you’ll be pleased to know Lumines Arise, released in 2025, was also a critical success, even if it didn’t become widely popular.
Jeanne d’Arc
Level-5, a Japanese game developer known for titles like Dark Cloud and Dragon Quest 8 on PlayStation 2, continued its success with its first game for the PSP. Jeanne d’Arc was a tactical roleplaying game that reimagined the Hundred Years’ War as a fantasy battle between humans and demons.
Jeanne d’Arc offers both engaging strategy and a surprisingly strong story, making it stand out among PSP tactical games. If you enjoyed Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles and are looking for something similar, this is a great option available on PlayStation Plus.
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2026-02-09 00:43