The PlayStation Portable (PSP) may no longer be in production, but its legacy as one of the best handheld gaming consoles of all time continues to live on. With a library of games that ranged from action-packed adventures to innovative RPGs, the PSP was home to some of the most memorable gaming experiences in handheld history. One of the standout titles for the PSP was Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. As a prequel to the iconic Final Fantasy VII, the game told the backstory of Zack Fair, the heroic figure whose fate played a crucial role in the events of the original game. Featuring real-time combat and an emotional story that delves into the complex relationships between Zack, Cloud Strife, and Sephiroth, Crisis Core became one of the most beloved RPGs on the PSP. Its beautiful cutscenes and deep, engaging combat system made it an unforgettable experience for fans of Final Fantasy VII and newcomers alike.
Another standout game for the PSP was Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. The Grand Theft Auto series has always been known for its open-world chaos, and this portable entry brought the familiar urban landscape of Liberty City to the handheld console. Players could engage in all the activities that made the series famous—stealing cars, slot bonus completing missions, and wreaking havoc—while still enjoying the immersive storytelling and world-building that GTA is known for. The game successfully translated the Grand Theft Auto experience to a portable format without sacrificing the core elements that made the series so popular. It’s one of the best examples of how a console game can be adapted for handheld play.
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite was another game that helped define the PSP’s library. This action RPG allowed players to take on the role of a monster hunter, battling enormous beasts to collect materials and craft powerful weapons. The game’s addictive loop of hunting monsters and upgrading gear kept players coming back for more, while its cooperative multiplayer mode offered hours of shared gameplay. The challenge of hunting down powerful monsters, combined with the depth of its crafting system, made Monster Hunter Freedom Unite a standout title for the PSP and one of the most beloved entries in the Monster Hunter series.
These three titles—Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite—represent the best of what the PSP had to offer. Whether you’re a fan of action RPGs, open-world mayhem, or cooperative multiplayer experiences, these games exemplified the PSP’s ability to deliver a wide variety of gameplay styles while maintaining high-quality production values. Although the PSP is no longer on the market, its legacy lives on through these unforgettable titles.