Gaming was a completely different beast before online multiplayer, microtransactions, and DLC. I’m not saying modern games aren’t good, but there’s a charm that retro games have that you simply can’t find nowadays.
12 Best Open World Games On PS Plus
With so many lengthy open worlds to chose from, here are the few on PlayStation Plus we at Dualshockers think are worth checking out.
If you want to try the classics or just want a trip down memory lane, here are the best Classic Games you can find on PS Plus.
10Timesplitters: Future Perfect
Where’s My Timesplitters 4?
Free Radical
PlayStation 2
Release Date
March 2005
Timesplitters: Future Perfectis the last in a trilogy of incredible first-person shooters from the PS2 era. It’s a celebration of the series, and there are dozens of weird and whacky characters and guns to play with.
This is anold-school arena shooterwith solid visuals, controls, and an overwhelming amount of content.
Balancing takes a backseat to chaotic fun, but the game is so customizable that you can shape the gameplay to your liking.Future Perfecteven has a map editor, and while primitive, it absolutely works, and you can make simple arenas within minutes.
Whether you want to play through the silly story, blow up your friends, or shoot cow carcasses with an Injector Gun, there’s something for everyone inTimesplitters: Future Perfect.
9Dark Cloud
An Incredible Action RPG
December 2000
Dark Cloudis a superb Action RPG that features addictive combat and exploration. While many RPGs of the time offer turn-based fighting,Dark Cloudcombat is all in real-time.
Fighting and exploration are addictive, butthe part that makes the game truly stand out is village building. I’m not about to spoil a classic here, but a massive part of the story inDark Cloudis rebuilding a town.
You’ll collect everything from paths to shops on your adventure and can assemble the village as you see fit. There’s also aton of fantastic weaponsto use.
Village building and action combat shouldn’t go well together, butDark Cloudblends the two so masterfully it feels like a match made in heaven.
8Jak and Daxter
A Critically Acclaimed 3D Platformer
Naughty Dog
March 2006
While the sequel,Jak 2, is arguably the best game in the series, I can’t recommend it without playing the original first. Long before Naughty Dog madeThe Last Of Us, they made platformers likeCrash BandicootandJak and Daxter.
The studio put ona masterclass in 3D platforming, andJak and Daxterhas it all. Solid jump puzzles, gorgeous graphics, humor, everything you could want from an Adventure game is here.
The best thing about this recommendation is if you enjoyJak and Daxter,the rest of the series is also availableon PS Classics.
10 Best JRPGs Currently On PS Plus
If you’re on the hunt for your next JRPG fix, we have you covered!
7Kurushi Final
Don’t Get Crushed!
PlayStation
October 1997
Also known asI.Q.: Intelligent Qube, Kurushi Finalis aunique puzzle game forcing you to make snap decisionsor face the consequences.
You’re trapped on a floating corridor with a wall of blocks slowly rolling toward you. You can delete blocks one at a time, and the goal is to clear them without getting squashed.
If you screw up, the play area gets smaller, and if you fall off the edge, you aren’t coming back! There’s plenty of strategy inKurushi, with special blocks to consider once you’ve learned the ropes.
Kurushi Finalisincredibly tense for a puzzler, and the ominous empty void surrounding you makes for a bizarrely unsettling game at times.
6Ridge Racer Type 4
An Iconic Arcade Racer
December 1998
I think it’s fair to say that theRidge Racerseries lost its way withUnbounded, where the series traded slick Drift Racing for cheap destruction thrills.
If you want to see the series at its best,you can beatRidge Racer Type 4. This is a gorgeous racer by PS1 standards, with an unforgettable soundtrack, superb controls, and a respectable library of cars.
There’s even a story mode, which is pretty cheesy but charming all the same. Everyone remembersGran Turismo1&2 on the PlayStation, but if “sim” racing isn’t for you,Ridge Racer Type 4may become yourfavorite driving game on the system.
5Ape Escape
It’ll Drive You Bananas
Sony Interactive
Ape Escapeis an adorable (if frustrating) 3D platformer that spawned an entire franchise. As the title implies, your goal is to capture monkeys scattered across each of the title’s gorgeous and colorful locales.
AsApe Escapeis set in the future, you can use plenty of ridiculous gadgets, but they only help so much.Ape Escapeis infuriating at times, and your patience will be tested.
Interestingly enough, this title was the first PlayStation game where a controller with analog sticks was mandatory. LikeJak and Daxter, the whole series is available on PS Classics, and there isn’t a bad game among the original trilogy.
4Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus
You Can Control Farts With Your Brain
Oddworld Inhabitants
November 1998
Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddusis a phenomenal 2D adventure game where you must save your friends from the evil Glukkons in the horrific Soulstorm Brewery. You play as Abe, and he’s not your typical gun-wielding badass.
In fact,Abe is pretty feeble, so you’ll need to use your cunning and wits to survive. Abe does have one trademark trick up his sleeve. He can possess creatures and force them to do his bidding, and the possibilities are endless. He can also talk his way out of situations, laugh, and yes, even fart.
Abe’s Exoddusmay be over 25 years old, but the backgrounds and environments are jaw-droppingto this day. The artwork is sublime, and combined with the unique gameplay, your journey through Necrum and the Brewery will be unforgettable.
Oddworld: Soulstormoffers a modern take onExoddus, but doesn’t hold a candle to the original.
All The Hallmarks Of A Classic
Q Entertainment
December 2004
Luminesis simple enough that anyone can pick it up and play. Butlike all great puzzlers, it’s laced with complexityfor those who care enough to learn.
On the surface,Luminesis a straightforward block-matching game. Gather four blocks of the same color together and wait for the scrolling line to clear them. Easy, right?
The catch is the speed of the scrolling line, which is tied to the music. Every stage inLumineshas a different musical genre and forces you to adjust your playstyle on the fly for those sweet high scores.
Many ofthe best puzzle gameson the planet are wonderfully accessible, with a simple gameplay loop.Luminesfits the bill but with a welcome modern twist.
2Worms World Party
April 2001
ManyWormsplayers regardArmageddonas the best in the series. It’s still played today and maintains an active community on PC. As we’re not talking about PC games, let me introduceWorms World Party.
Worms World PartyisessentiallyWorms Armageddonwith a sprinkle of new modesand optional modifiers. The core gameplay ofArmageddonis still here, but with many ways to shake up the formula.
This would be DLC nowadays, but as that wasn’t a thing two decades ago, it was released as a new title.
Wormsis a timeless turn-based strategy game, and skill-based weapons like the Bazooka and Grenades will take hundreds of hours to master.
Enter The King Of Iron Fist Tournament
August 1995
If you’re into Fighting games, you have to playTekken 2. While a little rough around the edges,Tekken 2means business, and many characters you know and love inTekken 8debuted in this title.
Tekken 2also has a fair share of features we don’t always see nowadays. Every character has a unique FMV outro when you beat the game, andyou can unlock new fighters instead of buying them. Imagine that!
Tekken 3came along a few years later and revolutionized the genre, but make no mistake,Tekken 2is a timeless classic andone of the best fighters on the PS1.
If you loveTekkenbut want to experience it without Rage Arts, Heat, and 20-second combos, you could do far worse thanTekken 2.
There are so many bangers on PS Plus that I couldn’t fit every great game on this list. I’ve tried to include as many genres as possible, but don’t be offended if I’ve not included your favorites.
10 Best Retro Horror Games, Ranked
Which classic retro horror games keep you up at night?
