Who’s hungry to find out all about the best selling PS1 games of all time?
I hope it’s you, otherwise the rest of this article might seem a little underwhelming.
Yes folks, we’re about to discover which PS1 games brought the biggest smiles the faces of Sony’s accountants.
It’s time to put aside all character allegiances. I know you might love Spyro more than your own children, but we’re not here to find out which games we think are personally the best.
The following games are ranked according to official sales statistics; think of it as a best of article as decided by the people and their hard earned cash.
In which case, more people should have bought the game at Number 10!
So, let’s get to it and discover which are the best selling PS1 games of all time!
Table of Contents
10. Metal Gear Solid (1998)
- Total sales – 7,000,000
That’s right; the winner of our best PS1 games is actually the 10th best selling PS1 game of all time.
Hey, just because it didn’t sell as many as the Number 1 spot doesn’t mean it’s not legendary. Millions of people bought copies of 50 Shades of Gray… and that’s unbelievably bad!
Back to games. This stealth shooter title inspired a series that has spanned the entire Sony console thus far. Follow Solid Snake as he kicks ass and takes names, undoubtedly one of the coolest video game characters of all time.
So, let’s talk MGS.
Solid Snake is a spy with a stealth game that Tom Cruise could only ever hope to have. Plus, with companies like FOXHOUND and DARPA making an appearance, it makes me feel like I should put a tie around my head and go into battle right beside Snake.
If you run in all guns blazing in this game, you will die. Ducking and crawling is the aim of the game, pulling the pistol trigger at the right moment in order to stay under the radar.
Most of the game follows an isometric-style view with camera angles going full 3D when the action starts.
If you love games like Splinter Cell and Syphon Filter and haven’t ever played MGS, then you need to have a word with yourself!
9. Tomb Raider (1996)
- Total sales – 7,100,000
Whenever I think about the PS1, Tomb Raider is the first game that comes to mind. Lara Craft was definitely the Poster Girl for the console back in the day, and her series has gone from strength to strength ever since.
This adventure platform game had everything; puzzles, combat, epic levels and dangerous obstacles.
Follow Lara as she explores mysterious tombs for valuable artefacts. She’s a real jetsetter too, heading all over the world on death-defying missions.
One of the things I loved the most about this game was the fact that Lara had infinite ammo while running around. There was no messing around finding bullets, just maximum attacking.
Climbing to new heights and unlocking new areas by using your noggin were massive parts of the gameplay too. I think people loved Tomb Raider so much because it made you think.
That and everyone either wanted to be or be with Lara. I don’t think that’s really changed in 2022!
8. Crash Bandicoot: Warped (1998)
- Total sales – 7,130,000
Crash Bandicoot Warped drops into the 8th spot in our best selling PS1 games of all time.
Can you believe this game came out back in 1998? It’s one of the toughest titles in the Crash series to this day.
Still, I guess Naughty Dog needed to give us something tough to sink our teeth into after we smashed through Crash 1 and 2!
So what’s the story here?
Well, Dr Neo. Cortex and Aku Aku are up to no good once again. They’re trying to enslave the minds of the innocent inhabitants of Crash’s world, but Signor Bandicoot isn’t going to let them get away with it.
Players can take Crash or Coco through apple-collecting, crate0smashing levels brimming with Crash-style antics.
And while we’re talking about sales figures, this was the first non-Japanese game to ever breach the 1 million sales mark in Japan. Talk about a pivotal game for Sony’s maiden console!
7. Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (1997)
- Total sales – 7,580,000
Let’s stick with the baddest Bandicoot on earth for a while longer, shall we?
The Empire might not be striking back this time, but Cortex definitely is. As you might have guessed from the title, this is the second game in the series and takes place in a fictional land off the coast of Australia.
I wonder if Ty the Tasmanian Tiger was supposed to make a cameo?
Ol’ Cortex wants to steal those crystals again. What is it with Drs stealing crystals; first Robotnik, then Cortex… maybe they just love shiny things?
From riding a polar bear through icy levels to that giant ball that dropped straight from Indiana Jones, these levels boast some of the most memorable moments from the entire series.
Seriously, if you value storyline just as highly as action, then this is one of the best Crash Bandicoot games for you!
6. Harry Potter And The Philosophers Stone (2001)
- Total sales – 8,000,000
The next title in our list of best selling PS1 games hardly needs any introduction. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is one of the most famous stories of our time, and the game was an absolute smash hit too.
Our American readers will know this is the Sorcerer’s Stone, but I grew up calling with Philosopher in the title, so it’s just too weird for me to call it that!
There’s no wonder this game was so popular; running around Hogwarts wielding spells, attacking gnomes, battling a troll, and getting to uncover secrets in the castle alongside epic characters.
It’s making me want to go and play it right now!
This game does look a little old these days, but it’s still a timeless classic. I think anyone who loves Harry Potter would definitely agree.
Just grab one of the best PS1 HDMI cables and spruce it up a bit!
5. Tekken 3 (1998)
- Total sales – 8,300,000
Tekken 3 is more than just a game; it’s part of an institution that still dominates the fighting genre to this day.
Street Fighter might be our go-to retro fighting game here at Retro Dodo Towerts, but Tekken 3 still boasts some of the gnarliest fighters of all time.
Eddy Gordo and Yoshimitsu could probably give Killer Instinct’s Fulgore a run for his money too!
With 23 characters to choose from, there was a unique way for everyone to play. I spent most of my time squaring off against friends, but the solo player mode was also amazing.
The game mechanics won’t be a surprise to anyone who has ever played a fighting game before. It’s very arcadey, with a countdown clock, health bars, and special moves to pull off if you can remember the button combos.
Tekken 3 almost received 100% from critics across the board. That basically makes it fighting game royalty, for crying out loud. No wonder its one of the best selling PS1 games of all time!
4. Final Fantasy VIII (1999)
- Total sales – 8,600,000
How many of you were wondering when Final Fantasy VIII would appear in this list?
Yes, with well over 8-and-a-half-million sales under it’s belt, the 8th title in the FF canon remains one of the greatest fantasy games of all time.
We’re talking turn-based action, intricate levels, and more NPCs than George R. R. Martin has had hot dinners.
For anyone who hasn’t played Final Fantasy VIII before, you can expect plenty of ginormous monsters alongside nerdalicious action. Set in an unknown world, it’s jam-packed full of romance, magic, and suspense.
And you know what, the graphics have stood the test of time. It’s one of the few games from the 90s that doesn’t make your eyes bleed when you play it on a bigger TV, which is probably why it’s such a big scorer in our best PS1 RPGs list too!
3. Gran Turismo 2 (1999)
- Total sales – 9,370,000
We might have only put it in 9th place in our best PS1 titles list, but the sequel to the critically acclaimed Gran Turismo hit well over 9-million sales in its lifespan.
I guess people really do love driving simulators!
If you loved the original GT, then you’ll feel right at home with the second offering in the series. You can tell more thought has gone into the tracks and cars, but the same addictive gameplay is still present by the bucket load.
With 27 tracks and 650 cars, you won’t be short of different ways to play either. At the time, this was the biggest collection of vehicles in any racing game.
Yeah, it was kind of a big deal!
Like Tekken 3, GT2 scored as close to 10 as humanly possible from every critic that played it. The combination of tantalising tournaments and multiplayer madness make it a must-have for anyone building their PS1 games collection.
And most importantly, it’s damn fun to play!
2. Final Fantasy VII (1997)
- Total sales – 10,022,228
With over 10 million sales to its name, Final Fantasy VII officially takes the silver spot in our best selling PS1 games list.
I spent so many hours playing this game back in the day. Seven-years-old, delving into the first FF game to ever get a PAL release. Those were the days.
Take Cloud Strife, possible the best named eco-terrorist ever through a compelling story with some of the greatest battles we’d ever come up against back in ’97.
Plus, the use of 3D characters in a 2D world keep a timeless brilliance to the game even in 2022.
I really like FF VII because it’s bona fide sci-fi epic with a heavy post-apocalyptic feel to it.
Talk about doom and gloom, eh!
Explore a huge world map, experiencing classic JRPG mechanics while conversing with NPCs, learning moves, and getting so hooked into the story you never leave the house.
That happened to me one easter… my friends weren’t happy.
1. Gran Turismo (1997)
- Total sales – 10,850,000
Gran Turismo is officially the best selling PS1 game of all time with close to 11 million copies sold!
What would life be like without the grandaddy of racing games? This title might not be as technologically advanced without the sequel, but without it, GT2 and countless other racing games would certainly not exist.
We should probably take a moment to salute it!
With 160 cars to try on for size, this game had it all and more back in ’97.
Yes, the arcade mode was fun for a quick race, but it’s the simulation mode and the chance to play as a racing driver working their way through the ranks that made so many people flock to buy this game.
Start off with an old Honda Prelude held together by string and tape and work your way up to a Dodge Viper. Thats a success story that everyone wants to be a part of!
Yes, Gran Turismo might not be your favourite PS1 game, but it’s the one that throws the most weight around when it comes to sales figures… and the figures never lie!
If you like PS1 games then be sure to check out our podcast where we discuss the teams favourite original PS1 games!
