When it launched, the PSP was seen as an ambitious move by Sony—an effort to bring full gaming experiences to players in the palm of their hands. It wasn’t long オンカジ before the system proved itself through a robust lineup of titles that stood tall next to its console counterparts. In fact, many of the best games during the mid-2000s weren’t just on the PlayStation 2 or 3—they were on the PSP.
One prime example is Persona 3 Portable, an adaptation of the critically acclaimed PS2 RPG. It offered streamlined gameplay and a new female protagonist, adding replay value and narrative diversity. Despite its smaller size and simplified presentation, it maintained the emotional depth and social simulation elements that made the original one of the best PlayStation games of its era. Its success on the PSP opened the door for more console RPGs to migrate to handhelds.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories brought the open-world chaos of the GTA series to a portable audience with stunning fidelity. These games proved that the sprawling environments and mission-based gameplay of GTA could work beautifully on the go. They quickly became some of the best-selling PSP games and demonstrated the system’s capacity to handle large-scale, mature content.
Additionally, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep provided fans with deeper insight into the lore of the franchise, and was often cited as one of the most important entries in the series. With fast-paced, stylish combat and a story that enriched the Kingdom Hearts universe, it stood out as one of the best games on the PSP and a crucial piece of the PlayStation puzzle. It showed that even complex action RPGs could thrive in a handheld format.
The PSP revolutionized handheld gaming with its cutting-edge design and catalog of games that delivered real substance. These weren’t just stripped-down versions—they were fully realized PlayStation games in their own right. The best games on the system weren’t novelties; they were proof that portable gaming could be just as compelling and impactful as what was found on living room consoles.