Best PS1 Platformers You Can Play Today!

The original PS1 had a massive library spanning multiple genres, including some of the best platformers of all time. Many of these titles are still being played and enjoyed today and for good reason.

If you're new to retro game collecting or are attempting to load up on titles that you haven't heard of, here are the top PS1 platformers that you can buy today.

Best ps1 platformers

0:00

/5:36

1×

10 - Muppet Monster Adventure

With the rarity of being able to blend it's suitability towards grown ups and children, you'll surely enjoy Henson Interactive's contribution to the PS1 library. It doesn't feature a very sophisticated play mechanics and does feature some childish décor, fans of the Muppets and everything that comes along with it will surely bring you hours of enjoyment out of this platformer as you take control of Robin the Frog and can use different Muppet abilities along your path.

9 - Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus

Odd is definitely a way to define this experience. If you enjoy solving evil grotescue and humorous puzzles, you'll enjoy Abe's Exoddus. The object of each level is to save all your friends and at the same time trying to keep them and yourself alive. For the old school gamer, think Lemmings and if that's a style of platformer you enjoy then check out the second release in the Abe’s Oddworld series.

8 - Gex: Enter The Gecko

Enter the Gecko is an interesting game with fascinating art style and the level designs. Each of the levels are different channel genres like horror or cartoons. There's a ton of references and oddly unique pop culture references that would not fly in today's day and age especially for a platformer rated E for Everyone. Gex is a simple platformer that doesn't overcomplicate things and offers a ton of fun.

7 - Klonoa: Door to Phantomile

Klonoa is a 2.5D platformer where you move along on a 2d rail but are able to see depth in the characters and movement of the levels. For being one of the best platformers on the Playstation, Klonoa wasn't incredibly popular in North America but since it's release has attained a cult classic following. With it's whimsical art style and level design, Klonoa will keep you happy with it's solid game mechanics.

6 - Threads of Fate

SquareSoft published some fantastic turn based JRPGs for the PS1 which is why some may have turned a blind eye to their platformer Threads of Fate which also borrows RPG elements from what made Square a successful publisher on the Playstation. Threads of Fate is a vastly underrated title being mixed in with releases such as Skies of Arcadia and Chrono Cross, it didn't receive the push it deserved. Still, it offers a great soundtrack, fantastic level design and a great amount of details in the sprites.

5 - Croc: Legend of the Gobbos

With the amount of wacky platformer characters from the 90s, Croc is no exception to what appears to be a generic character. Being at a time where analog controllers weren't all that popular, the use of the second analog stick allows camera movement similar to how it's used in Super Mario 64. Croc requires some precision platforming as you navigate through it's surprisingly long 40 levels. A word of note, if you don't have a dual shock controller you'll not find the gameplay experience notable while playing through Croc.

4 - Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped

Crash is an on rail, 3d platformer and feels incredibly fluent in it's controls. The first time to use the analog stick movement in a Crash game. I don't know many people who had a Playstation and didn't have at least one of the Crash Bandicoot games in their platforming library. Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped is easily the best in the original trilogy and deserves to be played if you're a fan of platforming titles.

3 - Rayman

3d platformers were consistently released on the PSX, if you're a fan of brilliant 2d art work Rayman is the game for you. It's incredibly creative with the stunning 60 frames per second gameplay. It's one of those games that takes advantage of the tricks featured on a CRT-TV with it's razor sharp scanlines and deep colors.

2 - Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage

Spyro 2 took everything the first release did well and amplified it. The sprites are bigger, the world is deep, the controls are fantastic. It's got some collect-a-thon aspects to it where you have to collect the various magical talismans orbs and kill all of the enemies. While this is not an easy task, you get a guidebook to help you along the way. Spyro 2 is a game that can be enjoyed by all audiences no matter age or gender and remains an all time classic platformer on the PS1.

1- Ape Escape

Ape Escape is the title that defined the dual shock controller. At it's core, it's an awesome platformer that is a ton of fun. The left stick is for moving the character and the right stick is to use the gadgets that you use to capture the monkeys. Every level is set off to have you find the ape and catch them. Often the ape will run and hide somewhere if you're not fast enough. Ape Escape is the best 3d platformer on the PS1 hands down.  

Final Thoughts

With so many options for quality PS1 games, it's incredibly hard to narrow down the list of platformers. Since these games are the best the PSX has to offer, we could have interchanged some of the games on this list.