I have always been a "Kingdom Hearts" diva!

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While it might not be the best racing game on the console, Ridge Racer was one of the first titles released for the original PlayStation back in 1994. It was a smash hit that led to multiple sequels across several generations of PlayStation consoles, and it also sparked one of the most iconic moments in E3 history. Is it on this list just because it was part of the original PlayStation launch lineup? Yes, but without that successful launch, we wouldn’t have the 30 years of PlayStation that followed.

In 2002, Disney and Square Soft (now Square Enix) brought their two IPs together in a wild mix of JRPG and Disney charm. It should not work, but Sora, Donald, and Goofy’s story won over players and built a fandom that is still going strong. The series is wacky and fun in a way most games are not. The story can get confusing, but that is part of the appeal. The first game was a huge risk that paid off, and we may never see a crossover this unique again.

With today’s diminishing returns in graphics, it’s easy to forget when a game could make you say, “Wow, I can’t believe this is a video game.” Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec was the PS2’s graphics showcase and helped make Gran Turismo one of PlayStation’s most important franchises. It’s also the game many believe perfected the racing sim gameplay the series is known for.

Open-world games are everywhere today, but when Grand Theft Auto III first came out, nothing else felt like it. The freedom to explore and do almost anything created a whole new style of game. Its formula influenced licensed titles like Spider-Man 2 and Sony franchises like Jak II, with many following or copying what it started.

Soulslikes are one of the biggest genres in gaming today, and this is the game that started it all. I think Dark Souls is better and perfected the formula, but there’s no denying that without Demon’s Souls, there would be no Bloodborne, Elden Ring, Lies of P, or Nioh. It introduced a genre that took the gaming world by storm, and it’s one I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of.

Making a sequel is always a big ask. Making one that also serves as a soft reboot for a storied franchise feels unthinkable. With God of War, Sony Santa Monica did exactly that. The studio reintroduced Kratos, a character heavily criticized during the PS2 and PS3 era, and revealed a side of him rarely seen before. The story explores what it means to be a father and how to stop your child from repeating your past mistakes. It remains the defining game of the PS4 generation for many PlayStation fans.

A big theme on this list is how these games shaped gaming as a whole. This pick feels underrated in that conversation. You probably do not get The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild without Shadow of the Colossus. Its minimal hub and the freedom to face bosses in any order made it truly unique. It also tells a story that can bring you to tears with almost no dialogue. Countless developers and artists have drawn inspiration from this masterpiece, and there may never be another game quite like it.

For most of its early years, Final Fantasy was tied to Nintendo. That changed in 1997 when Square chose PlayStation because it could store games on CDs. Final Fantasy VII became the game people bought PS1s for. I did not play it until the PS4 rerelease, but it still holds up surprisingly well compared with the games that came after it.

Naughty Dog has been one of PlayStation’s biggest studios since the PS1 era, with its whimsical platformer Crash Bandicoot. But the PS3 generation is when it became PlayStation’s most important developer. Uncharted marked the start of its rise as a storytelling powerhouse, and The Last of Us cemented its reputation as the industry leader in narrative-driven games. For the past 13 years, this game has defined PlayStation’s first party. Titles like God of War (2018), Horizon Zero Dawn, and Ghost of Tsushima have all been shaped by its influence and the kind of stories it proved games could tell.

If The Last of Us defines PlayStation's first party, then Metal Gear Solid defines video games as a narrative medium. Hideo Kojima showed people that games could be just as cinematic as movies, with strong camerawork and an incredible voice cast, changing how many saw the medium. But it wasn’t only the story. Kojima understands that games are interactive, and he uses that interactivity to deepen the experience instead of just moving the player from one point to another.”

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