The PlayStation Portable (PSP), Sony’s first foray into the handheld gaming market, made waves with its ability to deliver console-quality experiences in the palm of your hand. Released in 2004, the PSP offered a wide variety of games that pushed the boundaries of portable gaming. One of the standout titles for the PSP was Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, released in 2005. A spin-off of the Grand Theft Auto series, the game took place in Liberty City, offering players the same open-world chaos and criminal adventures that made the franchise famous. What set Liberty City Stories apart was its ability to deliver a truly immersive experience on a maindikilo handheld device, with a story-driven narrative and engaging side missions. The game’s ability to bring the GTA formula to the PSP made it a must-have for fans of the series.
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is another prime example of the PSP’s capabilities. Released in 2010, the game is set in the Metal Gear universe and follows Big Boss as he builds a private army while dealing with global political unrest. Peace Walker continues the series’ signature stealth-based gameplay, with players using strategy and stealth to navigate through enemy camps and military installations. The game’s deep narrative, engaging gameplay mechanics, and strong character development made it one of the best titles available on the PSP. Despite being a handheld game, Peace Walker delivered an experience that felt just as expansive and immersive as any console entry in the Metal Gear series.
For RPG enthusiasts, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions was a standout PSP title. A remastered version of the classic Final Fantasy Tactics game, The War of the Lions brought the tactical RPG genre to the handheld world with stunning results. Players engaged in strategic battles across a grid-based map, using their characters’ unique skills and abilities to outsmart opponents. The game also included a deep political story, filled with twists and turns that kept players hooked throughout. The War of the Lions successfully brought the complexity and depth of Final Fantasy Tactics to the PSP, making it one of the best tactical RPGs ever released for a portable device.
Another notable title in the PSP library is God of War: Chains of Olympus, released in 2008. The game takes place between the events of God of War and God of War II, with players once again taking control of Kratos as he battles gods, monsters, and mythological creatures. Despite the limitations of the PSP’s hardware, Chains of Olympus was able to deliver the fast-paced combat, stunning visuals, and epic scale that the God of War series is known for. The game’s ability to replicate the feel of its console counterparts while still being portable made it a standout title on the PSP, proving that handheld gaming could deliver full-scale action games.
These games—Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, and God of War: Chains of Olympus—are just a few examples of the PSP’s ability to offer console-quality experiences on a portable device. The PSP’s library remains one of the most impressive in the handheld gaming world, and these titles continue to stand out as some of the best portable games ever made.