6 Hardest PS1 Games Published By Sony, Ranked

Sony’s entry into the console space in 1995 was just one of the many industry shake-ups that the ’90s saw, and the Japanese tech giant would go on to become one of the most dominant forces in the industry. One reason for that was their strong emphasis on software, which was evident in the massive PS1 library.

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Some of these games were just great, and certain titles challenged players and put their skills to the test. Some of them challenged the player’s dexterity, with a hefty library of shoot ’em ups and FPS games, while others tested strategy skills. These Sony-published PlayStation 1 games were some of the hardest and most difficult games on the platform, cultivating a legacy for the fifth generation of consoles that is still thriving to this day.

6 MediEvil

GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.12/5

Inspired by the likes of Ghosts ‘N Goblins and Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas, MediEvil saw players take control of Sir Daniel Fortesque, a knight of the King of Gallowmere who was struck down in battle. After being mistakenly brought back to life by a nasty sorcerer named Zarok, Dan is tasked with defeating the wizard and his seemingly unlimited army.

MediEvil is set across 21 levels, where the forces of Zarok grow exponentially in number and challenge the player to become even more adept with Sir Dan. Offering a selection of ever-evolving weapons, escalating challenges, and a sense of dark fantasy adventure, MediEvil is one of the PS1’s best and most difficult games.

5 Bushido Blade

GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.28/5

The PS1 was home to some absolutely stellar fighting games, from Tekken 3 to Street Fighter Alpha 3, but none of them were as unique or difficult as Bushido Blade. There’s no other fighting game on the market quite like it, both back in the day and even in a contemporary setting.

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Making use of a fabulous body targeting system, Bushido Blade aims for realistic damage and injuries. This is a game where a single strike can win a fight, and patience and skill are rewarded. It’s one of the PS1’s most tense experiences, where each fight feels like survival as opposed to a brawl.

GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.29/5

The vehicular combat genre was quite popular back in the ’90s, thanks to standouts like Twisted Metal and Vigilante 8. But there’s no better example of a tough-as-nails, truly difficult car combat game than Twisted Metal 2. Released just one year after the first game, Twisted Metal 2 involves a chaotic thrill ride through Los Angeles as the player struggles to survive against a swathe of amazingly designed vehicles.

With one of the most outrageously challenging maps and aggressive enemy AI, Twisted Metal 2 does its best to not take it easy on the player. These wide-open maps are full of destruction and mayhem, putting the player right in the middle of it as the enemy cars hound them down. It’s a harrowing and fantastic experience altogether.

3 Final Fantasy Tactics

GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.45/5

Among the numerous spin-offs that Final Fantasy has produced over the years, from the incredibly unique 10-2 to the equally beloved Mana series, one of its best and most complex is Final Fantasy Tactics. This turn-based tactical strategy game, set in the world of Ivalice, pits the player against seemingly insurmountable odds.

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With some stiff difficulty spikes and a sense of paranoia surrounding every battle, the player is encouraged to save often. As far as turn-based strategy games go, it’s one that is constantly considered one of the best, but it’s also one of the PS1’s most difficult and rewarding games out there.

2 Crash Bandicoot

GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.50/5

Although the future of this platforming icon is in doubt, even after a successful remaster and new mainline entry, the original Crash Bandicoot is one of the most challenging games on the PS1. Among its platformer contemporaries, Crash Bandicoot is ruthless in its pursuit of grinding the player down.

The cute and wacky exterior hides a game that seeks to decimate any sense of confidence. Brutal levels continue to escalate, from escaping the narrow forests of N. Sanity Island all the way to the absolutely infuriating High Road. As if the original wasn’t already challenging enough, the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy offers even more difficulty for fans willing to dive back in, and it features a much-needed visual overhaul, too. Gamers who appreciate the charm of the original, however, are in for a hard time, as Crash Bandicoot is one of the PS1’s hallmark titles, and it’s also one of its most challenging.

1 Einhander

GameFAQs Difficulty Rating: 3.97/5

Among the countless titles that Sony produced for the PlayStation, one that seems to have been forgotten about is Einhander. This brilliantly designed shoot ’em up is one of the absolute classics of the genre, with a unique setting and a spectacular soundtrack. And with this shmup comes one of the trademarks of the genre, as it is truly the most difficult and punishing game on the PS1.

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This 2.5D side-scrolling shooter features fast-paced and highly energetic stages, focusing more on the eponymous Einhander pilots in combat with large-scale ships. This is in contrast to other shmups, which tend to focus on hordes of smaller enemies in large numbers. This scale directly affects the energy of Einhander, as the battles feel more intense than most shmups.

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