Sony’s PlayStation console was released in 1995. Previously, the console space had been dominated by Nintendo and Sega. The PlayStation brought an affordable home console with CD-ROM capability, support for Redbook audio, and 3D graphics to the masses. Its main competitors were the Sega Saturn and Nintendo 64. Sony was an upstart and new to the stage when the PlayStation was released, but they ended up with the best-selling console of the generation — and some of the best action games of all time.

© Anthony McLaughlin/Shutterstock.com

It is no surprise that the PlayStation had games of all genres during its long lifespan. It is home to some absolutely fantastic action games, which prioritize hand-eye coordination and fast reflexes. Some PlayStation action games have fallen into obscurity, but others are sterling examples of what the PlayStation was capable of. Here are our top picks for the absolute best PlayStation action games.

7. Ape Escape

This 1999 release got gamers used to the Dual Shock analog controller. This PlayStation action game is heavy on fun and features a fairly unique control scheme. Gamers are tasked with capturing a slew of escaped apes. Numerous tools will be employed over the course of the game with a lightsaber-style stun baton and a handy net for capturing the apes.

With a Metacritic score of 90, Ape Escape was met with universal acclaim upon release. Mechanically it is forgiving for beginner players, but there is enough depth present to appeal to players of all ages. The game is a marvelous time with joyous stages, incredible music, and heavily stylized graphics which have aged well for their time. This is a later-era PlayStation title and it very much shows the hands of Sony’s Japan Studio.

6. Syphon Filter

Syphon Filter sees players entering the shoes of special agents Gabe Logan and Lian Xing. The plot of the game centers around these secret agents going after German terrorists in a third-person shooter. There is a degree of stealth involved, but it is very much a shooter at its heart. This PlayStation action game whisks players to a variety of international locales. A variety of weapons and gadgets aid players in their mission, with a plethora of real and inspired firearms available for use.

  • Requires Dual-Shock Analog Controller to play

The gameplay is tight and responsive, despite a lack of standardization of control schemes in a pre-Halo world. A good variety of missions are available and the difficulty curve is gradual. Players will find a lot to love when getting into Syphon Filter, and with a 90 on Metacritic, it seems critics agree. This is a worthy title to any retro PlayStation collection and is a distillation of the tropes and plot elements of late 90s espionage in a tight and enjoyable experience.

5. Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped

Crash Bandicoot 3 is perhaps the apex of platformers on the PlayStation, and one of the best PlayStation action games you can grab. This 1998 game doesn’t reinvent the template set by the previous two games, but acts more as a refinement and extreme polish to close out Crash’s tenure on the PlayStation. Players can control Coco and Crash alike across a smattering of levels and there are plenty of collectables and challenges.

  • Syphon Filter

The game still holds up magnificently to this day, staying quite fresh visually and musically. The N Sane Trilogy saw it resurrected in modern form, but there’s just something about the original that’ll draw you back time and time again. Crash Bandicoot 3 currently holds a 91 on Metacritic, and was received quite warmly by critics upon its release. If you’re after a solid platformer that has stood the test of time, look no further.

4. Spyro: Year of the Dragon

Spyro is another platforming classic, and the final installment for the PlayStation is one of the very best PlayStation action games. Much like Crash 3, Spyro: Year of the Dragon is less a radical departure and more of embracing what makes the core gameplay loop of the series so enthralling. The heavily stylized graphics remain quite endearing and the music is still infectiously catchy.

  • Item Package Dimension - 5.399999994492L x 4.899999995002W x 0.399999999592H inchesItem Package Weight - 0.25 PoundsItem Package Quantity - 1Product Type - GAMES

The game is a swan song for developer Insomniac, who would move on to the Ratchet and Clank series. The three Spyro titles on the original PlayStation are a great time, but if you’re looking to only grab one, Year of the Dragon is the one to play. The final Spyro game was the one most critically lauded, currently holding a 91 on Metacritic.

3. Medal of Honor

Console first-person shooters used to be a somewhat dire affair. 1997’s Goldeneye changed it quite mightily for the N64, but the PlayStation wouldn’t see its equivalent until 1999 with the release of Medal of Honor. This PlayStation action game is a spectacle to behold and marries satisfying FPS gunplay with cinematic levels of production quality. Film director Steven Spielberg spearheaded the creation of this FPS classic and it certainly shows.

  • All new playable crittersHuge mystical worldsChallenging new game playScores of silly creatures

Medal of Honor takes place towards the end of the Second World War and tasks the player with completing various missions for the OSS intelligence agency. Environments are varied, and Dreamworks Interactive certainly went out of its way to cram as much cinematic flair as it could into the game. Gunplay still holds up well, but the controls take some getting used to. Players are given a taste of the multiplayer mayhem from Goldeneye 007 with split-screen multiplayer extending playtime past the campaign.

2. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Very few games can claim the sort of cultural cachet of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. This 1997 title is one of the most significant PlayStation action games. In Symphony of the Night, players take control of Alucard, Dracula’s son. As Alucard, players will navigate Dracula’s castle once again, finding hordes of monsters and challenging bosses. Where Symphony of the Night departs from its forebears is in the integration of RPG mechanics and open-ended exploration. People still feel the influence of this game, which was somewhat unheard of in the console space. Titles like Dead Cells and Hollow Knight take heavy inspiration from Symphony of the Night and its successors.

  • Tomorrow is D-Day. Tonight you land behind enemy lines. The tide of the way is in your hands. You are an elite Special Forces agent sent to execute covert operations, search and rescue missions, and…

Symphony of the Night holds a 93 on Metacritic, and for good reason. The sprite work is absolutely stunning and is one of the true masterpieces in that regard. Symphony of the Night’s soundtrack is equal parts groovy rock and moody gothic ambiance. If you haven’t played Symphony of the Night, what are you waiting for? It is the pinnacle of the Castlevania series, and despite the laughable voice-over, still holds up magnificently to this day.

1. Tekken 3

Tekken 3 is our pick for the best PlayStation action game of all time. This 1998 PlayStation action game is one of the finest fighters on the market and still remains remarkably modern despite the four sequels which have since followed. A large playable roster of characters gives great variety to the gameplay, and there are some additional PlayStation-exclusive modes for players to sink their teeth into. Controls are tight and responsive, and the graphics near arcade perfect.

Tekken 3 is one of those special once-in-a-generation games, and maintains a 96 on Metacritic. The PlayStation wasn’t short on great games, but this one separates itself from the pack. Graphically, it has aged quite well. The soundtrack is a time capsule of 90s dance and rock tracks, which are oddly back in vogue once more. If you have a PlayStation, you need this game. It is the definitive PlayStation game for many, aside from perhaps Final Fantasy VII.