4 PS1 RPGs That Are 10/10 Masterpieces

Role-playing games (RPGs), and offshoots of the RPG genre, like action RPGs, have dominated the world of video games for years. Even now, some of the best games on the market, like Cyberpunk 2077 (2022), Elden Ring (2022), Baldur's Gate 3 (2023), and the highly-anticipated The Witcher 4 are all some form of a role-playing game. Gamers love RPGs because of the customization and player autonomy the game offers, which most other genres lack.

RPGs have been popular for decades, so while some of the most memorable RPGs are modern experiences, many more are decades old. For this list, we'll take a look at four RPGs that were released for the original PlayStation console that are, to this day, still considered masterpieces. Every game on this list came out before the turn of the century, making each one nearly 30 years old.

Chrono Cross (1999) is set in the same world as one of the greatest RPGs ever made, Chrono Trigger (1995), which was released for the SNES. Technically speaking, Chrono Cross is a sequel to Chrono Trigger that takes place 20 years after the events of the 1995 game. That said, Chrono Cross was created by the same studio to be a stand-alone experience, so while it does tie up some loose ends from Chrono Trigger , many fans argue it's also its own game.

Admittedly, Chrono Cross didn't quite live up to the pure magic that was Chrono Trigger , but in Chrono Cross' defense, most games can't. What Chrono Cross did manage to do was be a fully realized spiritual and literal successor to Chrono Trigger that can stand on its own two legs. Everything about Chrono Cross is so close to perfection, that the only thing that knocks it down even a peg is how it will never escape comparisons to the game that came before it.

Chrono Cross , for the time, had incredible and beautiful graphics, a fun combat system that had numerous ways to fight back, and a massive open world to explore. There are also plenty of characters to meet, interact with, and even recruit to your team. While Chrono Cross may not have surpassed its prequel, it's still one of the best PlayStation RPGs out there.

Star Ocean: The Second Story (1998) is a unique entry on this list because it's an almost entirely science fiction experience. Many RPGs fall into the fantasy genre or, at the very least, have a lot of fantasy elements, but Star Ocean: The Second Story isn't one of them. Players have the choice of playing as one of two protagonists, Claude C. Kenny or Rena Lanford. These aren't just a male and female version of the same character, either, they're both unique characters with their own backstories.

Star Ocean: The Second Story takes place in a universe where space travel is common and Claude is an officer from Earth who gets stranded on an underdeveloped planet. Rena is a resident of the planet Claude finds himself stranded on, which is the equivalent of medieval Earth. When Rena crosses Claude's path, both find themselves caught in the middle of a worlds-wide scheme that, if left unchecked, could change the universe as they know it.

This RPG received so much praise for its stellar story, so much so that it stood out as one of the best features the game had to offer. That's impressive, because Star Ocean: The Second Story has an iconic soundtrack, beautiful graphics, and shockingly advanced, real-time combat that keeps players engaged in the non-stop action. The Second Story is, by far, the best Star Ocean game out there, and one of the most memorable hidden gems from the PlayStation era .

Suikoden II (1998) is one of those rare sequels that surpasses the original in every way. Gamers and industry professionals all agree that Suikoden II is light years ahead of Suikoden (1995), which is also a phenomenal game. Interestingly enough, when this game was first released, it was met with mixed reviews and lackluster sales, but over the years, its reputation has grown, and is now one of the most identifiable RPGs of the PlayStation era.

Suikoden II takes place three years after the events of the original game, and the player controls a silent protagonist that really ups the immersion factor. In the same way Link from The Legend of Zelda is often silent, the silent hero from Suikoden II makes it easy for players to imagine they are the one in the situation. As players explore and advance the plot by completing specific tasks, they can meet and recruit more than 100 unique characters.

Interestingly enough, Suikoden II isn't really remembered for its game mechanics or graphics, because neither was anything noteworthy, even in the late '90s. Where Suikoden II shines is the isolated story that forces the player to focus on political strife and the threat of an ongoing war. The surprisingly mature and often upsetting storytelling is 100% of the reason Suikoden II gets so much praise today, because it truly proves that video games can be a vessel for masterful storytelling.

Final Fantasy VII (1997) is truly a game that needs no introduction. In truth, there are several Final Fantasy games that were released for the PlayStation that could have been on this list, but in narrowing the franchise down to just one entry, it had to go to Final Fantasy VII . This classic PlayStation game is a masterpiece , and often regarded as the best Final Fantasy game ever made. It's so popular, it received a remake in 2020 that kickstarted a trilogy of games that would act as not just a remake, but an expansion of the 1997 original.

For the time, Final Fantasy VII had one of the highest production values of any RPG released in the '90s, and it really shows. Even now, it's hard to believe the game came out in '97, but it's not just the graphics and gameplay that help set this incredible game apart from the rest of its franchise. Final Fantasy VII tells a compelling story revolved around some of the franchise's most iconic and identifiable characters, like Cloud, Tifa, and Sephiroth.

Final Fantasy VII was the first 3D game in the Final Fantasy franchise, but its influence is still felt today. Many gamers credit this game as the reason they started playing video games. That's because Final Fantasy VII helped push classic Japanese role-playing games onto a global, mainstream market. This game also helped push for the massive shift from Nintendo consoles to Sony's PlayStation. Without the success of this amazing game, Sony might not have become such a big competitor to Nintendo.

Some gamers try to claim Final Fantasy VII is overrated, but at the end of the day, it's just a cool game that has gone on to inspire spin-offs and remakes. Its legacy easily speaks for itself, because even non-gamers and gamers who have never played a Final Fantasy game know all about Final Fantasy VII .