In an era of ray tracing and teraflops, you might assume older handheld titles no longer hold cendanabet up—but for many gamers, PSP games remain some of the most rewarding experiences in gaming history. Whether you played them when they launched or are discovering them now through emulation, the best PSP games have aged remarkably well, delivering compact brilliance that rivals modern blockbusters in creativity and design.

What made these games so memorable wasn’t just the novelty of portable 3D gaming; it was the craftsmanship behind them. Developers treated the PSP like a full-fledged console, not a compromise. Titles like Patapon, Valkyria Chronicles 2, and Dissidia Final Fantasy offered hours of content, distinct visual styles, and deep gameplay systems that held up against anything on the PlayStation 2. These weren’t cut-down spin-offs—they were complete experiences tailored for handheld excellence.

Unlike mobile games today, which often lean on free-to-play models and microtransactions, the best PSP games offered premium gameplay without intrusive monetization. They were bought once, played deeply, and remembered for years. There’s a growing movement today of players rediscovering the PSP, not just for nostalgia, but because these games still offer experiences that feel fresh, focused, and fulfilling.

As handheld gaming makes a comeback through devices like the Steam Deck and Switch, many of the design principles that made PSP games great are being revisited. Sony may no longer support the PSP, but its library endures—and for good reason. These games weren’t just good “for a handheld”—they were some of the best games of their time, full stop.