Even though the PSP is one of Sony’s most forgotten consoles, some of its best games have been remastered. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 redid a classic prequel starring Zack while Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep also filled in some gaps with a prequel. Even first-party games like LocoRoco and Patapon have received remasters.

Spike in Ape Escape and Ashley in Wild Arms 2
6 Best PS1 Games You Can Play On PS5

Did you even know the PS5 had enhanced emulated PS1 games available?

There are also some enhanced versions of PSP games available to purchase on the PS5 or they are free with certain PS Plus levels. They clean up the visuals and add some bonuses too like save states. How many PSP fans know about this secret project? Let’s get to some hidden gems Sony has helped push on the PS5.

6 Daxter

The Ottsel Finally Gets His Due

Daxter
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Released
March 14, 2006
ESRB
e
Developer(s)
Ready at Dawn
Publisher(s)
Sony Computer Entertainment
Engine
Daxter
Multiplayer
Local Multiplayer
Franchise
Jak and Daxter
Platform(s)
PSP, PS Vita
Genre(s)
Platformer
How Long To Beat
8 Hours

Daxter was one of the earliest PSP games which was a spinoff to the Jak and Daxter series. It took place in-between the first and second game, right after the pair warp into the future and Jak gets kidnapped. In his search for Jak, Daxter meets new friends in the city and becomes an exterminator, fit with a little electric flyswatter.

It may seem like a weird premise but the action and platforming mechanics were good. Also, Daxter was hilarious as always, ranking up there as one of Sony’s funniest sidekicks. Fans of the PSP and this series should also check out Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier on the PS5 which was the last game in the series.

5 Jeanne d'Arc

France Fights Back Against English Monsters

Jeanne d'Arc
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Tactical
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Released
November 22, 2006
ESRB
T Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
Developer(s)
Level 5
Publisher(s)
Sony Computer Entertainment
Platform(s)
PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Genre(s)
Tactical
How Long To Beat
32 hours
PS Plus Availability
Premium

Jeanne d'Arc is finally brought back to prominence which is great since it is one of Level-5’s best games. It’s an alternative history game about Joan of Arc fighting with France against England just like in the history books. The twist is that she gets a magical armband that lets her transform Sailor Moon style and there are anthropomorphic animals like pigs and lizards.

Lloyd in Tales Of The Heroes Twin Brave and Claude in Star Ocean Second Evolution
8 Best Action JRPGs On The PSP, Ranked

The PSP was a portable hub for home console-like gaming, and these great action JRPGs often pushed the system to its limits.

It’s a tactical RPG too with all the usual bells and whistles from equipment menus to tile-based maps. Tactical RPG fans will want to check it out for sure. While it would be great if it got a full-on remaster or sequel, at least the PS5’s internal emulation does a good job and people can finally play it legally and easily again.

4 Killzone: Liberation

A Tactical Top-Down Shooter

Killzone: Liberation
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Third-Person Shooter
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Released
October 31, 2006
ESRB
t
Developer(s)
Guerrilla Games
Publisher(s)
Sony Computer Entertainment
Engine
Syrup Emulation Engine
Multiplayer
Local Multiplayer
Franchise
Killzone
Platform(s)
PSP
Genre(s)
Third-Person Shooter
How Long To Beat
8 Hours
PS Plus Availability
Premium

Since it debuted on the PS2, the Killzone series has received a new game on every system minus the PS5. Most are first-person shooters but this PSP spinoff, Killzone: Liberation, was a bit different. It’s a top-down shooter with a bit of strategy gameplay infused into it sort of like the Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon games.

Enemies always outnumber the heroes, so players have to be smart about moving forward. There are tons of guns and gadgets to unlock, plus the story isn’t bad either. It’s a shame they didn’t make more top-down entries like this on the PSP or PS Vita but there’s always time to correct that mistake.

3 Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters

It Really Doesn’t

Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters
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Released
February 13, 2007
ESRB
Everyone 10+ // Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
Developer(s)
High Impact Games
Publisher(s)
Sony Computer Entertainment
Franchise
Ratchet & Clank
Platform(s)
PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2
Genre(s)
Third-Person Shooter, Platformer
How Long To Beat
7 Hours

Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, true to its punny title, proved that a full Ratchet & Clank experience could be enjoyed on the PSP. It came out after all of the PS2 games in 2007. The plot involves the duo once again hopping from planet to planet fighting aliens to save the galaxy.

The two are armed to the teeth with a wild variety of weapons along with Ratchet’s trusty wrench. Ratchet levels up by increasing his HP and guns level up in random ways too. It’s a formula that Insomniac began with the second game on the PS2 and that’s where things were perfected. While Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters didn’t introduce anything wild into the lore or gameplay loop, it was still an exciting action platformer on the PSP that holds up better on the PS5.

2 Resistance: Retribution

The English Front In The Alien War

Resistance: Retribution
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Third-Person Shooter
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Released
March 17, 2009
ESRB
m
Developer(s)
Bend Studio
Publisher(s)
Sony Computer Entertainment
Engine
Syrup Emulation Engine
Multiplayer
Local Multiplayer
Franchise
Resistance
Platform(s)
PSP, PS4, PS5
Genre(s)
Third-Person Shooter
How Long To Beat
10 Hours
PS Plus Availability
Premium

Resistance: Retribution continued the fight against the invading Chimera aliens during World War 2. The gameplay switched from a first-person shooter to a cover-based shooter but that was all for the better on the PSP. Also, the new protagonist, James Grayson, was better than the original’s Nathan Hale.

Shooting enemies in Valkyria Chronicles 3 Unrecorded Chronicles and A scene in a castle featuring characters in Final Fantasy Tactics
8 Best Tactical JRPGs On The PSP, Ranked

The PSP was home to loads of different gaming genres, and these tactical JRPGs are just some of many great games featured on Sony's portable console.

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James was part of the British Army, so players got more of a connection since the warfront was on European soil. Also, he was just a more charismatic character despite his dark backstory and he was aided by a capable cast of NPCs along the way. Like Killzone: Liberation, it’s too bad there weren’t more games like this on the PSP or more Resistance games in general past the PS Vita. The alternate history take on World War 2 was quite compelling especially when the warfront went to North American soil in the second game.

1 Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror

Gabe And Lian Return

  • Platforms: PSP, PS2
  • Released: March 14, 2006 (PSP Version)
  • Developer: Bend Studio
  • Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror was the first game in the Syphon Filter series on the PSP and the first game in quite some time. Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain, the entry on the PS2, was not received as well as the original PS1 trilogy. So this game, and its sequel Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow which is also emulated well on the PS5, was like an updated return to form.

Gabe and Lian came back for more stealthy missions across the globe. There were more weapons, a diverse gadget wheel, better stealth mechanics, shooting was easier, and so on. Both games were received well enough on the PSP that they got PS2 ports as well but they were released far too late into the console’s life cycle. Shamefully, there was never a PS3 game during this era, and Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow’s PS2 port was the last entry overall as of 2010.