Top 10 Most Overrated PS1 Games of All Time: A Critical Analysis

Today, we’re analyzing the most overrated games on the PS1. On any console with a massive library like the original PlayStation, you’re bound to find some titles that critics and fans have misunderstood. Though my initial statement might sound harsh, I want to make it clear that I’m not claiming to be the ultimate authority on video games.

I’d never tell someone not to enjoy something. Instead, I’ll focus on the games that, despite high expectations, ended up disappointing me. When putting this list together, I decided not to limit myself to just "bad" games but to highlight the ones where I strongly disagree with the general opinion—sometimes drastically. Narrowing it down to ten was tough, but I did my best. Without further ado, let’s dive into the 10 PS1 games that, in my view, have been overrated.

10 Final Fantasy Tactics

After the impact of Final Fantasy VII, franchise fever swept the world. To keep fans engaged, Squaresoft released a unique strategy RPG under the FF name. Personally, I enjoy this game, but I don’t think the praise it gets is entirely justified. Even at launch, I found the perspective weird and awkward.

The skewed isometric view rarely works well in this genre, and Final Fantasy Tactics did little to fix those issues. On top of that, the soundtrack, story, and graphics felt pretty disappointing. The gameplay was also fairly conventional. Maybe my lack of enthusiasm comes from having already played Tactics Ogre, which I consider much better, before trying this one. Still, I’ve got nothing against those who absolutely love it.

9 Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Symphony of the Night almost never misses a "Best PS1 Games" list. So, why didn’t I like it? I’ve always been told this game is the absolute pinnacle of gaming. But when I played it, it just didn’t grab me. Something about Symphony of the Night never fully clicked for me. Maybe it’s because I’m not a fan of constant backtracking or forced RPG elements. It could also be that I have a deep love for traditional Castlevania games, and this one was a major departure.

Instead of linear stages, you now have an open castle to explore. You have to return to areas after gaining new abilities to progress. The concept isn’t executed well here, and I found Symphony of the Night way less fun compared to earlier entries.

8 Oddworld: Abe’s Odyssey

The original Oddworld falls into a genre I call "cinematic platformers." It’s like Prince of Persia, where most of the console’s processing power went into animations. While technically impressive, the game stands out visually. Characters and environmental hazards have tons of animations, and the detailed backgrounds still look amazing today. But here’s the problem—Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee just isn’t that fun to play.

It’s clear the developers focused more on creating a game with that late-'90s attitude than on delivering a satisfying gameplay experience. The level design is weak, and the hazards feel uninspired. My take? Oddworld only got hype because of its aggressive marketing campaign.

7 Metal Gear Solid

If I didn’t lose you with the second entry on this list, this one will do it. Metal Gear Solid is universally adored. Pretty much everyone who played it loves it deeply. I really wanted to be part of that group. Around its release, I rented the game and, sadly, got bored within minutes. Back then, renting games wasn’t common, and as a teenager spending my own money, I forced myself to keep going. I barely remember my first playthrough.

Simply put, I’ve never found stealth mechanics in games all that engaging. Plus, I couldn’t get into the story at all. It feels like a Quentin Tarantino movie—too self-aware and trying way too hard. I don’t hate it, but I feel practically no connection to Metal Gear Solid. The same goes for all the sequels.

6 Chrono Cross

This was one of my biggest disappointments in gaming. Its predecessor, Chrono Trigger, is legendary. A sequel that even came close to half its quality would’ve been worth celebrating. Unfortunately, Squaresoft decided to experiment with gameplay mechanics in this one.

The battle system uses a weird percentage-based combo system that just isn’t fun. On top of that, the story is so disconnected that it barely feels like a sequel. Squaresoft could’ve played it safe, but instead, they made a huge mistake. Chrono Cross is a decent game, but as a follow-up to Trigger, it falls flat. It’s almost disappointing that parts of the soundtrack are recycled because, honestly, this game doesn’t deserve to be associated with its predecessor.

5 Crash Team Racing

Crash Bandicoot became the PS1’s mascot, for better or worse. With Mario Kart’s popularity, Sony needed an answer, and developer Naughty Dog took on the challenge with Crash Team Racing, often called one of the best kart racers ever. I tried to love it—I swear. But in the end, I only enjoyed it moderately, and honestly, I found the whole experience kinda frustrating.

The track design leaves a lot to be desired, feeling like rejected Mario Kart 64 ideas. The power-ups also lack creativity. While the graphics look great, texture warping during movement causes some major issues. I really like Crash Bandicoot’s style, and I think it could’ve been perfect for this genre. Unfortunately, I don’t think they nailed what makes a kart racer special.

4 Vagrant Story

Vagrant Story got critical acclaim and was hailed as one of the best RPGs ever. With those expectations, I had high hopes. Sadly, it didn’t deliver. While it has nice graphics—some of the most detailed character models of its time—it falls short in other areas. The combat system is clunky, which is surprising coming from Squaresoft, a master of RPGs. The story also fails to pull you in; it’s one of those rare RPGs where the plot just isn’t engaging. In short, Vagrant Story doesn’t stand out compared to other Squaresoft titles.

3 Crash Bandicoot

Sony pushed Crash Bandicoot as their answer to Mario. Many fans consider it superior to Nintendo’s franchise. Honestly? I never saw it that way—and still don’t. Crash Bandicoot is hyper-focused on platforming, which makes sense for the genre, but in the 32-bit era, it didn’t age well. The game is artificially difficult due to cheap enemy and obstacle placement.

On top of that, the level design isn’t great. Naughty Dog just tossed in small platforms with random obstacles without much thought. The layouts are weak and hard just for the sake of being hard. There’s very little logic in the original Crash Bandicoot. While Naughty Dog eventually learned how to make a decent game, this one definitely isn’t it.

2 Tomb Raider

I actually had to pick just one Tomb Raider game—otherwise, the first three would’ve dominated this list. The original Tomb Raider games were not good at all. The gameplay is incredibly clunky, and few 32-bit games make navigating a 3D world this awkward. The first game came out after Super Mario 64 set the standard for 3D gaming. The poor controls and physics were bad back then, and they’re still bad now. While there was always appeal in the main character’s design—even as a teen—that wasn’t enough. Tomb Raider is disappointing and never should’ve become a franchise.

1 Final Fantasy VIII

I don’t hate Final Fantasy VIII like I do Tomb Raider, and honestly, it’s not the worst game I’ve ever played. The problem is that FFVIII had the unfortunate burden of being part of the franchise and following FFVII. I’d never been so let down by a game before. The battle system scales with enemies, actively punishing you for playing. And to make things worse, there’s the Junction and Draw systems. On my first playthrough, I completely broke the game in just a few hours with only a vague understanding of the mechanics. And don’t even get me started on the total mess of a story.

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