PlayStation has many popular and highly-rated games, including series like God of War, The Last of Us, and Horizon. However, fans have often criticized Sony for neglecting some of its older, well-loved franchises over the past two console generations – even those that were key to building the PlayStation brand in the beginning.
PlayStation consoles – the PS1, PS2, and PS3 – were once known for incredible, critically acclaimed exclusive games that helped establish PlayStation as a major player in the console market alongside Nintendo and Xbox. Sadly, many of these beloved game series have been largely ignored by PlayStation in recent years, with only rare appearances like in Astro Bot. It’s doubtful we’ll see them return, and the following eight series, all rated 10/10, are prime examples of this lost potential.
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Wipeout
The Quintessential Futuristic Racing Game (And F-Zero’s Biggest Competitor)
For a long time, Wipeout was a flagship franchise for PlayStation. Appearing early in the original PlayStation’s life, these futuristic racing games were known for their exciting, fast-paced action, unique graphics, and memorable music, providing players with countless hours of entertainment. Many considered it Sony’s take on Nintendo’s F-Zero.
The racing game Wipeout was most popular on the original PlayStation, but it became less frequent with each new console generation. Sadly, there haven’t been any new Wipeout games since 2012, and with the closure of its original developer, Psygnosis, it seems unlikely we’ll see another one. However, the fast-paced racing style of Wipeout continues to inspire independent games like Antigraviator and BallisticNG.
PaRappa The Rapper
One Of The Most Important Rhythm Game Series Ever Made
Okay, so PaRappa the Rapper might look a little goofy now, but honestly, it was a huge deal when it came out. I mean, a rhythm game where you actually had to time your button presses? That was totally new and blew my mind back in the mid-90s! Plus, the art style was so different, the characters were completely wacky, and it just had this really fun, lighthearted vibe that made it stand out from everything else.
PaRappa the Rapper became a popular, unofficial face of PlayStation in the late 90s, but faded from view after just a few games. Though games like PaRappa aren’t as widely popular now, similar rhythm games like Rhythm Heaven and Taiko no Tatsujin still have large followings. This means PaRappa the Rapper could potentially return if Sony decided to revive the series.
MediEvil
This Gothic Action-Adventure Franchise Briefly Came Back A Few Years Ago
The MediEvil games are considered by many to be among the best, yet most overlooked, titles on the original PlayStation. Both action-adventure games were incredibly enjoyable, boasting a distinctive visual style reminiscent of Tim Burton’s work and a fantastic sense of humor that made them stand out. Interestingly, the first MediEvil game has been remade on two separate occasions: once for the PSP in 2005, and again for the PlayStation 4 in 2019.
The PS4 remake of MediEvil was a pleasant surprise for longtime PlayStation fans, and many hoped it would kickstart a new era for the series. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. The lukewarm response and poor sales of MediEvil (2019) seem to have led Sony to cancel plans for both a remake of MediEvil 2 and a new MediEvil 3 game.
Ape Escape
A Once-Innovative Franchise Has Been Relegated To Random Cameos
Ape Escape was incredibly important in establishing the PlayStation as a major player in the early days of gaming. When the Nintendo 64 started to pull ahead with its new analog stick controller, Sony quickly responded with the Dual Analog Controller for the PS1 and a unique game designed to showcase its capabilities.
It’s no surprise that Ape Escape became a hit thanks to its innovative 3D platforming and charming characters. Like PaRappa the Rapper, the Pipo Monkeys quickly became PlayStation icons. While the series continued with moderate success on the PS2 and PSP, the last Ape Escape game came out in 2010 for the PlayStation Move, and the franchise has largely been inactive since then—likely because more realistic, high-budget games became popular in the 2010s. Interestingly, even though a new Ape Escape game hasn’t been released in over fifteen years, the Pipo Monkeys have still made appearances in recent titles like Astro Bot and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.
The Legend Of Dragoon
The Biggest Turn-Based RPG On The PS1 (That Didn’t Have The Words “Final Fantasy” In Its Title)
It’s easy to overlook just how popular turn-based Japanese role-playing games, or JRPGs, were in the 1990s, particularly on the original PlayStation. The huge success of Square’s Final Fantasy 7 actually motivated Sony to develop its own game in the same style, resulting in the creation of The Legend of Dragoon.
Fans of Japanese role-playing games quickly embraced this game, highlighting its exciting combat – which features fast-paced action similar to games like Expedition 33 – its beautiful visuals, and its compelling story. Sadly, Legend of Dragoon hasn’t had a sequel or even a proper revival, despite a digital release on PS4 and PS5. The main character, Dart, was once planned as downloadable content for PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, but that idea was canceled. Fortunately, he did make a cameo appearance in Astro Bot alongside other beloved, but often overlooked, PlayStation characters.
Resistance
A Gritty First-Person Shooter From Another Time
Around the late 2000s and early 2010s, the video game market was saturated with dark, realistic shooting games. This trend even influenced developers like Insomniac Games, known for bright and playful series such as Spyro the Dragon and Ratchet & Clank, who created their own first-person shooter series called Resistance.
Insomniac Games, known for creating the popular Ratchet & Clank series, also delivered the acclaimed Resistance trilogy on the PS3. These games were a highlight of that console generation, offering fun, fast-paced shooting, unique weapons, and challenging enemies called the Chimera. While still enjoyable today, the Resistance games feel like a product of their time. Insomniac has since shifted its focus to more contemporary titles, such as Marvel’s Spider-Man and the upcoming Marvel’s Wolverine.
InFamous
PlayStation Used To Have Its Own (Non-Marvel) Superheroes
Like many developers at the time, Sucker Punch Productions – known for the Sly Cooper games – also created a more adult and gritty series for the PlayStation 3. However, instead of following the trend of making a first-person shooter, they chose to create an open-world superhero game called InFamous. This game quickly became one of PlayStation’s biggest and most popular exclusive franchises in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
The InFamous games let players roam huge, open worlds and freely use a wide range of superpowers. What really set them apart was a dynamic morality system – your choices genuinely changed the story. The series became incredibly popular, making Cole MacGrath a well-known superhero despite not coming from a comic book. InFamous Second Son was a key launch title for the PS4 in 2014, driving console sales. However, Sucker Punch Productions is now focused on the Ghost series, and Sony has the rights to other Marvel superheroes like Spider-Man. This means it’s unlikely we’ll see another InFamous game in the near future.
Puppeteer
The PS3’s Biggest Hidden Gem
Man, the PS3 had some seriously intense games like The Last of Us and God of War 3, but it also had a surprising number of really creative platformers. Sadly, only LittleBigPlanet really took off. For me, though, the best of those hidden gems has to be Puppeteer. It’s a shame more people didn’t get to play it – it’s a fantastic game!
Developed by Sony’s Japan Studio, Puppeteer is a delightful 2.5D platformer known for its charming puppet show style and colorful visuals. It was a standout title in a time when platformers weren’t getting much attention. Despite positive reviews, the game didn’t achieve widespread success and never received a sequel or a port to other platforms. Fortunately, after Japan Studio combined with Team Asobi, some of the Puppeteer developers went on to work on Astro Bot, which even included a brief appearance by the game’s main character, Kutaro.
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2026-05-03 08:35