The Oldest Official PlayStation Games

It’s likely Sony wouldn’t have entered the console gaming world if it weren’t for Nintendo. The two companies initially planned to create a console together, but Nintendo ultimately canceled the partnership. This prompted Sony to develop its own console, the PlayStation, which launched in Japan in 1994 and North America in 1995. The PlayStation has since become incredibly successful, and Sony continues to thrive with its latest console, the PS5.

Before creating the PlayStation, Sony actually published games for the Super Nintendo (SNES) under the name Sony Imagesoft, and even developed a few themselves. It’s tricky to find reliable details about these older games because Sony has so many different branches. However, this list offers a solid overview of the first games primarily developed and released by Sony, not by groups like Japan Studio, unless specifically noted.

Jeopardy

Before The PS1, There Were Game Shows

Developers: Sony Imagesoft, Absolute
Publisher: Sony Imagesoft
Platforms: Sega CD
Estimated Year Of Release: 1994 (NA)

If you grew up in the 90s, you likely played a game from CSG Imagesoft (also known as Sony Imagesoft) on Nintendo consoles like the NES or SNES – titles like Mickey Mania, Super Dodge Ball, and Hook were popular. The company also created games such as Jeopardy. While Jeopardy appeared on several platforms, including the NES, the Sega CD version stood out because it used video footage, even if the quality wasn’t perfect.

The game lets players compete by picking a category and answering questions, and a highlight is the inclusion of Alex Trebek – his voice is featured throughout! While it might not be the most perfect video game adaptation of a game show, it was quite good when it was released.

Wheel Of Fortune

Solve The Puzzle

Developers: Sony Imagesoft, Absolute
Publisher: Sony Imagesoft
Platforms: Sega CD
Estimated Year Of Release: 1994 (NA)

Wheel of Fortune is a Sega CD game inspired by the popular TV show, developed by Sony Imagesoft. It uses digitized actors and lets players experience the game show format – spinning the wheel, guessing letters, and solving puzzles to win virtual prizes.

The most unusual aspect of this version of Wheel of Fortune is that Vanna White is hosting instead of Pat Sajak. While it likely saved money to feature Vanna, it feels a little unexpected. Overall, it’s a perfectly acceptable adaptation, much like Jeopardy!.

Motor Toon Grand Prix

Racing Before Gran Turismo

Developer: Poly’s Entertainment (Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. Development Division 1)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Released: December 16, 1994 (Japan)

Motor Toon Grand Prix is a racing game similar to the Mario Kart series, featuring quirky characters and vehicles. However, it offers a slightly more streamlined racing experience. This makes sense considering it was created by Poly’s Entertainment, a development team within Sony Computer Entertainment.

Poly’s Entertainment later became Polyphony Digital, a part of Sony. This team went on to create the popular Gran Turismo racing series, beginning in 1997. Because of this, Motor Toon Grand Prix played a key role in the early days of the PlayStation.

ESPN Extreme Games

Way Before Tony Hawk

While Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater didn’t arrive until 1999 – when extreme sports games began to gain traction – PlayStation players had been enjoying ESPN Extreme Games beforehand. That earlier game covered a wider range of sports like rollerblading, street luge, and mountain biking, not just skateboarding.

Players got to pick which events they wanted to play, though the options weren’t as open-ended as in a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game. It didn’t offer the same freeform trick system, but the game series did get better with each new release. Eventually, ESPN Extreme Games was renamed 1Xtreme to match the naming style of the later games.

Twisted Metal

A Destructive Derby

Twisted Metal broke the mold of traditional racing games by focusing entirely on destroying other vehicles. It introduced a new level of intensity and maturity to gaming, rivaled only by Mortal Kombat. Later games in the series continued this darker trend, and Twisted Metal enjoyed considerable success for a while.

Players selected from a variety of racers and battled it out in destruction derby arenas using weapons like rocket launchers and machine guns. The game Twisted Metal was created in partnership with SingleTrac, the studio behind the Jet Moto series.

Warhawk

Death From Above

Developers: Sony Interactive Studios America and SingleTrac
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Released: November 10, 1995 (NA)

Warhawk and Twisted Metal both came out on the same day in North America, and they were created together by SingleTrac. Like many airplane shooters of the time, Warhawk let players use different weapons while flying through straightforward levels. Players battled both ground tanks and other aircraft.

Warhawk was a shorter game and didn’t achieve the same level of popularity as Twisted Metal. This is understandable, as Twisted Metal’s more mature themes and demolition derby gameplay were a better fit for PlayStation 1 players than Warhawk’s style was.

NFL GameDay

Before Madden

Released: December 4, 1995 (NA)

The Madden football series has been the most popular choice for console and gaming fans since 1988. However, it’s faced competition over the years, notably from Sony’s NFL GameDay in 1995, which became a moderately successful franchise that lasted for about ten years.

This game offered everything players loved in Madden, like real NFL teams and the ability to call plays. While it might feel dated by today’s standards due to how football games have evolved, it was a major success and a key player in establishing the football game genre when it was first released.

NHL FaceOff

On The Ice

Released: December 19, 1995 (NA)

NHL FaceOff was Sony’s first effort to create a long-running hockey video game series. Like the popular NFL GameDay series, it featured officially licensed teams, allowing players to play as their favorites.

The game offered both single-player and multiplayer options. Even in 1995, playing with others was a major draw for sports game fans, and that hasn’t changed. While NHL FaceOff doesn’t look amazing by today’s standards, Sony was smart to include a variety of sports, like hockey, from the start.

NBA ShootOut

Play Some Ball

Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Released: March 20, 1996 (EU)

For basketball lovers, Sony also offered NBA ShootOut as part of their sports lineup. Basketball games are easy to pick up and play – you don’t need a huge space, and the basic idea is simple: get the ball and shoot it into the hoop!

As a big PS1 fan, I always found it interesting that NBA ShootOut actually came out in Europe before it did in North America! It makes total sense though, considering the game was developed by Sony’s European team. Luckily, the wait wasn’t too long for us in North America – it only arrived a week later, so we didn’t miss out for long!

Motor Toon Grand Prix 2

One More Lap

Developer: Poly’s Entertainment (Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. Development Division 1)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Released: May 24, 1996 (Japan)

Finally, the earliest Sony PlayStation 1 game that was a sequel was Motor Toon Grand Prix 2. Interestingly, this was the first installment to be released in North America; the original game remained exclusive to Japan. While it received positive reviews, the series didn’t become hugely popular, despite being re-released in 2002, 2008, and 2011.

Motor Toon Grand Prix 2 feels much like the first game, but the racing is a little more precise, and you have more characters and fun power-ups to choose from. It’s a shame Poly’s Entertainment didn’t develop this cartoon racing series further, as they later focused on the more realistic Gran Turismo games.

2025-11-19 11:36