While big names like Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and God of War: Chains of Olympus dominated headlines, the PSP quietly became home to some of the best games most gamers never heard about. The system’s pianototo impressive hardware allowed developers to experiment, and many of those experiments paid off. Today, some of these lesser-known PSP games are being rediscovered and hailed as lost classics within the PlayStation universe.

One example is Jeanne d’Arc, a tactical RPG that flew under the radar but offered incredible strategic depth and a reimagined historical storyline. With rich visuals and an emotionally charged narrative, it remains one of the finest tactical RPGs on any PlayStation device. Then there’s Lumines, a hypnotic puzzle game that blended music and visuals so seamlessly that it became a cult favorite. These games may not have had blockbuster marketing, but their gameplay quality made them enduring gems.

Other standouts include Killzone: Liberation, which took a first-person franchise and translated it into an isometric action shooter with great success. The game offered tight controls and challenging missions that made full use of the PSP’s capabilities. Meanwhile, Daxter gave a solo spotlight to one of the PS2’s most beloved sidekicks and proved that character-driven platformers could thrive on handhelds as well.

These titles demonstrate the PSP’s unique place in PlayStation history. While it may not have enjoyed the same commercial longevity as its console counterparts, it hosted a wealth of creativity. Today, as interest in retro gaming surges, these forgotten PlayStation games are being re-evaluated. For those who dive into the PSP’s library, a treasure trove of hidden best games awaits—each one a reminder that greatness doesn’t always come with fanfare.