10 PS1 Games That Are Forgotten in 2026
By William
January 02, 2026
The PS1 era was incredibly messy, but in the best way possible. Developers were still figuring out 3D, certain genres were colliding, and publishers would take chances that would never ever fly today. While some of those chances quietly vanished, others became legendary. The games in this list aren't necessarily bad, with some of them being bold and strange, and others simply releasing at the wrong moment. Now that I look back, they feel like artifacts from a time when games didn't always know what they were yet, and that uncertainty made them fascinating and enjoyable. So here are 10 PS1 games that history has mostly forgotten, even though they may have left a mark on the players who found them!
Jump to a Game:
1. Blasto (1998)
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| Blasto was... interesting to say the least. |
What it was
- Third-person 3D shooter with platforming
- Fully voiced by Phil Hartman
- Parody of over-the-top sci-fi action heroes
Blasto really did feel like Sony was trying to brute-force a mascot into existence. He was arrogant, loud, and wouldn't stop talking (please Blasto, shhh). He was a sharp contrast to the mostly silent protagonists of the era, and with him being voiced by Phil Hartman, he had personality and was hilarious. This gave the game a Saturday morning cartoon energy that stood out immediately.
Why it was forgotten
The game may have been loaded with jokes, but once they were gone and became old, the cracks showed quickly. The game had incredibly stiff controls and the camera never wanted to work with you at all. Difficulty would spike randomly too, making the game often feel frustrating and unbearable. As PS1 3D design matured, Blasto aged rapidly, and without a sequel and Phil Hartman (who passed after the release of the game), Blasto had lost its only real hook. It's not really remembered as a great game, but rather as a noisy snapshot of the late 90's Playstation confidence.
2. Hogs of War (2000)
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| Hogs of War is now on Steam for purchase. |
What it was
- Turn-based strategy inspired by Worms
- Fully 3D environments
- Narration by Rik Mayall
Wrapped in thoughtful strategy and thick British humor, Hogs of War is definitely a game to experience. You would watch pig soldiers waddle through trenches, as Rik Mayall narrated the absurdity on-screen, which made it feel like a parody that still had respect for its mechanics. Positioning and weapon choice genuinely mattered in this game, meaning it wasn't just shallow chaos.
Why it was forgotten
Timing was the greatest enemy of Hogs of War. By the time the game arrived, PS1 players already had one foot out the door, and strategy games were never mainstream to begin with. Hogs of War simply didn't get enough time to grow, and it withered quickly. This game survived through word-of-mouth nostalgia and some cult appreciation.
3. Legend of Legaia (1999)
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| This is a must play gem. |
What it was
- JRPG with combo-based battle inputs
- Martial arts-inspired combat
- Dark, mist-covered fantasy world
Legend of Legaia tried to make turn-based combat feel active. Inputting directional combos gave battles a rhythm that felt closer to a fighting game than a menu simulator. It made even basic encounters feel engaging and skill-driven.
Why it was forgotten
Unfortunately Legaia launched during an absolute warzone for RPG's, with games like Final Fantasy, Pokemon, and other massive names dominating the market and taking up all the attention. This game didn't do anything wrong, it just didn't attempt to shout loud enough for it to be noticed. Without franchise recognition, it became one of those games people discovered many years later and then wondered how they would have ever missed it.
4. Einhänder (1998)
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| Hours of action, such a classic gem. |
What it was
- Side-scrolling shoot ’em up by Square
- Weapon-stealing arm mechanic
- Heavy techno atmosphere
Einhander oozed style, and mesmerized with awesome tech and music. It had huge cinematic boss fights and it felt expensive and deliberate. It allowed players to steal enemy weapons mid-battle to add tension and strategy, which forced players to think ahead instead of just firing non-stop.
Why it was forgotten
Unfortunately shoot em' ups were becoming very niche on consoles, and Einhander didn't compromise to reach a wider audience. It's difficulty and short length, as well as a lack of there being a sequel kept it confined to a small group of hardcore fans. Over time this became something people discover rather than remember.
5. Ghost in the Shell (1997)
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| The spider tank is pretty cool, actually. |
What it was
- Third-person shooter with spider-tank movement
- Wall and ceiling traversal
- Strong anime authenticity
I have to admit, wall-crawling as a mech instantly made Ghost in the Shell feel futuristic and completely badass. Vertical movement helped fundamentally change how you approach combat and positioning, and few PS1 games felt so mobile and so aggressive.
Why it was forgotten
I guess licensed games had a reputation problem in the 90s, meaning that even good ones were ignored by default. Ghost in the Shell never escaped the stigma and without widespread re-releases, it stayed locked to the memories of fans who already cared about the franchise.
6. Jade Cocoon (1999)
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| Summon and fuse monsters, it's crazy. |
What it was
- Monster-collecting RPG
- Deep creature fusion system
- Ghibli-inspired visual style
Jade Cocoon is one game that leaned heavily into atmosphere. The world felt quiet, natural, and a bit melancholic. The fusion system was awesome, and encouraged experimentation, rewarding players who wanted to tinker and create something uniquely theirs. (some of the combinations were complete abominations)
Why it was forgotten
Unfortunately Pokémon dominated the cultural conversation, and Jade Cocoon couldn’t compete with that momentum whatsoever. It was slower, darker, and less immediately accessible, and felt a little bit complex for it's time. Without strong marketing, it became a game you stumbled upon rather than sought out.
7. Bloody Roar (1997)
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| How did I miss this as a kid? |
What it was
- 3D fighting game
- Mid-fight beast transformations
- Fast, aggressive pacing
Match dynamics would completely shift in Bloody Roar thanks to it's transformations. Timing your beast form felt so powerful and risky, and it added a layer of strategy that rewarded aggression without letting go of it's fundamentals.
Why it was forgotten
The fighting genre was brutally competitive and fierce. Games like Tekken and Street Fighter were the titans, and Bloody Roar was just a tiny fish fighting for scraps. It still went on to have sequels, but it never quite cemented itself in the fighting scene, and once the support stopped it faded fast.
8. The Misadventures of Tron Bonne (1999)
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| The pirates take center stage here. |
What it was
- Mega Man Legends spin-off
- Mission-based genre variety
- Servbot management
Tron Bonne had absolutely no direction and was charmingly unfocused. In one mission you felt like an action hero, and in another you were stuck solving puzzles. It even felt like a light management sim game too, which made everything a bit more confusing. But the Servbots gave everything personality, making failure funny instead of frustrating.
Why it was forgotten
Most players never had the chance to play it. Limited print runs and late release meant it never entered the mainstream. It became rare before it became remembered, and it's a shame because it has personality and charm.
9. Omega Boost (1999)
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| Space fights, fast speeds, what's not to love? |
What it was
- High-speed mech rail shooter
- Lock-on missile combat
- Developed by Polyphony Digital
Omega Boost was pure spectacle. It pushed the PS1 hard, delivering speed, explosions, and smooth performance that felt almost arcade-like. Locking onto multiple targets and unleashing missile storms never stopped feeling good, and I can't tell you how many hours I spent doing just that. (I won't say)
Why it was forgotten
Rail shooters were already declining, and Omega Boost never got a sequel to reinforce its identity. Without continuation, it drifted into obscurity despite strong impressions on those who played it, becoming a cult classic and a hidden gem PS1 game.
10. Incredible Crisis (1999)
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| This is how the game starts off, seriously. |
What it was
- Story-driven mini-game collection
- Absurd Japanese humor
- Rapid genre switching
Incredible Crisis was controlled chaos. Every mini-game threw you into a new genre without warning, and relied on surprise and timing rather than on mastery. When this all came together and worked, it was funny, stressful, and unforgettable.
Why it was forgotten
It was difficult to market and easy to dismiss. Without sequels or ports, it survived mostly as a rental memory, passed along through “you won’t believe this game” conversations.
Final Thoughts
The PS1’s forgotten games tell a story modern blockbusters can’t. They’re messy, ambitious, and sometimes uncomfortable, but they show a time when developers were still feeling their way forward.
Revisiting them isn’t just nostalgia. It’s a reminder that creativity often lives in the cracks, not the spotlight.
This list only contains ten of these types of games, but even more exist and in other blog posts I will dive into even more forgotten PS1 games that you definitely need to get your hands on!
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