The mid-2000s represented a golden era for Sony, with the PlayStation 2 thriving 그랜드토토 and the PlayStation 3 on the horizon. But nestled between these behemoths was the PSP—a console that, despite its smaller size, delivered monumental gaming experiences. It wasn’t just a technical marvel; it was a creative hotbed that gave rise to some of the best games in PlayStation’s storied history.

What set the PSP apart was its willingness to take creative risks. While home consoles focused on cinematic blockbusters, the PSP leaned into gameplay-first experiences. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, for example, built an entire social ecosystem around multiplayer hunting. It wasn’t flashy by modern standards, but its focus on cooperative gameplay and progression mechanics made it one of the most enduring titles on the platform—and one of the best-selling PSP games ever.

The handheld also allowed for greater genre experimentation. Half-Minute Hero turned RPG conventions on their head with a time limit twist, while Echochrome used physics and perspective puzzles to challenge players’ spatial awareness. These games didn’t just offer fun—they redefined what a PlayStation game could be when you removed the expectations of big-budget console design.

The PSP may not have had the graphical power of the PS3, but it didn’t need it. What it lacked in raw specs, it made up for in creativity, accessibility, and sheer fun. That’s why many of the best PlayStation games from this era came from a pocket-sized device with a big imagination.