Collecting the ‘90s: PS1 Games – WorthPoint

The PlayStation, released in Japan in 1994 and worldwide soon after, represented a pivotal moment in gaming. Thanks to its vast library of games, impressive technology, and sheer number of groundbreaking titles, the console quickly became more popular than any other.

The PlayStation’s lifespan coincided with one of the finest periods of gaming history, and from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, it spawned countless now-iconic characters and series, introducing a whole generation of people to the world of video games.

The PlayStation’s Impact

Before the PlayStation, console gaming was dominated by Sega and Nintendo, and games came on cartridges with far less storage space than PC games. For the PlayStation, Sony chose to use CD-ROMs, allowing for greater storage and, thus, richer and more complex games. The year 1996 proved to be a breakthrough year for the console, with titles like Resident Evil demonstrating the console’s ability to do survival horror (being heavily inspired by the 1992 PC game Alone in the Dark); Tomb Raider offering stunning graphics and huge 3D levels; and Crash Bandicoot blending familiar side-scrolling gameplay with fresh new ideas.

The PlayStation library represents a superb opportunity for collectors. Many of these games retain their cultural value today, and new entries are still being made in these franchises. As pristine copies become rarer and rarer, collectors have the chance to buy now and preserve gaming history—as well as make investments that are likely to pay off in the future as these games continue to increase in value.

Graded Copies

As always, with video games, sealed copies will sell for higher prices. Serious collectors will want to look for sealed copies graded by companies such as WATA, as these gradings both act as proof of authenticity and substantially increase the value of a game. A WATA-graded sealed copy of Final Fantasy VII sold for an incredible $47,970 in 2021. Similarly, a VGA-graded copy of Tomb Raider went for over $20,000 in 2022.

Naturally, these are among the most valuable and prized items on the market. Collectors on tighter budgets needn’t feel left out, though, as ungraded but still factory-sealed games can still fetch reasonable prices and remain highly collectible. Sealed copies of classic titles such as Metal Gear Solid and Medal of Honor: Underground can be picked up for around a hundred dollars. Many of the most successful PlayStation titles received collectors’ editions, such as the hugely popular Spyro the Dragon, and these are often worth checking out for collectors. A WATA-graded Spyro recently sold for $1200.

The PlayStation’s technological power meant that popular PC games could be ported or remade on the console. While most gamers generally agree that the original PC versions are better, the PlayStation versions are of great interest to gaming historians. One example is Diablo, the immensely popular 1996 RPG that was ported to the PlayStation in 1998. WATA-graded copies can sell for thousands. Another high-profile title to be ported was 1995’s Command & Conquer, a revolutionary real-time strategy game remade for the PlayStation in 1996.

Rare Games

Of course, some games are rarer than others. The Japanese RPG Suikoden II—or rather, its North American release—is one of the rarer PlayStation titles out there. While the game was popular in Japan, it didn’t initially catch on in America, and thus the production run was limited. The game has since become a cult classic in the West, meaning that collectors are often on the hunt for copies. Even an ungraded, unsealed copy can be worth over $200.

Another title of interest to collectors is King’s Field. The game was released in Japan in 1994, only a few days after the PlayStation itself. Today, the game is best known for being the first title developed by FromSoftware, the developers who would go on to achieve global success in 2011 with Dark Souls. King’s Field was never released outside Japan, making copies rare.

Collectors should note that the sequel, King’s Field II, was released internationally but confusingly titled simply King’s Field on the American market. If you want to collect one or both of these titles, check to make sure you’re buying the right one.

Esoteric Titles

The PlayStation represented an era of incredible creativity in gaming. While Nintendo enforced strict content guidelines for games released on its consoles, Sony was far more willing to allow creative freedom. Over the course of the console’s lifespan, a great many downright bizarre games were created for it, some of which may be of interest to collectors.

A notable example is the 1998 title, LSD: Dream Emulator. Created by Japanese artist Osamu Sato, who did not see video games in the traditional sense and instead aimed to use the PlayStation as a medium for contemporary art, the game draws inspiration from the dream journal of fellow game developer Hiroko Nishikawa. For more than a decade, Nishikawa meticulously recorded her vivid and sometimes unsettling dreams. The game has no objectives and simply drops players into surreal landscapes where the laws of physics don’t apply and anything can happen. The game was only released in Japan and quickly fell into obscurity, but has gained notoriety in recent years thanks to the internet. Copies are rare and sold for hundreds of dollars, even a decade ago. Included with the game is a booklet that features excerpts from Nishikawa’s journal.

Few consoles have had as much impact on gaming as the PlayStation. It arrived during one of the most remarkable periods in gaming history and introduced many people to the medium, providing exceptional games in an easily accessible format. Over time, many of these titles have become rare and highly collectible. Additionally, the ongoing success of numerous franchises that originated on the PlayStation ensures that the collecting scene will remain vibrant for years to come.

Matthew Doherty is a writer, editor, and teacher specializing in all things history-related. His work has been published in the UK Defence Journal, the Small Wars Journal, and The Collector. He holds an MSc from the University of Edinburgh and a BA from the University of Leeds. In his spare time, he also writes science fiction stories.

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