Before game nights with friends meant scrolling through massive online game libraries, we revelled in the magic of split-screen competition and camaraderie. By packing four controller ports right on the console, the original PlayStation represented a pioneering party machine upon its September 1995 North American launch.
Let‘s refresh our memories on what made that sleek CD-ROM-wielding grey box so special. Known in developer circles as the PSX, Sony‘s first video game console shipped with a 33 MHz CPU and 2 megabytes of RAM. While those specs sound paltry now, they dwarfed previous 16-bit machines. Combined with custom graphical processors, this new hardware delivered seamless 3D visuals, texture-mapped polygons, and vast game worlds that expanded possibility.
The PlayStation consistently dominated the 32-bit era in sales against chief competitors Nintendo 64 and Sega Saturn. By slashing launch pricing to $299 USD and courting third-party studios, Sony secured exclusive iconic franchises still beloved today. Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil, Tekken 3 and generation-defining hits cemented the PSone‘s legacy. Sony‘s debut console eventually sold 102.49 million units worldwide before the 2000‘s PlayStation 2 successor.
But today, we‘re spotlighting PlayStation classics perfect for game nights with friends, not solitary stories or experiments in groundbreaking graphics. Multiplayer party game experiences worth booting up the vintage console for.
Settle onto the couch and grip your worn DualShock controller as we countdown history‘s 10 absolute best PlayStation party videogames. These raucous titles bursting with frantic same-screen action still hit the nostalgic sweet spot. Race cartoon marsupials, fling farm explosives, and rhythmically tap along through boisterous memories thanks to PlayStation.
#10 Crash Bash
Before battle royale games trapped 99 strangers together, party game developers focused on delivering riotous fun for familiar faces. Crash Bandicoot shed his solo platforming roots for the multiplayer madhouse Crash Bash. As a wild animal-themed Mario Party analogue, players explore colorful boards like a haunted shipwreck and volcano peak collecting crystals. Along the way, zany events like ball rolling contests or whack-a-mole by polar bear nitro crates keep the pace peppy. Standard Bash mode supports up to 4 Crash universe characters thanks to that iconic PSone Multitap peripheral. Up to 8 can join special Battle mode tournaments, although smaller games hit the party sweet spot. With quick pick-up-and-play arcade appeal but enough multiplayer metagame strategy to satisfy, Crash Bash deserves a guest list spot.
#9 Bust A Groove
PlayStation launched in an era when ‘90s attitude and style still reigned supreme. Few titles captured that funky spirit better than rhythm showcase Bust A Groove. Players pick flamboyant dancers like Hiro or Strike, then tap corresponding buttons as arrows fly by. Land enough prompts in sequence without breaking rhythm to fill a ‘Heat‘ meter enabling flashy special moves and combos. With an eclectic soundtrack spanning techno, disco, hip hop, and more, Bust A Groove keeps the virtual dance floor active. While fun solo sharpening choreographed skills, multiplayer really brings the fire. Battling another character one-on-one in Vs mode creates equal parts tension and laughs as life bars drain from each missed beat. Supporting the DualShock analog controller for more input nuance sweetens an already solid groove. Two can Bust A Move at once in perfect PlayStation party harmony.
#8 Worms Armageddon
While traditional multiplayer demands quick reflexes and precision play, some fantastic party games thrive on delightful chaos. Worms Armageddon worms its way onto our list for delivering tremendous turn-based foolishness. Players control adorably armed annelids blasting each other to oblivion across deformed landscapes. Stockpiling banana bombs, salvo after salvo of bazooka rounds, projectile grannies and more brings no end of destructive joy. Matches frequently pivot on single weapon attacks triggering terrain upheaval THAT MUCH MORE catastrophic. Up to four can join the earth-shattering invertebrate warfare thanks to DualShock support. With five worm ‘teams‘ bundled, players also customize costumes and squad names for added flair. Equal parts strategy and screwball spectacle, Worms Armageddon makes any party more fun(gi).
#7 Space Station Silicon Valley
When party conversation dips, nothing breaks awkward silence better than planet Earth overrun by haywire animal robots. At least according to delightful 3D adventure Space Station Silicon Valley. This single and multiplayer trek across demolished landscapes brims with invention. Players pilot adorable cyborg creatures from turtles to penguins, unlocking new areas and abilities. Cooperative progression unlocks more body-hopping hybrids like a frog head atop robotic spring legs. Add competitive races or arena battles between transforming creatures and this title‘s party potential clicks perfectly into place. Three friends can explore the corrupted Silicon Valley space station simultaneously with standard two-player split screen stacking. Maneuvering metallic beasts while cracking up over twisted tests of dexterity shows that sometimes gaming gets better when everything goes wrong!
#6 Bomberman World
Konami‘s explosive multiplayer franchise shines bright on Sony‘s 32-bit hardware. Decorated with extra polish, detail and over 50 single player stages, Bomberman World stands firm on PSone party foundations. Guide pint-sized Bomberman heroes through tight corridors and puzzle rooms before emerging for main event multiplayer warfare. In the legendary ‘Battle‘ mode, four competitors race around enclosed spaces frantically blasting soft walls and rolling bombs. Trapping friends between detonations triggers amazing chain reactions setting the living room ablaze with vengeance, laughter, and joyful screams. Familiar power-ups add wildcard elements too, like bigger blasts and faster movement to dash dreams. Five can test friendships across 10 frenetic arenas with Multitap additions. Revisiting Bomberman nostalgia never fails, especially when we watch rivalries ignite on the pyramid Baelfael Coliseum stage. What could be more satisfying than surrounding buddies with perfectly placed ordinance? Sweet, sweet retribution.
#5 Micro Maniacs
PlayStation launched alongside ‘90s mascot extremism and edginess that bled into accessories and advertising. Yet, some party classics kept the experience familial. Case in point: vibrant racer Micro Maniacs. Silly characters like Skeleton Ed and Dr. Goggles accelerate adorable miniaturized cars through byzantine courses. Players tilt around donut loop-de-loops or navigate moving Hot Wheels stunt track pieces towards random victory. Write your ownMicro Machines meets Mario Kart fable across 52 events including western shootouts, soccer matches, alien abduction evasion and more! Up to four can steer through one of over 100 shortcuts together on a shared screen thanks to Multitap compatibility. Approachable pick-up-and-play ease with just enough depth in powerslides and turbo boosts makes every Micro Maniacs event fun for ages 6-36. Add wacky weaponry and crash animations for maximum chuckles at your next get-together.
#4 MTV Music Generator
Karaoke classics transport living room warriors from shy amateurs to rockstar royalty, even if just for song duration. For boundless creative inspiration strapping on a plastic guitar, MTV Music Generator is the PlayStation party jam. Budding musicians sequence instruments like bass, synth leads, drums and samples into original tracks. Solo compositions save for posterity, but MTV Music Generator truly cranks amplifier excitement hosting collaborations. Let friends pass the controller around layering contributions, transforming predictability into silly soundscapes. Almost anti-music results still count as artistic success! An approachable interface eases digital audio editing, while over 20 remix-ready licensed songs from artists like Naughty By Nature, House of Pain, Queen Latifah and LL Cool J add familiar melodies to build upon. When the next party needs a unifying activity or sonic icebreaker, nothing harmonizes better than terrible team-built tunes.
#3 Hogs of War
Only ‘90s mascot madness could yield porky protagonists in pugilistic face-offs for global domination. But by complementing outrageous visual design with rock-solid game mechanics, turn-based battler Hogs of War earns the medal for most essential party pig experience. Across comic book campaign levels, players control a bruising band of swine soldiers settling disputes over terrain inch by inch. Navigating 3D landscapes offers strategic advantages to rain down explosive revenge from rocket launchers, grenades, Mad Cow Disease and more. Up to four can guide hooved troops, with tactics shifting between terrain traversal and XCOM-style exchanges of cartoonish gunfire. When the assault commences, no squeal is too shrill. Fattening those battle hogs on scavenged medicine or weapon stashes empowers more manic maneuvers. Hogs of War slathers slick strategy in Monty Python-style humor, making this one delicious ham.
#2 Bishi Bashi Special
Not every influential party videogame needs complex controls or marathon session times to delight. When your next group gathering wants fast, frenzied fun, call Bishi Bashi Special‘s number. This PlayStation minigame whirlwind packs nearly 100 rapid-fire challenges supporting up to eight players with DualShock and Multitap peripherals. After selecting an icon like Topo the Wizard or Jimmy the Egg, short contests randomly cycle every few seconds. Range from tapping buttons during quirky cutscenes to participating in absurd events like bowling with cars as balls. Failures trigger exaggerated ragdoll pratfalls, while successes prompt outrageous celebrations. With no time to breathe between Micro Machines racing, alien shooting galleries, Pac-Man maze navigation and more, Bishi Bashi Special delivers nonstop stimulation with a side of laughs. Friends will keep returning as much for the stellar sprite animations as the quick hit challenges.
#1 Crash Team Racing
PlayStation mascot Crash Bandicoot‘s greatest adventures remain his quartet of solo platformers. But for multiplayer magic in a single cabinet, peerless kart racer Crash Team Racing takes pole position. Zany characters like polar bodyguard Polar and mad scientist N. Gin control equally wacky four-wheeled rides across 18 themed circuits. Forests, temples, volcanoes and more blur by at breakneck speeds – literally, with speed-boosting turbo drifts. Power-ups add equal parts strategy and additional madness, especially when bowling ball barrage weapons force multi-kart pileups. Precise controls mastering boost chains, jumps and finding shortcuts rewards replay. But mere items enabling projectile attacks already guarantee first-time fun. Supporting a full four driver grid with default Multitap bundles optimizes living room competition. When friends thirst for speed, no PlayStation party game satisfies quite like rendering rivals Roadkill.
While today‘s numerically massive game libraries and online connections emphasize convenience over local community, the PlayStation era‘s living room multiplayer focus fostered an inherently social experience. These ten party game greats represent the original PlayStation hardware at its finest. Quick rounds, punchy pixel art, riotous rivalries and rowdy rotating guests encompass everything wonderful about split-screen play. Revisit these classics for an instant portal to fonder 90‘s memories among friends. Before Battle Royale, we waged Crash Bash!
