I already had a healthy collection of PSP games, thanks to the PSP 2000 I used to have. It was a natural upgrade in terms of portability and ease-of-use. Emulating PSP games on Android was buggy at first but as years went by, it has gotten a lot stable and user-friendly. This article will be assuming that you already know how to emulate PSP games on Android and are ready to discover some exciting video games. I’ll be honest here; the real problem in playing PSP games on Android is not the emulators, but the controls. PSP had two analog joysticks, for face buttons, to trigger burdens, start and select buttons and full directional buttons. The point here is that some of the games used all those buttons and still there was something left to be desired. Android, as you know, is a touchscreen platform and most of you will be using a touchscreen to control PSP games. And it will be a nightmare. I know this because I have tried to play the games with a touchscreen and failed miserably. Some games do adapt to the touchscreen experience very well and they are quite playable. But a lot of games will require that you also have a controller for your Android device. I would go as far as to say that you must get a controller right after you have verified that the games run on your device. Otherwise, experience will not be optimal and you will feel helpless in many situations in games. Note: The best PSP games for Android were tested on a Samsung Galaxy note 3 smartphone. However the screenshots you see here are official press release images. This is because my smartphone crashed every time I tried to take a screenshot while playing the games. I tried the emulators and both of them were not able to successfully take screenshots on my device. The games ran good but there were bugs and some problems arose during game play. Emulating a PSP game on Android will tax your hardware like no other game has ever done before. And it will result in an extraordinary battery drainage. I highly recommend that you play the games when the device is plugged into a power outlet. A controller is also recommended for optimal experience.
1. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Metal Gear Solid has been one of the most loved video game franchises and has been for 20 years or so. I have been gaming for as long as I remember anything and I started playing MGS back when it was released on PlayStation One. I know there were previous parts of the game as well but that game defined tactical espionage genre. Naturally I had high expectations from Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker as it was designed by the series creator himself. Hideo Kojima, the mastermind behind the franchise pursued it to a whole another direction with this video game. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker felt more like a full-fledged entry in the franchise than just a portable fan service. There was a deep narrative that tied into the already established lore very well. If you have played MGSV then you must know that it was inspired by Peace Walker, especially the Fulton balloon extraction. Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is a semi-open world stealth action game which does everything right. The missions are designed to be re-playable and provide amazing opportunities for both stealth and all out combat. The lush 3-D graphics of the video game makes it a joy to look at. A controller is a must if you want to play the game and rank well in all of the missions. The comic book style cut scenes are also a great touch. All in all if you are a fan of action games on Android, then you must check out this game. Free Version
2. God of War: Ghost of Sparta
God of War: Ghost of Sparta is one of my personal favorite video games for PSP. It is an exclusive Sony videogame and there is a very slim chance of you playing it on any other platform. The story follows KRA TOS, who is the God of war. The game has a mature rating which means it is one of the most mature games on Android as well. You simply cannot take this rating likely and allow your children to play the game. There is blood, gore, and also some nudity in the game. It may sound like that it is a great story driven experience but it is not true. The game is most famous for its arcade hack and slash gameplay. Giant set pieces that allow you to battle the gods themselves are included in this amazing videogame. Chaining amazing combos and spilling blood all over the place is what you will be doing during this game. Free Version
3. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
If you ask any longtime fan of Grand Theft Auto videogame series about their favorite game, there is a high chance they will name Vice City. The Rockstar games have included fictional American cities in their video games. And there is none better than the 80s Miami; it shows in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. Don’t get it confused with the already available GTA: Vice City on the Google Play Store. This one is a completely new videogame with a brand-new protagonist and story. I loved how this game reused the assets from the old game and made them feel new. It is an open world crime drama and it delivers on almost every front. It is by far one of the best video games ever made for PlayStation portable. The story, the graphics, the vehicles, the characters and the dialogue, all ooze quality. Although it is a mature game, it can be enjoyed by kids as well if they are being supervised by you. There is so much to do and so much to explore that this game will probably keep you occupied for a very long time. I would also like to point out that GTA: San Andreas is available on Google Play Store and it surpasses this game in terms of content and touch screen controls. Free Version
4. Patapon 3
This game series has impressed me beyond my wildest expectations and it will do the same to you. Back when the first part was released, I was skeptical because it was marketed as a musical game. And boy oh boy, was I wrong. The game is about music and that much is true, however, it is a lot more than that. You will need to time your taps in order to maximize the effectiveness of your troops. You are a general of an army which only responds to musical beats. Want to launch arrows at the enemy? You’ll need to play a certain tune in order to order the archers. This deep gameplay makes Patapon 3 a unique flake in the world of video games. It is yet another exclusive videogame by Sony so your only chance to play it is by emulating on your Android device. The graphics are 2-D but compliment the gameplay well. The music is the real star of the show and you will fall in love with it. Free Version
5. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
Capcom has made a ton of video games that I dearly love, but Monster Hunter Freedom Unite is my favorite one by far. This game made the purchase of PSP worthwhile and has entertained me for more than 400 hours. I actually wore out the right thumb stick on my PSP while playing this game. The claw you had to make of your right hand was quite painful at first but The claw you had to make of your right hand was quite painful at first, but eventually, it became a norm. Thankfully you don’t have to make a claw on your Android device in order to play the game. However, using touchscreen controls on this game is nearly impossible. That is exactly why I have placed my personal favorite game at the end of the list. You will most definitely want to use a controller if you want to have fun playing Monster Hunter Freedom Unite. The game is all about hunting monsters as the name suggests. However, you will need to be on top of your game in order to slay the giant beasts roaming around the land. There are multiple levels for you to fully explore and feature a lot of different terrains. Then there are the monsters, the real stars of the show, ferocious, gigantic and majestic. Slaying them is no small task. As usual, round of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite can take up to 45 minutes to complete. So I highly advise that you keep a power bank with you while playing this game. Free Version
Conclusion
These were the five best PSP games for Android which are also quite stable while emulating. I had my share of crashes while playing the games on my Android smartphone. I’m not going to say that your experience will be perfect but that is to be expected while playing a game not designed for the device you are using. I really wish that Sony would consider releasing their games on the Android platform. With proper optimization and the thought of control schemes, these games would destroy anything available on the Google play store. I am pretty sure that many people would be willing to pay a hefty price just to play their favorite franchise on their favorite smartphone. So what game you will be playing on your Android device? Do you love any another games which deserve to be on this list? Feel free to express your feelings and opinions in the comments below. Feature Image Credits
