When people first heard about a handheld PlayStation, many assumed it would be a toy or a casual companion to the main console. But the PSP flipped expectations by offering hardcore games seduniatoto that could easily sit alongside console hits. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite became a cultural phenomenon in Japan, demanding strategic team play, deep systems, and endless grind for gear—on a device you could carry in your pocket.
SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo brought tactical military action to the handheld space, showing that multiplayer coordination and precision gameplay weren’t just for consoles or PCs. The inclusion of online play over Wi-Fi at the time was cutting-edge, helping the PSP carve out a niche among competitive players.
Even the RPG genre thrived. Games like Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together and Jeanne d’Arc offered deep, strategic battles that required real planning—not just button-mashing. These were full-length games with hundreds of hours of content, and they didn’t compromise for the format.
These titles proved that portable didn’t have to mean “lite.” They showed that core gamers could have serious, rewarding experiences away from the TV. In many ways, the PSP laid the foundation for today’s demand for high-performance portable gaming like we see on the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch.