The original PlayStation has a rich and diverse game library few other consoles can match. The system has everything from quirky hidden gems to titles that kickstarted franchises we still enjoy today.
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We also have a generous serving of Disney-licensed games, which often accompanied movies that were released at the time.
If you're interested in exploring some retro classics or are just after a trip down memory lane, here are some of the best Disney games on the PS1.
10 A Bug's Life
Out Here In The Fields!

A Bug's Life is a surprisingly complex 3D adventure game and a worthy tie-in to a beloved Pixar movie.
The game is bold and colorful and offers a decent mix of puzzle-solving, combat, and 3D platforming. The latter can be a little awkward, but the impressive variety of the levels gives a great incentive to keep playing.
Despite the cutesy source material, A Bug's Life is sometimes brutally difficult. No, you weren't just a dumb kid; the game is as tough as nails, and the bird boss is more deadly than the real bird in the movie.
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A Bug's Life kicks off the list, as while I enjoy the movie and game, it's very rough around the edges. You could argue that many PS1 games have aged poorly, and Bug's Life is among them.
9 Tarzan
No, No, No. I'm Jane

- Platform(s)
- PC , PlayStation (Original) , Nintendo 64 , PS Vita
- Released
- June 29, 1999
I'm a big fan of 2.5D platformers, and the PS1 library contains some of the best.
While it's not on par with Klonoa: Door to Phantomile or Wild 9, Disney's Tarzan is an acceptable entry in the genre. The graphics are fantastic for the console, and the 2.5D perspective perfectly matches the source material.
The soundtrack is full of bangers, and Tarzan has a satisfying 'weight' in his movements. On that note, you play the first few levels as 'young' Tarzan before growing up and playing as an adult. The gameplay is broken up into multiple different activities.
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I'm a sucker for the vine-grinding stages, but you never know what's coming next. There are a couple of fully-3D sections which feel pretty terrible, but the good outweighs the bad.
8 Jungle Book - Groove Party
The Jungle VIP

- Platform(s)
- PC , PlayStation (Original) , PlayStation 2
- Released
- November 1, 2000
The PS1 introduced the dance mat to home audiences with a tidy selection of DDR titles. One of the few other games you could use with the peripheral was Jungle Book - Groove Party.
Groove Party is a simple rhythm game based on Disney's Jungle Book. As a licensed title, most songs are from the movie, and the game offers a unique way to enjoy the tunes.
The difficulty is pretty low, and it's evident that the title is marketed to casual audiences. That said, Groove Party is good at what it does. As an avid rhythm game enthusiast, I firmly believe a good song selection is essential for a decent title in the genre.
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With a soundtrack like The Jungle Book, how could they go wrong?
7 Disney Pixar - Toy Story Racer
RC's Time To Shine

- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original) , PlayStation 3 , PS Vita , Android , PlayStation Portable
- Released
- March 6, 2001
Toy Story is one of Disney's most beloved IPs, so it's no surprise that it has an accompanying racing title.
Toy Story Racer is a solid kart racer featuring all your favorite movie characters. The tracks are creative, and experiencing typical household locations in miniature is a nice touch.
There's an admirable attempt to spice up gameplay with weapons, and there are even battle-centric modes where you fight to be the last kart standing.
The steering is a little slippery for my tastes, but the graphics are great, and there's an enjoyable racer here.
Toy Story Racer is a decent driving game, but it's pretty simple and lacks features like drifting for boost and pales compared to heavy hitters like Crash Team Racing.
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6 Magical Tetris Challenge
Yes, This Is Real.

- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original) , Nintendo 64
- Released
- November 20, 1998
I had to squeeze a lesser-known Disney title into the list, and this one is a must-play if you're into your puzzle games.
As the name suggests, Magical Tetris Challenge is a Tetris game featuring several well-known Disney characters, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse. An original story takes place, and you must defeat your opponents by beating them in Tetris matches.
Tetris has come a long way over the years, and Magical Tetris Challenge has plenty of welcome, modern additions. You can immediately slam tetrominoes down by pressing 'up,' and the field is easy to read as there are faint guidelines.
Whenever you clear lines, you inflict status effects on your opponents, and they can do the same. Playing Tetris with modifiers is a great way to spice up gameplay and will even keep veterans on their toes.
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Magical Tetris Challenge is a fantastic puzzler that was bafflingly only released in Japan. It's up there with games like Puchi Carat, in my opinion, and well worth seeking out if you have the hardware.
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5 Mickey's Wild Adventure
The Mouse Puts On A Show

Mickey's Wild Adventure may not have 'Disney' in the title, but it would be wrong not to include one of Mickey's finest outings on this list.
Wild Adventure is a solid 2D platformer with tight, responsive controls, creative worlds, and even a few 2.5D sections.
I adore the art style in this game, as each level feels completely different. The opening Steamboat Willie stage wears a distinct black-and-white color scheme, slowly filling with color as you advance.
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On the polar opposite, the Mickey and the Beanstalk stage is a whimsical world where you'll visit a cavern filled with giant cartoon bugs. Gameplay is arguably simpler than many other Disney games, but that's not necessarily bad.
4 Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue
To Infinity And Beyond!

Toy Story 2 is an excellent 3D platformer where you play as Buzz, and the story kicks off just as Woody is taken from the yard sale in the movie.
The controls are slick, and Buzz can double jump with precision that some much newer titles cannot emulate. It's a joy to play as the iconic Space Ranger, and the game features a generous helping of areas from the film.
Your journey starts in Andy's bedroom, but before you know it, you'll traverse the garden and even pay Al's Space Land a visit.
If I'm being critical, Buzz looks oddly egg-shaped and has a terrifying face that stares into the deepest recesses of the human soul. You'll have a good time if you avoid his gaze.
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The game on the Sega Genesis/Megadrive will always be my favorite adaptation of the Toy Story movies, but the PS1 game is a superb addition.
3 Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire
PT Barnum Was Right

Key Information | Details |
---|---|
Developer | Eurocom Software |
Genre | 3D Adventure |
Release Date | July 2001 |
Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire is an exceptional 3D Playstation platformer with an intuitive crew system where you can switch between different characters to use their unique abilities.
The story follows themes from the movie, and there's a generous assortment of puzzles that are quite challenging toward the latter stages of the game.
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A big selling point of Atlantis for me is the visuals. This is a gorgeous game by PS1 standards, and every location looks completely different, with unique enemies and hazards.
Many 3D platformers on the original Playstation struggle with odd controls and camera angles. None of those issues are present in Atlantis, and it's a superb game, even if you don't care for the source material.
2 Hercules
Herc Was On A Roll

Hercules is my personal favorite Disney game on the PS1, as it's a remarkable platformer with a unique art style.
Many sequences from the movie are beautifully realized as full-blown levels. Most levels are side scrollers, but there are a couple where you run into the background instead. Movement and combat are serviceable, and the soundtrack is perfect.
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The only problem with Hercules is hit detection. You can be perfectly on target and hit thin air, and it's a frustrating issue in tense stages like the Hydra encounter. Oh, you can't even finish the game if you play on the beginner difficulty as it ends early!
Despite the janky combat, Hercules is a joy to play as long as its shortcomings don't frustrate you.
1 The Emperor's New Groove
You Threw Off My Groove!

Key Information | Details |
---|---|
Developer | Argonaut Games |
Genre | 3D Platformer |
Release Date | November 2000 |
The Emperor's New Groove offers an impressive attempt at a fully 3D movie tie-in and is easily one of the best Disney games on the system.
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You play as Kuzco in his Llama form on his quest to return to his human self. While the game is technically a 3D platformer, every level plays completely differently from the last.
You'll do everything from solving complex jump puzzles to white-water rafting, and it's remarkable how varied the gameplay is.
The Emperor's New Groove makes the top of the list because it does so many things right. The soundtrack is fantastic, even the completely original songs.
There's a welcome sprinkle of humor, and there's never a dull moment, as the gameplay is constantly changing. Levels are well-designed, and the challenge feels firm but fair.
If you can only choose one Disney PS1 game, this is the way to go.
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