Prepare for some portable duck and cover action as we take a look at the 10 best PSP shooters of all time!
Shooting games are certainly not to be missed among the sea of other incredible titles for this famous Sony portable powerhouse.
Interestingly, even though the PSP only has one analogue stick, there was a surprising number of shooter games released for the console.
From spin-offs of classic franchises to new IPs developed from the ground up, there’s plenty for shooter enthusiasts to like.
Here, we’ll delve into our top 10 picks for PSP shooters, so you know which are worth your time and which to lay by the wayside!
Table of Contents
1. Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow (2007)
If you want the pinnacle of the best PSP shooter games, then look no further than Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow.
Syphon Filter is a franchise that has both absolutely fantastic console and portable entries in the franchise.
This one is actually the last one of the lot too, making it that bit more special.
Despite this being the sixth installment though, it still has more innovative features that haven’t been seen in prior games.
Improvements to the cover system, leaning, and blind fire are all present as well as the ability to use enemies as meat shields.
The story is a brilliant final farewell to Gabe too so if you’re a fan of the previous entries, you have to play this one to get some closure!
2. SOCOM US Navy Seals Fireteam Bravo 2 (2006)
If you’re after more ‘realistic’ PSP shooter games, SOCOM US Navy Seals Fireteam Bravo 2 could be perfect for you.
This one brings everything the first iteration had and more with a whole new campaign as well as a bunch of new features.
One of these is the introduction of the Command Equity system which essentially ranks you on how well you performed in your missions.
This provided an additional challenge as well as giving you the chance to unlock new gear and weapons that you wouldn’t have access to.
You could also play the missions in whatever order you wanted as well as full replayability, giving you a lot of control over how you want to play.
In our eyes, this one was definitely superior to its predecessor and worthy of nabbing the number 2 spot of this roundup.
3. Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror (2006)
Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror follows that of Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain that was released two years prior.
Contrary to the previous game though, you’ll be going back to the Syphon Filter games of old, something that is welcomed.
It’s mission-based rather than being more open-world-like which definitely fits the PSP well but the story beats feel more of the same.
That’s not to say the game doesn’t have depth though with a plethora of missions available as well as some nice tweaks to previously introduced mechanics.
4. SOCOM US Navy Seals Fireteam Bravo (2005)
The second SOCOM game to make this list is the prequel – SOCOM US Navy Seals Fireteam Bravo.
You take part in full-blown intense military missions which can take a bunch of time, really sucking you into the world.
For a PSP game there is a surprising amount of depth to the game’s mechanics and the levels are really expansive, pushing the console’s hardware to its limits.
The controls are a little confusing to get your head around but once you do, it becomes second nature in the heat of battle.
The multiplayer of this one shone too due to its large player count, almost replicating a home console experience on the go.
Like other multiplayer games, it has sadly been taken offline but its single-player elements are good enough for it to simply not matter.
5. Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker (2010)
Any Metal Gear Solid game is likely to appear on these types of roundups. Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker is no different and more than justifies being on
Combining stealth with classic MGS gunplay, you’ll have to be sneaky and make your shots count through the various missions.
Naturally, you can go all guns blazing but this comes with some serious risk, especially if that alert starts ringing.
Not only is the gameplay fantastic in this entry, for a PSP game, the graphics are incredible, probably some of the best on the device in fact. Even more reason to experience this one.
The 45-minute full rendered cutscenes aren’t present here but there are some nice comic book-style ones in their place, meaning if you’re familiar with MGS games, you’ll still feel right at home.
All in all, a brilliant portable entry in the franchise and one you should definitely play.
6. Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2005)
The original Star Wars Battlefront games released on the PS2 were nothing short of stellar, bringing large-scale battles into this rich universe.
The PSP version of Battlefront 2 is essentially a port of the one released on the PS2, albeit in a more downscaled format.
This downscaling was in both the resolution, player models, and content, with both story and multiplayer modes cut from this version.
However, this doesn’t take away from the feel of the game, and it still brings with it the same mechanics that the original is known and loved for.
Additionally, considering the fact that it was a console game that was brought over to a portable device, the sheer amount of content that was able to be taken over, was pretty impressive.
7. Resistance: Retribution (2009)
Resistance: Retribution brought the same energy to the PSP as that of its console counterparts.
The Resistance franchise is one of the all time greats from the PS3 era, bringing some really solid games that created quite a large fan base.
Contrary to those games though, it was actually in third-person rather than first, a switch-up that worked very well on the handheld, and probably benefited it.
As you would expect, you’d be taking on the Chimera in this one as you aim to defend Europe from further invasion.
The story is pretty great, and you could even hook your PSP up to your PS3 for some extra content if you also owned Resistance 2.
Additionally, it also boasted some really nice multiplayer elements at release but sadly these have been lost to time.
8. Army of Two: The 40th Day (2010)
Army of Two was a somewhat surprising hit when the franchise first launched in 2008. However, due to its popularity, it got two sequels, one of which made it to the PSP – Army of Two: The 40th Day.
This one follows a similar story to that of the console version but in a more isometric view rather than simply third person.
This makes it a little more portable-friendly while still having the great campaign beats for you to enjoy.
The boss fights can get a little difficult but if you’re up for a decent challenge. Load up the game and start firing!
9. Rainbow Six Vegas (2006)
If you’re a fan of shooter games in general, you’ve likely played a Rainbow Six game in your time. But did you know Rainbow Six Vegas actually made it to PSP?
Well, it did and in our eyes, deserves a place as one of the best PSP shooter games.
This version is essentially a simplified take on the console release but you are able to switch between two characters which is a nice little feature.
Moreover, there are five total missions which can be replayed time and time again, even in Terrorist Hunt style.
On release, there was online multiplayer too which was a brilliant addition and allowed you to play in four-player matches, a solid inclusion for the time.
The graphics are a little lackluster, giving off Goldeneye vibes, but definitely not unplayable, seeing as though it is on a portable device.
10. Killzone Liberation (2006)
Similar to that of Resistance: Retribution, Killzone Liberation brought another great PlayStation-exclusive franchise to the palm of your hands.
This one picks up two months after the original’s events, and you’ll be battling the Helghast once more to save as many lives as possible.
Instead of the first-person view of the console iteration, Liberation is third-person, top-down isometric instead, akin to something like a dungeon crawler rather than what you’d typically expect.
This doesn’t take anything away from the game though, and like other titles, probably makes it better on PSP since there is only one analogue stick.
The graphics are great on the whole and with the scale of the game along with it’s isometric view, you’d even go as far as to say they’re really impressive.
One of the best parts of the game, multiplayer, is sad;y no more. But, at the time, it was a stellar inclusion and something that was widely praised.
