Crash Bandicoot has come a long way from its origins on the original PlayStation 1. A lot of people might not even realize that the series started exclusive to Sony consoles during this generation. The five PS1 games remained exclusive to Sony for a while until later remakes brought the classics to other platforms, although one remains stuck on the original console.

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The first PlayStation era saw many games highly similar to Crash Bandicoot pop up after its initial success.

To celebrate the character's origins, the following list details every Crash Bandicoot game for the original PlayStation. While most of the series' entries on the original console were stand-outs and are still solid games to this day, the franchise couldn't necessarily boast only producing flawless gaming experiences.

5 Crash Bash

The Franchise's Party Game

• Release Date: November 7, 2000
• Developer: Eurocom
• Platforms: PlayStation

One cannot blame Crash Bandicoot for also trying to cash in on the party game craze after games like Mario Party proved it to be a winning formula, even if the critics didn't necessarily agree. Crash Bash takes players through various competitive minigames. There's only a handful of them, but progressing through the levels offers variations.

Additionally, going for gems and relics presents different challenges to players. The controls, unfortunately, are clunky, and the game is surprisingly difficult almost right off the bat. However, it does stand out from the other games on this list by offering cooperative multiplayer.

4 Crash Bandicoot

An Iconic Marsupial Is Born

All respect has to be given to the game that started it all. The original Crash Bandicoot was a platforming triumph, but the game started to show its age quickly as the sequels refined the controls. The improvements made in the following games are a testament to the developer's skills, but it also makes the debut entry harder to go back to.

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It does have an advantage for some in just how challenging the game is, something that was toned down in future games. Any player looking for a punishing platformer will enjoy their time with the first Crash game, but casual players used to the future games' more forgiving difficulty curve will feel pushed away by it.

3 Crash Team Racing

Proving It's More Than Just A Platformer Series

The evolution of mascots often goes from great platformer to kart racer and not every series makes the jump successfully, but Crash Bandicoot hits it out of the park with Crash Team Racing. This spin-off differentiated itself from the obvious comparison, Mario Kart, by emphasizing skilled driving over power-ups.

The drifting and boosting mechanics encourage players to drift as much as possible to enable a quick boost of speed. Expert players know how to exploit these drift boosts even on straight roads. It's risky, but it can pay off. This mechanic means the game has a higher skill ceiling than other kart racers, but it adds nuance to the gameplay.

2 Crash Bandicoot: Warped

A Significant Jump From The Original

Crash Bandicoot: Warped, the third entry in the series, made efforts to add variety to both gameplay and aesthetics. The time travel plot meant that Crash could go to all corners of the world during different historical periods, with many levels making use of new mechanics like swimming, flying, and riding a jet ski. Depending on the type of player you are, you might see these more like gimmicks and wish for more traditional platforming stages.

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At least these different levels based on the new mechanics control well, so it is clear that Naughty Dog put just as much care and attention into them as the other levels. The power-ups you earn from completing each boss level give a better sense of progression and let players fool around more with the stages. Finally, the relics add a whole new level of replay value as players race through levels as fast as they can to achieve the best times.

1 Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back

A Well-Balanced Sequel

It is clear the developers wanted to make a more accessible game with Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back. The second game in the series certainly has its difficult moments, but the game eases players into it and leaves the hardest platforming segments for those who are going after 100% completion. Crash Bandicoot 2 strikes a perfect balance of being comfortable and cozy without becoming a pushover. The levels are beautifully designed and they keep a coherent visual theme.

Crash Bandicoot 3 might have more variety, but Crash Bandicoot 2 keeps the focus on pure platforming bliss. The hubs, or warp rooms, where players enter levels also deserve special mention. Crash starts in the depths and each warp room sees him ascending until the last part of the game is up in space. It is a creative visual way to showcase the progression the character makes throughout the game.

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