10 PS1 Games That Completely Messed With Your Mind

10. Metal Gear Solid

Any list on video games that mess with your mind would be incomplete without reference to the Metal Gear series and Hideo Kojima's PS1 creation, Metal Gear Solid. Solid Snake's mission to foil FOXHOUND along with the game's stealth mechanics and interface are iconic, making this one of the essential PlayStation games. Alongside this however, there were no shortage of weird moments.

The highlight has to be the first encounter with FOXHOUND member Psycho Mantis, who claims to be able to read the player's mind. Mantis then proceeds to demonstrate his abilities by messing with the player in a few different ways. He can engage with a DualShock PS1 controller, turn the screen black, and even pry into an attached memory card, referencing the player's saved games along with some basic analysis of their gaming preferences.

The game existed before the ubiquity of the internet, meaning most first-time players were caught unawares by the developer's manipulation of the PS1 technology. Befuddling players would go onto be a staple of the series, with everything from fake glitches to open fourth wall breaks recurring throughout later games.