PlayStation Portable

The PlayStation Portable was the first handheld gaming device to deliver genuine home-console-quality 3D gaming in a pocket form factor. Its 4.3-inch 16:9 widescreen display was extraordinary for its time, and Sony positioned the PSP as a multimedia device — capable of playing UMD movies, music, and browsing the internet via Wi-Fi. In Japan, the PSP became a cultural phenomenon largely because of Monster Hunter: Freedom Unite, which turned the system into a social gaming hub — groups of players would gather at train stations and cafes to play together via ad-hoc wireless. The PSP also became one of the most significant homebrew and emulation platforms in history, with custom firmware unlocking capabilities Sony never intended. Despite losing the handheld war to the Nintendo DS, the PSP carved out a passionate following and remains beloved for its library of JRPGs and action games.