The 14 Best PlayStation 3 Games Ever Made

Highlights

• The PS3, with over 80 million units sold, left a lasting impact with iconic games like
  Metal Gear Solid 4
  and
  BioShock
  .
• Uncharted 3
  , a standout title, provided insight into Nathan Drake’s backstory, blending stunning graphics with engaging gameplay.
• Grand Theft Auto 4
  , a top-rated game, showcased deep storytelling and chaotic spirit, setting a high standard for the series.

Released in 2006, the PlayStation 3 was at the forefront of gaming for seven years. It introduced an entirely new era of gaming, incorporating the PlayStation network and ushering in a social style of gaming that millions of people across the world are familiar with today. As rival company Microsoft made steps with their Xbox consoles, and assumed heavy-hitter Sega halted their console production in 2001, PlayStation knew they had to solidify their place as unrivaled in the gaming world.

Selling well over 80 million units since its release, the PS3 is known to be a brilliant console with immense longevity. Holding its own in the gaming world for seven years, until the release of the PS4 in 2013, there are multiple award-winning games that found their home on this iconic console. Its final title, Fifa 19, was released in 2018, after several years of success and over a thousand titles, and marked the end of a period of undeniable brilliance for this seventh-generation console. Luckily, the PS3 holds up excellently to this day and players might be surprised to learn how many truly legendary games first found their home on Sony’s home console.

Metascore: 94

Released on the PS3 in 2008, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots shows iconic super soldier Solid Snake in the future, after he’s grown into an older, and far more tired warrior. It’s clear that his body and skills aren’t what they used to be, but there’s a great slew of new tech to keep him going.

This proved to be a polished and sleek addition to the immensely popular Metal Gear Solid series. It delivered one of the most consistent experiences of the franchise, providing a captivating story and elevating the classic gameplay to a truly series-defining level. It was clear that developers had learned from their previous titles, and made this the culmination of over a decade of adventures.

13 BioShock

Metascore: 94

This BAFTA-winning game was originally released on Windows and Xbox, and ported to the PS3 in 2008 to critical renown. This retro-futuristic title was the first in a series of immensely popular BioShock games that have become known far and wide in the gaming world for their genre-defying narratives and gameplay.

BioShock is, in essence, a first-person shooter set in a dystopian future full of dated technology and esthetics. It was praised for its brilliantly immersive environment and subversive storyline, as well as the smooth and engaging gameplay. Without giving away too much, nothing is quite what it seems, and the player has the freedom to secure their own destiny.

12 Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Metascore: 94

While in the context of the legendary series, Uncharted 3 doesn’t shine the brightest, compared to the thousands of PS3 titles, it still stands tall as one of the best games to ever grace the console. Following Nathan Drake as he teams up with longstanding pal Sully, this action-adventure game finally gives players some insight into Nate’s backstory and provides some much-needed context to his relationship with Sully.

This installment in the Uncharted series was thought to be one of the best games on the PS3 for several reasons. As always, the voice acting and graphics were excellent and held up tremendously for years after. It was also a brilliant cross into multiplayer in the typically single-player series, and provided further dimension to both the characters and gameplay of this beloved franchise. From puzzles to combat to story, there’s something for everyone, and it’s a tried and true success story from start to finish.

11 Mass Effect 3

Metascore: 93

Released in 2012, Mass Effect 3 was the final installment in the original Mass Effect trilogy and a fitting conclusion for fans of the series. Set in a space-based future, the game follows a cast of characters as they face off against an invasive species called Reapers. The PS3 version of the game was generally thought to be superior, and quickly became a must-play for action RPG fans.

Critics and audiences alike agreed it was a brilliant finish to the original Mass Effect titles, providing great gameplay and detailed characters – a feat often rare in the gaming world. However, the controversial ending certainly didn’t help. One of the rarer draws of the series is the ability to import their previous saved game, which would then influence the behavior of those in the new game, which made for a truly unique playthrough. Overall, players and critics alike found this a passionate and brilliantly executed farewell to beloved characters.

10 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Metascore: 94

When players think of online FPS games, there’s one title that comes to the forefront of everyone’s mind: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Over a decade after its release, this game is still one of the most popular FPS games ever, and it’s true that it defined the genre for a considerable amount of time.

Blending reality with fiction to the perfect extent, Modern Warfare 2 was hailed as a fresh and enticing entry in the genre. It was polished, thrilling, and revolutionary in the field of online multiplayer gaming, and many players will look back fondly as to when the COD series was at its best.

9 Bioshock Infinite

Metascore: 94

Released in 2013, BioShock Infinite is set in the steampunk iteration of 1912 and focuses on a city named Columbia that has disappeared into the clouds. The main character Booker DeWitt sets out to locate the city and rescue Elizabeth, who is being held captive there. As players have come to expect from the series, the game is centered around highly political themes and provides a complex, challenging plotline that will have gamers questioning the truth.

Hailed by many as a masterpiece, BioShock Infinite is legendary for its incredible story and excellent handling of taboo topics. Irrational Games once again proved themselves to be skilled environmental developers, building an enticing and original backdrop to the intense narrative. BioShock falls short in no aspects and is worthy of the brilliant praise it was allocated.

8 Portal 2

Metascore: 95

Portal was easily one of the best games released in 2007, named Game of the Year by dozens of publications. That’s why, when Portal 2 was released in 2011, many players were nervous about how it might not live up to the original. Luckily, Portal 2 went on to meet the standards set by its predecessor and become one of the most original and iconic titles in gaming.

Often named one of the best games of all time, Portal 2 combined the best of deadpan, nihilistic humor, and challenging gameplay to keep players on the edge of their seats at all times. Expanding on the original in every aspect, Portal 2 managed to elevate itself without losing the heart and tone that made it so successful in the first place. It serves as a true masterclass on how to create a sequel, and instantly secured its place in the video game hall of fame.

7 The Last of Us

Metascore: 95

From Resident Evil to Silent Hill, horror games were not new to PlayStation consoles. But genre-defining, headline-making action-adventure game The Last of Us became a host unto itself when released by Naughty Dog in 2013 on the PS3. Over a decade after its release, the game is still one of the most talked about titles of all time, and the release of a highly anticipated sequel and TV show has only further solidified its place in gaming history.

Set twenty years after a fungal virus destroyed civilization, the game follows ruthless survivor Joel as he fights to take infection-immune teenager Ellie to a rebellious faction that intends to use her to create a cure. As the two fight for their lives in varied and original encounters, The Last of Us shows players the different forms of fear, and weighs the value of sacrifice against the importance of love. Many gamers would claim that no other game has come close to achieving the heights of this legendary game, and the over seven million copies sold is proof that everyone wanted to experience this story first-hand.

6 Red Dead Redemption

Metascore: 95

One of the most successful games in the history of the PlayStation 3 was, shockingly, a game based in the Wild West. Red Dead Redemption is the follow-up to the far less popular 2004 game Red Dead Revolver, and created a genre-defying experience that has become a staple of Rockstar’s success.

The game follows a former outlaw named John Marston on an adventure across the American frontier as the Industrial Revolution starts to strip away the Wild West bit by bit. With a vast and bustling open-world environment, the game offers hundreds of hours of gameplay across beautiful and breathtaking areas based on real locations. It was applauded for its immersive mechanics and world, which has quickly become what Rockstar is well-known for.

5 LittleBigPlanet

Metascore: 95

Before Minecraft, the PlayStation 3 had its own world-building game in LittleBigPlanet. Just like Minecraft, gamers created, explored, and played in their own worlds. Thanks to the PlayStation Network, introduced on the PS3, they could share these worlds with other gamers, adding further value to the time taken to build their environments.

LittleBigPlanet is looked upon fondly by all those who played it and marked a new era of gaming. As gamers today know, this was the beginning of the sandbox world-building genre that has become so immensely popular today. While it didn’t quite reach the vastness of today’s world-building titles, LittleBigPlanet placed an emphasis on social gaming and ushered a new perspective that persists today.

4 Batman: Arkham City

Metascore: 96

Batman: Arkham City, the sequel to the immensely popular Batman: Arkham Asylum, is living proof that loyalty to source material can often breed the best results. Whatever notions players had of superhero games being silly and bright were halted by this gritty and heart-racing third-person action-adventure game developed by Rocksteady Studios.

Arkham City was thought to surpass its predecessor in every way, with even better mechanics, narratives, and environments. It elevated the concept in every way and didn’t shy away from the dark tone of the world. Released in 2011, it’s likely that this game series had a real impact on the rise of serious and engaging superhero content – and definitely played a main role in the popularization of superhero video games.

3 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Metascore: 96

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is the highest-rated game in the series on Metacritic, just pulling out ahead of the breathtaking conclusion to the franchise Uncharted 4, which sits at a Metascore of 93. It sees Nathan delve deep into the treacherous world of treasure hunting, meeting old friend Chloe Frazer and shaking hands with untrustworthy thieves as he attempts to follow in Marco Polo’s steps.

Brimming with high-stakes, epic sequences, and intense story moments, Uncharted 2 masters all components of a good video game and makes it look easy. Often considered to be one of the best video games ever made, it’s a technical feat, with epic environmental design, outstanding voice-acting, and beautiful graphics. It also delivers on story and character, engaging players from the very first second – gripping players with a tense climb up a train that dangles precariously off an icy mountain.

2 Grand Theft Auto 4

Metascore: 98

When it comes to the PlayStation 3, there are certain games that instantly spring to mind, and one of those will always be Rockstar’s hit series Grand Theft Auto. The longevity of the console is evidenced by the series, since Grand Theft Auto 4 was released towards the beginning of the console’s life, and Grand Theft Auto 5 was released towards the end.

Sitting at the top of GTA’s critically acclaimed list is Grand Theft Auto 4, a story of love, betrayal, and ruthlessness to rival all others. It follows Niko Belic, a questionable protagonist, as he starts a new life in Liberty City on a mission for revenge. This installment was thought to be deeper and more substantial than its predecessors and provided a fresh take on the series without losing the chaotic spirit that makes it so iconic. It’s a feat of world-building, story, and pure, uninhibited, intrusive thoughts.

1 Grand Theft Auto 5

Metascore: 97

Grand Theft Auto 5 is truly a testament to how long a game will continue to be popular if enough care and detail is provided. Released in 2013, GTA 5 is still played by millions across the world and has stood the test of time to a remarkable extent. Following three vastly different characters – Michael, Trevor, and Franklin – GTA 5 is a story of corruption, cruelty, and morality.

No matter what players make of the characters and plot, it’s undeniable that GTA 5 is a true feat of gaming. With an inconceivably large map fitted with various events and details, players can wander San Andreas for hours without encountering half of all that’s on offer. It’s generally thought to be a defining title of seventh-generation console gaming and provides an excellent springboard from which players can jump from the PS3 to the PS4 with remarkably little change. It’s no surprise that players are absolutely desperate for the release of the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, even if there’s no solid release date yet.