Top 10 PS3 Games Of All Time

Perhaps because of the era, where many of the console released did not succeed as much as anticipated, PS3 tends to be the least mentioned entry in the lineup. Released in 2006, it came as part of the generation that saw Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360 compete for market share. It was expensive for not a massive amount of storage, which proved polarizing in the gaming industry at the time.

That said, the PS3 brought a lot of firsts to the industry as well. It was the first console to use the Blu-ray discs, the first to be equipped with an HDMI port, and the first to produce 1080p resolution. It also introduced the PlayStations online capability, the new PlayStation Network, along with the ability to play remote if you owned a PSP or PS Vita handheld device. Many of these concepts ultimately changed the gaming landscape, and with updated models like the PS3 Slim, the console eventually grew in popularity and received a positive reception.

The catalog also eventually grew and strengthened as the system continued its upward trajectory. Although the catalog is not quite as diverse as the PS4 or the PS5, some truly exceptional releases deserve recognition for their success and what they delivered to the gaming community.

10. Final Fantasy XIII (PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC)

Final Fantasy is a series that needs no introduction, as perhaps the second most popular JRPG franchise of all time. Puting Final Fantasy XIII on this list, however, may be controversial. The game was not received well at all upon release to the PS3. That said, in hindsight, the game was actually brilliant. Aside from the most gorgeous visuals to appear in the series at the time, the storyline was strong enough to hold two sequels. The game was incredibly linear but made sense within the game’s story and world-building. Character development was strong, and the combat, while misunderstood, is one of the best in the entire series. Give the game its dues.

9. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare ( PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii, Windows, Mac OS)

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is truly the game that launched the series into what it is today and completely transformed the gaming landscape. Call of Duty was a solid FPS, but there was nothing remarkable yet about the series, and the genre as a whole was not gaining a ton of popularity- that is, until this entry. Modern Warfare redefined what an online multiplayer game could be, and it is that choice that made it so influential even to this day. Make no mistake, though; the storyline and smooth combat are also some of the best the series has to offer. Modern Warfare walked so that the FPS genre of today could run.

8. Portal 2 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Mac, Linux)

Portal 2 is a masterclass in how to take a foundation and perfect it. This is a classic puzzle game set in the world of science. It takes the solid but short gameplay from the original and builds it up flawlessly. The comedic, laugh-out-loud funny moments only add to the enthralling setup. The game challenges you in fresh and exciting ways as players work to traverse through the setting. Many have credited Portal 2 as being the best puzzle game ever developed, and given all it does well, it is hard to argue otherwise. Adding in two-player co-op was just the icing on the cake.

7. Bioshock (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, OS X, iOS, Linux)

Bioshock did not start on PS3. But once it got there, it was a big deal for the catalog. The game set a different standard for video gaming. The crossover shooter-RPG remains the best in the hybrid genre. It mastered gameplay mechanics, storyline, and worldbuilding that game studios ever since still point to as their developmental aim. It is hard to come up with novel games that have never been seen before, and yet Bioshock nails it completely. Players get a fully, completely immersive experience in a full package where no element can be marked as a weakness. That is top-notch gaming.

6. Dark Souls (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

How can a list of best PS3 games be complete without a game that quite literally spawed an entire new genre, soulslikes? The game is impressively difficult, which has become a trademark of the genre but has also acted as a barrier to entry for many gamers. Those who have been blessed to get into it, though, discover a game that is deep and masterfully developed. Combat is brilliant, and the game is deep and complex, but the greatest strength is the creative freedom it allows. The game gives players the ability to get past anything and challenges them to discover the keys and pull it off. It truly is a legacy all its own.

5. Red Dead Redemption (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Switch)

While Red Dead Redemption’s sequel was the pinnacle of PS4 gameplay, the original holds its own incredibly well, too. The game truly builds a fully immersive atmosphere that puts players directly in the Wild West and never lets players forget it. Everything feels right. Shooting combat is perfect, and everything falls into place as it should. Best yet, though, is the storyline and theme, which wraps up with an incredible, memorable, legacy-defining conclusion. Anyone looking for a full-blown, unabashed Western with great execution, this is the game.

4. Batman: Arkham City (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, Switch, PC, OS X)

Were it not for the critical success and acclaim of the Spider-Man and Miles Morales series, there would be no debate that Batman: Arkham City remains the greatest superhero game of our generation. And even with those other games, it still may be the best. The full, open-world Gotham City was absolute perfection. It was not the size of the city but the details that mattered. The environment had a perfect balance of attitude, atmosphere, and visual clarity. When you add in a mechanic system that defines and classes the genre, players experience the best of the superhero genre.

3. Uncharted 2 (PS3)

Like many other entries on this list, Uncharted 2 is arguably the class of the adventure gaming genre. The game manages to balance true adventure with puzzle-solving and platforming. The gameplay brings heart-racing action. Yet the game is not afraid to add some comedic commentary to break any tension, either. Meld together all your favorite action movies, and everything suddenly makes complete sense. There is no downtime in this PS3 classic, never a dull moment, and not a second to spare. Take in the beautiful visuals, soak in the clever storyline, and perform every stunt imaginable. Every element is a joy to play.

2. The Last of Us (PS3, PS4, PS5, PC)

The Last of Us was released near the end of the PS3 window, but it remains one of the greatest legacies in the entire catalog. In the original that spawned all the remasters, remakes, and television series that have come since, there is one specific element that carries this game to its illustrious spot at the top of the gaming world. The gameplay-driven storyline is quite possibly the best in the entire business. Constantly pushing players’ emotions, with mechanics and details that see that plot to fulfillment, every single moment in the game feels utterly essential. The Last Of Us takes dystopia and makes it real in one of the most important pop culture entries of the decade.

1. Grand Theft Auto V (PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PC)

The only game that could be at the top of the list, Grand Theft Auto V, is the single most influential piece of pop culture gaming ever put out. GTA V is the second best-selling game of all time and continues to be impactful nearly 12 years after its initial launch. More than that, though, this entry redefined the franchise as a whole. Providing multiple protagonists to follow in the storyline took what was previously a formulaic violence adventure and adapted it to fit all gamers and their needs and playstyles. Add it the best setting to date, and an online function, and this game becomes the best the PS3, and maybe modern gaming, has to offer.

Final Thoughts

While the collection above includes some of the best games in their respective genres, there are many more iconic games to be visited on the PS3. Persona 5 is one of the best and most popular Atlas JRPG’s, Mass Effect 2 is a great mix of RPG and shooting pleasure, Heavy Rain tells one of the most powerful stories in the catalog, Yakuza 5 continues to master wild and weird with dark and emotional storline, Super Street Fighter 4 is the pinacle of the fighting genre, LittleBigPlanet gave PlayStation a wonderful mascot before Astrobot cam along, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown is top of the class when it comes to tactical gaming.

The PS3 may be a forgotten system in the day and age of modern technology, but it did help revolutionize the industry. Its catalog of impactful games inspires as much as it thrills, and there is a reason so many of them are being remade and remastered. That speaks to the impact each game had on the players. History will remember this strong Sony console positively.