The PS3 had the rockiest launch out of any Sony home console. There were many factors, including the asking price for the machine itself. Still, the console found its footing eventually, and there's a rich library of games to explore.
Best of all, you can enjoy several fantastic PS3 games as part of your PS Plus subscription. If you fancy a trip down memory lane or just want to play some bangers from two console generations ago, here are some worthy titles to fill your hard drive.
These titles are all available on PS Plus at the time of writing, but Sony does frequently change the lineup. I also will not be including collections or HD remasters of older games, as that sort of defeats the point of a PS3 list. I've also tried to include a wide range of genres, so there's something for everyone.
10 Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut
If Marmite Were A Video Game
Deadly Premonition
- Released
- February 23, 2010
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Access Games
- Publisher(s)
- Ignition Entertainment, Marvelous Entertainment, Rising Star Games, Aksys Games, Numskull Games
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Deadly Premonition is one of the most polarizing games of all time. To put that statement into perspective, back in 2010, IGN gave the title 2/10, while Destructoid gave it a 10! The game makes the list on the off chance that you would give it a 10 as well.
Deadly Premonition is a bizarre 3D action game with a healthy serving of mystery and puzzle-solving. You play Detective Francis York Morgan, investigating a bizarre string of crimes in the area. The issue is that graphics are dated, and many systems feel archaic.
That said, many would say that's part of the charm. There are heavy time-based mechanics binding everything together. York's beard even grows as you play, and yes, you must shave it.
There are supernatural horror elements, gunplay, and a sense of weirdness that never leaves until you turn the game off.
9 Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
Not Your Average Trash Panda
- Released
- February 5, 2013
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Alcohol Reference, Cartoon Violence, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Sanzaru Games
- Publisher(s)
- Sanzaru Games
- Engine
- havok
- Franchise
- Sly Cooper
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, PS Vita
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Stealth, Adventure, Fighting, Puzzle
- How Long To Beat
- 13 hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium
The Sly trilogy on the PS2 is a phenomenal series of 3D adventure games with a charismatic protagonist and stealth-based gameplay.
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is the 4th and final game in the franchise, and while it's sad we never got a Sly 5, it's absolutely worth a playthrough. Everything you expect from the series is here.
The game is beautiful, with light stealth mechanics and buttery smooth 3D platforming. While the core gameplay is akin to a solid sneak-em-up, the game frequently throws new mechanics at you to keep things fresh.
Thieves in Time is a superb game, although I could argue that it falls short of the original trilogy, particularly in the story department. That said, that bar is pretty high, and the title is worth playing on its own merit. The originals are also available on PS Plus.
8 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
The Dark Side? So Hot Right Now!
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
- Released
- September 16, 2008
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence
- Developer(s)
- LucasArts
- Publisher(s)
- LucasArts
- Engine
- havok, euphoria
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Star Wars
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo DS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360
- Genre(s)
- Hack and Slash
- How Long To Beat
- 8 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Weak
There's an overwhelming number of Star Wars games, but The Force Unleashed titles are my favorites.
The Force Unleashed puts players in the shoes of Starkiller, and the big difference here is that you're a Sith apprentice instead of a Jedi. It seems the bad guys get all of the fun in Star Wars, and you can effortlessly weave force powers into free-form combat.
Gameplay-wise, The Force Unleashed is a highly polished 3D adventure. Eviscerating foes with a lightsaber is as satisfying as it should be, and the story is surprisingly engaging, with events and twists that I won't spoil here.
The Force Unleashed is a superb Star Wars game and good enough to recommend, even if you don't care about the franchise. I'd wager you'll enjoy it if you're a sci-fi fan, and the superb sequel is also available on PS Plus.
7 Split/Second: Velocity
For Fame And Glory
There are plenty of great racing games on the PS3, and one of the most stylish is Split/Second.
Split/Second: Velocity is a wild arcade racer with flashy visuals, a pumping soundtrack, and a brilliant mechanic that can transform courses at the touch of a button. The idea behind the gimmick is that you're racing in a reality TV show for money and fame.
Once you've filled enough of your 'Power Play' meter, you can trigger events on the course. Low-level Plays might drop something on the track. The higher ones can initiate natural disasters, like tornadoes, to ravage the course and permanently change it until you reach the finish line.
It's a fantastic concept for an arcade racer, and Split/Second: Velocity is a high-octane thrill ride from start to finish.
6 Dishonored: Definitive Edition
On A Quest For Redemption
- Released
- October 9, 2012
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Arkane Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 3
- Franchise
- Dishonored
- How Long To Beat
- 12 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- No
- File Size Xbox Series
- 34 GB (November 2023)
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium
Dishonored is a beloved 3rd person action adventure by Arkane Studios.
You play as Corvo, a bodyguard for the empress. At least, you were before you were framed for her murder. After escaping prison, you embark on an epic quest to clear your name.
Corvo is a master of striking from the shadows, but Dishonored's RPG mechanics mean you can tune your arsenal to your play style. Dishonored is set in a steampunk-esque reimagining of London, and exploration is always rewarded.
The game also encourages multiple playthroughs, with its 'Chaos' system grading many of your actions. That Chaos mechanic even governs which ending you receive, so play nice or suffer the consequences!
5 Batman Arkham Origins
Polish Off Your Batarangs
- Released
- October 25, 2013
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- WB Games Montreal
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Games
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 3
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer, Local Co-Op
- Franchise
- Batman
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Wii U, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
- How Long To Beat
- 13 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium
- How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs)
- 40 Hours
The Dark Knight has some phenomenal games to his name, and while Origins isn't part of the legendary Arkham Trilogy, it serves as a brilliant prequel to Arkham Asylum.
For the uninitiated, Arkham Origins is a 3D adventure game set in Gotham City. Batman is adept at fisticuffs, but you can thin the herd by relying on stealth before mopping up the stragglers in close-quarters combat.
Naturally, what billionaire superhero would be complete without gadgets? Batman has plenty of his toys at his disposal, from Batarangs to a grappling hook.
My memory may be foggy, but I recall a lot of hate for Batman Arkham Origins when it was released in 2013. Nowadays, players recall it much more fondly, and it's a no-brainer if you've not played the Arkham trilogy.
4 Mega Man 9
He's Still Got It
Mega Man 9
- Released
- September 22, 2008
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Cartoon Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom, Inti Creates
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Engine
- MT Framework
- Franchise
- Mega Man
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- How Long To Beat
- 4 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium
Mega Man is an iconic Capcom protagonist, although the series arguably went off the rails before returning to form on the PS3.
What Mega Man 9 lacks in fancy graphics, it makes up for in superb platforming gameplay. Everything you expect from the series is here, from laser-precise controls to iconic boss battles. You always feel like you're being rewarded in Mega Man 9, as you earn new abilities whenever you conquer a stage.
Most abilities are more potent against particular bosses, which incentivizes experimentation.
The Mega Man series had a brief love affair with the third dimension on the PS1 and PS2. Mega Man 9 proved the series still had what it takes to compete in the 2D arena.
Mega Man 9 may lack the bells and whistles of other games on the list, but you can't beat it if you enjoy a hardcore platforming experience.
3 Devil May Cry 4
Now There Are Two Of Them!
- Released
- February 5, 2008
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Engine
- MT Framework
- Franchise
- Devil May Cry
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
- Genre(s)
- Hack and Slash
- How Long To Beat
- 12 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The Devil May Cry games on the PS2 are fan favorites, even if many have some choice words about DMC2.
Devil May Cry 4 had big shoes to fill and boldly changed the protagonist from Dante to Nero. Fortunately, Nero is badass and a fine addition to the series.
Many would agree that the first half of DMC4 is fantastic, and it's good enough to make the game worth the download. Combat is just as sublime as the original trilogy, with a thumping soundtrack that perfectly compliments the action.
If I'm being critical for a moment, the story in DMC4 is lacking when coming off the heels of its predecessor. Some parts of the game also feel oddly unfinished.
Still, DMC4 is a solid entry in one of the most stylish gaming franchises on the market and is worth playing even if you're new to the series.
2 Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction
Rip Ya A New One
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
- Released
- October 23, 2007
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Language
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Publisher(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Engine
- insomniac engine 4.0
- Sequel(s)
- Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty
- Franchise
- ratchet and clank
- Number of Players
- 1
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 3
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Action, Adventure, Third-Person Shooter
- How Long To Beat
- 13 hours
The Ratchet and Clank games are superb 3D platformers, and Tools of Destruction is arguably the best on the PS3.
Like most games in the series, you play as Ratchet, an adorable Lombax armed with a fantastic assortment of upgradeable weapons.
The weapon pool is one of the game's many strengths, as there are dozens to choose from. Every gun can be upgraded, and Tools of Destruction introduces a new system allowing players to 'overlevel' their favorites.
Ratchet and Clank has a bit of everything. The platforming is tight and responsive, and plenty of light-hearted humor is sprinkled throughout the story.
Tools of Destruction is the popular choice on the PS3, but Ratchet and Clank is a rare series where you can't really go wrong. Even the PSP has a decent Ratchet and Clank game, so pick whatever is available.
1 The Last of Us
A Naughty Dog Classic
- Released
- June 14, 2013
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Engine
- Proprietary (overall), Havok (physics)
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- No, The Last of Us Part 1 does not have crossplay
- Cross Save
- no
- Expansions
- The Last of Us: Left Behind
- Franchise
- The Last of Us
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Yes, The Last of Us is Steam Deck compatible
- Platform(s)
- PS3, PS4
- How Long To Beat
- 15 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- n/a
- Metascore
- 95
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The Last of Us should need no introduction, and no PS3 list would be complete without it.
The Last of Us is a story-driven AAA masterpiece set against a post-apocalyptic backdrop where humanity is on the brink.
You play as Joel, tasked with escorting Ellie, a teenage girl, across the country. The issue is that the journey is fraught with danger from monsters and monstrous people alike.
Naughty Dog manages to make the world feel believable and lived in. The voice acting is sublime, and you often understand people's motives, even if you don't agree with them.
The graphics and environments are exceptional for the PS3, and the stealth-oriented gameplay is a refreshing change from your average 3D adventure.