The PlayStation 3 had an incredible comeback, and that’s thanks to the greatest PS3 games of all time. Its library was packed with amazing first-party titles, along with third-party video games that were better on the PS3 than anywhere else.
Games like LittleBigPlanet and Uncharted 2 have aged perfectly and are now recognized as classics. The best PS3 games come close to being perfect, and they’re all worth going back to today.
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception Wraps Up the PS3 Trilogy
Image via Naughty Dog
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception wrapped up Nathan Drake’s PlayStation 3 run on a strong note. The set pieces were right up there with Uncharted 2, which is high praise, and moments like Drake dangling from a cargo plane are still burned into a lot of players’ memories.
It wasn’t a perfect game, and some of the puzzles felt weaker than in earlier entries, but none of these issues were serious enough to drag down the experience. All things considered, it was a solid send-off for Drake on the PS3.
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
Released
November 1, 2011
ESRB
T for Teen: Blood, Language, Violence
Publisher(s)
Sony Computer Entertainment
Engine
Havok
Multiplayer
Local Multiplayer
LittleBigPlanet Was the PS3 Mascot
LittleBigPlanet Sackboy sitting on a globe.Image via Sony
Before Astro Bot took over as PlayStation’s cute mascot, that role belonged to Sackboy from LittleBigPlanet. The game launched early in the PS3 era and quickly won people over with its charming presentation and creative platforming. Sackboy perfectly captured the playful spirit of the PS3.
Sadly, LittleBigPlanet has become a forgotten PlayStation franchise, but that doesn’t make it any less great. The focus on player creations showed what was possible in the PS3 era, and it inspired many games that followed in its footsteps.
LittleBigPlanet
Released
October 27, 2008
ESRB
Everyone // Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence
Developer(s)
Media Molecule
Publisher(s)
Sony Computer Entertainment
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer
Sequel(s)
LittleBigPlanet 2
Franchise
LittleBigPlanet
Number of Players
1-4
God of War III Brings Kratos’ Greek Saga to a Satisfying End
Kratos aims his finishing strike on Poseidon while in the air in God of War IIIImage via Sony
The God of War games on the PS already delivered huge spectacle, and God of War III took things to the next level. The power of the PS3 is on full display in this game, with larger environments and boss fights that feel absolutely massive in scale.
It also served as a strong conclusion to Kratos’ original Greek saga, with some of the most emotional moments in the entire franchise. God of War III proved that the PS3 meant business and could deliver truly epic experiences.
God of War III
Released
March 16, 2010
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content
Developer(s)
Santa Monica Studio
Publisher(s)
Sony
Engine
Proprietary Engine
Dark Souls Is Still One of the Best Soulslike Games
Image via Bandai Namco
While Demon’s Souls got the ball rolling, Dark Souls really took things to the next level. It defined what the soulslike genre would become. It’s brutally difficult, but once players finally overcome an obstacle, it delivers one of the best feelings ever.
Some fans even argue that FromSoftware still hasn’t topped Dark Souls. Its impact can’t really be overstated: it helped create an entirely new genre, and that legacy started on the PlayStation 3.
Dark Souls
Systems
Released
September 22, 2011
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Violence
Developer(s)
From Software
Publisher(s)
Namco Bandai
Engine
Havok
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Grand Theft Auto V Is Still One of the Most Popular Games Ever
Image via Rockstar
While GTA VI is one of the most anticipated games of 2026, nothing can take away from how impactful Grand Theft Auto V was at launch. The intersecting stories of its three protagonists provided an incredible mix of story and gameplay.
Even now, GTA V has one of the best open worlds of all time. Players are still exploring Los Santos years later. That lasting appeal is a big reason Rockstar continues to support and re-release the game to this day.
Grand Theft Auto 5
Systems
Released
September 17, 2013
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Mature Humor, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
Developer(s)
Rockstar North
Publisher(s)
Rockstar Games
Engine
Rockstar Advanced Game Engine
Journey Proves That Games Can Be Art
Image via Thatgamecompany
The beauty of Journey is how simple it is. It follows a lone wanderer traveling through a vast desert, and the presentation does most of the storytelling. The visuals are gorgeous, and Austin Wintory’s score pairs with them perfectly.
Gamers might think that there’s not much to Journey at first, but that feeling quickly fades away once someone starts playing. It’s a perfect example of how the best games can also be art, and the adventure it sends players on is as powerful as ever today.
Journey
Systems
Released
March 13, 2012
ESRB
E For Everyone due to Mild Fantasy, Violence
Developer(s)
Thatgamecompany
Publisher(s)
Sony
Engine
PhyreEngine
Multiplayer
Local Multiplayer
Batman: Arkham City Is Still the Best Superhero Game of All Time
Image via Rocksteady
Batman: Arkham City is still one of the greatest superhero games ever made. The sequel expands the Arkham formula by turning part of Gotham’s slums into an open playground, with the former asylum turned into a massive prison. It feels like a powder keg ready to explode as each story beat comes in.
More importantly, Arkham City truly makes players feel like Batman. From the free-flow combat to the interrogation moments, it’s the closest that gamers have ever come to becoming the Dark Knight.
Batman: Arkham City
Systems
Released
October 18, 2011
ESRB
T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence
Publisher(s)
Warner Bros. Interactive
Engine
Unreal Engine 3
Red Dead Redemption Shows the Decline of the Wild West
Image via Rockstar
While Grand Theft Auto V is bigger in terms of sales and recognition, Red Dead Redemption is arguably the stronger game when it comes to storytelling and atmosphere. John Marston’s crusade to take out his former gang is compelling from start to finish.
Bonus points go to Red Dead Redemption for Undead Nightmare, which is still one of the best DLCs ever made. Red Dead Redemption stands out for its narrative and setting, while GTA V excels in its gameplay and multiplayer.
Red Dead Redemption
Systems
Released
May 18, 2010
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
Developer(s)
Rockstar San Diego
Publisher(s)
Rockstar Games
Engine
rockstar advanced game engine
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Changed PlayStation Games Forever
Image via NaughtyDog
The first Uncharted was a success for Naughty Dog, but nothing could’ve prepared them for how big Uncharted 2: Among Thieves would become. Players were hooked from the opening scene, where they discover Nathan Drake hanging off a derailed train. After that, it felt like Naughty Dog fully committed to making their games more cinematic.
It set the tone for modern PlayStation exclusives, with new releases trying to match the energy of Uncharted 2. The set pieces were bigger, and the focus on character development gave the game more weight. Gamers who slept on Uncharted 2 during the PS3 era owe it to themselves to play it today.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Released
October 13, 2009
ESRB
T For Teen due to Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Publisher(s)
Sony Computer Entertainment
Engine
Naughty Engine 2.0
Multiplayer
Local Multiplayer
The Last of Us Is the Greatest PlayStation 3 Game of All Time
Image via PlayStation
What’s there to say about The Last of Us that hasn’t been said before? From the opening minutes, players could instantly tell that this game would be a masterpiece. It never drops the ball, and it delivers the best ending in video game history.
The Last of Us has been showered in praise by critics since its release, and that praise is well-deserved. It’s a must-play game of the PS3 era, and it’s proven to be a true modern classic.
The Last of Us
Released
June 14, 2013
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
Publisher(s)
Sony
Engine
Proprietary (overall), Havok (physics)
