20 Best PS3 Games of All Time

Resistance: Fall of Man

The first title on our list was also one of the first games released on PS3. Resistance: Fall of Man was set in an alternate timeline, where World War II had never started.

Instead, at the beginning of the 20th century, the Earth was attacked by the alien race known as the Chimera. Outnumbered and outgunned, humans are quickly defeated and forced to fight in guerilla warfare against the invader.

Resistance: Fall of Man was one of the first games to show the features of PS3 in action. The game used various console mechanics, such as using the SIXAXIS motion controller in various situations. Other than that, Insomniac Games’ production was a competent first-person shooter, with a variety of human and alien weapons the player could use and at-the-time impressive graphics. Not a bad start for the PS3, right?

Journey

Journey is quite a unique title, not only on our list but in the PS3 library itself.

The game features few gameplay mechanics other than moving slowly towards the goal in the distance. The player controls a nameless traveler on a journey towards a mysterious mountain. Journey is one of the titles that elevate games to the rank of an art form.

And quite rightly so. The developers at Thatgamecompany knew what they were doing. The game wows the player with its serenity, which, compared to the usual loudness of contemporary video games, was quite unusual. Journey could also be played in multiplayer, offering a shared experience of this astonishing title.

Dead Space 

Dead Space is another experimental title. The developers asked the question: what if we gave the player a very basic tool to defend themselves against nigh-invulnerable alien monsters?

The answer was one of the scariest games ever to grace the seventh-gen consoles. Following Dr. Isaac Clark as he investigates the creepy halls of the spaceship Ishimura will give the player nightmares for days.

Dead Space was quite unique in its presentation. The HUD was virtually non-existent. The health bar was represented by the diodes on Clarke’s suit and ammo count displayed above the plasma cutter. Thanks to their resistance and persistence, the game’s enemies – Necromophs – quickly became one of the classic video game monstrosities. The game was popular enough to warrant a sequel, which gave the player even more frightful encounters with the undead aliens.

Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction 

After PlayStation 3’s premiere, it was only a matter of time when the next installment of Insomniac’s flagship series would be released on it.

Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction takes the players back to the world of galactic adventure with the brave Lombax and his robot friend. This time Ratchet and Clank must face the evil Emperor Tachyon, who aims to take over the universe using a device called the Dimensionator.

Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction digs deeper into the origins of both protagonists. Throughout the game, we learn more about Ratchet’s home planet and Clank’s true purpose. Gameplay-wise, Tools of Destruction offer a similar blend of platforming and shooting, with various new weapons added to the arsenal. Our favorite was definitely the Tornado Launcher, which deployed, well, tornados that sucked in several enemies at a time.

Assassin's Creed

Assassin’s Creed, developed by the same studio that gave us Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, introduced the players to one of the most popular series of video games in existence. In the first installment, set during the Third Crusade to the Holy Land, we meet Altair, a member of the ancient Assassin’s Brotherhood, trying to prevent the Templars from using the Apple of Eden, a powerful artifact giving its wielder the power of mind-control.  After a failed attempt to retrieve the Apple, Altair is demoted and tasked with hunting down nine members of the Templar Order to regain his position.

Compared to today’s Assassin’s Creed games, the first installment might seem a bit clunky. Carrying out assassinations required the player to gather necessary intel, which boiled down to completing various minigames – collecting templar flags within the time limit, successfully eavesdropping on a conversation, etc.

While the subsequent installments slowly but steadily dropped many of these elements, the open-world exploration of various historical locations and stealth gameplay mechanics remained. After all, what game gives the player a chance to visit medieval Jerusalem and meet King Richard Lionheart?

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Call of Duty: Black Ops takes the player into the middle of the Cold War when the United States and Soviet union carried out various proxy wars in order to establish dominance in the world. The player controls Alex Mason, a CIA agent sent to the world’s most dangerous regions to carry out top-secret missions. The game is known for introducing many scripted gameplay events – something that the Call of Duty series would be known for in the years to come.

Black-Ops was also one of the most brutal installments of the series. The game didn’t shy away from the atrocities of the Cold War. Prisoner torture, mental conditioning, deadly weapons tearing the enemies apart – the player will find all that within the story and gameplay sections of the game. Black-Ops features the Zombie mode, introduced in Call of Duty: World at War, in which players cooperate to defeat hordes of undead.

Telltale Games' The Walking Dead 

The Walking Dead is a popular graphic novel series by Robert Kirkman, where a mysterious virus raises the dead. Dubbed as “Walkers,” these monsters cause the collapse of human society forcing people to fight for survival not only against the Walkers but also against each other. But in this world, remaining human is often more important than surviving. And this is the lesson that Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead tries to transfer to the player.

The developers of successful Sam & Max and Back to the Future games knew exactly what they were doing. Blending point-and-click adventure mechanics with character-driven narration made the game more dramatic. In addition, the player’s choices actually influenced the outcome of various scenarios. Finally, the story of a growing bond between Lee and Clementine pulled at the heartstrings so hard that it remains to this day one of the best written father-daughter relationships in video game history.

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger did for the sprite-based fighting games what Telltale’s The Walking Dead did for point-and-click adventure games.

The first installment of the BlazBlue series introduces an innovative presentation method in which 2D sprites move in a #D rendered environment, creating a feeling of an increased depth. Combined with a roster of unique characters, BB: Calamity Trigger is a title that’s hard to pass up on.

The game is known for its complex story, which extends into the further installments of the series. The central character of the game is Ragna, known as the Bloodedge. A rebel hunted the Novis Orbum Librarium, an organization tasked with controlling the use of magic, Ragna remains on the run from NOL and the bounty hunters. BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger also features complicated fighting mechanics, relying upon the characters’ unique skills known as Drive.

Heavy Rain 

Quantic Dream’s first venture into the world of next-gen consoles showed the power of PlayStation 3.

The game aspired to blend the gameplay and cinematic experience, and in the opinions of many, managed to do that successfully. The players controlled four characters following the trail of Origami Killer while also dealing with the problems of their everyday lives.

Heavy Rain is mostly known for two things. The first one we’ve already mentioned – at-the-time groundbreaking visuals blended the gaming and cinematic experience. The second feature are the gameplay mechanics. HR relies heavily on the use of quick-time events, especially in action scenes. Frantically pressing the buttons to keep the character alive is an important aspect of the game, one that appears in the following games of David Cage’s studio.

Grand Theft Auto IV

Grand Theft Auto IV is the first installment of Rockstar’s series to appear on the seventh generation consoles.

The story of Niko Bellic, a Balkan immigrant who arrives in Liberty City to avenge the members of his platoon, is one of the most mature narrations in the series’ history. Combined with the open-world gameplay mechanics, it made the player’s first visit to the HD-era LC one to remember.

The developers expanded on the gameplay features of previous GTA games. The player has more to do, for example, arranging a date with their girlfriend or a visit to a bar with Niko’s cousin. The game’s mature narrative didn’t dampen Rockstar’s classic humor. GTA IV makes all sorts of snarky comments on various aspects of society and popular culture, poking fun at politicians, celebrities, and other members of the melting pot that is Liberty City.

Tomb Raider (2013)

After the moderate success of the Legend trilogy, the Tomb Raider series needed yet another fresh start.

The 2013 remake spelled a new beginning for the young archaeologist, Lady Lara Croft. Quite literally, as it turned out, because the game was a complete restart of the series. Facing her first adventure on the island of Yamatai, Lara would not only learn about the dangers of tomb raiding but also the art of survival.

The 2013 remake didn’t hide its inspirations from another action-adventure series – Uncharted. It’s funny how Naughty Dog’s series took inspiration from old Tomb Raider games, only to lay the groundwork for their remake. Lara’s adventure on Yamatai was filled with action, introduced puzzle tombs – an homage to the puzzle levels of the older games in the series, and gave the players a modernized version of Lara Croft, taking her first steps in the world of great mysteries.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was not a small revolution for the series. The game abandoned the familiar period of World War II, throwing the player in the midst of contemporary, albeit fictional, conflicts.

The game once again takes the player to different corners of the world, fighting against terrorists in the Middle East or dealing with the growing influence of Russian extremists. COD 4 gave us also one of the most memorable video game characters – Captain John Price and his trademark mustache.

The change of scenery and timeframe influenced the gameplay significantly. Instead of relying on WWII technology, the player could use a variety of modern weapons – assault rifles, RPGs, and even drones. The game was also known for its multiplayer, which set the standards for the further installments in the series. Modern Warfare spawned two sequels and a remake, becoming the first subseries in Call of Duty’s history.

God of War III 

God of War III is the culmination of Kratos’ quest for vengeance against the gods of Olympus.

Having allied with the Titans, the Ghost of Sparta heads into the final battle against his father, Zeus. But Kratos will soon find out that all mortals are only pawns in the games played by mightier beings. Betrayed by his new allies, Kratos vows to destroy everything that stands in his way towards Zeus and the vengeance he craved for so long.

The impressive God of War and God of War II were tough acts to follow. But God of War III managed to do that surprisingly well. The game looked stunning, the gameplay was as brutal as ever, and the plot tied all loose ends, providing a fitting closure for the Ghost of Sparta’s journey. One of the best trilogies of two generations of gaming consoles had come to an end, but Kratos’ story continues in 2018’s God of War and upcoming GOW: Ragnarok.

Batman: Arkham Asylum

After several failed attempts to bring the Dark Knight into the gaming world, the fans of Batman had lost all hope for their favorite hero ever starring in a game that’s anything more than mediocre.

However, their prayers for a decent Batman title were heard by Rocksteady Studios. Arkham Asylum was everything the fans had ever wanted. It blended an expertly written story with excellent gameplay mechanics, bringing to the forefront not only Batman’s combat prowess but also his detective skills.

In Arkham Asylum, Batman escorts the Joker to the titular prison for the most dangerous criminals. Things go wrong when the Clown Prince of Crime takes over the facility, releasing the Dark Knight’s deadliest foes. The game follows Batman as he uses his skill and combat and supply of fantastical technology to figure out the Joker’s plan. The game has become a gameplay phenomenon, with its various mechanics (free-flow combat, the “detective mode”) being copied into other titles.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim 

Skyrim. Because why not, right? The fifth game in The Elder Scrolls series takes the player to the titular region of the Tamriel continent.

There, as the prophesized Dragon-born, they will face the dreadful Alduin, the Black Dragon aiming to destroy humanity. Along the way, they will meet a gallery of interesting characters and carry out various quests for them.

The success and popularity of Skyrim could be easily measured by the number of memes that it spawned. The “arrow to the knee” sentry, the famous “Fus-ro-dah!” yell – these are only a few of them. The game is also known for its modding community, but that’s a story for another list. For all the fans of action-RPG games set in an open world, Skyrim is an absolute must-own.

L.A. Noire 

Cole Phelps is a WWII veteran who returns home to Los Angeles. Seeing little prospects for himself, he joins the police force.

As a patrolman, he successfully solves a murder case, earning him a promotion to a detective. As he climbs the career ladder, Cole becomes involved in increasingly brutal cases, witnessing the deplorable state of the City of Angels.

Many expected L.A. Noire to be the reverse GTA – the player climbs up the ladder of a policeman’s career instead of ranking up in the criminal underworld. While some of that is true, the game is more linear, offering the player little in terms of side activities. What it does offer is a unique mechanic of solving crimes by reading the face of the interrogated person. A revolutionary feature and a statement to PS3’s rendering powers was only ever used once. Then again, we didn’t really get many more games about playing a “good cop,” did we?

Red Dead Redemption

John Marston used to ride in a gang of outlaws. When his former friends left him to die in a job-gone-wrong, he leaves that life behind to look after his wife and son.

A few years later, government agents bring Marston in to hunt down his former friends in a bit to eradicate outlaws from the quickly modernizing frontier. Thus begins an epic journey of a man seeking redemption for the crimes of his past.

Before the game was released in 2010, many thought Red Dead Redemption would be simply a GTA clone set in the Wild West. It was that, but also so much more. The open world of the US/Mexico frontier offered a multitude of activities to do, people to meet, and things to find. RDR allowed the player to really feel like a cowboy facing the end of the age of outlaws.

Grand Theft Auto V

Unlike GTA IV, presented earlier on our list, Grand Theft Auto V is much more optimistic.

The games’ plot abandons the murky streets of Liberty City and moves to the sunny Los Santos. Instead of following the grim story of revenge, GTA V puts the player in the shoes of three protagonists, each with their own quirks and personal goals, whose fates are bound in the attempt to get rich easily. The game also features an intricate multiplayer mode, which is a game of its own.

Michael, Trevor, and Franklin will quite possibly go down in the history of the series as its most memorable protagonists. A former bank robber, a deranged drug lord, and a small-time gangbanger making first steps into the world of big crime. The player will get to control each of them, using their unique skills in various missions, side-activities, or simply by causing mayhem on the streets of LS. Because, despite the new/old setting, GTA is still an open-world romp that gives the player the freedom to create their own entertainment.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

While Lara Croft was considered the “female Indiana Jones,” Nathan Drake could be considered a “male Lara Croft.” With a few caveats.

The first game in the Uncharted series features Drake and his friends searching for the mythical treasure of El Dorado. The game set new standards for the action-adventure titles and elevated Naughty Dog to the big leagues of game developers.

Drake’s Fortune’s gameplay is pretty simple. The game focuses heavily on TPS action, giving the player a wider range of firearms to use against the mercenaries standing in their way. Now and then, the player will have a puzzle to solve or a setpiece to clear, but most of their time will be spent on moving down goons. The following installments, also released on PS3, managed to find a middle ground between action, exploration, and puzzle-solving. But the first one is definitely a game for the fans of fast-paced, breakneck action.

The Last of Us

The Last of Us was probably one of the last epic PS3 games, a swan song of a console passing the torch to its successor. And boy, what a swan song it is.

The journey of Joel and Ellie across the post-apocalyptic United States wasn’t only the gameplay and visual marvel but also a dramatic story filled with tragic moments and difficult choices. Suffice to say that the opening segment is considered one of the most heartbreaking gaming moments in history.

While the game looked stunning and the gameplay was nothing short of a masterful blend of exploration, stealth, and combat, the key feature of the title was its plot. The growing bond between Joel, a hardened survivor, and Ellie, a traumatized girl in his care, is to this day considered one of the best-written pieces of storytelling. Seeing the characters start to open up and trust each other will make even the toughest gamers shed a tear. And if you intend to follow the protagonist to the end, you better have a load of tissues at the ready. The Last of Us is a truly epic and emotional sendoff to the PlayStation 3.