Sony’s PlayStation 3 was home to some of the best action games of all time. Many of these games were so good that they still look and play great. In addition, most have received at least one remaster since their original release, which makes them playable on the newer PlayStation consoles.
One reason that the PlayStation 3 had so many great games is because of Sony’s exclusive titles, which means they were only available on the PlayStation 3. More importantly, they entice many gamers to purchase a PlayStation 3 over an Xbox 360 or a Nintendo Wii.
#1: The Last of Us
- Developed by Naughty Dog, creators of the best-selling Uncharted series
- Genre-defining experience that blends survival and action elements
- Character driven story about a population decimated by a modern plague
- Explore a brutal post-pandemic world
The Last of Us is considered not only one of the best games on the PlayStation 3 but also in the history of gaming. Without giving away too much, you play as Joel, who travels across the United States, escorting a little girl along the way. A virus known as Cordyceps has taken over, and the world is overrun with zombies.
It is easy to consider The Last of Us a “zombie” game, but that really doesn’t do it justice. The story is unlike anything else ever seen in gaming, let alone in the post-apocalyptic game market.
The game’s developers masterfully crafted its landscape, which helps convey the overall tragedy. There are bright and shining moments where things start to look up, only to get dashed by another disaster.
The characters in the game also evolve as the game progresses, and the changes are significant. The Last of Us shows what people are capable of when forced to survive.
Combat is a major part of the game, and it is very accurate as the weapons are limited. In addition to the infected, you must also battle people. The game really gets you invested in the story; you just want to keep playing when the game comes to an end.
#2: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
- New functionality including the ability to remain with your friends while matchmaking; map customization and the pooling funds gathered in different modes for use in unlocking content and upgrades.
- An game world layout that allows players to take an aggressive or new stealth approach to combat.
- Free-flowing "traversal gunplay" that adds a unique vertical element to standard 3rd-person shooting mechanics.
- Award-winning cinematic storytelling, incorporating new and familiar characters, as well as all new and varied play environments.
- A wide array of gameplay modes including a robust single player campaign and a franchise first online multiplayer modes including competitive and cooperative play options.
Uncharted is an immensely popular series today, but the franchise really got its start on the PlayStation 3. All of those original games are great in their own right, but Uncharted 2: Among Thieves took everything great from its predecessor and expanded upon it.
The story starts off about a year after the first game, and you again play as Nathan Drake alongside many of the same characters. Despite the first game looking excellent on the PlayStation 3, the sequel manages to outdo it.
The cutscenes look phenomenal, and they really help to create the story element of the game. Speaking of story, Nathan Drake is on a quest for treasure that takes him across a variety of landscapes. Unlike the first game, you get to see a variety of locales and terrains.
There is a ton of action in Uncharted 2 that was really impressive for its time. As for gameplay, there are a number of different things you get to do. Part of the game involves exploring and solving puzzles.
But there is also a lot of shooting and even some platforming. Altogether, Uncharted 2 provides much more than a linear action game and instead delivers an unparalleled experience.
#3: Red Dead Redemption
- The Dead Eye targeting mechanic, allowing the player to slow down time for shot accuracy
- Expansive open-world gameplay set in the final years of the American Wild West
- Massive play area filled with NPCs, made up 3 unique regions composed of towns and outposts filled with varying characters
- Morality system based on honor and fame generated by the players actions throughout the game
- Western themed mini-games including showdowns, gambling, hunting bounties, cattle herding and five finger fillet
Red Dead Redemption is easily the best Western game ever made (aside from its sequel). The game does a fantastic job of telling a great story and combining it with worthwhile action sequences and a massive open world to explore. You play as a former outlaw, John Marston, who is trying to leave his old life behind him.
The problem is that he is stuck trying to help the government go after his old partners. The premise of the game is that you must hunt down some of these outlaws in exchange for a pardon. However, the story is much deeper and more complex than it seems. In the beginning, you learn very little, and the story starts to unfold as you progress.
Unfortunately, not everything is as it seems, and it culminates in a tragic ending. It is another game with a story that truly makes you feel invested in it. Despite being made by Rockstar, it is not a cheap wild-west overlay of GTA. Instead, the world is very accurate to what you’d expect. Although this makes the world a bit barren, the people and towns are amazing.
The world of the game feels massive, and there is a ton to see and do. The game’s story even takes you from the wild-west, south of the border, to Mexico. In addition to the game’s main story, there are also hundreds of side quests and mini-games that you can choose to partake in. Even riding your horse through the desert is an adventure since you never know when bandits will attack.
#4: Borderlands 2
- Includes: Borderlands 2 Main Game, Captain Scarlett and her Pirate’s Booty, Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage, Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt, Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, Creature...
- Premiere Club Content: Gaige, the Mechromancer Character Class, Gearbox Gun Pack, Golden Key, Vault Hunter's Relic
- Krieg, the Psycho Character Class, Collector’s Edition Heads and Skins, Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack 1
Borderlands 2 is probably the best in the series of crazy action games. While the action sequences are exactly as you’d expect from the genre, the story and artwork are unlike anything else. You play on the planet of Pandora, which has a variety of landscapes to explore. There is also a ton of stuff to collect while you’re not battling enemies.
Like the first game, you battle a range of beasts and people, but Borderlands 2 is much more refined than its predecessor. Most notable is the fact that there are a lot more characters, all with unique quirks.
Some characters from the first game are also present among the host of new ones. These characters also have a lot to say. Listening to everyone can feel like a chore, but is totally worthwhile.
Borderland 2‘s art style really stands out as it is almost 2-dimensional. The best way to describe it is like a comic book. Not only that, but the game plays like a comic book with crazy sayings that pop up after a battle.
The combat system is also pretty deep, with a ton of ways to customize the insane number of weapons available. The characters can also be customized with various abilities.
#5: God of War 3
- True to the series roots, the four pillars of game play - brutal combat, intricate puzzles, exploration of awe-inspiring worlds
- God of War III is the epic conclusion to the Greek mythological trilogy, which will complete Kratos' story
- New deadly weapons like the Cestus, powerful metal gauntlets with devastating strength, and other brutal instruments of war
- The menacing creatures of Greek mythology can now be manipulated against their will, to cross chasms, inflict blind rage against enemies
- God of War III picks up exactly where God of War II left off ? Kratos must take his quest for vengeance to the very stronghold of the Zeus.
Before the new God of War reboot, there was the original series, which debuted on the PlayStation 2. However, God of War 3 was the first title of the series to get a PlayStation 3 exclusive launch. Older titles in the series were later ported over to the new console, but God of War 3 was the first to take full advantage of the new machine’s power.
This power made it possible for God of War 3 to become one of the best games on the PlayStation 3. The scale of the game is where it really shines. The gigantic scenes look absolutely stunning, and the graphics still look great, even today.
Another great part of the game is its combat. There is a range of maneuvers, and you can easily switch between numerous weapons. The gameplay does involve a lot of fighting, as you’d expect from an action game, but it also has a nice amount of platforming and puzzle-solving.
One of the biggest downsides of God of War 3 is that the story heavily follows the past games, so if you haven’t played them, you may be lost. Another quirk is that the camera is fixed, which is strange since most other games of the time used tracking or interactive cameras.
#6: Batman: Arkham City
- Become the Dark Knight in a genuinely authentic Batman experience with advanced, compelling gameplay on every level, epic super-villain encounters, and unexpected glimpses into Batman's tortured psyche
- Play as Catwoman with her own storyline in the main game which is seamlessly interwoven with Batman's story arc
- Experience advanced freeflow combat as Batman's melee abilities ratchet up to match that of AI enemies
- Put new gadgets, and new functionality for existing gadgets to work that expand the range of Batman's abilities
- Encounter numerous characters from the Batman universe, including Catwoman, Two-Face, Harley Quinn, Penguin, Hugo Strange, Victor Zsasz, Calendar Man, The Joker, The Riddler, and others
Batman: Arkham City lets you play as the caped crusader who is trapped in Arkham City, which is filled with criminals. In the game, Batman must save the day by rescuing the people of Gotham from the game’s antagonists. Arkham City is the sequel to Batman: Arkham Asylum. However, the area for you to explore is much larger than its predecessor’s.
The entire story takes place on only one night, which has to be the longest night ever. In this short time span, you face off against a large portion of Batman’s nemeses, such as Joker, the Penguin, Mr. Freeze, and Two-Face.
Luckily, you’re not alone because Batman’s sidekicks are also present. All of these characters also look phenomenal and closely resemble their comic book selves. The combat system is a major part of the game with different attack combinations.
There are also a lot of gadgets that you can find and use. In addition to fighting, a large part of the game also consists of puzzle-solving and flying around the world. On top of the main story, Batman: Arkham City has plenty of mini-games and side missions, including ones with Catwoman.
#7: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
- Although little is known, MGS4 is being touted as the final installment in the Metal Gear Solid series.
- Chameleon-like camouflage system, Octacamo, blends Snake into his surroundings.
- Loads of characters from previous Metal Gear Solid installments will return in this final chapter.
- Slated for simultaneous worldwide release in June 2008, Konami has released very few details about MGS4.
- Built for the PS3, the game is expected to be the finest representation of the console's graphics
By the time the PlayStation 3 came out, the Metal Gear Solid series had already been around for a decade. In that time, the series managed to reach perfection as an action game. In Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, you play as a super-soldier who finds himself in a world that is overrun by war.
The setting is a mere six years in the future, which helps paint a bleak picture of how quickly the world could devolve. In the previous Metal Gear games, there were hotspots of war spread throughout the globe. This time you must attempt to save the entire world.
There are a ton of new gameplay elements that made their way into the Metal Gear universe. One new addition is the ability to purchase and upgrade weapons and ammunition during battle. Combat involves a significant amount of stealth, but you can also approach it from a run-and-gun perspective.
However, the game has a level of nuance that will require you to use stealth in some cases and blow through others. But the most impressive aspect of Metal Gear Solid 4 is the graphics, the detail of which blew players away on the PlayStation 3.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Albert A F/Shutterstock.com.
