The seventh generation of video game consoles set the stage for decade-old franchises to reach new heights with brave entries.
10 Underrated PS3 Exclusive Titles You Need To Play
The Xbox 360 was a worthy compeititor, but these exclusives were the difference for many back then.
The generation, unless you played on the Wii, also ushered in a massive visual update over the previous consoles, while allowing developers to churn out more games within shorter timeframes.
The PlayStation 3 eraalso marked important milestones and became home to hundreds of titles that laid the groundwork for today’s household names.
While we fondly remember those times, a great number of those games show their age in terms of gameplay and visuals. That’s only natural considering that it has been 19 years since the console made its debut.
However, some PlayStation 3 games have truly stood the test of time and have aged remarkably well. Whether due to their outstanding gameplay or timeless storytelling, some of the best PS3 games have aged like fine wine.
10Beyond: Two Souls
Timeless Performances
Beyond: Two Souls
Quantic Dream’s star-studdedBeyond: Two Soulsis a narrative masterpiece that helped redefine the genre’s boundaries, alongside Heavy Rain.
It blended cinematic storytelling with interactive gameplay in such a way that it became an essential game for anyone who considers themselves a narrative-driven game enthusiast.
Although critics were split on its minimalist gameplay, which might rub action-focused players the wrong way, there’s no denying its ambition. Beyond: Two Souls pushed the boundaries and paved the way for games likeDetroit: Become Humanto follow and became an essential title for players who value story above all else.
If you somehow missed this one but enjoy emotional storytelling in games, you’re in for a treat with Beyond: Two Souls' brilliant story and the intriguing dual-protagonist mechanic, which made it a truly timeless PlayStation 3 gem.
9Sleeping Dogs
Timeless, Brutal Melee Combat
Sleeping Dogs
Few open-world games on the PlayStation 3, and perhaps even on later platforms, have aged as well asSleeping Dogs.
Square Enix’s open-world crime drama delivered brutal and very satisfying melee combat that still holds up surprisingly well even today. A decade after its debut, it still offers some of the slickest hand-to-hand combat on record to boot.
Sleeping Dogs complemented its ranged combat mechanic with a slow-motion feature that worked excellently, never feeling like a cheap gimmick while also ensuring that any random skirmish would feel like a high-stakes, cinematic kung-fu action flick.
Despite its mediocre driving mechanics, Sleeping Dogs’ gripping undercover cop storyline is a memorable one, and even if that’s not for you, landing a weighty slo-mo kick is worth the price of admission alone.
8Batman: Arkham Asylum
The PS3 Game Gotham Deserves
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham Asylumnot only set a new standard for superhero games, but it alsolaid the groundworkfor one of the most enjoyable and popular combat systems we’ve seen in the gaming landscape.
The game’s combat mechanics are intuitive and highly satisfying, making every encounter a pleasure to engage in. So much so that other high-profile titles like Shadow of Mordor, or Marvel’s Spider-Man, have all but stolen Rocksteady’s recipe.
In addition to its bulletproof combat system, Arkham Asylum featured great storytelling tropes that made it more than just punching crooks, and offered a 3D Metroidvania format that remains a rarity to this day.
It was tough to watch Rocksteady’s latest outing, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, sully the good name of the developer that brought us perhaps the finest superhero game ever made. But, even if they’re past their best, we can still look back in awe at what came before.
7Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
A Focused Experience In A Bloated Franchise
Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag (2013)
There’s no denying that Assassin’s Creed is one of those series that constantly shows signs of franchise fatigue. Even though the latest entry, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, pulled impressive commercial numbers that probably made its developer happy, the veterans of the series are still left wondering if the magic is still there.
That’s where I find myself rememberingAssassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, and why it stands out as a high point in the series, and is still considered one of the best entries in the entire franchise.
Although it didn’t redefine the franchise, it built upon the core elements seen in the second era of Assassin’s Creed games, and really nailed the naval combat system, which later caused Ubisoft to (unfortunately) dedicate a colossal budget todeveloping Skull and Bones, aquadruple-A titlethat expands upon this concept.
While singing shanties and sailing across the Caribbean was an incredible experience in Black Flag, the game also struck a perfect balance with its storyline and open-world design in a series often criticized for being bloated.
That’s why it still feels more focused than other entries in the series, and for me, is easily the best AC offering of the seventh generation.
6Mirror’s Edge
Timeless Visuals
Mirror’s Edge
It’s kind of amazing how well DICE’sMirror’s Edgehas held up over 16 years since it launched.
Despite its somewhat simplistic combat mechanics, Mirror’s Edge brilliantly captured the atmosphere of a vibrant metropolis and complemented it with an amazing level design that truly captured the excitement ofjumping across rooftops.
It’s also a stunning achievement with its realistic visuals that still hold up today. Unlike its counterparts, who have aged well by depending on distinct visual art styles, Mirror’s Edge somehow managed to endure the test of time with its focus on vibrant realism in the depiction of a metropolis.
The focus on certain colors on different levels was so well done that even the dullest metropolis rooftops looked distinct and interesting. And when you mix that with theintuitive parkour gameplay, it becomes clear why Mirror’s Edge still manages to play and look better than many games, including its sequel.
5Grand Theft Auto IV
A True Classic
Grand Theft Auto 4
Although its successor,GTA V, has started a new age in gaming and became a significant landmark, I thinkGTA IVis the franchise’s most grounded and emotionally resonant entry.
Its brilliant protagonist and the absurd criticism of the American Dream were presented so well that, even today,fans who are anticipating GTA VIdesire a similar tone and theme in the story.
Especially when compared to GTA V’s shallow and chaotic trio, Niko Bellic’s story delivered the most timeless moments as he navigated his way through the disillusionment of the American Dream, unlike GTA V’s full-on satire.
While there’s plenty to praise about GTA IV’s story, I’d argue that it also nailed Rockstar’s mission design in a way few entries have, as it offered an unfiltered and immersive journey through Liberty City. That’s why the whole criminal drama felt more cohesive, as it was more than a series of errands marked by letters and orange dots on the map.
I believe that’s also the thing people expect Rockstar to move away from. Even in the critically acclaimedRed Dead Redemption 2, the gameplay design is still built around the idea that missions are always separate from the sandbox. GTA IV found that sweet spot between mission design and open-world, which helped it stand the test of time.
4Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Bold Spin-Off With Incredible Combat
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeanceis one of those incredibly rare spin-offs that manages to break away from the parent series while staying faithful to its core tenets. And thanks to that, Revengeance even became an entry point to the Metal Gear Solid series for many.
While it doesn’t come with a complex narrative and political discourse presented through excessively long cutscenes, Revengeance had brilliant, unique selling points, likepeak boss design, and a combat system that allows you to slow time while cutting through enemies with satisfying accuracy and solid precision.
Like many other long-time fans of Metal Gear Solid and Hideo Kojima’s other works, Revengeance has a really special place in my heart with its precise and almost addictive combat formula. It becomes clear why Platinum Games is still kicking today, as it has gracefully transcended numerous console generations.
On a personal note, it also plays amazingly on a handheld as I’ve been replaying it on Steam Deck.
3God of War III
Chaotic Excellence Still Delivers
God of War III
More than 15 years after its release,God of War 3still stands at a mythical height only a handful of games of the PlayStation 3 era could reach. It offered one of the most jaw-dropping spectacles ever made for the console and marked an unforgettable conclusion to Kratos’ journey.
As one of the flagship franchises of the PlayStation, Santa Monica took full advantage of the hardware and crafted a brilliant gameplay formula that made God of War 3 the timeless classic that it is today.
It offered all the proven elements like brutal finishers, fluid combos, and puzzles integrated into visceral combat sequences, but also managed to elevate above its predecessors.
Knowing that many franchises that made household names failed to reach new heights in later games (looking at you, Killzone), God of War 3 masterfully marked the end of a trilogy by increasing the scale of epicness, offering morehack-and-slashand making Kratos shout more.
As a long-time fan of the classic hack-and-slash formula that defined the action in PS2 and early PS3 games, I can say that even theGod of War trilogytends to get a bit repetitive after you kill a certain number of zombie soldiers.
That being said, even in the moments it got a bit tedious, God of War 3 still delivers the ultimate PS3-era hack-and-slash experience. When you mix that with an epic story of vengeance, it’s clear why it’s one of thebest PlayStation 3 gamesever made.
2The Last Of Us
Timeless Storytelling
The Last of Us
12 years since its debut,The Last of Us’ story and thrilling gameplay still delivers at every point throughout its runtime.
Although it has received numerous remasters in the past, the original game on the PlayStation 3 is still kicking. Speaking as someone who played it on launch day and revisited it through every remaster, it’s remarkable how well Naughty Dog’s original magnum opus retained its emotional depth and polished gameplay.
Even after replaying the remaster, the older depiction of Joel and Ellie, along with their face animations, still don’t feel like the game came out back in 2013. All the cinematic elements that make The Last of Us a cult-classic today are still there.
Alongside its high production values, though, what makes The Last of Us a timeless classic is its flawless blend of gameplay and storytelling. 13 years later, it’s still great to play as Joel and take down Infected while Ellie tries to help you behind, or to listen to their quiet, evasive bits of dialogue that leave you wanting more.
It’s in these small moments that the game builds its emotional weight. And when you add some of the best inspirations drawn from the survival horror genre, it becomes clear why The Last of Us still holds up.
1Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
The Whole Package
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
More than 13 years since its debut,Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriotsremains a unique cult classic with its in-depth gameplay mechanics and unmatched storytelling.
As someone who’s followed Hideo Kojima’s career since Metal Gear Solid 2 on PlayStation 2, it’s clear that Kojima pushed the PlayStation 3 to its limits with Guns of the Patriots. It’s a massive orchestra of philosophical tropes, unmatched stealth action, and an overwhelming number of cutscenes.
Although it feels like the whole package, Kojima later admitted he felt constrained by the hardware limitations during development. Still, with its cinematic presentation and masterful blend of stealth and action, Metal Gear Solid 4 holds a special place in the hearts of longtime fans of the series.
While the long cutscenes and the complex narrative take up a significant portion of the experience, the fourth mainline entry in theMetal Gear Solid seriesstands as a timeless classic that still holds up today.
