The 50 Best PS3 Games Ever Created

What are the best PS3 games ever created?

The Playstation 3 was a phenomenal console and many gamers today have fond memories of playing some of the greatest games of all time on it.

However, while there were a lot of phenomenal PS3 games, some are undoubtedly better and more memorable than others.

Today, we’re counting down only the best games for this console and the ones that will always hold a special place in gaming history.

The Best PS3 Games Ever Created

Our ranked lists are created by researching and rounding up information from the most reputable web sources.

If you enjoy this list, don’t forget to check out our other PlayStation game lists:

• The 50 Best PS1 Games Ever Created
• The 50 Best PS2 Games Ever Created
• The 50 Best PSP Games of All Time
• The 50 Best PS Vita Games of All Time

Here’s our list of the 50 best PS3 games ever created:

50. Assassin’s Creed II

Created over a two-year span by Ubisoft, Assassin’s Creed II is the second game in the Assassin’s Creed game list and one of the best.

It features an expansive open world that gives players the ability to explore Renaissance Italy as fan-favorite, Ezio.

The story of Ezio’s quest for vengeance is compelling and the game mechanics that allow players to scale walls and fluidly take out enemies, are some of the best.

This game was both a welcome addition for fans of the series and an enticing title for brand-new players.

49. FIFA Soccer 10

Given the popularity of soccer across the globe, it should come as no surprise that FIFA Soccer is an incredibly successful franchise and 10 was one of the best.

With updated mechanics that allow for more nuanced ball control and player interaction, living your dreams of being a famous soccer star has never been easier.

This title also came with an improved and expanded Manager Mode that has over 50 improvements that help make it more realistic and true to life.

48. Rock Band 3

While many fans thought that Rock Band 2 had the best music in the series, 3 was still a great game that is worthy of inclusion on this list.

This game has an amazing tracklist in its own right, and its tutorials are extremely helpful and easy to understand.

Pro Mode can also keep players occupied for months as it requires some serious skills to be able to complete.

47. LittleBigPlanet 2

This puzzle platformer is filled with user-created content that redefines replay value and makes it seriously easy to lose hours in.

As the sequel to the original LittleBigPlanet, LBP2 was technically the third in the series following the PSP version, and many of the 3 million user-generated levels were carried over into this entry.

This game was one of the best-received games when it was released, and the Playstation Official Magazine (UK) even gave it a perfect 10/10 score, praising its creation tools and simple, easy-to-learn mechanics.

46. Rock Band 2

Rock Band 2 beats out its successor because of a few significant reasons, first and foremost being the huge amount of DLC and the downloadable music that is backward compatible with the first game.

This gave players a huge amount of content to play with, and the biggest and most diverse soundtrack in any Rock Band game.

Coupled with the greater choice of instruments and the enhanced functionality, this entry in the franchise easily became one of the best.

45. Pac-Man Championship Edition DX

No matter what platform you play on, Pac-Man is a staple that changed the world of gaming and the Pac-Man Championship Edition DX helped modernize this pellet-hungry protagonist for modern gamers.

With several new modes and over 100 new and varied mazes to navigate, this game was easily one that you could spend hours playing.

44. The ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Collection

This collection bundled the popular action-adventure game ICO and the incredibly beautiful Shadow of the Colossus.

Ico is a very minimalist game that involves a lot of exploring and puzzle solving, while Shadow of the Colossus tasks players with taking out 16 towering colossi.

Both of these games were developed by Team Ico and Shadow of the Colossus is often considered to be the spiritual successor of the minimalistic Ico.

Both of these games are incredible, and the fact that they were bundled for the PlayStation 3 made it even easier to enjoy these masterpieces.

43. Journey

Journey is an interactive entertainment parable, where players experience a person’s life in an anonymous online adventure.

This game tosses players into a sprawling desert and tasks them with getting to a distant mountain.

However, while reaching the mountain is the end goal, the overarching purpose is to discover who you are and why you are there.

42. Rock Band

The original game that kicked off the franchise, Rock Band has an incredible tracklist of master recordings from loads of artists and a great online function that allows you to play with others across the world.

While the vanilla game came with 45 tracks, there was new content every week and new albums and tracks from huge bands like The Who and Metallica that players could download.

This game turned the tables when it came to music games, and it still remains one of the most iconic in gaming history.

41. Super Street Fighter IV

Street Fighter games are some of the best fighting games ever created.

This game was a follow-up to the successful Street Fighter IV, and it completely redefined the fighting genre for the better.

Featuring loads of new and old favorite characters, new moves and combos, and online gameplay matchmaking, this Street Fighter game is easily one of the best in the series, and fans today still hold it in high regard.

40. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood is one of the best Assassin’s Creed games, and it gives players control of Ezio once more as he struggles to take on the Templar Order.

Now a Master Assassin, Ezio is placed in Rome and tasked with taking out members of the Borgia family in order to liberate the city from their corrupt control.

Between the massive open world, the ability to explore historical landmarks, and the incredible story, there was a lot to love in this game, and fans today still love replaying this classic.

39. Mass Effect 3

Mass Effect 3 gives players control of the beloved Commander Shepard for the last time and this game would have ranked higher if not for its highly controversial red, green, and blue ending.

Despite the ending, this game was still beautiful and it took players on an action-packed, emotional journey with iconic characters that it was hard to say goodbye to.

For all its faults, Mass Effect 3 — especially the Citadel DLC — was a good send-off for one of gaming’s most memorable and beloved heroes.

38. Braid

Braid is a classic puzzle platformer that tasks players with, you guessed it, saving a princess.

In each world that you travel through in this game to solve puzzles, you are introduced to something new, and nothing gets repetitive or tedious.

You also gain access to new powers and abilities to help solve these puzzles, some of which are incredibly cool, like the ability to rewind time or create parallel realities.

37. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Oblivion is one of the most beloved games in the franchise, and it tasks the Hero of Kvatch with finding the heir to the Imperial throne.

This is easier said than done when the Oblivion Gates begin opening across the world to unleash the demon-like Daedra into Tamriel.

When released, this game was groundbreaking and its radiant AI system made NPCs more realistic by allowing them to make choices based on the state of the world.

Adding to that, there were numerous guilds to join, side quests to complete, and amazing characters to meet.

Though it might not be as well-known as Skyrim is today, Oblivion was the foundation that allowed its successor to be so great and fans of the series will always hold this game in high esteem.

(Now can we please get a remaster Bethesda?)

36. Street Fighter IV

The predecessor to Super Street Fighter IV, this game included old favorites like Ryu and Chun-Li while also introducing new favorites like Crimson Viper and El Fuerte.

It also combined the classic 2D perspective with HD 3D environments and incorporated online matchmaking and gameplay that allowed players to take on others from around the world.

When it comes to games in the fighting genre, Street Fighter is one of the best, and IV definitely held up against the much-beloved classics.

35. Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2 is arguably the best game in the franchise, and it really feels like the game hit its stride with this installment.

Between all of the incredibly diverse and interesting characters, the engaging story, refined gameplay, and brand-new worlds to explore, Mass Effect 2 is an unparalleled cinematic masterpiece that remains a highlight of the series.

34. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Call of Duty is one of the most successful first-person shooter series in gaming history, and it has an incredibly dedicated fan base.

This entry in the franchise has an engrossing campaign that takes players from storming a war zone to stealth sniping behind enemy lines.

This gameplay mix helps keep things interesting and, because every mission is new and interesting, it’s easy to get caught up playing for hours exploring everything this game has to offer.

33. BioShock Infinite

Taking place in the beautiful floating city of Columbia, the third entry in the Bioshock series is one of the most visually stunning and the story is also one of the most interesting that inevitably ties into the City of Rapture.

Between the high-speed Sky-Line battles and memorable characters, this game is by far one of the best in the series and it was a great ending to a fantastic trilogy.

32. Portal 2

The sequel to the highly acclaimed Game of the Year original, Portal 2 builds on the strong foundation of the first game with an immersive story, imaginative gameplay, and co-op modes.

An instant classic, this game appealed to fans of every genre and it is both humorous and original.

While it doesn’t bring back the promise of cake like the original, it still stands as one of the must-play games on the PS3.

31. The Last of Us

The Last of Us was a genre-defining game from Naughty Dog and it introduced two of the most iconic characters in gaming history.

In a world apocalyptically transformed by a fungal virus, the journey of Joel and Ellie is filled with action, exploration, and emotion.

It’s hard not to get invested in the story of these characters and watching them grow and open up to each other is infinitely rewarding.

The Last of Us has everything a good game needs, and while The Last of Us Part II may have divided some fans, this first game is without a doubt one of the best PS3 games of all time.

In fact, the game was so good that Naughty Dog decided to release a complete remake in 2022, and create a TV series based on the game. 

30. Batman: Arkham City

If you ask fans of Batman: Arkham City, they’ll tell you without hesitation that this is one of the most popular games of all time, while others will contend that that honor belongs to Arkham Asylum.

Whichever side of the argument you find yourself on, you have to admit that in Arkham City, Batman was at his best, and, with a script penned by Emmy Award-winning writer Paul Dini, this game was a shoo-in to become a classic.

Pitting the Dark Knight against some of Gotham’s worst villains in the maximum-security Arkham Asylum, there are a lot of great moments in this game that makes it worth playing at least once.

29. Vanquish

This action third-person shooter is renowned for the various innovations it brought to the genre, such as beat ’em-up elements, bullet hell fast-paced gameplay, and a completely original sliding boost mechanic.

This definitely wasn’t a leisurely shooter game, and while the shortness of the story and writing was often criticized, overall it still remains a solid shooter game that helped pave the way for others that came after it.

28. Devil May Cry 4

This game builds on the other video games in the series that came before it, and it follows Nero as he tries to stop the series’ main character, Dante, after he assassinates the head of the Order of the Sword.

The first in the series to debut on multiple consoles, its difficulty, visuals, and characterization were praised by fans and critics alike, which led to this title becoming the series’ best-seller until Devil May Cry 5 overtook it.

27. inFamous 2

A sequel to the first inFamous, this action-adventure game follows the electric Cole MacGrath as he tries to gain more power to be able to take on his nemesis.

One of the most interesting things about this game was the Karma system, which gave the player the ability to use their powers for good or selfish purposes, which impacted their Karmetic standing. This, in turn, affected what powers became available.

InFamous 2 is incredibly engaging, and its graphics and design were some of the best of the time.

26. inFamous

The first game in the series that introduced players to Cole MacGrath for the first time, this game helped build the foundation that made its sequel so good.

The pacing and comic book-like origin story helped introduce and connect players to Cole, and the Karma system and mission structure allowed for great engagement and the ability to make interesting choices.

25. Dark Souls

If you’re a fan of dying, frustration, and hour-long boss battles, Dark Souls is the game for you!

This dark RPG combines dungeon exploration, powerful enemies, and player freedom to create one of the most addicting and frustrating games ever released.

This video game featured some of the toughest video game bosses in gaming history, and it was up to the players to decide the best tactics and strategies to use to defeat them.

While it is incredibly challenging, the sense of achievement that you get from finally defeating a tough enemy is second to none.

24. Far Cry 3

Far Cry 3 is one of the best Far Cry games and it gives the player control of Jason Brody, a man stranded on a mysterious island on the edge of the world.

Here, violence and lawlessness plague the land and it will be up to the player to determine how the story develops.

Between picking your battles, your allies, and your enemies, this game gives players a lot of choices and the ability to shoot, stab, sneak, and explode their way through this strange new land.

23. Assassin’s Creed III

Set in 18th-century America, before, during, and after the Revolution, this installment in the franchise gives players control of Ratonhnhaké:ton, also known as Connor, as he tries to stop the Templars from gaining control of the American colonies.

Like the other open-world games in the series, this game allows players to explore 18th-century Boston, New York, and the Frontier to complete missions and learn more about the world.

It is as engaging and beautiful as the previous games, and fans of the series praised it upon release for its ambitious scale, narrative, and gameplay.

22. Bioshock 2

Set 10 years after the original, Rapture comes alive once more to task players with putting a stop to the kidnapping of little girls from the surface.

As the first Big Daddy, players must traverse the rusting ruins of the underwater fallen utopia to find answers and put a stop to the experiments.

Along with this, the prequel multiplayer gameplay allows players to explore Rapture during its fall, which was extremely rewarding and provided a lot of memorable moments in this eerily beautiful city.

21. Uncharted 2

Nathan Drake returns in one of the most iconic Ps3 games of all time.

Created by the award-winning developer Naughty Dog, this gripping story throws Nathan back into a world of thieves and treasure seekers that he once sought to leave behind.

Not only are the video game graphics in this game gorgeous for their time, but the story takes players to some of the most incredible locations.

This game is definitely a must-play for any Uncharted fan or those looking to experience the series for the first time.

20. Uncharted 3

Sticking with the Uncharted franchise, we couldn’t leave out the third entry, which places Nathan Drake in the heart of the Arabian Desert as he searches for the lost Atlantis of the Sands.

Praised for its voice acting, writing, graphics, and cinematic qualities, this game was one of the best-selling Ps3 games and it went on to be re-released for the PS4 in the Nathan Drake Collection.

19. God of War III

Putting players back in control of the brutal Kratos, the ex-Spartan warrior on a rampage against the gods who have betrayed him, this game is arguably the best game in the franchise.

Not only does it pit Kratos against the Gods of Olympia, but his battle with Cronos is without a doubt one of the most epic in gaming history.

The sheer scale of the titan is incredible, and it even puts the colossi in Shadow of the Colossus to shame.

For fans of combo-based, hack-n’-slash games, God of War 3 is a must-play.

18. LittleBigPlanet

The original LittleBigPlanet was completely unique among other games of its time, and it was incredibly engaging as it allowed players to create and share their own builds with gamers across the world.

This interactivity and collaborative gameplay was an instant hit, and it was made even better by its easy-to-use interface and mechanics.

17. Midnight Club Los Angeles

Published by Rockstar games, this is the fourth game in the Midnight Club series and it features an open-world Los Angels that is as large as all the previous three maps combined.

One of the best racing games of all time, it features a 24-hour day/night cycle, brand-new weather effects, and fluctuating traffic levels.

The longest game in the series, there is a lot to keep players occupied for hours, and the free-play aspects allow you to drive around and kill time if you don’t feel like tackling a race.

16. BioShock

Upon release, this game blew players away with the gorgeous city of Rapture.

An underwater city of this magnitude hadn’t been seen in a video game before, and the retro decor style immediately set it apart from anything else.

Many gamers have fondly remembered the first time they descended into this city or got their first glimpse of a hulking Big Daddy.

Between the aesthetics, the great story, and the engaging and unique gameplay, there wasn’t a lot to find fault with and it immediately became one of the best and most iconic on the PS3.

15. Borderlands 2

Giving players access to four new vault hunters to choose from, Borderlands 2 is a phenomenal game, and its iconic cel-shading is instantly recognizable.

Handsome Jack makes for an incredibly hilarious and psychotic villain, and the whole game is filled with action, jokes, and colorful characters that you can’t help but fall in love with.

If you didn’t get a chance to play this game on the PS3, it was also collected in Borderlands: The Handsome Collection as one of the best split-screen PS4 games!

14. The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

One of the most famous — or maybe infamous — Bethesda games of all time, Skyrim has been enthralling players since its release in 2011, its remaster for new consoles in 2016, and its anniversary edition in 2021.

Set 200 years after the events of Oblivion, this game is still gorgeous despite being released a decade ago, and fans of the series praise its replay value thanks to the numerous mods and open-world exploration that you can do.

Although players long for the fabled Elder Scrolls VI, the latest news says we still have a long wait ahead of us.

13. Metal Gear Solid 4

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has an unforgettable story that features fan-favorite, Solid Snake, now aging and exhausted.

It’s a sobering look at the world’s desperate state and the gameplay is absolutely revolutionary.

Equipped with a high-tech camouflage suit, Snake can blend seamlessly into his surroundings, giving this tactical espionage game a fantastic new mechanic that players immediately loved.

Even many critics hailed this game as technically flawless, and it singlehandedly caused a significant boost in sales of PS3 consoles.

12. Fallout: New Vegas

Fallout: New Vegas is the best post-apocalyptic game of all time. Created by Obsidian Entertainment, a company created by the original creators of the very first Fallout games while Bethesda worked on Skyrim, this game was an immediate success.

Often hailed as the best Fallout game, much to Todd Howard’s chagrin, this open-world RPG was gorgeous and incredibly nuanced despite being created in only 18 months.

New Vegas combined the apocalyptic flair of the series with the Wild West and elements of the 1940s and 50s.

It gives players a huge amount of freedom and stands out as one of the best RPGs ever made.

11. Fallout 3

Now, while Fallout: New Vegas is objectively a better game than Fallout 3, this game ranks higher because of a few significant reasons.

Firstly, Fallout 3 took the previous 2 top-down, turn-based games and made them into an incredible 3D first-person experience.

It also popularized the series to a very wide audience, something that the PC games – -no matter how good they are — couldn’t do.

Set 200 years after the nuclear apocalypse, this game introduced players to the irradiated wastes of Washington D.C. and set the stage for one of the most successful gaming franchises in history.

10. Dead Space 2

Isaac Clarke returns in this sequel, fighting through Necromorphs in this horrifying action-survival game.

With brand new tools that allow players to dismember aliens, new zero-G environments, and relentless hordes of aliens, this game isn’t for the faint of heart, but it certainly is one of the best PS3 games for fans looking for a scare.

9. Dead Space

Dead Space has a winning formula that combines sci-fi, survival, and horror.

It is truly one of the most gruesome and terrifying games to release on the PlayStation 3, and it is incredibly easy to get invested in.

Giving players control of Isaac Clarke, an engineer on a deep space mining ship, it doesn’t take long for the horror to begin as the ship is ravaged by menacing aliens.

The eerie silence and pressing darkness of this game really convey the heaviness of the situation, making the tension of survival feel all too real.

8. Red Dead Redemption

One of the best games developed by Rockstar Games, Red Dead Redemption throws players into the lawless wild west as the protagonist, John Marston, and sets the stage for the prequel Red Dead Redemption 2. 

In this open world, players can explore a huge number of frontier towns, mountain passes, and rolling grasslands.

Coupled with all the side quests, an amazing main story, and an incredible amount of world-building, there is a lot to love in this game and even more to do.

7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Arguably the best Call of Duty game, Modern Warfare 2 continues providing players with adrenaline-pumping action and threatening enemies that threaten the entire world.

With co-op play, single-player campaigns, online multiplayer, and new customization modes, it was hard to get bored with so much to do.

Every mission is incredibly well-paced and written, and it sets a high bar for all the games that came after it.

6. Call of Duty: World At War

The fifth installment in the franchise, World at War, brought players back to World War II, with a focus on the Pacific and Eastern fronts.

Told from the perspective of a Marine Raider, Us Naval Officer, and Red Army soldier, it features several battles that are based on real-world conflicts.

Upon release, World at War was praised for its intensity and it still remains one of the best COD games of all time.

5. GTA V

Although it was one of the most anticipated multiplatform games to release in 2013, it is still being played with enthusiasm today while fans wait hopefully for a GTA VI to be announced.

Set in San Andreas, a fictional state based in Southern California, this game follows three incredibly memorable protagonists, Franklin, Michael, and Trevor.

Not only is the story very engaging, but it features one of the biggest open-world maps that makes it easy to lose hours exploring and generally making a nuisance of yourself.

In addition to this, the online multiplayer lets up to 30 players engage each other in a variety of modes, ensuring that this game has an insane amount of engagement and replay value.

4. GTA IV

Niko, it’s your cousin!

Grand Theft Auto IV, following the antics of Niko Belic and his bowling-loving cousin Roman, is one of the best GTA games, as well as one of the best PS3 games, and its open-world map leaves players with a lot of exploring to do.

From bowling to burger-eating, strip clubs, and crime committing, players would be hard-pressed to run out of things to do and people to engage with… or run over while driving recklessly.

It was also one of the first games to take a more realistic and detailed approach, resulting in it also being one of the most expensive games to develop.

3. Call of Duty: Black Ops

Set in the 60s during the Cold War, this game follows two CIA operatives, one of whom is trying to recall memories that would enable them to locate an elusive numbers station that is transmitting orders to sleeper agents.

This takes players across the globe to Hong Kong, Cuba, Laos, and the Arctic Circle, all of which are very well-created.

While some criticism was given for a lack of innovation, the story, gameplay, and voice-acting were highly praised and the game ended up selling over 5.6 million copies within 24 hours of release.

2. Resident Evil 5

Developed by gaming giant Capcom, Resident Evil 5 is a beautiful game, and while the gameplay doesn’t stray far from its predecessors, it is the first to have a two-player co-op and the first video game to use a virtual camera system.

As of 2021, it is still the best-selling game in the franchise, and until 2018 it was the best-selling individual Capcom game of all time.

This game is definitely worth playing at least once, and it has since been re-released for the PS4, allowing new fans to play even without the old console.

1. Gran Turismo 5

While most people think of Need for Speed when they think of racing games, Gran Turismo 5 takes the top spot for the best PS3 game of all time.

This game was the first in the series to feature online races for up to 16 players, and its damage system includes unique variations depending on the car models — all 1,000 of them.

It has 77 different tracks, 29 unique locations, and a dynamic weather and time system. Suffice it to say, this game was an immediate commercial success and the best-selling PS3 exclusive.

For fans of racing games, this is and was one game that you simply have to play for yourself.

Summary

The PS3 had a lot of amazing titles released on it and gamers have spent a lot of real-life time playing and exploring these unique games.

While there is no shortage of great PS3 games, these 50 have stood the test of time to remain fan favorites even today and each of them has made a lasting impact on players and gaming history.

Here’s a quick recap of the 50 best PS3 games ever created:

1. Gran Turismo 5
2. Resident Evil 5
3. Call of Duty: Black Ops
4. GTA IV
5. GTA V
6. Call of Duty: World At War
7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
8. Red Dead Redemption
9. Dead Space
10. Dead Space 2
11. Fallout 3
12. Fallout: New Vegas
13. Metal Gear Solid 4
14. The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
15. Borderlands 2
16. BioShock
17. Midnight Club Los Angeles
18. LittleBigPlanet
19. God of War III
20. Uncharted 3
21. Uncharted 2
22. Bioshock 2
23. Assassins Creed III
24. Far Cry 3
25. Dark Souls
26. inFamous
27. inFamous 2
28. Devil May Cry 4
29. Vanquish
30. Batman: Arkham City
31. The Last of Us
32. Portal 2
33. BioShock Infinite
34. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
35. Mass Effect 2
36. Street Fighter IV
37. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
38. Braid
39. Mass Effect 3
40. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood
41. Super Street Fighter IV
42. Rock Band
43. Journey
44. The ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Collection
45. Pac-Man Championship Edition DX
46.  Rock Band 2
47. LittleBigPlanet 2
48. Rock Band 3
49. FIFA Soccer 10
50. Assassin’s Creed II

What’s the best PS3 game ever created, in your opinion? Leave a comment below.