Where will your favorite be?
The PlayStation 3 used to be home to many impressive, exclusive titles. But as the years have gone on, more and more of those titles have been ported, remastered or even remade on other consoles. But there are still a number of games which to this day, can still only be played on the greatest console of all time, the PlayStation 3. So these are my Top 10 Games You Can Still Only Play on the PlayStation 3. As normal I have limited it to one per franchise.
10 - Motorstorm
We will look closer into this fun off-road racing game in a later issue but this was an early PlayStation 3 exclusive releasing late in 2006. It has lots of different vehicles to drive like trucks, bikes, rally cars. It’s more of an arcade racer than a hardcore sim, but it has great physics and decent graphics for such an early title. The other good news is it is probably the cheapest entry on this too as it can be picked up for less than £5.
9 - LittleBigPlanet 2
LittleBigPlanet 2 improves on its predecessor in nearly every way. The levels are much more detailed with new mechanics and there are even more items and accessories to decorate your own levels. It is an absolute blast to play and you can play with friends or family in local co-op and it is still cheap and easy to pick up.
8 - Resistance 3
All of the Resistance titles are still stuck on the PlayStation 3. This one is my favorite of the trilogy but if we are being real, you should probably just get all of them. It is the culmination of the mechanics and the story and it comes together in a pretty satisfying conclusion. For the few of you who have not played or heard of these titles, they are a FPS set in an alternate WW2 timeline where Aliens attack. Obviously.
7 - Folklore
Folklore is a really quirky, early PlayStation 3 title. It is an action RPG set in Ireland centred around Irish myths and legends. It is a really unique game and holds up very well. However, its exclusivity comes at a cost. Prices on ebay can be upwards of £50 so you need a keen eye and lots of patience to pick this one up at a good price.
6 - God of War Ascension
It has to be said, this is probably the weakest of all the God of War titles. However, if you are a hardcore God of War fan then this is still your only place to play this game. Let me be clear, a bad God of War game is still a great game overall. Graphically the game is beautiful and the gameplay and environments are fantastic. I still need to come back and Platinum this one someday.
5 - Killzone 2
I think this might be the best Killzone game. Its opening video with the actor Brain Box delivering a monologue over a fantastic score is so memorable. The level design is really fun and varied too which is important now that multiplayer is over. Original copies of the game aren’t too expensive but if you are after a real bargain the platinum editions are cheaper (If you can tolerate the art style of the platinum editions).
4 - inFamous
Infamous was a great title that came out midway through the PlayStation 3’s life. I consider it to be another very solid and well known PlayStation 3 exclusive. It probably wasn’t strong enough alone to get people to buy a PlayStation 3 but it certainly gave existing PlayStation 3 owners a reason to be happy with their choice. You play as Cole, a guy who obtains lightning based superpowers and you explore the open world city completinging missions. The skill tree is really good, and the unlocks give you a great feeling of progression. The other unique part of this game was the ability to choose a light path, where you use your powers for good, or the dark path where you use your powers for nefarious reasons.
3 - Puppeteer
Puppeteer is a fascinating smaller title which was initially available as a digital download on the PS Store and then available as a physical title. It is an extremely endearing platformer title set as a theatre production. Princess Peach Showtime released in 2024 is a modern take on the same concept. It is full of charm and often overlooked as far as PlayStation 3 titles go but it’s definitely worth your time. The physical copy is harder to find and commands over £50 on eBay but I believe you can still buy the digital edition.
2 - Ratchet & Clank A Crack in Time
This is my favorite of all the Ratchet & Clank games. For me it was the first one where they discovered they could tell a really good story. The cutscenes are excellent and the humor is really on point in this one. They manage to give Clank a lot to do also. I really enjoy the puzzles based around the manipulation of time and the exploration of the planets and moons is really good too.
1 - Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
It might come as no surprise to some that my top rated game on this list is Metal Gear Solid 4 but I think I am completely justified. It is quite unbelievable that this game has never been on any other console yet, although there are rumours that this will change very soon if the next Metal Gear Solid Collection contains it. There are many people who bought or still want a PlayStation 3 just for this game. It really pushed the PlayStation 3 to it’s limits.
I asked fellow contributor Jon what he thought about my list and here is what he had to say. “The list is solid, especially the game at number one (no pun intended) but it is missing a key entry! Haze - an early PlayStation 3 exclusive with plenty of glitches, it was fun playing co-op on this game and laughing at the terrible voice acting. The concept of injecting nectar as some sort of super soldier, adrenaline inducing concept but it was poorly implemented. Sadly this game came at a time when local multiplayer was becoming a thing of the past. This probably helped Hazer stand out as a fun multiplayer experience for me and Matt. Even for all its faults I have some great memories of playing Haze!”
Thanks Jon, at first I thought you were joking about Haze but now… I think you might be serious. I will have to cover it next issue.
Please get in touch on our socials if this list inspired you to pick up any titles you didn’t already have!