While the jump from PlayStation 1 to PS2 was very impressive, the leap from Sony’s second console to the third was just as exciting, if not more so in some ways. The PS3 was released on November 17th, 2006 with a couple of really strong launch titles, including the likes ofResistance: Fall of ManandMotorStorm. Though it struggled early on due to its steep price point and stiff competition in the form of the Nintendo Wii, the PS3 eventually became one of the best consoles of all time due to its fantastic third-party support and somerevolutionary first-party titles.
Over the course of the PS3’s life, each year got better and better. There are still some truly fabulous games released in the early days of the console, but both first-party and third-party developers eventually found their way around its unique architecture and were able to develop what would become some of the best games ever made. This generation of games is an odd one, an era that feels largely overlooked, but still maintains a sense of innovation and hardware advancements that lead to tangible improvements.
Despite its early struggles, the PS3 had an ace up its sleeve in the form ofMarvel: Ultimate Allianceas a launch window title. This combination ofDiabloand the iconic superheroes of the Marvel Comics universe was an enticing prospect, one that built off the legacy that developer Raven Software had started years prior withX-Men Legends. Offering an impressive roster of some of Marvel’s greatest heroes, including Spider-Man, and multiple members of the X-Men and Fantastic Four, it felt likea comic book fan’s dreamback in 2006.
Marvel: Ultimate Allianceis still an impressive game to this day, with some incredible representations of comic book characters and an addictive gameplay loop that hangs with the best action RPGs of the time and today. It is filled to the brim with callbacks and references to the wider Marvel universe, exploring everything from Castle Doom to Asgard. Although it isn’t possible to purchase it on modern hardware, it’s still worth tracking down and playing.
It didn’t take long for developers to start fully grasping the power of the PS3, as Naughty Dog started what became one of the industry’s most popular and successful franchises of all time withUncharted: Drake’s Fortunein 2007. Influenced by the likes ofIndiana Jonesand classic pulp adventure magazines,Unchartedwas a technical showpiece of exactly what the PS3 could accomplish with the right team at the helm.
Written and directedby industry legend Amy Henig,Unchartedis still one of the greatest action games ever made, featuring a cast of phenomenal characters and some truly memorable set pieces. It was met with worldwide critical acclaim, spawning an entire franchise of sequels and even a blockbuster movie. The charming writing and sense of adventure were unmatched, establishing Naughty Dog as one of the best developers of the generation.
Metal Gearwas in a strange place in 2008, as series creator Hideo Kojima had expressed a desire to move on from the franchise multiple times. In the years betweenMetal Gear Solid 2in 2001 and the fourth mainline entry in 2008, Kojima had focused on Solid Snake’s father, Big Boss, and his continuing evolution into the villain he was destined to become. But with the power of the PS3, Kojima sought to finish Solid Snake’s story and give him a send-off worthy of a hero.
InMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Kojima focused on the themes of age and how war can change. Solid Snake, despite being only 42 years old,is now an old manthanks to the effects of the FOXDIE virus. It’s a powerful tale that is backed by some of the best gameplay in the series, as the OctoCamo system allows Snake to blend into environments seamlessly to stay hidden. AlthoughGuns of the Patriotsis still stuck on the PS3, one can only hope it eventually makes its way to the next version of Konami’s Master Collection compilation titles, as it’s still one of the finest stealth-action games ever made.
Sequels to massively successful games are often saddled with unfair expectations, butUncharted 2: Among Thievesmanaged to take every aspect of the first game and improve on it. The gameplay feels tighter, the writing and performances are top-notch and the pacing could not be more perfect. From the thrilling opening scene of escaping a damaged train all the way to the explosive climax in Shambhala,Uncharted 2isa non-stop thrill ridethat is still one of the PS3’s greatest achievements.
Uncharted 2was so ahead of its time graphically, that when the trilogy was ported to the PS4 inThe Nathan Drake Collection, this sequel didn’t feel at all out of place on the new hardware. It looked like it could have passed as a first-generation PS4 game, a testament to the talented team at Naughty Dog and how they were able to make Drake’s second adventure into one of the PS3’s finest titles.
Despite the fact that the PS3 was deep into its first year, the sequel to 2005’sGod of Wardid not come to the console andinstead shipped on the PS2. The install base of the PS2 was simply too large to ignore, but Sony Santa Monica opted to make use of the PS3 hardware in order to power Kratos' next adventure. And it paid off, asGod of War 3is still one of the best entries in the franchise and a landmark title for the PS3.
One of Kratos' last journeys through the Greek world before the 2018 reboot,God of War 3features some of the franchise’s most visceral and gory combat to date. Everything about the way Kratos attacks to the way he brutalizes enemies in grapple movies, it all feels absolutely fantastic to experience. Although the franchise has recently been rebooted and is still producing top-tier games to this day,God of War 3remains one of the best titles in the series.
Despite a trailer that promised an emotional, heartfelt story about surviving a zombie apocalypse, the retail version ofDead Islandtook a slight detour. The final game felt more likeZombielandthanThe Walking Dead, but it was something that helped elevate the game beyond the typical zombie fare that was seen at the time. While a lot of zombie fiction was focused on dark, serious stories,Dead Islandwasset on a bright tropical islandwith a cast of somewhat campy characters.
Dead Islandcould be played either in 4-player co-op or solo, but the fantastic design of the game meant that single-player experiences weren’t hampered. It never felt like you were missing out by playing alone. The massive selection of weapons, impressive visuals, and some terrific shooting mechanics all blend together in a magnificent way, something that carried over to the long-troubled sequel that finally launched in 2023.
Two years into the record-breaking run of the originalWalking Deadseries,developer Telltale Games sought toexplore a different side of Robert Kirkman’s massively successful comic book series. Though it’s not canon to the television show, it does take place within the same universe as the comic, something made evident by its graphic novel-style graphics. Backed by a strong script, a brilliant cast of characters, and some of the best voice performances ever heard,The Walking Deadwas hugely popular and spawned multiple seasons and a few spin-offs.
Feeling like an evolution of older point-and-click adventure games,The Walking Deadputs its focus clearly on character progression and choices. The ongoing relationship between lead character Lee Everett and a delightful child known as Clementine is the heart of the story, a heart-wrenching tale of survival and found family that is easily one of the industry’s greatest all-time stories. Future seasons of this series took Clementine on a long, difficult journey, but it all started with this stellar game that is readily available on modern platforms.
It’s safe to say that no game that was released in 2013 stood a chance againstThe Last of Us, the harrowing journey of survivor Joel and resourceful Ellie. What begins as a quest to get some guns from a rival group known as the Fireflies becomes a cross-country journey tosurvive the horde of Infected, but also one that may result in the salvation of humanity, as Ellie’s immunity to the disease could hold the key.
Featuring one of the greatest stories ever written for the industry, as well as a cast of truly incredible voice performances,The Last of Usisn’t just one of the best PS3 games. It’s a contender for one of the finest games ever made, as developer Naughty Dog was able to take full advantage of the PS3. The combat feels harsh and appropriately violent, while the atmosphere and dialog are top-notch. The recent remaster for the PS5 is the best way to experience it today, showing that this decade-old game is still worth playing.
Released just one year afterThe Last of Us, both as DLC for owners of the season pass and as a standalone title,Left Behindexplores Ellie’s relationship with best friend Riley in one of the best pieces of additional content a game has ever seen. Taking place three weeks before the first game,Left Behindis a haunting examination of two people in the final moments before their lives change forever.
The relationship between Ellie and Riley was a landmark moment for video games, as their kiss was important to theincreasing LGBTQ+ representationin the industry. It was a crucial part of the important change that video games were seeing, but also just as important in further cementing the character of Ellie in the franchise moving forward as its true lead.Left Behindis easily one of the best pieces of DLC ever released, and was also remastered for the PS5 in 2022, making it readily available today.
Adventure games were becoming rather popular at this time, as titles likeThe Walking Deadhad proven. But in 2015, developer Dontnod teamed up with Square Enix to create their own take in the form ofLife is Strange. This delightful coming-of-age story was able to mix science fiction with a grounded drama, as it chronicled the journey of a girl named Max Caufield after she gained the ability to alter time.
Set in a quiet town known as Arcadia Bay,Life is Strangeis a fascinating mystery about what happened to a girl named Rachel Amber and Max’s relationship with Chloe Price. Their dynamic is absolutely magnetic, as the game was praised forits fantastic LGBTQ+ representation, something that the series has maintained through multiple sequels. The combination of sharp writing, some fun puzzles, and a unique time-travel gameplay mechanic is still great fun to experience today, as it’s available via a fantastic remaster on every major platform.
