Best PS3 games

The PS3 had a bit of a slow start, with not enough high-profile titles to justify it as a must-own system. The intervening years have changed its status dramatically, and 2011 proved to be PS3’s pinnacle of exclusives and awesome blockbusters. The PS3 now stands proudly amongst the competition with its venerable series such as Uncharted, Killzone, Infamous, and Resistance. If you’re unsure of what games you absolutely must have for your PS3, we have the definitive top ten titles, and be sure to check back in the future as this living list will update as new contenders coming along to challenge the greats.

1 - Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Uncharted 3 is the PS3’s premier action title. It has slick, relentless combat, fun and imaginative puzzles, absolutely beautiful visuals, and impressive multiplayer. It’s full of nearly nonstop big cliffhanger set-pieces amongst amazingly detailed environments, from bright Yemeni markets to vast underground dungeons filled with ancient machinery and cool optical illusions. Nathan Drake and his cronies are some of gaming’s most likeable heroes, proving that Hollywood doesn’t have a monopoly on blockbuster excitement in a story-driven medium.

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2 - Portal 2

Portal 2 is the successor to our choice for the best game ever, and it nabbed our award for the game of the year 2011 because it improves on the original in many ways, sporting a bigger campaign, even more colorful characters, and some amazing co-op. We can’t explain all that makes Portal 2 unforgettable, as we’d have to give away spoilers that might ruin that experience. If you haven’t played it yet, forget about the rest of this list and go do so immediately.

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3 - Batman: Arkham City

Is it even possible to improve on the greatest comic book game of all time? Developer Rocksteady didn’t flinch at their task and simply piled on heroes, villains, powers and a staggeringly epic setting, and then beautifully connected those elements with writing that matches or betters most comic books, movies and TV shows about the Dark Knight. If you love Batman, this is your dream game. Even if you don’t love Batman, prepare to swoon.

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4 - Killzone 3

A hugely entertaining game, Killzone 3 is the showpiece PS3 first-person shooter, with some of the most gorgeous visuals you’ll see on any console. It has some of the smoothest, sweetest shooting mechanics around, and it adds co-op to its already considerable single-player campaign, while expanding on its multiplayer, making it potentially the only competitive shooter you need on PS3. Throw in bells and whistles like Move and 3D support and you have a top-tier action game any PS3 owner would be proud to have in his or her library.

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5 - Infamous 2

The original Infamous was a good PS3 exclusive, but it had a few shortcomings that kept it from greatness. Infamous 2 is inarguably great, expanding on the first game’s array of electricity-based powers to let the player feel like a true superhero, this time grinding and gliding around a fictional version of New Orleans, which provides a varied environment with plenty of character. This sequel also features amazing bosses and epic missions, and to top it off it comes with a mission creator so players can make and share endless content. Infamous 2 is a great way to show friends why owning a PS3 is worth it.

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6 - Deus Ex: Human Revolution

More than a decade ago, Deus Ex flat-out changed the face of gaming with its enormous variety of gameplay styles. After a long wait, this latest entry in the series manages to match those impossibly high standards. Human Revolution is a brilliant, challenging, Blade Runner-esque vision of the future, with customizable gameplay that somehow manages to qualify as both 100% shooter and 100% stealth. It’s up to you to decide which game you want to play.

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7 - Resistance 3

Resistance 3, part of PS3’s other premiere shooter series, succeeds at striking the difficult balance of presenting a terrifying enemy while also making you feel like super-Rambo with its incredibly creative sci-fi weaponry. Its pitch-perfect campaign has frantic action, moments of quiet fear, and sprawling, imaginative environments. Immense excitement is always around the corner, and when you’re done saving the world you can dive into its deep, satisfying multiplayer.

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8 - Dark Souls

Dark Souls is unique – an utterly modern action/RPG with old-school mechanics and a philosophy that spits in the face of every modern gaming convention. The punishing difficulty and complete lack of hand-holding hark back to an era when games didn’t fall over four you and beating them was a coveted reward. At the same time, it has an amazing world that continuously stupefies and delights when explored. Dark Souls is undoubtedly one of the year's best; don’t be afraid to give it a whirl, as there’s nothing out there like it.

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9 - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

This is not a shooter that breaks the mold. Yet Modern Warfare 3 succeeds by expanding massively on what’s always worked so well for the series. The single-player is still an unashamed ridiculous roller-coaster ride through over-the-top setpieces across the globe. The multiplayer has enough new modes and features to keep you so busy that you may not need any other games for a long, long time. It’s impossible to get enough of it.

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10 - LittleBigPlanet 2

Realizing what LittleBigPlanet 2 is capable of is like staring into the deep end of a pool from a high-dive: there’s immense depth, getting there is intimidating. LBP2’s level-creation tools make the original look antiquated, introducing complex logic circuits, gameplay-altering avatars, and even the ability to create and direct your own cutscenes. LittleBigPlanet 2 is the ultimate celebration of player-created content, and anyone looking to bring out their inner game designer has everything they’ll need to show the world what they’re capable of.

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