Five years ago, PlayStation threatened to shut down the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita digital storefronts, and backtracked after the negative response. Now, they're back to do it again, as the PS3 and Vita stores are closing as soon as August. Bad news for all the digital-only games out there, but it will also have a knock on effect on physical games as well.
That's because a bunch of cheap games available for download only had limited print runs. DLC, for instance, is rarely available on disc – so many PS3 games may now feel incomplete to play if you only have the base game on disc. Likewise, stone cold retro classics available for the price of a coffee or two to download are already fairly expensive in collector's markets. With legitimate cheaper options axed (some are streamable, which is an imperfect solution for many), these are sure to only rise.
While you can, these are the best physical games to poach while you still can, before prices begin to spiral too far out of control.
9. Grand Theft Auto 4: The Complete Edition
Format: PS3
Developer: Rockstar North
Physical price: Approx. $30
Surely a bestseller like GTA 4 will always be easy to find on PlayStation? Its DLC might not be. Episodes From Liberty City remains Rockstar's only true foray into expanding a game's narrative post-launch. Both The Lost And Damned and The Ballad Of Gay Tony are on disc here. The Complete Edition can be harder to find than the original edition. If you do find it, the price isn't too bad just yet, but when it gets digitally hijacked, the Liberty City saga will be locked behind bars. Red Dead Redemption's complete package faces a similar situation, but is easier to track down.
8. Ratchet & Clank Collection
This feature first appeared in PLAY Magazine, with adjustments made by the original writer to check updated prices and availability.
Format: PS3, PS Vita
Developer: Insomniac Games, Idol Minds
Physical price: Approx. $55
This PlayStation mascot duo's original three adventures hold a special place in the hearts of many. Packed with creativity and worlds to explore, the jumping and shooting are still solid. In a lot of ways, these games are more focussed than the PS3 entries in the series. With Rift Apart a fantastic entry on PS5, interest in the pair's early outings is rising. There's never been a better time to get into the series, and these HD ports are the best way to do it. These PS3 versions are streamable on PS4/5, but, to me, they struggle to capture the responsive feeling of the originals in this form. The trilogy is starting to become hard to find.
7. Drakengard 3
Format: PS3
Developer: Access Games
Physical price: Approx. $65
Yoko Taro's debut PS3 game, Drakengard brought the hack-and-slash dragon series to HD (and pushed itself a little too hard as the framerate could get dicey). Since Nier: Automata's release, interest in Taro's earlier work has risen, and Drakengard 3's had a particular boost because one of the bonus endings is the catalyst for Nier's world (and it's a prequel to the other two games, so no reading up needed). Only released digitally in Europe, many North American copies have been available in the UK for some time as an importers' favourite, which does mean there's some competition for fewer existing copies. Over the last few years, this has almost doubled in average price. Now's the time to snag a copy.
6. Silent Hill
Format: PS1
Developer: Konami, Team Silent
Physical price: Approx. $150 ($50 in Japanese)
Honestly, the prices for the original Silent Hill are shocking, having on average more than doubled over the last few years. Just as shocking is the fact this still hasn't been re-released anywhere except on the digital PS3/Vita stores. Even if a remake arrives, if it's anything like Silent Hill 2 remake, it'll be different enough that this original will still be worth playing – and it sure is worth playing. Dripping atmosphere, this remains super creepy, and a definitive PS1 release. I worry you may have already missed the boat on this one in English across NTSC and PAL. JP, however is viable, though with PS1 being region locked you'll need the means to play it – but text in this one is pretty minimal.
5. Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection: Classics HD
Format: PS3
Developer: Sony Japan Studio, Team Ico, Bluepoint Games
Physical price: Approx. $15
The latter half of this collection might have received a remake, but Ico hasn't. A puzzle platformer in which you must escape a castle with a mysterious also-imprisoned girl, it's captivating, and Bluepoint's HD port emphasises the eerie visuals. It deserves a slot in your library, and is currently pretty cheap. The problem? There's not always a lot of stock available. Though, the more readily available EU copies could help you track this down. Once digital is no longer a way to experience this masterpiece, these prices could increase.
4. Persona 4 Golden
Format: PS Vita
Developer: Atlus
Physical price: Approx. $25
Since the third game in the series was released Persona has gained in popularity, but Persona 4 is the instalment that really brought in the crowds. With a small-town murder mystery vibe (people are being found hanging from TV aerials), it combines a captivating whodunnit with an unforgettable cast of teens, all with their own problems. Golden improved on the PS2 version with extra material, and made what is easily an 80-hour adventure portable. Dirt-cheap digitally, the physical edition is already spiking in price, and you can only expect the JRPG behemoth to become harder to find when digital's off the table. Sure, this is also available on Nintendo Switch, but I still prefer it on the sleeker, smaller PS Vita for taking on the go. It'll be a real shame for that option to be off the table for many.
3. Dragon Age: Origins – Ultimate Edition
Format: PS3
Developer: Bioware
Physical price: Approx. $20
We'd advise you get this one physically even if the digital store weren't closing down. Released before the standardisation of season passes, the individual components of the complete Dragon Age: Origins stack up price-wise. But soon this disc version will be the only way to see everything on PlayStation, Awakening included. Awakening is a standout piece of DLC that adds a lot to the first game's story, setting up things for later in the series. It'd be a shame to play the RPG without it, which is why adding everything to your shelf in one package is a great way to go.
2. Fatal Frame
Format: PS2
Developer: Tecmo
Physical price: Approx. $80
Armed with nothing but a camera, you have to take photos of ghosts to survive in these chilling PS2 horror games that are all about exploring creepy Japanese locations – an abandoned mansion in the first game, and a whole lost village in the second. The original three games in the series have become cult classics for a reason, but the fact they were cheaply available via the PlayStation store made them easy to pick up and play. This all changes soon, so horror aficionados would do well to bolster their PS2 pickups with this set before they balloon even more in price.
1. God Of War Origins Collection
Format: PS3
Developer: Ready at Dawn, Santa Monica Studio
Physical price: Approx. $35
This collection brings together both PSP games (Chains Of Olympus – the highest rated PSP game on Metacritic – and Ghost Of Sparta). These spin-offs are surprisingly great Kratoscapades in their own right. Any wrinkles were ironed out in the HD port to PS3, and while the games still feel like they were made for handheld, seeing the action on the big screen from your sofa is just fabulous. You don't want to skip them. Because it's a bit more obscure, this can be a little tougher to find than the other PS3 God Of War outings, but it's worth it.
Unsure what to snag for these older systems? Check out our best PS3 games, best PSP games, and best PS Vita games lists for the top tier selection of each catalog.
