10. Batman: Arkham City
Easily the finest superhero game ever made, Batman: Arkham City gives players the opportunity to become The Dark Knight in this epic open-world action-adventure. Facing off against the caped crusader’s most notorious enemies, this richly-detailed beat-‘em-up shows what the PS3 was capable of – and is truly packed with content. Have you found all 400 of the in-game collectables? I thought not. Happy hunting!
9. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Despite 5 games in the franchise and counting, it is the Uncharted saga’s first sequel, Among Thieves, that deserves the most praise. Playing like a Hollywood action-adventure, the game features some of the most exciting and explosive sequences in the genre’s history – despite multiple attempts, developer Naughty Dog could never match the excitement of Among Thieves’ iconic train segment. An unforgettable moment in gaming that still thrills today.
8. Mass Effect II
Benefitting from smoother gameplay and a deeper narrative than its predecessor, Mass Effect II’s improved Morality meter meant that decisions in the game’s choice-based play were not taken lightly and led to drastically different conclusions and interactions. This epic space drama stills holds up as one of the finest examples of make-your-own-adventure gameplay and truly feels like it is uniquely developing around the player.
7. God of War III
From stunning visuals to incredible boss battles, God of War III delivers one of the PS3’s most unforgettable experiences. Bringing the original trilogy to a gory close, this threequel expands the scope of the series’ mythology and quickly piles up the bodies in one of the most violent action-adventures in gaming. God of War III is a bloody masterpiece. Just be warned – you will get red on you.
6. BioShock
One of the most atmospheric and haunting survival horrors ever made, this role-playing action-adventure mixes science-fiction, drama and action into one of the most remarkable games ever made. Revisiting the underwater city of Rapture today is still just as chilling and exciting as ever, and holds up as one of the finest games of its generation. Choose something different, choose the impossible, choose…Rapture.
5. Fallout: New Vegas
Role-playing masterpiece Fallout: New Vegas expands on the winning formula of Fallout 3 with a staggeringly expansive wasteland packed to the brim with wide-ranging quests. The amazingly detailed level, XP and reputation system combined with the game’s thoroughly remarkable choice-based structure create one of the most rewarding and endlessly replayable RPG epics.
4. Red Dead Redemption
Rockstar’s 2010 classic gave everyone the chance to live the life of a cowboy in a lawless, violent and surprisingly sprawling old West. Packed with the beloved developer’s trademark cinematic narrative structure, richly-detailed open world and engrossing story mode, Red Dead Redemption transported the gamer into a world that had never been so brilliantly explored before on consoles. Get those six-shooters ready. Yee-haw!
3. The Last of Us
Opening with one of the most heart-breaking moments in modern gaming, The Last of Us is an expectation-subverting epic of survival horror with two of the most developed characters you will ever have the pleasure of spending time with. Packed with blood-curdling horror, thrilling action and powerful drama, The Last of Us is one of gaming’s most engrossing and unforgettable adventures.
2. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Fus-ro-dah! It simply isn’t a gaming best-of list without keeping one of the top spot’s for Skyrim, and for good reason. This fantasy epic – now available in everything from VR to handheld – is at its best when played on a good old fashioned home console, and the PS3 edition still has a whole lot to give. The living, breathing world of Tamriel pushed the PS3 to its limit and still looks, feels and plays as good as ever.
1. Grand Theft Auto V
One of the finest games ever made, Grand Theft Auto V holds up ridiculously well even on its earlier iteration on the PS3. With an unprecedented scale and cinematic structure beyond what had ever been seen on home consoles, GTA V cemented Rockstar as gaming’s mightiest developer. The third highest-selling title in the history of gaming, GTA V will almost certainly never be topped in the open-world genre.