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Instead of a linear narrative, some games are written in the shape of an upside-down tree where you can only get a certain ending if you make a certain choice. Some writing is still linear, though, and still remains powerful. There are memorable twists, characters, and places. Despite the PS4 and PS5 being out, there are still reasons to keep the PS3. The console has a lot of games known for their fantastic stories.
Updated March 12, 2022 by Allison Stalberg: With more households getting their hands on PS5s and more games coming out for the console, the PS3 is becoming more and more dated. However, that does not mean players are throwing their PS3s in the garbage. The console still plays some of the best games out there. In fact, a lot of these games were so loved for their stories, many of them have gotten remakes and remasters for the PS4 and PS5. This list has been expanded to include even more PS3 games beloved for their stories.
20 Mass Effect 2
Most gamers will tell you that Mass Effect 2 is a must-play game. Everything about it was good, but the story was amazing. Good writing is typically where Bioware excels the most. The characters are all memorable, and you have the exciting role of their commander. The main villains are pretty interesting and are hard to forget, as well.
As a science fiction story, this game is amazing. It is no wonder that it also has its own comics and books. The alien races and their cultures are particularly well thought out and fascinating.
19 Telltale’s Walking Dead
Telltale has made some amazing story-based games. The Walking Dead was their crown jewel in terms of characters, story, and motivation. They keep even truer to the comics than the TV show, and you see some familiar faces like Glenn and Jesus, but the story truly revolves around some awesome original characters.
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The story initially focuses on Lee, who protects a little girl named Clementine through the zombie apocalypse. Also, be prepared to cry a waterfall at various points in this series. True to The Walking Dead franchise, this game is merciless to its characters.
18 Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch
Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch is a JRPG that combines some of the mechanics of Pokemon with a style and story that resonates with Studio Ghibli masterpieces (the animated scenes were actually made by Studio Ghibli). The story is about a little boy on a journey to save his mother in a magical world.
In terms of story genre, it is certainly a coming-of-age tale. The game won numerous awards such as Excellence in Animation, Best Sound, and Best RPG. The game is more famous for its art design than story, but that is because some adult players prefer grittier stories with more unpredictability. The story is one of the best, especially for those looking for something more innocent while still being poignant.
17 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots
Like the Kingdom Hearts series, the Metal Gear franchise’s overarching plot is hard to wrap your mind around. It feels like a military shooter game, but there are clones, a vampire, cyborgs, and ridiculous and over-the-top antics.
However, fans still love the story. Sometimes they don’t understand what is even happening—especially if they never played a Metal Gear game before—but the characters just feel real, and players feel for them and their battles. A ton of love went into Guns of the Patriots, and the story had very memorable fights and dialogue between the characters.
16 Nier
Before Nier: Automata stole the show, regular Nier existed for the PlayStation 3. Players take the role of a grizzled father who seeks to find a cure for his daughter’s magical illness. (Though in the Japanese version, they play her brother.)
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Like Automata, the story is very tragic and full of unfortunate twists for the main protagonist. The characters are memorable, and, if you liked Automata, then it would benefit you to know that Emil’s backstory is in this game. Luckily, due to Automata’s popularity, this game is getting a remake.
15 Spec Ops: The Line
Released in 2012, this third-person shooter game is a great story about the horrors of war and was inspired by famous pieces of media such as Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness. While the game was a commercial failure, it has been nominated for awards for its story, has overall positive reviews, and has a well-deserved cult following.
The story challenges morals and has four possible endings. The narrative design had a lot of work put into it, as the writers wanted a representation of the psychological tolls of war that most other war games do not represent well.
14 Shadow Of The Colossus
There is little to say about Shadow of the Colossus that has not been said already. It has gotten remade and remastered constantly due to its beautiful story. In an argument as to whether video games can count as art, many hold up this title.
The original Shadow of the Colossus was actually on the PS2 but was remade for the PS3 and PS4 (and likely will be for the PS5). The quiet story focuses on a young man trying to bring a dead woman back to life. To do it though, he has to defeat enormous colossi that roam the land.
13 The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Of Cold Steel
Published in English in 2015, Trails of Cold Steel is an RPG and part of The Legend of Heroes series. A port for Nintendo Switch was just released last year due to the games’ popularity. Reviews claimed it is a JRPG that “bypasses anime cliches in favor of real depth” in its story which gets into class conflict and politics.
Despite being part of a series, playing the other games in the series is not required to understand and enjoy Trails of Cold Steel. In fact, many gamers claim it is a good entry point to the series.
12 Life Is Strange
Life is Strange is a very atmospheric choice-based game. You play as a photography student, Max, who mysteriously gets the ability to time travel. She uses her powers through various challenges, from little things such as getting someone’s name right to saving the life of her friend. The game was well-loved due to its interesting characters, choices, and story.
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It is a story that lets players enjoy the little things like just sitting on a bench while the protagonist monologues to herself. However, that does not mean there is not a lot of thrill in the plot either.
11 Batman: Arkham Asylum
Released in 2009, Batman: Arkham Asylum is an action-adventure game that made itself quite a legacy with near-perfect review scores from publications like Eurogamer and IGN. Many consider it to be the best superhero game of all time, with a compelling story, great visuals, and well-done voice acting.
The game contains all the best parts of Batman, showing not only him taking on big villains with only fists and gadgets, but also his deduction skills and fancy analytic technology as he solves mysteries around the island.
10 Fallout: New Vegas
Being known as a sandbox game, fans do not typically keep their hopes too high for Fallout’s story content. New Vegas was a huge surprise. The factions were rich in lore and characters, the DLC had some of the best writing, and there were plenty of small touches to make the world feel alive. In terms of endings, players also had a lot of freedom in choosing the fate of the various factions introduced.
To this day, New Vegasis a title that stands out among Fallout fans. Many even prefer it to Fallout 4.
9 Okami
The PS3 version of Okami is a remaster, as it actually first appeared for the PS2 and Wii. However, it deserves a spot on this list. The story is perfect for anyone who loves Japanese culture and/or takes an interest in Shinto mythology. There is a lot to love about the game, but let’s just talk about its story.
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You play the sun goddess, Amaterasu, in the form of a white wolf. A lot of evil has spread around Japan, and it is your job to cast it out. In your wolf form, you travel to various towns, villages, and forests and help the locals (both human and animal). The game is so loved, it also got a remaster for the PlayStation 4.
8 Yakuza 0
Yakuza 0 is the game known to have made the series popular with western audiences. Before it came along, the Yakuza series was more obscure. It got near-perfect reviews from places like GameSpot and Game Informer. Many reviews mentioned that the games’ greatest strength was its storytelling.
Many consider this title to be the most tightly-plotted and polished story in the series. Its pacing is very well done, knowing when to use what faces and when to introduce a new or old element to keep the story interesting.
7 Dragon Age Origins
The Dragon Age series has one of the strongest fantasy stories and characters of the gaming world. It is not a sandbox game like the Elder Scrolls series, which allows it to be far more plot and character-centered. Like Mass Effect, the races and cultures are fascinating. However, unlike Mass Effect, Dragon Age Origins allows you to choose the race you are and get your own origin story.
The writing in this is spectacular, from the dialogue to the magic, to the witty background banter.
6 Persona 5
Persona 5 is available on both the PS3 and PS4, though the Royal version is only on the PS4. The Royal version is the same game but with lots more content, so most fans have moved onto that version. However, it cannot be denied that Persona 5 was a PS3 game with a great story.
The narrative is all about rebellious underdogs thrown into a paranormal plot. The characters are easy to root for, and the game encourages getting to know them better by spending free time with them.
5 The Wolf Among Us
The Wolf Among Us is another one of Telltales’ best games. Like many of their creations, it was based on a comic. Even if you have not read or heard of the Fables comic series, the story for this game is still easy to follow and very enjoyable. It is mostly easy to understand because a part of you already knows the characters since they are all from fairytales.
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You also get to play as the coolest of the characters, Bigby (the Big Bad Wolf), who acts as sheriff and looks into fable-related cases.
4 Bioshock Infinite
The Bioshock series is so loved by gamers because the stories are known for their memorable twists, settings, and characters. Bioshock Infinite definitely delivered on that front. Critics called it a masterful act of storytelling.
You play as a man named Booker who goes to the floating city of Columbia to rescue a young woman, Elizabeth. The story was written with a lot of room for players to draw their own conclusions. The DLC is highly recommended, as it adds a lot to the story. Also, be prepared for mind-bending twists.
3 The Last Of Us
While available on the PS4 and rumored to be getting a PS5 remake, the original Last of Us was released in 2013 on the PS3. The story follows a father named Joel in post-apocalyptic North America. It is a zombie outbreak, though it has the creative twist of being fungus-based.
The critical response to this game was enormous. Critics gave it 10 out of 10s and it became an emotional favorite for many gamers. What players typically think about first forThe Last of Us is the story, though the gameplay is also stellar.
2 Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 were big games for the PS3 in terms of story. Mass Effect 3 dealt out a conclusion to the Reaper and Shepard story. The ending was controversial for a while until BioWare released free DLC that gave the ending a little more love.
The story got much darker, in a good way, and stirred a lot of emotions for players. The story only got even better with DLCs such as the Citadel, Omega, and Leviathan. The controversy about its ending has faded and fans have loved replaying it in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition.
1 Dishonored
Dishonored is a game that did not have to add a lot of detail to the world it took place in, but it did. The mixture of technology and magic makes the world very interesting. You play an empress bodyguard, Corvo. At the beginning of the game, though, he turns from bodyguard to assassin and takes vengeance on a group of people who ended the empress’s life.
You are provided with different methods of getting rid of your enemies, and what you choose influences the story and future missions. Critics have said that the story leaves you wanting more and allows for a lot of replayability.
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