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That’s what we’re here to discuss. We’re looking through the run of the PlayStation 3 as one of the most successful video game platforms of all time and finding some real hidden gems on the system. The games that most people overlooked even though they were good, for one reason or another.
Updated January 24, 2023, by Michael Llewellyn: Even with the PS5 becoming more readily available, the PS3 is still a machine worth dusting off and playing again. Along with the Xbox 360, the PS3 was the first HD gaming console that featured blockbuster titles that rivaled Hollywood movies in terms of sales and reviews. However, not every game achieved mainstream success at launch. As a result, the system has a range of hidden gems worth playing. This list is updated to include more overlooked games on the PS3.
18 Enchanted Arms
Enchanted Arms is a surprisingly traditional JRPG from the makers of Elden Ring and Dark Souls. The multiplatform title launched so early on the PS3s that it doesn’t have trophies. While not as groundbreaking as the Souls series, Enchanted Arms is a turn-based JRPG that features a simplified grid-based system, not unlike Fire Emblem Engage.
Despite featuring some questionable stereotypes and voice acting that doesn’t hold up very well, Enchanted Arms’ story is surprisingly good. Moreover, there are hundreds of golems/fighters to recruit, and its mechanics are deep enough to keep JRPG fans coming back. Even though its Metacritic scores convey a below-average game, Enchanted Arms is an underrated PS3 JRPG worth another look.
17 Singularity
Raven Software is better known for its Call of Duty games, but one of its best titles, Singularity, was criminally overlooked on the PS3. With titles like BioShock and Deus Ex paving the way for narratively driven FPS games, Singularity is a time-bending science fiction game that deserves the same praise.
Where few games implement time travel cohesively and entertainingly, Singularity nails its complexities in one of the most rewarding first-person shooters on the PS3. It’s a title that deserves another look, and with the endless amount of remasters and reboots hitting the shelves, Singularity deserves another shot at success on modern consoles.
16 Dark Sector
Dark Sector is a horror action game that borrows heavily from Gears of War and Resident Evil 4. The dark tones and atmosphere are typical of the genre during the PS3 era, but the visuals and combat hold up surprisingly well.
Where Dark Sector shines is its use of the unique Glaive weapon, a throwing weapon capable of taking out enemies in multiple ways and puzzle-solving. It’s inspired by Krull, the classic swords and sorcery from the 80s starring Liam Neeson and Robbie Coltrane in early roles.
15 Nier
Nier is an action RPG that became a cult hit with fans of the genre. Many critics wrote it off as a God of War clone, but it was a different and unique RPG. Thankfully, it was succeeded by the incredible Nier: Automata on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC.
The gameplay is a little janky as it features elements from different genres. However, Nier was far better than the sum of its parts and still has one of the best stories in the genre. A remaster based on the Japanese version features a younger protagonist. However, fans may still prefer the older barbarian-type character making the first title worth playing after all these years.
14 Resonance Of Fate
Launched in 2010, Resonance of Fate was somewhat overshadowed by the highly anticipated release of Final Fantasy 13. This is unfortunate because Resonance of Fate remains one of the standout JRPGs on the system.
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It features a Steampunk world setting and outstanding voice work from Nolan North, Scott Menville, and Jim Ward. Resonance of Fate was developed by tri-Ace, the same team that created the Star Ocean series, and it employs a similar combat system. In Resonance, however, the game utilized Matrix-style gunplay that looked very cool in motion.
13 Binary Domain
Developed by the same team that created the Yakuza series, Binary Domain is a third-person action game where split-second decisions and choices ultimately decide the outcome. It was a severely overlooked shooter that implemented unique gameplay mechanics and employed a surprisingly deep storyline.
The science fiction setting of Binary Domain resembles the Cyberpunk genre, with brand-new cities built upon the ruins of a world destroyed by global warming and floods. Binary Domain features fantastic set pieces, an excellent cast of characters, and an exceptional plot that deserved more attention at the time.
12 Alpha Protocol
Developed by RPG specialists Obsidian Entertainment, Alpha Protocol was a game plagued by certain time constraints and budgeting issues. Yet despite feeling unpolished in many areas, it remains one the best spy and espionage games ever developed.
Alpha Protocol features a dialogue wheel and choice-based gameplay that influence the kind of spy the player wants the protagonist to be. Whether playing as a suave James Bond type or a more brutal Jason Bourne type, there is a lot of replay value and fun to be had in this unique spy RPG.
11 Valkyria Chronicles
Despite getting several sequels, remasters, spin-offs, and critical acclaim, the Valkyria Chronicles series are still one of the most overlooked tactical RPGs across two generations. The first entry was released on the PlayStation 3 to very little fanfare outside Japan.
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The game is set in an alternate World War 2, but despite this, it tells a more believable and emotional story than other games set in the era. The characters are fantastic, and the gameplay manages to keep the excitement and the tension at an all-time high making sure players are fully invested from start to finish.
10 Bulletstorm
Not all games that are well-received by critics are commercial successes. That was, unfortunately, the case with Bulletstorm. First-person shooters were all the rage around that time, but that proved to be an issue for Bulletstorm. It was a market filled with similar games, and this got overlooked.
The action title has familiar mechanics to fans of the genre but has enough style to appeal to fans. It is chock full of crude humor. That was evident in the profanity, abundance of violence, and creative kills. Bulletstorm got positive reviews, yet a lot of its style was met with controversy.
9 Dragon’s Crown
Merging RPG mechanics with the side-scrolling beat-em-up genre, Dragon’s Crown blends incredible visuals with a moreish gameplay loop that keeps players coming back. Some character designs are hand-drawn with HD sprites that hold up today on modern consoles.
This 2013 title allowed players to work in groups of four as they traveled through dangerous locations like labyrinths and dungeons. They could seek out fortune and engage in battle against dangerous enemies. It is a game that mixes role-playing elements with a side-scrolling beat em up.
8 Spec Ops: The Line
Similar to Bulletstorm, this third-person shooter got overlooked in a crowded field. Call of Duty and Battlefield are the titles that come to mind in the military shooter genre. However, Spec Ops: The Line is one of the best shooters in a generation.
The biggest knock on this game was a lack of innovation. It still delivered intense gameplay elements, an interesting plot where the protagonist experiences hallucinations, and some impressive graphics. Spec Ops: The Line racked up accolades like best Narrative and Cinematography.
7 ModNation Racers
Go-kart-style racing games like Mario Kart, Sonic Racing, and Crash Bandicoot Racing are better known to fans. But every once in a while, something comes along that can compete with those powerhouses. ModNation Racers did just that.
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Launched in 2010, ModNation Racers was unique, sharing a similar concept to LittleBigPlanet. It allowed players to create, modify, and share their created content with everyone else engaged in the game. The solo play and the online multiplayer were praised by pretty much everyone who tried it.
6 The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
The Legends of Heroes franchise has always flown under the radar compared to hits like Final Fantasy, but the long-running series has gained a more considerable fan base in recent years. The first installment arrived way back in 1989. However, The Legends of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is part of the larger Trails subseries along with Trails from Zero and Trails in the Sky.
Hitting shelves in 2013 in Japan and 2015 in North America, this game has a deep plot with themes of segregation, social classes, war, and a coming-of-age drama set in a school. It received widespread acclaim and was up for several Game of the Year Awards.
5 Castle Crashers
Until Streets of Rage 4, the classic genre, beat-em-ups were among those most often overlooked. Castle Crashers ranks near the top of the most enjoyable games within that genre. Arriving for the PS3 in 2010, it features improvements to the original Xbox 360 release.
Castle Crashers is set in medieval times in a universe where an evil wizard kidnaps four princesses and holds them captive. Taking control of Four knights, players are tasked with rescuing the princess and retrieving a stolen mystical gem. It all sets the stage for a great time. A remastered version was recently released for current-gen systems.
4 Fat Princess
The PlayStation Network is a great place to discover hidden gems. Fat Princess is just the kind of game to be found on the demand service. Despite critical acclaim, the game is not a big-budget mainstream title, but those who played it understood how great it was.
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Fat Princess was launched in 2009 and was a real-time strategy game. Players take part in chaotic 16-on-16 team battles in games like Catch the Flag, soccer, or things that are a bit more violent. It remains one of the most fun games available on the PlayStation Network.
3 Enslaved: Odyssey to the West
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is a 2010 adventure game loosely adapted from the novel Journey to the West. Over a century has passed since a global war put the world in a post-apocalyptic state. A few humans remain as well as some violent machines from the war. With the makers of another hidden gem, Heavenly Sword, behind this, no wonder it fits in that category.
Conceived as a CGI movie, the stunning graphics are not that surprising. Unfortunately, sales were poor, killing any chance of a sequel. Even with those poor sales, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West was nominated for several awards like Adventure Game of the Year, and it took home Best Game at the UK Writers Guild Awards.
2 The Unfinished Swan
Despite being a niche title, The Unfinished Swan is one of the best indie games for the PlayStation 3. Released in 2012 and developed by Giant Sparrow, The Unfinished Swan told an engaging story that remains unique to this day.
Following the death of his mother, a young boy keeps one of her 300 unfinished paintings - a swan missing its neck. He is drawn into a mysterious painted world where the game takes place. Called a visual masterpiece by fans, Unfinished Swan is a title not to be missed on the PS3.
1 Tokyo Jungle
Traditionally, the games that get overlooked and become hidden gems are the ones that are high concept. They feature gameplay elements and ideas that are seemingly unusual. Tokyo Jungle is a 2012 survival action game that sees the massive Japanese city turned into a wildlife wasteland.
Humans have been extinct for a decade, and the animals are left to fend for themselves and run things. Instead of a typical protagonist, players take on the role of various animals, including a tiger and a pomeranian.
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