The PlayStation 3 store is closing in 2027, and shortly after in 2028, PlayStation will cease production on physical game discs.
For Sony’s last-gen console, this effectively means that loads of digital-only games and DLC are in danger of becoming lost media.
Not only that, there’s a wide selection of classic games available depending on your region that you won’t find on the PlayStation 5, for now.
Below are 14 games that you should strongly consider adding to your digital collection. These are games that can be hard to come by nowadays, and when you do eventually find a copy, it’ll cost an absurd amount.
Mega-Man Legends 1 + 2
This is a tricky one, as unfortunately, these PlayStation 1 classics didn’t see a wide release throughout Europe.
Due to this those in America and other non-European countries will have no trouble adding this one to their libraries, but those in the United Kingdom or elsewhere will have to make an US-based account. Once you’ve done this, simply acquire a PlayStation gift card and use those funds to purchase the games.
Depending on where you live, you may have to jump through a few hoops, but it’ll be worth it in the end. The Mega-Man Legends games are seriously underrated and physical copies can set you back hundreds nowadays, so grabbing them cheap from the PlayStation 3 store is a no-brainer.
The alternative is waiting for Capcom to re-release them through another legacy collection.
Misadventures of Tron Bonne
Sticking with the Mega-Man theme here. Misadventures of Tron Bonne is a spin-off starring one of the game’s villains, Tron Bonne.
It plays roughly the same as the Mega-Man Legends games, but with some unique gameplay twists.
Also, like the Mega-Man Legends games this is an expensivetitle to own physically, so getting it digitally is actually a great deal. Again, those in European countries will need an American PlayStation account to access it.
Fatal Frame 1, 2, and 3
We’re getting spooky now. All three of these Fatal Frame games are worth checking, but again, you’ll need an American PlayStation account to grab them.
When you ask fans which one is best, they’ll likely say Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly, but don’t sleep on the other titles just because the second is everyone’s favourite.
The second game also received a remake, which launched earlier this year, and is the best version to play. For the other two, though, the PlayStation 3 store is your best bet until they get the remake treatment, too.
Silent Hill (1999)
Another horror classic that’s getting a remake soon is the first Silent Hill game.Silent Hill 2 is what popularised the series, but it would have never happened had the first game not been a success.
For the first time on this list, you can grab Silent Hill from anywherein the world, and it’s a must-have in any horror fan’s collection.
Physical copies for the PlayStation 1 can also cost an arm and a leg, so grabbing it for under $10 is a huge value for money.
READ NEXT:Console-exclusive Silent Hill game finally gets PC release 14 years later
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
There’s a bit of personal bias creeping into this next game. Here at GAMINGbible, we love the Persona series, and while we’re all excited for Persona 4: Revival later this year, we’re still waiting for Atlus West to go big or go home with remakes of the first two games.
While you’re waiting, you’ll find both titles on the PlayStation 3 store. They haven’t aged well, but they’re worth adding to your collection now when physical copies fetch such a high price.
We’d recommend grabbing Persona 2: Eternal Punishmenton your PlayStation 3, but the first game is probably worth picking up, too. Alternatively, the first game can be played pre-loaded on the PlayStation Classic console if you can find one of those on the cheap.
Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot: Warped
Now these three beloved platformers can all be played in modernised form thanks to Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy.
However, it’s always worth grabbing the originals for a walk down memory lane, exactly as they were released.
We’d suggest prioritising some of the rarer classics lurking on the PlayStation 3 store before adding these three to your collection, as physical copies nowadays don’t tend to cost thatmuch if you care about collecting. That said, this is the cheapest you’ll probably find them and we’re unlikely to see them re-released again.
Crash Team Racing
The remake of Crash Team Racing is solid, but many are still fond of the original and some even favour it to the modernised version.
Having it readily available on the PlayStation 3 store is a luxury you just don’t have on modern platforms, so this is definitely one to grab when you can.
Crazy Taxi
Another excellent racing game here, sort of. Crazy Taxi,for whatever reason, is not available on modern PlayStation consoles, which is frustrating because Xbox owners can access it through backwards compatibility if they bought it
It’s available on the PlayStation 3 store though and still holds up. There’s also a new game coming out soon, so the original is a great way to get some practice in, unless the Crazy Taxi: World Tour’s AI usage has put you off…
Disney’s Hercules
Another bit of personal bias is involved in this one. Disney’s Hercules is a surprisingly decent, gorgeously animated video game adaptation of the beloved film.
Prices for this one can seriously vary, as it can be surprisingly hard to find in the wild, especially in Europe, for some reason.
It’s easily accessible through the PlayStation 3 store though, and it costs less than a coffee, so we’d highly recommend you try it out if you love old-school Disney.
The above titles will still be available for all American PlayStation 3 owners. Those in Europe may have to create a new account to access them.
Take care when searching in the PlayStation 3 store, too. The user interface isn’t very good nowadays, so when looking for a game, you may need to type in its exact title to get it as a search result.
