5 Classic PS3 Games That Still Hold Up Today

The PlayStation 3 led the charge for home console gaming to enter the high-definition era, boasting some of the strongest technical capabilities of its generation. Sony classics were completely revamped on the PS3 while new franchises got their start on the console. As wild as it sounds, 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the PS3, and many of its top titles are still a blast to play. Keeping that in mind, we’re highlighting the PS3 games that are still well worth revisiting all these years later.

Some of these titles are near-perfect PS3 games while others are indie darlings released for the console. These games showcase what the PS3 was capable of, but also stand the test of time in their own individual ways. Even with several of these titles remastered or remade for more advanced platforms, there is still an undeniable charm to the original release. Here are five classic PS3 games that still hold up today, each retaining their overall fun factor

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

The “Metal Gear” series was revived with its “Solid” moniker on PlayStation consoles, an association that continued through the PlayStation 3 era. 2008’s “Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots” follows a rapidly aging Solid Snake as he takes on one last mission to assassinate his old enemy, Liquid Ocelot. This takes Snake around the world where he encounters plenty of familiar faces ahead of his final showdown. The gameplay retains the series’ signature stealth action, now unfolding in dusty warzones as well as shadowy abandoned military sites, with plenty of memorable boss battles to pick apart.

“Metal Gear Solid 4” is the most cinematic entry in the series but brings plenty of refined tactical espionage action to keep fans invested. The game showcases Hideo Kojima’s knack for predicting the future, but also staging a masterful action piece, including a grueling final confirmation between Snake and Ocelot. The game also hits the ground running, plunging Snake right in the middle of a raging Middle Eastern conflict. That’s only its prologue, and it’s all wonderfully uphill from there. A standout entry in the series, “Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots” is a fitting swan song for the franchise’s original protagonist.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Sony Interactive Entertainment

After Naughty Dog launched the “Uncharted” series in 2007, the franchise came back bigger and better for its sophomore entry, “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.” Released in 2009, the game has treasure hunter Nathan Drake drawn back in action by his old associates Harry Flynn and Chloe Frazer. Betrayed by Flynn, who has joined up with a Serbian war criminal, Nate and his friends rally to stop the villains from discovering the lost city of Shambhala. This leads Nate to not only learn the true and deadly mystery behind Shambhala but embark on an epic quest punctuated by plenty of high-octane set pieces.

“Uncharted 2: Among Thieves” is one of the best action-adventure video games of all time and it’s still a high point in the franchise. The third-person shooter feels much more intuitive than the preceding game, particularly with its cover system and platforming mechanics. The game also features some truly memorable action sequences, including Nate climbing up a train that’s dangling off a mountain years before “Mission: Impossible” did it. Arguably the best game in the series, or at least the moment when the franchise truly found itself, “Uncharted 2: Among Thieves” is still Naughty Dog’s masterpiece.

God of War III

Sony Interactive Entertainment

The first two “God of War” installments are among the best PS2 games of all time, setting a high bar for the inevitable follow-up. Fortunately, 2010’s “God of War III” exceeded expectations as it concludes Kratos’ vengeance against the Olympian gods as led by Zeus. Picking up from the ending of “God of War II,” Kratos leads an all-out assault on Mount Olympus only to be repelled by Zeus and abandoned by the Titans. Rising from the River Styx, Kratos vows to slay god and Titan alike as he resumes his vendetta, despite its visible consequences for Greece.

While “God of War II” was among the best looking games on the PS2, “God of War” showcases just how much more powerful the PS3 is. The 2010 title ups the fire and fury that the franchise is known for, somehow finding even more epic ways to capture the spectacle. This is done with seismically scaled boss fights and refined combat mechanics that feel as smooth as ever. The last title in the “God of War” timeline before its 2018 revival continued the story of Kratos, “God of War III” is superb from start to finish.

Journey (2012)

The PlayStation 3 was the first Sony home console to feature a digital game storefront, offering players the expected major studio titles but also plenty of indie gems. One of the best indie games published for the PlayStation 3 was the 2012 title “Journey,” developed by Thatgamecompany. A largely silent experience, players control a nameless hooded figure traversing a sun-baked desert towards a mountain on the horizon. Players soar through the air on gusts of wind and fluttering flags, with the game also offering two-person cooperative multiplayer.

“Journey” is one of the best indie games of all time, regardless of what its initial platform is. The entire game can be completed within several hours but there is something engrossing about the, well, journey, that keeps us coming back for more playthroughs. The game also looks fantastic, with its sand effects and level design timelessly rendered and still looking great over a decade later. A strong example of video games being their own art form, “Journey” is a meditative adventure worth playing through multiple times.

The Last of Us

Sony Interactive Entertainment

While “The Last of Us” did receive a remake in 2022 for the PlayStation 5, the original 2013 version still looks and plays fine. The start of Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic franchise, the game takes place in a world where a fungal infection turns those afflicted into monstrous, zombie-like monsters. Protagonist Joel Miller escorts teenager Ellie across the ruins of the United States while battling hostile survivors and hordes of infected. Through this bonding experience, Joel makes a fateful decision which may decide the fate of the world when he and Ellie reach their destination.

Over a decade later, “The Last of Us” is still one of the best post-apocalyptic video games around. The action is incredibly brutal and delivered with a clear sense of consequence while the story is cinematically presented. The game is genuinely tense and scary at times, too, especially whenever a player is moving in the dark trying to avoid detection from the infected. Yes, you can play “The Last of Us Part I” on the PS5 if you want, but the PS3 version holds up beautifully.