There really hasn’t ever been a bad era for PlayStation, but the PlayStation 3 was a particularly strong console. The PS3 gave us “Uncharted,” “The Last of Us,” and the modern version of the “God of War” series. That’s just the tip of a high-quality iceberg, but even the worst games on PS3 were bad multiplatform titles, not exclusives. The PS3 classics that hold up today are among the best video games ever made, but there are some lesser-known PS3 gamers that could help you ease your way into an early retirement.
When most of us imagine fortune-worthy video games, we picture classic titles that helped define the modern gaming industry. A “Pac-Man” cabinet straight from the arcade or a sealed copy of “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” are obvious collector’s items, but pricey PlayStation 3 games tend to belong to a different category entirely. The most expensive PS3 games tend to get their value from being rare. Small print runs or last minute cancellations can drive up a game’s price just as much as their cultural influence. These PS3 games might not have been on your radar back when they debuted, but all of them are worth a modest fortune today.
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn
Gamers all across the world have a massive appetite for giant robot battles, but “Gundam” has a particularly strong appeal in Japan. “Shin Gundam Musou” is the title of an excellent hack-and-slash RPG game released in Japan in 2013, and when that game came to North America, it was titled “Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn.” As the game’s title implies, when players dive into “Gundam Reborn” they’ll be met with the classic hack-and-slash action of the mainline “Dynasty Warrior” series combined with the characters and setting of the “Gundam” franchise. The gameplay is much more approachable than other mech-centric titles like the impeccable “Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon,” but the mechanical simplicity allows easy access to a mech power fantasy.
“Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn” debuted to mixed reviews and modest sales, but its reputation has grown over time. Today’s “Gundam” fans are willing to pay quite a lot to get a copy of the game, and because the game didn’t become a bestseller, leading to rarity, prices today are higher than ever. Used copies of the game sell for well over $200 online, and a new copy could be worth upwards of $300.
Painkiller: Hell & Damnation
“Painkiller: Hell & Damnation” is a strangely positioned game because it is both a remake of and sequel to 2004’s “Painkiller.” “Hell & Damnation” came to PC in 2012 and made its way to the PlayStation 3 the very next year. It includes the campaign, multiplayer, and DLC content from the original “Painkiller,” all presented with updated graphics thanks to the new Unreal Engine 3. The remake also boasts some additional features like a fully cooperative campaign mode and a wave-based PvE mode.
Aside from the graphical updates and bonus content, “Hell & Damnation” plays very much the same as the original “Painkiller.” Returning players who dive straight into the FPS action will notice that the campaign of “Hell & Damnation,” however, is quite different from the original game. The PS3 game acts more like a remix for the story, reworking levels and plot beats into a more streamlined overall experience.
“Hell & Damnation,” much like the game it remade, achieved modest success, but it was a far cry from being a generation-defining title. The game appealed to a niche fandom, but anyone who bought it in 2013 accidentally made a great investment. Gamers in the 2020s have spotted copies of “Hell & Damnation” listed for sale for more than $200. Online prices are better, but some copies of the game have been sold for $150 and up. You might not be able to retire off a single copy of “Hell & Damnation,” but it’s still one of the priciest PS3 games around today.
The Beatles: Rock Band
“Rock Band” is a beloved rhythm game franchise developed by Harmonix, the same company that worked on the first two “Guitar Hero” games with then-publisher RedOctane. Activision bought RedOctane and the rights to “Guitar Hero” after the second game and took the series to a new developer. Harmonix then went on to create “Rock Band” under the Activision banner, one of the few video game clones better than the original.
In 2009, the developer released “The Beatles: Rock Band.” That special edition of the game includes 45 songs guaranteed to give any gamer Beatlemania, new vocal harmony mechanics for singers, and a story mode that carries players through the history of The Beatles. The game launched alongside a set of special peripherals modeled after The Beatles’ own instruments, though it was also compatible with previously released “Rock Band” controllers.
“Rock Band” games, guitars, and drums are welcome additions to any gamer’s collection, but “The Beatles: Rock Band” has been particularly valuable over time. Standalone copies of the game are still valuable for collectors because of the special mechanics and licensed music that doesn’t exist in any other “Rock Band” title. A copy of the game that includes the special Beatles-themed controllers pushes this version of “Rock Band” from an expensive collectible to a prize piece that’s worth a fortune. Depending on how much of the total “The Beatles” package you have, and what condition the games and peripherals are in, selling your copy could net you anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to nearly $600.
BlazBlue: Central Fiction
Gamers fell in love with the 2D fighter genre during the height of the arcade era. Titles like “Mortal Kombat,” despite transitioning away from the beloved 2D presentation, get the lion’s share of attention, but there are other fighting games that collectors are willing to spend a fortune to acquire. The PlayStation 3 edition of “BlazBlue: Central Fiction” is one of those. Copies of the 2015 fighting game have sold for nearly $600.
“Central Fiction” follows the classic fighter formula, giving players an expansive roster of characters to choose from and a daunting list of combat combos to memorize. The game debuted to strongly positive reviews, and on Metacritic the PS4 and Nintendo Switch editions scored an 84 and 86, respectively.
Fans often question why the PS3 edition of “Central Fiction” commands such a high price. The game’s popularity is one factor, but that popularity also caused “Central Fiction” to be released on multiple other platforms. The game is easy to get, in general, but since it debuted right at the beginning of the PS4’s lifespan, there are hardly any PS3 copies in circulation. The rarity of that specific version of a widely-sold and much-loved game is the main reason why some collectors are willing to spend so much on it.
NBA Elite 11
The rarest PlayStation 3 game isn’t what you’d expect. “NBA Elite 11” is arguably the Holy Grail of PS3 game collections. If you’re thinking “Wait, wasn’t that a mobile game?” then you’re on the right track to understanding what makes this game so valuable. It’s true that “NBA Elite 11” debuted on iOS in 2010, and we’d be willing to bet the farm that’s the only version of the game our readers have played.
“NBA Elite 11” was originally developed for consoles, and it was slated to be released on the PS3 and Xbox 360 in late 2010. The game got delayed until 2011 by publisher EA, but at the last minute — the very last — it was canceled altogether. Physical copies of the game weren’t sent out to stores, but some discs were apparently pressed before the cancellation. Copies of “NBA Elite 11” have slowly leaked out into the gaming public since, and today they’re worth an actual fortune.
Prices for the unofficially released game vary, but at the least, “NBA Elite 11” is worth several thousand dollars. A copy on eBay reportedly sold for $12,000, and another went for a jaw-dropping $25,000 at auction. “NBA Elite 11” is the single-most valuable PS3 game ever created, even though it wasn’t really “created” in the same way any other game on the list was.
