It might be hard to realize, but the 2010s started out with the seventh generation of consoles still in full swing, and it wasn’t until halfway through the decade that the new line of consoles took over. Due to this, we had some great games released for the PS3 in the first half of the 2010s.
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Now that the previous generation is well and truly over, and the 2020s will make it feel even more dated, let’s have what might be a final look at the best games we got for the PS3 in the last ten years. Since Metacritic is the premier aggregator, we’ve used the scores from the site to compile this list.
10The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) - 92
There have beenmore memes birthed out of this gamethan we can count, but take nothing away from the quality ofSkyrim, which was at the tip of every gamer’s tongue back in 2011. Sure, the “arrow to the knee” jokes were a major reason, but the game was in no way an average one.
Players got a kick out of the multitude of options available in this world, which was one of the largest people had seen at the time it had been released, and was a huge achievement for a seventh generation console. Considering the fact that there hasn’t been another direct follow-up since,Skyrimwas truly one for the ages.
9Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (2011) - 92
Although the third entry in theUnchartedseries was definitely the weakest of the bunch, it speaks volumes for the sheer quality of these games thatDrake’s Deceptionstill finds itself in the top-10 PS3 games of the decade.
To its credit, the game mainly suffered only becauseUncharted 2was so incredibly awesome that matching it was near impossible. Other than that, players got the trademark Drake experience where the globe trotting adventure never simmered down and we got puzzles and action galore.
8Mass Effect 3 (2012) - 93
Since the ending of a series is paramount to its legacy,Mass Effect 3isn’t completely fondly remembered due to the game having one of the most maligned endings in recent gaming history, although this would do the game injustice.
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After all, every department from the previous entry was seen to have been improved with its features, and the game didn’t have any striking problems either. With the multiplayer portion of the game given more focus than before, there was a larger audience in play than ever before for theMass Effectseries.
7Mass Effect 2 (2011) - 94
While some lingering problems seen in this installment were fixed in the follow-up, it’s almost impossible to improve upon the sentiment that is carried from a game that originally blows you away. This is whyMass Effect 2remains ahead of its immediate successor.
Although the game is more associated with the Xbox, its release on the PlayStation 3 did nothing to hinder its quality, and the introduction of the series on Sony’s console was welcomed by all parties. Making this entry better than the first was chiefly the fact that the third-person shooting aspect was given larger variety compared to the role-playing portion.
6Bioshock Infinite (2013) - 94
Despite everyBioshockgame landing spectacular reviews, the series hasn’t had another mainline entry sinceInfinite, which remained in gamers’ memory for delivering the same themes the story in the series brought, along with adding in a flair of its own.
As before, it’s the choices with one’s morality that really brings in the fun factor within the game, as players have to decide at numerous points whether they want to be a generic first-person shooter gamer, or tap into their compassionate side and let the story do the talking.
This was such a runaway success that we only got just the oneRed Dead Redemptiongame in the seventh generation of consoles. It took eight years for the sequel to arrive, although PS3 gamers had had their fill to their hearts’ content withRed Dead Redemptiondue to the enormous world in play.
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Thrusting the player in the American Frontier was simply an incredible take on the sandbox genre, as experiences one had never encountered in gaming before came aplenty. A map of this size was unparalleled for its time, and Rockstar’s signature style shined through.
4Portal 2 (2011) - 95
In what might be the biggest surprise seen in E3 history, we saw Gabe Newell, founder of Valve, appear in person and announce thatPortal 2on the PS3 would be the superior version of the game.
We now know that this claim wasn’t false, as the PS3 version even had a patch that enabled the Move to be used in conjunction with it. The game itself was one of the more engaging puzzle games seen in the genre, and the presence of several A-list celebrities lending their voices added to the quality of the product.
3The Last Of Us (2013) - 95
If you’re on the fence overwhich Naughty Dog game in the 2010s was the best for the PS3, then Metacritic might help you reach a consensus asThe Last of Uswas among the very best across all platforms.
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The winning formula had to do with the emotional storyline being implemented within its gameplay, as fans loved the chemistry between the main characters and the variation provided when having either Joel or Ellie show up as the playable character. There probably hasn’t been any other zombie game that has resonated with gamers as much as this one, andThe Last of Us’exclusive status brought in thousands of new buyers for the PS3.
2Batman: Arkham City (2011) - 96
It’s generally a surprise for people to learn thatBatman: Arkham Cityranks among the greatest games ever released, but it does make sense since the game didn’t have any flaws. With the prospect of exploring all of Arkham while playing as Batman being there, the game was an action-packed masterpiece.
The game also pulled out all the stops with its story and presentation, as the villains available all had a particular connection with Batman. The detective aspect of being the Caped Crusader was highlighted here, providing a complete experience as a superhero.
1Grand Theft Auto V (2013) - 97
Easily the game to purchase if you have just the one option to choose from the seventh generation,Grand Theft Auto Vleft no room for improvement or criticism, as we had anenormous sandbox worldto sink our teeth into.
The developers also went all-out with the side missions, seeing as you could spend dozens upon dozens of hours simply exploring the world and its wacky characters. The presence of three very distinct protagonists carried with it endless replay value that is still in full swing as we enter a new decade.
