If you’ve got a PlayStation 5 but you’re itching for the nostalgia brought by previous generation games, don’t worry; there’s a way that you can scratch that nostalgic itch without having to go out and buy a second-hand console or pull yours out of storage.
Thanks to Sony and their PlayStation Plus Premium subscription plan, players now have a chance to play classic titles without needing a disk or having to download the game itself. Here are 15 of the best PlayStation 3 games that are currently available to play on PlayStation 5 if you have a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription.
Batman: Arkham Origins
Batman: Arkham Originswas released back in 2013 (yet again I am reminded of my age because I’m here writing about games that I could swear came out just yesterday) and is the prequel toBatman: Arkham Asylum.
Playing as Batman, obviously, you get to explore Gotham as a fully open world, using stealth and gadgets to get the better of various infamous enemies such as Penguin, Mad Hatter, and Killer Croc. Of course The Joker gets his screen time, but I feel like that just about goes without saying in any Batman game at this point.
Devil May Cry 4
Devil May Cry 4was the first in the series to be released on multiple consoles at the same time, including PlayStation 3. As well as Dante, players could also play as a new protagonist named Nero who is the star until the latter half of the game when Dante took over and starred in seven missions of his own.
It was challenging, don’t get me wrong. Some of the missions were absolutely infuriating, and I never managed to get above an SS grade, but that was part of the charm. It was good to be challenged, and even now, looking back, I doubt that I’d be any better now than I was then.
Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
I’m beginning to regret writing this list becauseDisney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Twowas released back in 2012, and I’m sure I can feel the impending mid-life crisis on its way as I speak.Regardless, if you’re looking for a fun PlayStation 3 title to dive into, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Mickey is summoned by Oswald after the latter is asked to help save the Wasteland from a series of earthquakes that threaten to ruin the progress made in the first game. The Mad Doctor is the main antagonist, and Mickey wields his brush against his plans to destroy the Wasteland. You can play solo, or you can bring a friend along to play as Oswald.
Be honest. Did you really expect anyone to write this list and not includeRed Dead RedemptionorUndead Nightmare. It feels like cheating to include them as separate entries, although I definitely feel like they both deserve a mention, so let’s combine the two here.
Red Dead Redemptionhas recently been remastered for current-gen consoles and PC, but there’s something so soothing and nostalgic about the original graphics, or maybe I’m just living in denial and want to believe that it wasn’t originally released back in 2010. Either way, there’s something undeniably fun about being a cowboy and the story is as good now as it was then.
AndUndead Nightmareis just outstandingly fun in its own right. Combining the joy of being a cowboy with the jump scares that only a zombie invasion can bring to the table is a recipe that just works, even though it probably shouldn’t.
Duke Nukem Forever
If you’re a fan of potty humor, an excessive number of pop culture references, and mini-games, thenDuke Nukem Foreveris definitely something to check out. And it’s worth going back to if you’ve played it before. You can shrink enemies down using the Shrink Ray, allowing Duke to stomp on them, or freeze them using the Freeze Ray, which in turn means that Duke can simply shatter them.
Of course, the main aim of the game is to save Earth from an alien invasion alongside the Earth Defense Force (EDF), but in trueDuke Nukemfashion, things aren’t straightforward, and there’s a surprise around every corner.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Don’t judge me, but my most stand-out memories ofOblivionmainly consist of maneuvering corpses into bizarre positions by dragging their various body parts around the screen. Is it juvenile? Yes. Is it still funny even now? Also yes.
Of all theElder Scrollsgames,Oblivionremains my favorite and even though I’ve also poured hours of my life intoSkyrim,Oblivionis the one that I always want to go back to. There’s a seemingly never-ending amount of content that will keep you occupied for hours, days, or even weeks if you allow yourself to give in.
Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time
It’s hard to believe that the 7th installment of theRatchet & Clankseries was released way back in 2009, but time flies when you’re having fun, I suppose. Invoking all the joy of anyRatchet & Clankgame while introducing new mechanics such as the Chronoscepter,A Crack in Timeis still fun today and worth playing again, or for the first time.
Nefarious is, once again, the main antagonist, and fighting him off is so much fun that you forget that you even have an end goal in mind. The gameplay feels smooth even now, and while the graphics are certainly a little dated, you soon stop noticing. Plus, Ratchet can now fly his ship between planets, and you can upgrade the ship as well.
Fallout: New Vegas
Back in 2008, Bethesda contracted Obsidian to create a spin-offFalloutgame due to the overwhelmingly positive reception to Fallout 3. It took 18 months to create, which is a remarkably short period of time, considering the result was the now-belovedFallout: New Vegas.
Set in the Mojave Desert, and doing a frankly incredible job of recreating Las Vegas in its post-apocalyptic form,New Vegashas you running around as a courier who is trying to figure out who tried to kill him. There’s approximately 100 hours worth of content if you want to complete every side quest, so you’re definitely never going to be bored if you dive in.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure All Star Battle
I’m the first person to admit thatJoJo’s Bizarre Adventureisn’t up there at the top of my most loved anime or manga series. It’s just too off the wall, too bizarre for my personal tastes. However, there is something incredibly addictive and enjoyable about this 3D beat-em-up starring characters from the franchise.
Whether you’re throwing out attacks, or being attacked, you’re filling up your Heart Heat Gauge. When it’s filled to either one or two levels, you can throw out super powerful Heart Heat Attacks, and that’s when it starts to get really fun. You don’t need to be a super fan ofJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, or particularly good at fighting games in general, for that matter, to enjoyAllStar Battle.
Saints Row 2
There’s something about theSaints Rowseries that will always make me want to go back, and I’m not sure whether it’s the main quest progression, which is done by exchanging Respect that you’ve earned during side missions and mini games, or just the general setting of the games.
While there are a lot of similarities withGrand Theft Auto, the humor helps to setSaints Rowapart and it continues to be fun if you’re going back for nostalgia reasons. It’s almost a relaxing experience, despite the themes, because you’re able to play at your own speed, and the main story isn’t constantly pressuring you to get back on track unless you progress it manually.
Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck’s Revenge
There is a special, nostalgic place in my heart for anyMonkey Islandtitle, andLeChuck’s Revengeis possibly my favorite of them all. It was originally released in the year of my birth 1991, but I didn’t get my first glimpse of Guybrush Threepwood until I was about 7, and it was with this game.
The Special Edition was released on PlayStation 3 and other consoles in 2010, and the adventure is as fun to play through as it was back in the 90s. Clicking around the screen, trying to figure out where to go, and the infinitely enjoyable dialogue between characters makeLeChuck’s Revengeworth playing anytime.
Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension
Based on the movie of the same name,Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimensionmight only appeal to you if you were a fan of the early 00s TV show, but there are so many good things I could say about it. From the ultimately bizarre worlds like Lawn Gnome Land or Gelatin World, to the unlockable characters who may or may not have some of the blame for my completionist nature, Across the 2nd Dimension has a special place in my heart.
Either solo or in co-op mode, you travel across 25 different worlds, overcoming obstacles and upgrading your gadgets to make life easier. My best advice for getting full enjoyment out ofAcross the 2nd Dimensionis to not take it too seriously and embrace the chaos.
RAGE
At the time of its release back in 2011, there was some contention between my friends and I about whether RAGE was any good. I loved it, while some friends complained that it was trying to be Borderlands, but without the humor and preferable cel-shaded art style. I stand by what I said back then and I still think that RAGE is worth playing.
Sure, there’s no cooperative option inRAGE, but there is Road Rage, which pits you against up to three friends in a free-for-all match that channels pure chaos. The story is good, too, and traveling from mission to mission in your personalized vehicle just feelsfun.There are side missions outside of the main story, and it’s impossible to get bored. I recommend trying it if you can.
God of War II HD
There’s something incredibly satisfying about getting combos right and doing massive damage in any game, butGod of War IIdoes it so well. Set against a backdrop of rich Greek mythology and sending you out on a mission to seek vengeance against Zeus. I mean, come on, what doesn’t sound fun about that?
WhileGod of War IIis technically a PlayStation 2 title, it was remastered and released as part of theGod of War Collectionon PlayStation 3, so I’m including it here. It’s a flimsy excuse, but I can’t not include one of the best console games of all time, so I’m leaning on the technicality.
Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime
There’s nothing not to love about the Ghostbusters, questionable reboots aside. Traveling around New York City tackling various ghostly apparitions is just fun and sparks the best kind of nostalgia imaginable. Sanctum of Slime has action, humor, and even a story that will pull you in, centering around an ancient deity called Dumazu the Destroyer. He sounds nice.
I know this game got a lot of less than stellar reviews and hasn’t exactly sold well, but I’m a sucker for both an underdog and a b-movie (or in this case, I suppose you could call it a b-game?) so I find this enjoyable. I’m not saying you will, but you may play it on your PS5 and you’ve got nothing to lose by trying, right?
