The seventh generation of PlayStation video game consoles, the PS3, holds special significance for gamers. It pushed the industry towards HD gaming and started a new era that gave gamers connectivity services such as the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. Now imagine if you could play those wonderful PS3 games on a modern console like PS5!
During the PS3’s introduction, the shift in graphics fidelity was significant; gamers got their hands on genre-defining titles such as Uncharted 2 and Gears of War. It’s hard to leave such an era behind. Microsoft is aware of this; maybe that’s why their backward compatibility game is on point. Xbox owners can play most seventh-generation games on their Xbox Series S and X without much hassle.
But playing PS3 games on PS5 is still a dream for fans of Sony’s consoles. They have asked and waited long for the platform holder to do something about it. After almost four years since the PS5’s launch, it looks like Sony is doing something about it.
A new Sony patent hints that the company might be working on a way for gamers to play PS3 games on PS5. If this turns out to be true, here are seven of the best PS3-exclusive games that we would love to see running on this new generation console.
7 PS3 games that deserve to be played on the PS5
‘Infamous’ and ‘Infamous 2’
Release year: 2009 (Infamous), 2011 (Infamous 2)
It’s not easy to build a superhero video game franchise from scratch, yet developer Sucker Punch Productions did exactly that and did it well. The protagonist, Cole MacGrath, gradually learns to use his superpowers and gets stronger by the day. But he must make sure he is doing right by his fellow man by performing good deeds and earning good karma.
These are two very fun open-world games with incredible superpowers to experience, a well-written story to uncover, and a world worth exploring. It would be incredible if Sony brought this game to the PlayStation 5. This is needed as Sucker Punch has already moved on to Ghost of Tsushima. Especially with its recent Director’s Cut being a great success, there’s very little chance they are going back to the Infamous series anytime soon.
Heavenly Sword
Release year: 2007
Years before Ninja Theory developed photo-realistic masterpieces like Hellblade 2, which is counted among the best games on Xbox, they were making fast-paced action games. One such title was Heavenly Sword, an action-adventure title with hack-and-slash gameplay.
The protagonist, Nariko, can be seen using moves inspired by martial arts and some ranged attacks. It was received positively by critics for its incredible combat that holds up to this very day.
God of War: Ascension
Release year: 2013
God of War 3 is hailed as one of the best-looking PS3 games ever made. Sony improved on that game by releasing a remaster for the PlayStation 4. No doubt God of War 3 is a masterpiece, but there’s one game that often gets forgotten, a game that came after this third entry in the long-running series — Ascension.
God of War: Ascension was a prequel to the series, and it worked in several ways. Fans got to see a younger Kratos, and they got to see him in an even more brutal avatar than ever before. The visuals are on par with God of War 3, with a decent story and enjoyable combat mechanics, yet there’s no remaster or remake. It’s about time Sony gave us this title on a modern system.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Release year: 2008
Hideo Kojima has created several incredible games during his career as a video game director, and he is still working on a couple of them. One of them is the much-awaited sequel to Death Stranding. However, there was a time when he was mainly known for one major franchise, Metal Gear Solid. There have been reports that he almost gave up working on those games multiple times, but he was always dragged back to the director’s chair.
No matter how they convinced him to make these games, he never disappointed. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is one such game. It’s even more special as it’s the only game in the series that is not available anywhere else besides the PlayStation 3. If Sony ever brings the best PS3-exclusive games to the PS5, this one needs to be at the top of that list.
Resistance 3
Release year: 2011
Before Insomniac Games made Spider-Man titles for PlayStation consoles, they used to develop some incredible first-person shooter titles. For some, the Resistance franchise was a hit-and-miss, but for others, it was a series that had uniquely designed weapons and a decent enough story, all paired with fun gameplay mechanics.
The third part concluded the trilogy; its combat remained as fun and its atmospheres as intense as its predecessors. Its split-screen mode gave gamers the option to enjoy it with their friends. We can only imagine how those weapons will feel when controlling the game using the PS5’s DualSense controller.
Killzone 3
Release year: 2011
Yes, there was a time when Sony released two sci-fi first-person shooters on PS3 during the same year. Now, fans do not have such luck and Sony seems mostly stuck with those narrative-heavy games.
Killzone 3 was not such a game, though; it was a tight, military-based sci-fi shooter that looked unreal. It was hard to believe that the game was running on a PS3. Its visuals, its responsive controls, and its dark yet entertaining story make those games one of the best first-party PlayStation shooters we have played to this day.
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Release year: 2007
Tools of Destruction is an action-adventure platformer with mind-blowing visuals, fast gameplay mechanics, and a well-written story. It was developed by Insomniac Games, and they have made sure that their quirkiness and fun stay consistent throughout the game, whether you play as Ratchet or Clank.
As we conclude our list of the best PS3-exclusive games that need to be on PlayStation 5, we hope Sony makes some progress with their emulation work and brings these games to their latest generation of consoles.
(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Sony Interactive Entertainment)
