The PlayStation 3 was a slow-burner console, selling over 87.4 million units worldwide as of March 31st, 2017. Nevertheless, it had a vast library packed with some incredible PS3 games by the end of its lifespan in 2017. As of March 31, 2012, there were approximately 595 million games sold for PlayStation 3.To the surprise of nobody, Grand Theft Auto 5, Gran Turismo 5, The Last of Us, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves were among the best-selling PS3 games. But hidden among these classics are a few forgotten PS3 games; while some should be left behind, others deserve to be remembered.Updated February 19, 2022 by Mark Sammut: In October 2016, Sony discontinued the PlayStation 3 in North America, bringing to a close a run that lasted almost a decade. Over that era, more than 2000 games were produced for the PS3, including some all-time greats such as Red Dead Redemption, LittleBigPlanet, and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Sony's 7th generation system experienced a great deal of success, but not every member of its library is still remembered fondly. In fact, hundreds of games have slipped through the cracks of time, becoming little more than hazy memories of a bygone era. A few more forgotten PS3 games have been added to this article.
13 Child Of Eden
Genuinely unique games are rare and, more importantly for publishers, a risk. Child of Eden was not only a rail shooter, a genre that was hardly flourishing in the early 2010s, but one that focused on music as a mechanic. Unsurprisingly, the game was not a smash hit out of the blocks, although positive word of mouth did give it some longevity.
Child of Eden directs players through six gorgeous levels as they try to blast enemies (or viruses) to the beat of the soundtrack. This concept results in an incredibly satisfying experience, albeit one that might have been more successful during the heyday of rail shooters. Child of Eden was a one-and-done, but the game is at least backward compatible with the Xbox One.
12 Majin And The Forsaken Kingdom
As the current gaming culture does not leave much room for AA titles, something like Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom would presumably not be published in this day and age. Game Republic's action-adventure title filled the void left by Team Ico's delayed The Last Guardian, and it did a more than decent job crafting a spellbinding campaign built upon an endearing friendship between a human and a mythical beast.
Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom did not make a massive splash upon its release, and it has been largely forgotten alongside a slew of other 7th generation mid-tier releases like Singularity, Blur, and Folklore. For those who wish to try out this title, Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom is available on PS Now.
11 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
A third-person shooter sequel to the underwhelming PlayStation 2 and Xbox release 50 Cent: Bulletproof, Blood on the Sand was an interesting game. The story revolved around a fictional 50 Cent and G-Unit's concert in the unspecified ‘Middle East’.
After the pair threaten a promoter for the promised $10 million in cash payment for putting on the show, they settle for a diamond-and-pearl skull as collateral. This is, of course, stolen by a paramilitary group and the pop duo must track it down. Of course. Perhaps it won’t be a surprise to hear that the commercial failure of this game led to the closure of Swordfish Studios in 2010 and would ultimately be lost to the ’sands’ of time.
10 Disney Infinity
Activision's enormously successful Skylanders series inspired Disney’s "most ambitious gaming initiative ever". Combining the physical toy aspect of Skylanders, with the sandbox creation gamers had come to love like Minecraft, developers Avalanche Software certainly aimed high.
Disney Infinity has been called “a giant customizable universe of imagination” with story-driven gameplay. It launched with The Incredibles, Monsters University, and Pirates of the Caribbean figures. Unfortunately, Avalanche Software shut down on May 11th, 2016 and Disney quickly retired the franchise soon after. The only remnants of Disney Infinity today are the fond memories.
9 LocoRoco Cocoreccho!
Described as an "interactive screensaver", LocoRoco Cocoreccho! is a 2007 PS3 game that is full of charm. It does not require input from the player, as the world and characters play autonomously.
The main premise of it is sheep-herding creatures called LocoRoco through a level fraught with danger and mini-games. The player’s goal is to collect all 200 LocoRocos and guide them into a large goal at the end of the level. It is a sweet game that won over gamers with its pretty graphics and simple gameplay.
8 Splatterhouse
A troubled development cycle and a poor critical reception doomed the 2010 Splatterhouse reboot to a lifetime lodged in the clearance bin. The horror series dates back to 1988, but the franchise had been dormant for nearly two decades when this game tried to revive it. Unfortunately, it failed.
Splatterhouse is not complex or innovative. The reboot relies exhaustively on shock value to keep people entertained, but that is not exactly the worst thing for a game called "Splatterhouse" to focus on. While repetitive and shallow, the gameplay can be enjoyable in spurts, especially for those who enjoy 3D beat 'em ups.
7 Castle Crashers
Castle Crashers is a cult classic, award-winning hack-and-slash that has sadly fallen out of the cultural consciousness in recent years. It originally debuted in 2008 for the Xbox 360 and, perhaps lesser-known, released for the PlayStation 3 in 2010.
This game was full of dark magical wizards, medieval princess-stealing, and mythical enemies; like cyclops, ninja pirates, demons, and alien invaders. It has a deceivingly bright and charming art style and a wonderful twist at the end that makes it well worth playing to this day.
6 El Shaddai: Ascension Of The Metatron
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron has been enjoying a small revival in recent years. In 2021, the game was released on PC, and a Switch port is currently in development. That said El Shaddai has amassed fewer than 200 reviews on Steam since its September 2021 release, so while the game is readily available, not too many people are biting.
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is a gorgeous action game soaked in spiritual imagery. Filled with jaw-dropping environments, El Shaddai shines extremely brightly when it simply allows players to soak in the visuals and scenery. The story is also interesting, but the combat system leaves something to be desired.
5 Toki Tori
This adorable yellow chicken first flew onto the scene in 2001 for the Game Boy Color. This challenging, yet addictive gameplay has been a staple of the series. The PS3 remake of the game did not disappoint.
The narrative is simple but charming. The player controls the young chick Toki Tori, who is on a quest to save his younger siblings, still in their eggs. Each level has an egg to rescue that requires a variety of unlockable tools and creative thinking.
4 LOST PLANET 3
The Lost Planet series is steeped in lore. The first two games feature an Earth that has become too hostile for human life. Lost Planet 3 starts with the promising premise of exploring the foreboding planet and the colonial history of E.D.N. III.
However, it received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike. Most criticized Lost Planet 3's repetitive gameplay and its lack of depth in regard to its mechanics and story, while some defended the varied combat and emotional narrative. Ultimately, Lost Planet 3 sold below expectations and faded into obscurity as quickly as it arrived.
3 Alice: Madness Returns
Alice: Madness Returns is a psychological hack and slash action-adventure game. Its nuanced and twisted look into mental health and trauma earned it a place in the hearts of cult horror fans. The talented American McGee, a designer who is best known for working on the DOOM franchise, did an excellent job putting a dark spin on the classic Lewis Carroll fairy tale.
Alice and its sequel, Alice: Madness Returns, were massively popular with their releases in 2000 and 2011 retrospectively. However, some critics were not sold on the repetitive gameplay and simple level design. Both games in this franchise are still well worth picking up.
2 Asura's Wrath
A cinematic hidden gem, Asura's Wrath released worldwide in February 2012. Its unique blend of Hindu and Buddhist mythologies and sci-fi plot points makes this a game that is worth picking up.
The audience plays as the demigod Asura, a man who is seeking revenge on the demigods who betrayed him. Parallels have been drawn between Asura's Wrath and an "interactive anime". This is due to the eclectic combination of third-person combat and interactive cinematics with quick-time event button prompts. The Japanese release met to a very positive reception, but the Western market was not as impressed. It received "average" reviews on both Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.
1 Tokyo Jungle
Described by Eurogamer as "basically Grand Theft Auto with lions", Tokyo Jungle was a PlayStation 3 exclusive with an online leaderboard and a story mode. Fans loved the addicting survival gameplay but criticized the hands-off combat and awkward controls.
When asked about the game’s reception outside of Japan, director Yohei Kataoka said: "Europe loved it, and we got a lot of great feedback from that audience, but America... that simply wasn't the case. We received a lot of negative feedback for the game”. The online leaderboard lies dormant, just waiting for someone to remember this forgotten PS3 gem.
