Highlights
- PlayStation 3's success was driven by innovation and artistic expression, leading to remarkable franchises.
- Open-world games were a standout genre on the PlayStation 3, with Grand Theft Auto V as the most successful.
- From Yakuza 3 to Red Dead Redemption, the PlayStation 3 had an impressive lineup of open-world games that showcased immersive stories and unique gameplay mechanics.
The era of the PlayStation 3 was a remarkable time for video games. Through the console, we were graced with fantastic titles that went on to become some of the most remarkable franchises of all time. With this, it became clear that innovation and artistic expression were huge reasons behind the console's success.
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While the PlayStation 3 wasn't known for being tied to only one genre, its open-world games are the ones that many of us remember fondly. With Grand Theft Auto V being the most successful game on the console, there's no doubt that audiences seemed to lean toward the PS3's realm of open-world games. From Western outlaws to adventurous crime, here are the greatest open-world games on the PlayStation 3.
10 Yakuza 3
Following the events of Yakuza 2, the third entry in the iconic Yakuza series was an entertaining open-world experience. While it's sadly considered to be the weakest installment in the series, Yakuza 3 still brought a lot to the table.
Amazingly representing the heart of the open-world crime drama, this game had a wonderful story that featured a refreshing change of pace. The beginning is a bit on the longer side of things, which was different from what fans were used to. Regardless, as we follow Kiryu and Haruka in their journey from running an orphanage by the beach to returning to the city, we can't help but still have an engrossing time.
9 Sleeping Dogs
Sleeping Dogs is a criminally-underrated open-world game. It had incredible reviews during its release, but the gameplay mechanics deterred quite a bit of players away. Because of this, Sleeping Dogs didn't get all the love that it so rightfully deserved to receive.
While it's similar to Grand Theft Auto, the game has much more immersive hand-to-hand combat. Physical fighting with barely any weapons is the main method of combat. This, in part, is what makes this game so unique. It's rare that modern video games have a fighting style like Sleeping Dogs, which is what makes it so revolutionary.
8 Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag
You'll sail across this game's marvelous open world as you're put into a world set during the Golden Age of Piracy. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag was built to provide amazing entertainment for newcomers and returning fans to the series. And, through that, it soon became one of the greatest Assassin's Creed games of all time.
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There's such a wide variety of aspects that make Black Flag such a masterpiece. It's charm and humor just scratch the surface of its fantastic nature. Not to mention the wonderful character arcs that pull you into the story. Overall, Black Flag took the classic formula seen in other games in the series and became an original work of art.
7 Infamous
Engrossing us in the story of a superhuman is enough to get us intrigued. Stylized as inFAMOUS, this game has been seen as one of the best PlayStation 3 games in the console's history. Giving us the ability to use otherworldly powers, the adventure you'll go on when playing this game is beyond heart-pumping.
Everything right down to the storyline and gameplay makes inFAMOUS an addictive adventure. It's an all-around well-developed video game that includes dynamic mechanics to keep you hooked. Overall, it encourages you to revisit the game even after the credits have rolled.
6 Saints Row: The Third
Saints Row: The Third is more or so Grand Theft Auto's charming twin. The third installment in the Saints Row series offers a funky take on the classic open-world crime drama. You get the chance to control the Saints at the height of their power, showcasing comedically entertaining opportunities.
Set in the fictional city of Steelport, you'll travel among the game's open world as the Saints' leader. Besides missions that include hilarious weapons and storylines, the character customizations make Saints Row: The Third stand out. In the end, it's an over-the-top action-filled rollercoaster that you'll never want to get off of.
5 Batman: Arkham City
Building on the fantastic atmosphere from Batman: Arkham Asylum, this open-world PS3 game is a gritty masterpiece. Batman: Arkham City is an intense experience filled with the franchise's most notorious figures. Tracking down these villains while exploring the dark city around you makes this game a fantastic piece of Batman's gaming history.
Arkham City understood what fans of the Arkham series truly wanted to see. The environment is claustrophobic and challenges you to navigate its dangerous streets. Putting your detective skills to work, you search the city for a cure for your sudden ailment before you succumb to a life of crime.
4 Far Cry 3
Far Cry 3 is a highly-regarded game in the series. Mainly due to how much the main antagonist, Vaas, impacts the story, we're deeply pulled into the game's story as he makes it entirely compelling. He sets a high standard for a well-developed villain, which makes Far Cry 3 such an unforgettable piece of Far Cry history.
The open world in this game is vastly full of life, giving you a chance to go about the missions and story-based objectives however you please. At the end of the day, Far Cry 3 is a unique addition to the PlayStation 3's catalog.
3 Just Cause 2
Wonderfully action-packed and thrilling, Just Cause 2 is a chaotically entertaining open-world game. You'll endlessly be full of adrenaline while playing this game, which attests to how there's rarely a dull moment to be found throughout the entire game.
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In this action-adventure game, you'll mostly find yourself blowing up nearly everything in your path within its open world. Equipped with parachutes and grappling hooks, you'll be exploring everything at a swift pace. Even though Just Cause 2 is on the older side of things, it will be a timeless game for years to come.
2 Grand Theft Auto 4
Taking place in a world that ponders what the "American dream" really means, Grand Theft Auto IV is a lot more than just another entry in the Grand Theft Auto franchise. You play as Niko Bellic in an enthralling story about a man who arrives from another country to escape his dark past.
Grand Theft Auto IV was the first game in the series to be developed for the PS3. While San Andreas was ported for the console, the fourth installment became a fresh new look for the series. On top of this, the story was beyond rich and exceeded way above the expectations that both fans and critics were anticipating.
1 Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption takes you through the wild west in ways that you never would've expected. It brought a lot of players to the PS3, appealing to audiences looking for a wildly entertaining cowboy-centric game as not many were around at the time.
Letting you assume the role of John Marston, you're set out on an iconic journey from the moment you hit start. Exploring themes of violence, faith, and the loss of innocence, Red Dead Redemption was utterly impactful. It will forever hold a priceless spot in the history of open-world games on the PS3, let alone being one of the greatest games on the platform of all time.
NEXT: Best Open-World Games That Aren't RPGs
