Am I missing a ton of gems or does the PS3 library just suck?

[Benzychenz]

Due to COVID-19 and having a lot of backlog time I was looking over my game library, and I couldn't help but notice my PS4 library is now nearly double the size of my PS3 library, and the generation isn't even over yet. That seems insane to me! Surely there's a lot of PS3 games I'm missing? Or did the Japanese studios struggling with the HD transition really have that big an effect?

For comparison and to show my tastes, these are the games I own for both consoles:

PS3:

3D Dot Game Heroes
Anarchy Reigns
Asura's Wrath
Bayonetta
Catherine
Dark Souls
Dark Souls II
Demon's Souls
Devil May Cry 4
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
Drakengard 3
Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIII-2
Flower
Folklore
God of War III
Guacamelee
inFamous
inFamous 2
inFamous: Festival of Blood
Journey
Katamari Forever
The Last of Us
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
LittleBigPlanet
LittleBigPlanet 2
Mega Man 9
Mega Man 10
Metal Gear Rising
Metal Gear Solid 4
Ni No Kuni
Nier
Persona 4 Arena
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
Puppeteer
Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction
Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty
Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One
Ratchet & Clank: QForce
Ratchet & Clank: Nexus
Rayman Origins
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
Tokyo Jungle
Uncharted
Uncharted 2
Uncharted 3
Valkyria Chronicles
Vanquish
Yakuza 3
Yakuza 4

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PS4:

AI: The Somnium Files
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit
Axiom Verge
Bloodborne
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Celeste
Concrete Genie
Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy
Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
Dark Souls III
Death Stranding
Devil May Cry V
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth
Doom
Doom Eternal
Dragon Quest Builders
Dragon Quest Builders 2
Dragon Quest Heroes
Dragon Quest Heroes II
Dragon Quest XI
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD
Final Fantasy XV
God of War
Gravity Rush 2
Hohokum
Horizon: Zero Dawn
Hyper Light Drifter
inFamous: First Light
inFamous: Second Son
Judgment
Kingdom Hearts 0.2
Kingdom Hearts III
Knack
Knack 2
The Alliance Alive
The Last Guardian
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III
Life is Strange
Life is Strange: Before the Storm
Life is Strange 2
Mega Man 11
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Minit
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom
Monster Hunter: World
Nier: Automata
Ni No Kuni II
Nioh
Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir
Persona 5
Persona 3: Dancing In Moonlight
Persona 5: Dancing In Starlight
Ratchet & Clank
Rayman Legends
Resogun
Rocket League
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Shadow of the Colossus
Shenmue I & II
Shenmue III
Spider-Man
Spyro: Reignited Trilogy
Tearaway Unfolded
Tokyo Xanadu eX+
WipEout Omega Collection
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
World of Final Fantasy
Yakuza 0
Yakuza Kiwami
Yakuza Kiwami 2
Yakuza 6
Yooka-Laylee
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
Ys Origin
Ys VIII

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[Deleted member 12790]

If you like games like Megaman 9 and 10, then yeah, you're missing a ton of stuff on PSN thats available for the PS3.

 

[Deleted member 59109]

I'd recommend the Mass Effect games and Dead Space. But tbh I mainly use the PS3 for PS1 games and HD collections of PS2 games.

 

[CannonFodder52]

I think PS1, PS2 and PS4 have better libraries than the PS3.
PS2 & PS1 by a wide margin too.

 

[Majadamus]

That isn't enough for you? I wish I had your free time.

 

[AllChan7]

You own more games on your PS3 than I have on all my consoles prior to PS4 combined lol

 

[OnionPowder]

PS3 is the weakest of the sony consoles imo. There's a few really fucking good stand outs like Uncharted 2 and Demon's Souls but it doesn't have as many interesting games. Kind of a boring gen overall.

 

[nightstalker962]

I'm not sure I understand, the PS3 list looks good to me. I bookmarked someone's list on IMDb that had their top 100 games for PS3 and it was a pretty solid list.

 

[Deleted member 26746]

Heavy Rain
Beyond Two Souls
ICO & SOTC HD
Wipeout
Motorstorm
Killzone 2
Killzone 3
Heavenly Sword
White Knight Chronicles
Warhawk
God of War Ascension

 

[Deleted member 364]

It's why it goes down as the worst gen in my books. Very few all time classics that hold up.

 

[CannonFodder52]

Here are some additions:
Binary Domain
Yakuza 5
Yakuza Kenzan
Short Peace
Siren Blood Curse (Apparently at least)
Afrika
Deadly Premonition (Though other ports are better)
The Darkness

 

[Benzychenz]

PS3 is the weakest of the sony consoles imo. There's a few really fucking good stand outs like Uncharted 2 and Demon's Souls but it doesn't have as many interesting games. Kind of a boring gen overall.

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It's why it goes down as the worst gen in my books. Very few all time classics that hold up.

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Yeah I think this is as big as issue as the size of the library. Outside of the Souls games, Dragon's Dogma, Rayman Origins and Nier, it's all just... bland and average.

 

[nightstalker962]

You're missing Eternal Sonata unless you own it on 360.

 

[--R]

No love for Sleeping Dogs?

 

[4 Get!]

Ssh..OP, don't give Sony more of a reason to not spend R&D money into PS3 emulation and BC. You know they visit this site.

 

[Teenage Fansub]

If a system's library had Tokyo Jungle in it, it was a good one.

 

[Noisepurge]

Would add these atleast, they have not been ported to this gen consoles yet atleast:

Alpha Protocol
Binary Domain
Blur
Castlevania Lords of Shadow
The Darkness
Dead Space
Dante's Inferno
Goldeneye 007
Lost Planet

 

[steviestar3]

Last gen blew so you're not missing much.

 

[nightstalker962]

Oh this is a shooter but you gotta play Spec Ops the Line.

 

[OnionPowder]

If a system's library had Tokyo Jungle in it, it was a good one.

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One of the best games sony put out. This is the hidden gem OP

 

[ApeEscaper]

You're missing Fat Princess

 

[Kinsei]

Get Tokyo Jungle

 

[WyLD iNk]

Not even.

 

[fontguy]

Journey alone says this is a 'you' problem.

 

[sredgrin]

360 and PS3 era a lot of AA and "indie" style games struggled (or in the case of indies, just started to break out on consoles). A lot of their games have also been ported and remastered, so they now look a little paltry.

 

[5taquitos]

You're missing Fat Princess

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Can you even play it anymore?

I had so much fun with that game but online died so quickly.

My PS3 is basically a Tokyo Jungle machine, low-key best exclusive of the gen.

 

[KiNolin]

It sucks. I hate the PS360 generation, this one is a huge improvement, not last thanks to the return of quality Japanese games and AA titles.

 

[Devilgunman]

PS3 didn't suck. PS4 just happens to be one of the best console of all time.

 

[Korigama]

PS3 library didn't suck, but the eighth gen has been stronger overall (to me especially when it comes to JRPGs, fighters, and Capcom games in general) and I'd say PS4's library reflects that.

 

[RivalGT]

all 3 motorstorm games are worth playing still

 

[CoolestSpot]

 

[PS9]

Haze and Lair.

 

[5taquitos]

Haze and Lair.

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...should be avoided.

 

[LazyLain]

I don't know if they're necessarily *gems* since I haven't gotten around to playing 'em, but here's a few titles in my library that are missing from your list:


Time and Eternity. This one's kinda interesting graphically... 3rd person RPG with 3D environments, but uses HD sprites for the characters instead of 3D models:


Afrika
Tears to Tiara II
Gekiatsu!! Pachi Game Tamashi Max: Evangelion 7 x Seimei no Kodou (JP only, and definitely not a gem lol)
Macross 30: Voices Across the Galaxy (JP only)
White Knight Chronicles II (Which also includes the first game)
Resonance of Fate

 

[Deleted member 8861]

You're missing Bioshock and Dead Space, two by all means worthwhile franchises

 

[KalBalboa]

PixelJunk Monsters
PixelJunk Shooter
PixelJunk Eden
Motorstorm Pacific Rift (with 3 other friends)
Super Stardust HD
Dead Space
Driver: San Francisco
Resistance: Fall of Man
Resistance 3
Starhawk
WipEout HD
Twisted Metal
Burnout Paradise

 

[Benzychenz]

You're missing Bioshock and Dead Space, two by all means worthwhile franchises

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Eh I don't like horror so not interested in Dead Space really. What's the vibe like in Bioshock? Much horror or just kind of a Metroid Prime vibe of a tense atmosphere?

 

[iceblade]

Just to point a couple of things out

1 - You're counting as PS4 games several games that are on PS3 too (Persona 5, Dark Souls 2, Odin Sphere, and MGS V are some examples).

2 - Several games you count are sequels of PS3 games or had multiple PS3 entries in that franchise (Ni no Kuni II, Trails of Cold Steel III, God of War (2018), and Infamous: First Light are some examples)

And there are several other PS3 games you could try. Lost Dimension, the Tales franchise, Spec Ops: The Line (that's maybe not hidden but definitely a gem), the Jak and Daxter trilogy (granted that's a remaster but you listed Spyro and Crash as PS4 titles so I'm assuming that's OK), the Sly Cooper trilogy (same reasoning as Jak and Daxter) and Resistance 3 could be some to look into. Between that, the PS1 compatibility, and having a lot of PS2 classics available via the PSN store, there'd be quite a lot to stand on, both by itself and as an all-in-one system.

Eh I don't like horror so not interested in Dead Space really. What's the vibe like in Bioshock? Much horror or just kind of a Metroid Prime vibe of a tense atmosphere?

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It's more tense and atmospheric than horror. I say this as someone who made absolutely sure to play TLoU during midday, with the curtains wide open and the volume set to low.

 

[Combichristoffersen]

Eh I don't like horror so not interested in Dead Space really. What's the vibe like in Bioshock? Much horror or just kind of a Metroid Prime vibe of a tense atmosphere?

Click to shrink...

Not much horror at all. At worst the first two are mildly creepy a few times, but nothing scary. Play the first two and just read a synopsis or something of Infinite.

 

[Strings]

You're missing Resonance of Fate and Eternal Sonata, alongside Tales of Graces F and Xillia for PS3, but yeah... It just wasn't a great time for Japanese games on console.

There's also the six Atelier games from Rorona to Shallie, but they've all since been ported.

 

[Deleted member 48897]

Well, it used to have After Burner Climax. It still has Daytona USA.

 

[Combichristoffersen]

Well, it used to have After Burner Climax. It still has Daytona USA.

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I still have After Burner Climax and Out Run on my PS3. Never getting baleeted.

Also, PS3 had a great library (certainly much better than what the Wii had the same generation IMO). It's just that the PS2 and PS4 have such ridiculously great libraries.

 

[ApeEscaper]

Can you even play it anymore?

I had so much fun with that game but online died so quickly.

My PS3 is basically a Tokyo Jungle machine, low-key best exclusive of the gen.

Click to shrink...

I never touch the online part of the game only all offline modes it is playable and I highly recommend the small one and only dlc with it for more classes variety and powers

Such a great game especially with couch coop can jump in anytime.

Also OP PlayStation All Stars Battle Royale is worth getting too not as good as Smash obviously but some fun to be had

 

[bombermouse]

Get Tokyo Jungle

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This.

Also, The last guy, trash panic and way of the samurai.

edit: you already own it! Good boy then

 

[Captain of Outer Space]

You're missing a ton of games.

Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham City
Beat Hazard Ultra
Bit.Trip Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
Braid
Burnout Paradise
Castle Crashers
Chime
Critter Crunch
Dead Nation
Driver: San Francisco
Dyad
echochrome
Eufloria
Everyday Shooter
Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds
Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational
Jetpack Joyride
Joe Danger
Joe Danger 2: The Movie
Just Cause 2
The Last Guy
Limbo
Luftrausers
Lumines Supernova
Machinarium
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes
Minecraft
MotorStorm Apocalypse
MotorStorm Pacific Rift
MotorStorm RC
NBA Jam: On Fire Edition
Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Noby Noby Boy
Outland
Pac-Man CE DX+
Pinball Arcade
PixelJunk Eden
PixelJunk Monster
PixelJunk Shooter
PixelJunk Shooter 2
PixelJunk Sidescroller
Plants vs Zombies
Portal 2
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
Rain
Retro/Grade
Rochard
Rock Band Blitz
Rock Band 1-3/Beatles
Rock of Ages
Shatter
Soldner-X: Himmelssturmer
Soldner-X 2: Final Prototype
Space Invaders: Infinity Gene
Spelunky
Split/Second
Stealth Inc: A Clone in the Dark
Super Stardust HD
Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars
Tales from Space: About a Blob
Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack
Terraria
Trash Panic
Trine
The Unfinished Swan
Velocity Ultra
The Walking Dead S1
Warhawk
Zen Pinball 2

 

[Acquiesc3]

To be fair a lot of ps3 games got better ps4 versions so that's gonna skew the counts a little bit. Oddly enough psnprofiles says my ps3 count is 279 and my ps4 count is 247. I played a lot during that gen though.

If we're talking just exclusives then Killzone 2 & 3 and Resistance 1-3 are all great. God of War Collection and Origins Collection too seeing you have God of War III. The Disgaea games are great. I'm missing a lot I know but just at the top of my head.

There are also so many fantastic PSN games on ps3 that ps4 never got ports of: Cuboid, Shatter, Pixeljunk Monsters, Braid Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes, Critter Crunch, Comet Crash just to name a few.

 

[Zutter]

It doesn't suck per say but I do think it has the weakest catalogue of any PS console personally. Though my favorite genre is JRPG so that's probably why.

I find myself going back to my PS1/2 games much more often.

 

[Tagyhag]

It's a good library, it's just that PS4's is much better.

 

[Taco_Human]

I would get

Darkstalkers Collection
Virtua Fighter 2 port
DAYTONA Racing port
Initial D japan import game

 

[Scruffy8642]

It wasn't too bad at the time, but looking back on it now, there aren't a lot of games of value. Most have been remastered on current gen, or they were released so early on in the generation that they don't hold up at all. MGS4 is probably the only reason I'll ever use my PS3 again.