Roughly halfway through 2022, Sony launched the new and improved PlayStation Plus. Serving as a subscription service, players can join one of three tiers to gain access to a library of titles. While PS Plus Essential only provides a few free games per month, PS Plus Extra includes a wide selection of PS5 and PS4 titles that can be downloaded and installed at any moment. If someone wishes to extend their reach, they can subscribe to PS Plus Premium, which adds PS3, PS2, PS1, and PSP releases.
Premium's main offerings are PlayStation 3 games, with the tier including hundreds of projects released during the seventh console generation. While not exhaustive, PS Plus Premium has some of the console's strongest offerings which hold up well after all these years. Beyond the greatest hits, the service also has many hidden gems and lesser-known delights that might have been overlooked by some folks during their original runs. Nowadays, these releases can be hard to come by, so PS Plus Premium makes them a lot more accessible.
In recent months, Sony has generally avoided adding new PS3 titles to PlayStation Plus Premium, leading to a static library. Hopefully, this changes in the future and the platform begins to receive new representatives, although Sony might prefer to emphasize PS4 releases that can be downloaded rather than PS3 titles that need to be streamed. Still, here are the best PS Plus PS3 games at the moment.
PS4 remasters of PS3 games will be included since they are associated with the latter hardware. While these PS4 versions can be downloaded and installed on Sony's consoles, native PS3 games can only be streamed through PS Plus.
Heavenly Sword
Metascore: 79
Heavenly Sword
- Released
- September 12, 2007
- Developer(s)
- Ninja Theory
- Genre(s)
- Hack and Slash
- How Long To Beat
- 7 Hours
Ninja Theory's game has a peculiar reputation since it debuted during a time when the PS3 had a serious shortage of exclusives; consequently, Heavenly Sword was pushed as a system seller akin to something like God of War. That is simply too much pressure to put on any game, let alone a new intellectual property. Unsurprisingly, the title failed to meet those expectations.
When viewed in isolation, Heavenly Sword more than holds its own in the hack and slash genre. Ninja Theory crafted a fast-paced battle system revolving around a multiform weapon, and the combat is a great deal of fun despite lacking depth. The game elevates a decent story through the use of motion capture technology, and its cutscenes rank among the most visually impressive on the PS3.
Batman: Arkham City (Return To Arkham)
Metascore: 96
Batman: Arkham City
PS4 Version
- Released
- October 18, 2011
- Developer(s)
- Rocksteady Studios
- How Long To Beat
- 14 Hours
Rocksteady revitalized superhero games with their Arkham trilogy, all of which are available on PS Plus Premium. Batman: Arkham City greatly expands upon the ideas of its predecessor, Arkham Asylum, by dropping the Caped Crusader in an immaculately designed world filled with secondary content. The sequel also delivers a tight main storyline that builds towards a satisfying conclusion; along the way, DC fans get to face off against some of Batman's most iconic villains.
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Arkham City's combat system has aged like fine wine; it is fast-paced, intuitive, aggressive, and demands someone's full attention at all times. While the Return to Arkham remasters are not a slam dunk, they at least allow PS Plus subscribers to download rather than stream these games.
Devil May Cry 4
Metascore: 84
Devil May Cry 4
- Released
- February 5, 2008
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Hack and Slash
- How Long To Beat
- 12 Hours
Along with the Devil May Cry HD Collection, Capcom's fourth entry in the franchise is available through PS Plus Premium. Admittedly, playing this game through streaming is not ideal since executing combos requires precise button inputs, however, permitting there isn't too much lag, Devil May Cry 4 is a fantastic hack-and-slash title.
While the environments and story can get repetitive, the combat is tight, complex, and designed for repeat playthroughs. Nero and Dante also control very differently, and they are both a great deal of fun in their own right. Although the character is somewhat polarizing, Nero is an absolute blast to control, and he is also quite accessible. As the franchise's most iconic character, Dante needs no introduction, and outside of Devil May Cry 5, he is at his best in DMC4.
Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time
Metascore: 87
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
- Released
- October 27, 2009
- Developer(s)
- Insomniac Games
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Third-Person Shooter
- How Long To Beat
- 11 Hours
PS Plus Premium gives players access to Ratchet & Clank's PS3 era, including spin-offs such as All 4 One and Full Frontal Assault. All of these titles have something of value to offer, but A Crack in Time provides the most complete Ratchet & Clank experience out of the games available through the subscription service.
Marking the peak of the "Future Saga," A Crack in Time is a continuation of the brilliance established by the franchise's PS2 games, albeit with a slightly heavier focus on combat. Visually great for its time (and still pleasant on the eyes), A Crack in Time is a polished action-adventure title with awesome gameplay.
Tokyo Jungle
Metascore: 74
Tokyo Jungle
- Released
- September 25, 2012
- Developer(s)
- Crispy's!
- Genre(s)
- Survival
- How Long To Beat
- 16 Hours
Certain games are so bizarre that they immediately stand out from a crowd, regardless of whether they attract negative or positive attention. Tokyo Jungle is one of those titles. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, players take control of different animals as they traverse a deteriorating Tokyo in order to piece together the events that led to this future.
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Along with a Story mode, Tokyo Jungle has a Survival mode that allows players to pick one animal to face the world's hardships. Through this campaign, other types of animals can be unlocked, encouraging repeat playthroughs. Tokyo Jungle is not perfect, but there is no other game like it on PS Plus Premium.
Rage
Metascore: 81
RAGE
- Released
- October 4, 2011
- Developer(s)
- id Software
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- How Long To Beat
- 11 Hours
Despite garnering reasonably positive reviews, Rage has a reputation for being somewhat of a disappointment. Although the developer had arguably lost some steam by the early 2010s, id Software was still the company behind Wolfenstein, Quake, and Doom, and many hoped that Rage would stand alongside those juggernauts. Ultimately, the title fell short of those expectations; however, there is still a fun game here.
Unsurprisingly, Rage's greatest feature is its gunplay. The combat is smooth, satisfying, and packs a punch. The aggressive AI enemies are also a highlight, ensuring that most situations are intense and vicious. Even all these years later, Rage is still a decent-looking first-person shooter with above-average gameplay.
Puppeteer
Metascore: 80
Puppeteer
- Released
- September 10, 2013
- Developer(s)
- JapanStudio
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- How Long To Beat
- 10 Hours
A delightful platformer that has been slightly forgotten, Puppeteer oozes imagination, personality, and charm. Presented as a stage show, players control Kutaro, a puppet who can swap heads as he makes his way through 21 stages filled with souls to save and bosses to defeat.
Puppeteer's visual style is captivating, offering a fantastic mix of whimsy and nightmarish elements. The story is also entertaining, especially since the game mostly assumes a comedic tone. This platformer was a late release in the PS3's life, so for those who missed it, Puppeteer is waiting for them on PS Plus Premium.
Mega Man 9
Metascore: 77
Mega Man 9
- Released
- September 22, 2008
- Developer(s)
- Capcom, Inti Creates
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- How Long To Beat
- 4 Hours
Nowadays, Mega Man 9 has lost some of its shine as the game is derivative of early entries in the franchise. However, in 2008, Capcom had not produced a traditional Mega Man project in roughly a decade; consequently, this sequel was exactly what the license needed. More importantly, Mega Man 9 comes extremely close to perfecting the franchise's formula by delivering brilliant level design and a great selection of bosses (and, by extension, boss weapons).
Like most of the best classic platformers, Mega Man 9 can be frustratingly difficult at times, but the game rarely comes across as unfair. It just makes players work for the end credits.
Mega Man 10 is also on PS Plus Premium and is quite good, although its predecessor is superior.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma
Metascore: 88
Ninja Gaiden Sigma
- Released
- July 3, 2007
- Developer(s)
- Team Ninja
- Genre(s)
- Hack and Slash
- How Long To Beat
- 14 Hours
Similar to Devil May Cry 4, this Ninja Gaiden Sigma recommendation comes with the caveat that PS Plus Premium users need to have a stellar connection as this is one game that can't be played with any significant lag. All of Team Ninja's franchise is available on Sony's subscription service, with 2007's Ninja Gaiden Sigma being the best of the bunch.
As Ryu (and a number of other characters), players battle their way through grim streets and dark catacombs utilizing a vicious combat system that prioritizes precision and efficiency above showmanship. Ninja Gaiden Sigma is punishing, quite long, and a lot of fun.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion
Metascore: 93
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The precursor to Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion compares favorably to its successor in various ways, particularly when it comes to its writing and story. While the 2006 game's gameplay and visuals show their age, Oblivion's open-world still has the capacity to impress through the sheer scope of its ambitious nature. The RPG genre has developed quite a bit since the release of this title, but players fond of TES lore will have a blast revisiting this 2000s classic. The game is pretty difficult, rewards exploration, and has some fantastic side quests.