Best PS3 (PlayStation 3) games of the year

Check out some of the best PlayStation 3 games of the year from a selection of titles exclusive to the PS3 console.

The year in gaming has been a tumultuous one, with a somewhat light beginning, and a heavy end of year. The fall wave of blockbusters featured some of the best titles in years, and gamers will likely be picking them up and playing them for months to come. But while the releases primarily fell at the close of the 2011, the PS3 has seen one of its best years for exclusives. A-list titles were sprinkled throughout the months haven given PS3 owners a solid selection year round.

When it comes to the battle between the consoles, exclusive titles are an easy thing for fans to point to as evidence of a particular system’s superiority. All three major systems have their pros and cons, and all three have had success in particular fields, but of them all, the PS3 has consistently turned out some of the best exclusive titles. Here’s our list of the best from 2011.

Killzone 3 The third game in the long-running Killzone franchise offers some of the most incredible visuals of any game this year, and those fortunate enough to be able to play the game in 3D will be able to see why some developers are excited for the new technology to saturate gaming. Trapped on an alien world filled with enemy troops, you and a small band of soldiers are forced to survive against all odds. With tight controls and a multiplayer that offers a lot of reason to keep playing it, Killzone 3 is one of the best shooters of the year. The visuals are incredible, and the developers reveled in developing a totally alien world for you to destroy in the name of future America fighting future Nazis. You are actually a member of the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance, fighting the Helghast… but they are pretty much Space Nazis.

The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection Although these games were both originally released on the PS2, the remastered versions are worth your attention for a number of reasons. The first is that the games were already beautiful, and among the best-looking games on the PS2, both in the quality of the graphics, as well as the incredible and imaginative designs. They were also among the most original games, challenging gamers to try something new, and turning convention on its head. These games must be played to be appreciated. When Roger Ebert decided to poke gamers everywhere in the eye and announce that he thought video games could never be art, many counter examples were thrown back at him. The most consistently referenced were the two games from Team Ico: Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. They are art. And if that isn’t enough reason, you also get two, HD-ified masterpieces, for less than the price of a brand new game.

inFamous 2 Although it helps to have played the first inFamous game, it is in no way necessary for you to enjoy the sequel. The inFamous series has only existed as a PS3 series so far, and that is a shame for people who don’t own one, because they are basically two of the best superhero games ever made. You take control of Cole McGrath, a courier who received electric-based powers in the previous game. In this outing, Cole has a whole new city to play in (this one based on New Orleans) but how he decides to play is up to you. A staple of the series is the ability to choose your path as either a hero or a villain. As you progress, your powers develop based on your choices, as does the story and the way people treat you. If you want to be a protector to the city, you can. If you want them to fear you, you have that option. But at the core of the game is the ability to just run wild in an intricately designed city, and pretty much do whatever you want. This is what all superhero games should aspire towards.

Resistance 3 The Resistance series has become a staple of the PS3. As one of the system’s launch titles, the first Resistance introduced us to a strange alternative Earth, where aliens prevented World War II by invading, then proceeding to exterminate the population. The series was fun and fast-paced, but somewhat bleak as well. The second game expanded the scope and introduced some incredible new sets, then ended with one of the more shocking twists in recent gaming. The third game decided to take things in a different direction. In Resistance 3, humanity is not just losing, it has lost. The world has entered a dark time, where the only things holding people together are the connections among each other. That is where the story shines, as the game’s protagonist is forced to leave his family and take a long, doomed march to New York, for one last fight. The story should grab you, the gameplay will keep you going, and the robust multiplayer will keep you coming back for more and more.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception When people talk about the end of 2011 and go on about how crazy the last few months were with massive and eagerly anticipated hit after hit, Uncharted 3 is one of the examples they use. The Uncharted series has been one of the best reasons to own a PS3. The first game was entertaining but forgettable, but Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is probably going to be remembered as one of the best games of this generation, and among the greatest games of all time. It’s that good. It also means the sequel had a lot to live up to. With insane expectations, developer Naughty Dog managed to once again deliver an amazing game. You take the series protagonist Nathan Drake around the world, hunting for the legendary lost city, Iram of the Pillars, aka Atlantis of the Sands. Along the way you will learn more about the character, who despite his wild adventures, is one of the most human and interesting action characters created in any medium. A compelling and well-written story, some truly incredible gaming moments, and a fine-tuned multiplayer make this one of the best games of the year on any system.