Released in 2006, the Playstation 3 was Sony’s first loss since they entered the console market in 1994 with the Playstation 1. The Playstation 3 was notoriously difficult to program for which made most 3rd party games run better the then-completing console Microsoft’s Xbox 360. However, that doesn’t mean that the Playstation 3 was a total failure, offering, as always, a much more impressive line of exclusive games than Microsoft’s line of Xbox consoles.

With the Playstation 5 well on its way, let’s have a look at the best-reviewed games the console had to offer, based on Metacritic scores. There is a 1 game per franchise rule for sake of variety.

10 Street Fighter IV

The Street Fighter series laid dormant for many years, causing the fighting game to also lose a lot of its steam. With the release and massive success of Street Fighter IV, many other fighting game series felt it was financially viable to return and the fighting game scene was revived and is now bigger than ever. We can all thank Street Fighter IV for the fantastic selection of great fighting games on the market today.

Street Fighter IV has a very distinct visual style, blending highly detailing cel-shaded models with 3D environments while keeping the 2D sidescrolling gameplay the series is known for.

9 Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2 is a 3rd person shooter mixed with a squad-based RPG. The Mass Effect series is known for having branching paths based on decisions you have made so Mass Effect 2 allowed you to import your saves from the previous games causing all of your decisions you had made in the previous game carry over and affect the story in Mass Effect 2.

Mass Effect 2 is arguable the best game in the series, taking the structure set in the first game and expanding on it in every way. The game focuses more on combat but doesn’t lose its RPG roots that the first game and developer Bioware are known for.

8 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

 Call of Duty was once a strictly World War 2 first-person shooter series until the release of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare which brought the series into a contemporary setting. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was a massive success so the follow-up Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was highly anticipated.

Modern Warfare 2 had a story-driven campaign but was played more for its online-multiplayer which took the gaming world by storm and is still being expanded on in sequels that are still being released to this day.

7 BioShock Infinite

The first 2 games in the Bioshock series took place in the claustrophobic underwater city called Rapture. The third game in the series takes to the skies with a city build on air balloons called Columbia.

The gameplay of Bioshock Infinite shares many similarities with the first 2 games in the series with first-person-shooting action and gene splicing plasmids which allow you to fire elements and other things from your hand. However, Bioshock Infinite’s combatfocuses more on the wide-open areasthe game presents to you rather than the close-quartered battles of the first 2 games.

6 Portal 2

Portal 2 was developed by the highly-respected Valve who are best known for their Half-life series, Team Fortress 2, and the massive PC digital distribution service Steam. The Portal games are psychics based puzzle games that give you a gun capable of creating portals.

Portal 2 offers a story-driven single-player mode where you try to uncover the secrets and escape from the Aperture Science Enrichment Center, as well as a 2 player mode that sends you through a set amount of levels that are structured as tests, similar to the first game.

5 The Last of Us

Naughty Dog, known for their Uncharted and Crash Bandicoot series’ surprised the gaming world when they released the post-apocalyptic, totally not zombie-related, The Last of Us. The game is very story-driven, playing similarly to the Uncharted series but with survival horror elements. The story is what steals the show and will leave you thinking about the game long after you put down the controller.

At the time of writing this, TheLast of Us 2 has just been released and is the topic of conversation for the gaming industry being seen as a worthy follow up to one of the best games the Playstation 3 had to offer.

4 LittleBigPlanet

LittleBigPlanet is a 2D platformer in a 3D world. While the game does offer a story, it is more known for the game creation tool within it. You can create your own levels or download levels created by other players, giving the game endless replayability.

The game was followed up with 2 mainline sequels as well as some spin-offs. The spin-offs included the kart LittleBigPlanet Karting which focuses on creating tracks so you can race them and share them. There were also spin-offs on the Playstation Vita, phones, and other consoles.

3 Batman: Arkham City

Batman: Arkham City is arguably the greatest super-hero game of all time. With a structure similar to Nintendo’s Metroid series, you use Batman’s gadget to traverse Gotham City, looking for collectibles and equipment upgrades as well as engaging in combat that plays like a fast-paced rhythm game.

Batman: Arkham City offers hundreds of collectibles, different playable characters, score challenges, and different costumes to play around with, giving the game plenty of replayability. Arkham City also benefits from a story that feels true to the comics the game is based on.

2 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

The first Uncharted game was seen as little more than a Tomb Raider clone but when the second game was released, it changed the way people perceive the series. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves had a grand feel due to all of the large set pieces and explosions.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves also offered multiplayer, ensuring the game stay alive long after players finished the single-player story. If it weren’t for this entry, there is a good chance the series would have died off but it is now a heavy hitter for Sony and has received many sequels.

1 Grand Theft Auto IV

Grand Theft Auto IV took the open-world gameplay from previous and added cover-based 3rd person shooting similar to the Gears of War series. Rockstar created their most dense and seemingly lived-in world yet with buildings to enter, vendors perpetually selling hot dogs, and ragdoll psychics that make you really feel like you were committing vehicular manslaughter.

The game was given 2 massive pieces of DLC that added new vehicles, weapons, radio stations, and more. The DLC also provided entirely new intersecting stories to play through which is what inspired Rockstar to have 3 main playable characters in Grand Theft Auto V.

NEXT: 10 Best PlayStation 3 Games That Are Still Under-Appreciated