Compared to the PS1 and PS2, the PS3 had a rough start when it launched in 2006. It took a few years, but eventually the PS3 hits came in from first-party and third-party publishers, including Grand Theft Auto 4, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, and Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune.
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The PS3 era was a rocky one for Sony, and even with the console's massive catalog of releases, many great games were hidden from the limelight.
For every good game the PS3 got, it also received a slew of poorly received experiences. Sometimes these games weren’t given the time of day. Maybe they were “bad” simply because they weren’t exactly like other games in a franchise, or maybe there were some bad glitches at launch. Whatever the case may be, these games have good qualities, and some are downright criminally underrated.
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified
A Decent Cover Shooter
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified
- Released
- August 20, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is a spinoff that takes place in the 1960s, wherein aliens invade Earth for what seems like the first time. Instead of a strategy game, this is more like a cover shooter with squad-based tactics featuring governmental agents trying to fight off aliens.
It lacks the engaging strategy of the main XCOM games, and the companion AI isn’t overwhelmingly smart, but the shooting is sufficient. The setting was a great idea, though, as there aren’t many alien games set in the 1960s.
Front Mission Evolved
Giving Up Tactics For Action
Front Mission Evolved
- Released
- September 28, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Front Mission Evolved was a bit of a shocker for fans of the tactical RPG series who had been waiting for a proper sequel to Front Mission 4 since 2004. Japan got several games, but the first major new release in North America was a third-person mech shooter instead in 2010.
That may be a big reason why the game didn’t do as well as it did, on top of the lackluster story. As a mech game, it performed well with great weaponry and customization that could rank up there with some of the best Armored Core games. If only it weren’t categorized as a Front Mission game.
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3
A Gundam Fan’s Dream
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3
- Released
- December 16, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T // Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Genre(s)
- Beat 'Em Up
In the 2000s and early 2010s, Musou games didn’t get a lot of respect, and reviews tended to be quite nasty. A good example is Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3, which received a lot of negative reviews, but they’re funny to look back on now as taste and the industry have evolved.
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It does feature a repetitive action combat system that is kind of mindless, as most missions involve slaying thousands of enemies, but for some, that’s perfectly enjoyable. Also, some may have no idea what a Gundam is, but for fans, this was a cool way to see many series crossovers at the time. Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 is nowhere near a bad game on a technical level, and both Musou and Gundam fans will love it.
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z
Undead Ninjutsu
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z
- Released
- March 21, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z was the last Ninja Gaiden game in the franchise up until 2025’s resurgence with three new games. So, it was understandable why this got a lot of heat back in the day. It didn’t star Ryu, the action was more repetitive than it was challenging, and the tone shifted to a wackier zombie-filled romp.
It was odd to be sure, and it didn’t live up to the franchise’s high action standards. That said, visually it still mostly looks good thanks to the cel-shading, and the concept of ninjas fighting zombies is enough to make it worth a look. Like Front Mission Evolved, it just shouldn’t have been called a Ninja Gaiden game.
White Knight Chronicles 2
Two Games In One
White Knight Chronicles II
- Released
- September 13, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
White Knight Chronicles 2 was a good deal on the PS3 for anyone who missed the first game. That’s because it was packaged with the sequel, as it didn’t sell that well. It’s a shame that Level-5 struggled during the PS3 generation, as their PS2 output was beyond excellent.
These games aren’t bad either, as they just lacked a visual and narrative spark to set them apart from other RPGs on the console. The combat system was great, though, as it was MMO-inspired and players could jump into a giant knight that acted like a mech. There aren’t many fantasy games like it.
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
A Power Fantasy For Umbrella
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
- Released
- March 20, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is an infamously reviled game in the otherwise mostly stellar Resident Evil franchise. It takes place between the second and third games, but it’s also an alternate history take featuring a squad of Umbrella agents going in to destroy the zombie outbreak in Raccoon City and to obtain samples.
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Conceptually, it was a good idea, and most of the shooting was decent enough for what it was trying to go for. What made it review bad was the poorly animated enemies, whose AI was not well programmed either. Altogether, it’s kind of a mess, but shooting zombies in a familiar setting is still kind of fun for truly diehard Resident Evil fans.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time Re-Shelled
Radically Efficient
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled
- Released
- August 5, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ // Cartoon Violence
- Genre(s)
- Beat 'Em Up
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled was exciting because it was the first time players got to play Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time as a standalone game since the SNES release in 1992. The brawling action between all four turtles was still solid, along with their sound effects. There were two major things that kept it from scoring higher, though.
First, due to licensing issues, the music was changed in some instances, which was a shame as the original soundtrack was amazing. Second, the modern polygonal look was more drab compared to the bright pixel visuals. It would have probably been better to just re-release the game digitally instead, but the game is no longer available to buy now, so the lesson has already been learned.
Dark Void
Sideways Uncharted
Dark Void
- Released
- January 19, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Action-Adventure
Dark Void is another game that was built around an amazing idea that just wasn’t executed perfectly. It’s kind of like The Rocketeer meets Uncharted because players get a cool helmet and jetpack to fly around and shoot enemies with. Also, there were vertical-based cover shooting segments, which still look cool visually.
Finally, Nolan North, who voiced Nathan Drake in the Uncharted series, was the protagonist, William, in Dark Void too. So, it definitely tried to be a cool new action-adventure shooter, but thanks to some poor pacing, weird controls, and a lackluster story, it didn’t wow too many people. Is it really a sin to be imperfect, though?
NeverDead
Keep Rolling
NeverDead
- Released
- January 31, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature - Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
- Genre(s)
- Action, Shooter, Hack and Slash
NeverDead is one of those games that has to be played to be believed. It featured a demon hunter named Bryce, who is also an immortal zombie who can fall apart rather easily. In combat, players can lose arms, legs, and even their head with enough damage, but it’s not the end of the world.
It’s very inconvenient during big shootouts when players have to find their parts to become whole again, but there are also segments that use the head rolling ability especially well. The humor is campy, over the top, and doesn’t always land, but there’s nothing quite like NeverDead, and that deserves some praise.
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