PlayStation 3's Most Ambitious RPGs

It's hard to imagine a world without the legacy of the PlayStation 3, but it was actually not well-received upon its release in 2006. One criticism in particular was its limited launch titles, which it had made up for by the time of its retirement, but that limitation would endure in regard to its Western RPG catalog.

The PS3 fared better in terms of exclusive JRPGs, but it unfortunately only had one Western RPG that was released exclusively for the platform. It did have several cross-platform RPG releases, however, and several of these RPGs became the foundations of the gaming industry today. Some of these RPGs changed video games forever, and kicked off franchises that are still popular today 20 years later.

10 Alpha Protocol

Pushing CRPGs to the Limit

Obsidian has become known as a developer that deviates from the norm to create character-heavy narratives that stay with you long after you put down the controller. Alpha Protocol is one of the studio's lesser-known games, but its implementation of a reactive narrative brings it into the scope of ambitious.

Alpha Protocol ended up being regarded as a messy game, but it got to that point because of its many ambitious systems. There were a lot of interlocking systems in place that all affected each other, and some of them, its gameplay in particular, suffered from poor execution. Despite this, it rings true as an RPG, particularly because of its choices and dialogue system, and it's become a cult classic in recent years.

9 Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

Creating a New IP

New IPs are important for two reasons — they can be the start of a new series that lasts decades, and they're incredibly risky. Many games are sequels or spin-offs simply because investing in an entirely new IP has so much risk. So, when a new one comes along, many sit up and listen.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was a brave new IP from Big Huge Studios. It had a lot of ambitious ideas which showed in its level design, gameplay, and graphics, and the studio designed AI specifically for enemy encounters to prevent repetitive combat. Unfortunately, its combat system aged very quickly and its story was criticized. The studio eventually shut down, and a remaster was released for the PS4 in 2020.

8 Diablo III

Many Systems Working Together

Diablo III had a big task ahead of it to be worthy of its title. Blizzard chose to go all in on the gameplay loop, exploration, and loot, making Diablo III an addictive game where its main plot became more of an excuse to fight monsters. Diablo III's procedurally created dungeons and enemies had been done before, but its other gameplay mechanics made replaying it a fresh experience every time rather than tedious.

This was an ambitious project that many fans still regard as one of the best entries in the Diablo series. For such an intense game, Diablo III was well-optimized for the PS3's limitations, avoiding massive frame rate drops and the crashes often seen in ports. Its local co-op was seamlessly integrated, and both its single-player and multiplayer modes were considered some of the best when it was released in 2011.

7 Mass Effect 3

Concluding a Beloved Trilogy

Mass Effect 3 had the galaxy on its shoulders. It had to wrap up so many diverging paths — the end of civilization in the galaxy, concluding the stories of Shepard's different companions from over the years, and give Shepard's story a satisfying conclusion.

It's debatable whether BioWare succeeded in all of these endeavors, especially as the ending was so controversial at the time. A new ending fixed up most of the cracks though, and Mass Effect 3 is fondly remembered by many as the final chapter in Shepard's story. I'm still not a huge fan of the ending, but saying goodbye to characters who came to feel like my friends made me cry, which makes it alright in my book.

6 Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Creating a Prequel

Deus Ex: Human Revolution was the third game in a series, but it had somewhat the opposite problem as Mass Effect 3 as a prequel rather than the third in a trilogy. It had to stand as a game on its own terms, withstand comparisons to its predecessors, and ideally create a natural lead into Deus Ex.

It succeeded at all of this, and more, all while offering different choices with real impact on the story and retaining the identity of the Deus Ex series. As an action-RPG, the gameplay, story, and characters all had to be captivating while offering differing paths for each. Deus Ex: Human Revolution is remembered today for its immersive game design and ambitious scale for the PS3 era.

5 Dragon Age: Origins

BioWare's Flagship Fantasy IP

BioWare declined to develop the sequel to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic in favor of creating its own IPs. These IPs became Mass Effect and Dragon Age. Dragon Age: Origins became the lesser-known game compared to Mass Effect, but it made a big impact in the DnD-inspired CRPG space. It found its niche and thrived in it, kicking off a franchise that lasted for nearly twenty years. Thedas was a setting that showcased intricate lore, unforgettable characters, and an escalating plot that spanned a continent.

Creating an original world that was inspired by DnD rather than driven by it was an ambitious project for a developer like BioWare, who had only created games based on established franchises before then. It managed to forge its own identity that stood apart from other fantasy franchises that were popular at the time, and still stands today as a dark fantasy classic.

4 Dark Souls

FromSoftware's Legacy

Dark Souls was actually not FromSoftware's first Soulslike, but this is where the new genre was perfected. Dark Souls became a hit because it wasn't afraid to alienate players and, in doing so, became a litmus test for skill and perseverance. The combat was delightfully difficult, with those who beat it earning a badge of skill and respect from players once Dark Souls' reputation had spread.

Alienating so many players who just didn't have the time, patience, or desire to git gud was a risky and ambitious move that paid off in spades. Dark Souls kicked off an insanely popular franchise, and became the inspiration for countless more games that have changed the industry.

3 Fallout: New Vegas

A New Perspective for Fallout

The Fallout franchise had a pretty good run on the PS3 with two of the most highly-acclaimed Fallout games, with both Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas.

Obsidian shook up the Fallout narrative in several ways, including the established pattern Fallout had established over three games of having the player character be the resident of a Vault and beginning the game in one. Instead, your character is established in the surface world of the Mojave Desert that surrounds New Vegas. It pushed factions and companions to their limits, and gave a brave story that sat with me for years after playing it.

2 Demon's Souls

The Birth of a New Genre

Trace the Soulslike genre back to its source, and you'll find Demon's Souls. FromSoftware is a household name now, but it was in a very different place in 2009. Demon's Souls was one of the first in the Souls series, and had all the ambition and hope that the first game in a franchise typically embody.

This also means that it was FromSoftware, or anyone's, first venture into the genre, and it shows. You could only dodge in four directions, and the combat was notoriously janky. This may be excusable in some other RPG genres but, for a game where combat is one of the main draws, players and critics alike were less forgiving of Demon's Souls. Nevertheless, this game was the only RPG exclusive to the PS3, and went a long way to kickstart the Soulslike genre, an ambitious project by any measure.

When Open-Worlds Became Mandatory

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was the golden child of the PS3 era. It released at the same time as its Xbox counterpart, and brought in millions of new players to The Elder Scrolls series. Everything about Skyrim was big. It had a score worthy of the most prestigious music awards, stunning graphics, and improved on its predecessors' combat and leveling in fundamental ways.

Skyrim's ambition, however, ultimately proved too great for the PS3 and exceeded many of its limits. As you played the game, it load times would increase and the frame rate would drop to a snail's pace. As Skyrim included loading screens whenever you entered anywhere indoors or a new city, the long loading times became a real problem. Many of these problems were alleviated on Skyrim's PS4 version, but getting it on the PS3 was an ambitious move in itself.