Best games
Best PlayStation 3 games of 2015
The 42 best PlayStation 3 games released in 2015, ranked from 14,567 critic and player ratings.
The best PlayStation 3 game of 2015 is Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, with a critic score of 96/100 — updated August 2026.
01
S
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the sequel to Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and a prequel to the original Metal Gear. The game has a complex story with long cut-scene sequences, but there are fewer and they are shorter compared to earlier Metal Gear Solid titles. Most of the gameplay mechanics introduced in Ground Zeroes are carried over: it is still an action game and stealth oriented but replaces the linear corridor design from most earlier titles with large open world environments that offer the player unrestricted freedom for the approach. The world has now a real-time day and night cycle and various weather effects that influence enemy behaviour, visibility and sound. Sabotaging or destroying certain structures can also influence other parts of the map.
96
/100
02
Yakuza 0
Yakuza 0 is an action-adventure game developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega. Serving as a prequel to the Yakuza series, it is set in 1988 Japan during the country's economic bubble era. The game follows two protagonists: Kazuma Kiryu in Tokyo's Kamurocho district and Goro Majima in Osaka's Sotenbori district. Players alternate between their stories as they navigate the criminal underworld, engaging in street fights, managing businesses, and participating in various side activities. The gameplay combines beat 'em up combat with open-world exploration, offering numerous mini-games and side quests. Yakuza 0 was initially released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in Japan in March 2015, followed by a worldwide release on PlayStation 4 in January 2017. It later became available on Windows via Steam in August 2018 and on Xbox One in February 2020. A Director's Cut version is scheduled for release on Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025.
86
/100
03
NBA 2K16
86
/100
S
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is the sequel to Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and a prequel to the original Metal Gear. The game has a complex story with long cut-scene sequences, but there are fewer and they are shorter compared to earlier Metal Gear Solid titles. Most of the gameplay mechanics introduced in Ground Zeroes are carried over: it is still an action game and stealth oriented but replaces the linear corridor design from most earlier titles with large open world environments that offer the player unrestricted freedom for the approach. The world has now a real-time day and night cycle and various weather effects that influence enemy behaviour, visibility and sound. Sabotaging or destroying certain structures can also influence other parts of the map.
96
/100
02
Yakuza 0
Yakuza 0 is an action-adventure game developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega. Serving as a prequel to the Yakuza series, it is set in 1988 Japan during the country's economic bubble era. The game follows two protagonists: Kazuma Kiryu in Tokyo's Kamurocho district and Goro Majima in Osaka's Sotenbori district. Players alternate between their stories as they navigate the criminal underworld, engaging in street fights, managing businesses, and participating in various side activities. The gameplay combines beat 'em up combat with open-world exploration, offering numerous mini-games and side quests. Yakuza 0 was initially released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in Japan in March 2015, followed by a worldwide release on PlayStation 4 in January 2017. It later became available on Windows via Steam in August 2018 and on Xbox One in February 2020. A Director's Cut version is scheduled for release on Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025.
86
/100
03
NBA 2K16
86
/100
04
Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows
86
/100
05
Madden NFL 16
84
/100
06
HELLDIVERS
83
/100
07
Pro Evolution Soccer 2016
83
/100
08
Resident Evil HD Remaster
82
/100
09
BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma EXTEND
82
/100
10
STEINS;GATE 0
81
/100
11
The Evil Within: The Assignment
80
/100
12
Until Dawn
79
/100
13
S
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
79
/100
14
EA SPORTS FIFA 16
79
/100
15
BADLAND: Game of the Year Edition
79
/100
16
Life Is Strange
79
/100
17
The Jackbox Party Pack 2
78
/100
18
Tales of Zestiria
77
/100
19
One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3
76
/100
20
The Evil Within: The Consequence
76
/100
21
TRANSFORMERS: Devastation
75
/100
22
Extreme Exorcism
75
/100
23
DRAGON QUEST HEROES: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below
75
/100
24
WWE 2K16
74
/100
25
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse
74
/100
26
LEGO DIMENSIONS
74
/100
27
S
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
73
/100
28
Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book
73
/100
29
Resident Evil Revelations 2
72
/100
30
Battlefield Hardline
72
/100
31
LEGO Jurassic World
72
/100
32
Dead or Alive 5: Last Round
72
/100
33
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
71
/100
34
DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round
71
/100
35
The Swindle
70
/100
36
Dragon Ball Xenoverse
68
/100
37
Nova-111
68
/100
38
Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends
66
/100
39
Sword Art Online: Lost Song
66
/100
40
WRC 5 FIA World Rally Championship
65
/100
41
Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell
64
/100
42
The Evil Within: The Executioner
59
/100
Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows
86
/100
05
Madden NFL 16
84
/100
06
HELLDIVERS
83
/100
07
Pro Evolution Soccer 2016
83
/100
08
Resident Evil HD Remaster
82
/100
09
BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma EXTEND
82
/100
10
STEINS;GATE 0
81
/100
11
The Evil Within: The Assignment
80
/100
12
Until Dawn
79
/100
13
S
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
79
/100
14
EA SPORTS FIFA 16
79
/100
15
BADLAND: Game of the Year Edition
79
/100
16
Life Is Strange
79
/100
17
The Jackbox Party Pack 2
78
/100
18
Tales of Zestiria
77
/100
19
One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3
76
/100
20
The Evil Within: The Consequence
76
/100
21
TRANSFORMERS: Devastation
75
/100
22
Extreme Exorcism
75
/100
23
DRAGON QUEST HEROES: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below
75
/100
24
WWE 2K16
74
/100
25
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse
74
/100
26
LEGO DIMENSIONS
74
/100
27
S
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
73
/100
28
Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book
73
/100
29
Resident Evil Revelations 2
72
/100
30
Battlefield Hardline
72
/100
31
LEGO Jurassic World
72
/100
32
Dead or Alive 5: Last Round
72
/100
33
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
71
/100
34
DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Last Round
71
/100
35
The Swindle
70
/100
36
Dragon Ball Xenoverse
68
/100
37
Nova-111
68
/100
38
Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends
66
/100
39
Sword Art Online: Lost Song
66
/100
40
WRC 5 FIA World Rally Championship
65
/100
41
Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell
64
/100
42
The Evil Within: The Executioner
59
/100
FAQ
What is the best PlayStation 3 game of 2015?
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain currently tops the ranking with a score of 96/100 across 1,143 ratings. It holds a S grade from the Tier community — updated August 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.