PS3 Games With Forgotten Multiplayer Modes (That Were Incredibly Good)

The PS3 took some time to get rolling, like the PS1 and PS2, but a bit slower. By 2008, though, the PS3 hits started to come in faster, from exclusives like Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots to multiplatform games like Call of Duty: Black Ops. It’s now a well-regarded console in its own right, but perhaps it isn’t worth ranking toward the top of the list.

What’s funny is that this generation, including the Xbox 360, is when developers seemed to think they had to include a multiplayer mode with every game. Most players probably never touched these modes, even though some turned out to be better than they needed to be.

Batman: Arkham Origins

Invisible Predator Online

Batman: Arkham Origins is the one game that isn’t directly associated with Rocksteady’s Arkham games, even though this origin story bases its combat and lore on them. It is a better game than most gave it credit for, and the multiplayer mode was unique, called Invisible Predator Online.

Teams of three would clash, either as the Joker’s or Bane’s gang. Players could randomly become one of the two villains temporarily in matches while others were stalking the villains as Batman and Robin. There was always a lot going on in a single match, so it wasn’t perfect, but the idea was solid.

BioShock 2

The Fall Of Rapture

BioShock 2 added a lot more features as a sequel to make the gameplay more enjoyable, like dual-wielding Plasmids. The multiplayer in this game was called the Fall of Rapture, and it was a prequel set during Rapture’s Civil War. Players could inhabit the roles of broken citizens who could wield weapons and powers against their enemies. The gameplay was chaotic and fun, but the real selling point was the extra lore that filled out gaps in the BioShock series.

Dead Space 2

Contain The Outbreak

Dead Space is a horror classic on the PS3. The original almost had multiplayer, but it was scrapped and later figured into the sequel, albeit in a different form.

Dead Space 2’s multiplayer mode is called Outbreak. Players can choose to be a group of humans who fight back against Necromorphs, or players can be a group of Necromorphs hunting humans. The latter option was the more interesting of the two, as things could get brutal with all the dismemberment and blood explosions.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game

Busting Makes Me Feel Good

Ghostbusters: The Video Game may as well have been called Ghostbusters 3 because that’s what it felt like, and fans probably still prefer it over the three movies that came out afterward. Either way, it was a great Ghostbusters game in which it felt good capturing ghosts. Players could continue capturing ghosts online in a separate co-op multiplayer mode wherein they had to catch as many as they could with friends. The Wii version actually had an offline version of this, which was also good, but for other reasons, as the Wii version had a more cartoonish look.

Grand Theft Auto 4

Prototype Online

Before Grand Theft Auto Online launched within Grand Theft Auto 5 and made Rockstar an intense amount of money, there was Grand Theft Auto 4. The online portion was less ambitious than what it would become in the next installment, but players could jump online anytime with Nico’s cellphone. This would effectively turn a portion of Liberty City into a war zone in which players could cause chaos with friends. Distinct modes could be triggered too, like a Deathmatch or a street race, but simply exploring with friends was more fun.

Mass Effect 3

Galaxy At War

Mass Effect 3 was the end of the trilogy, and Commander Shepherd finally convinced the galaxy of the Reaper’s threat. This meant that players had to build an army measured by Effective Military Strength, which could be increased by progressing through the story and making bold decisions, as well as completing side content.

Furthermore, players could jump into an optional horde mode called Galaxy at War. Missions were quick, easy to get through, and best of all, players could become different races for once. Sadly, it wasn’t included in Mass Effect Legendary Edition, even though it was kind of important to the story.

Metal Gear Online

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is still trapped on the PS3, much to the chagrin of fans. Equally trapped, although it did get spiritual successors, is Metal Gear Online, which came bundled with Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots as a starter pack. It was bundled separately in Japan, but either way, this was a true multiplayer suite of modes, from sneaking missions to Team Deathmatch. All the personality and weaponry from the game were present, making it a fun hybrid between a multiplayer shooter and a stealth game.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Treasure Hunting Together

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is widely regarded as the best game in the series, let alone one of the best games on PS3. The campaign is just as exciting to experience now as it was over a decade ago, but not many checked out the equally stellar multiplayer.

Players could dive into various classic modes like Deathmatch or Capture the Flag, or they could go through co-op scenarios and hunt for treasure. Tackling enemies with others while guarding checkpoints online was an immersive feeling, like becoming a real treasure hunter.