Fantasy action RPGs on the PS3 are what entice many gamers, including us! So today, if you share our enthusiasm for them, you’re in for a treat. Today’s selection is just about simple RPGS; there’s plenty on almost every system. No, today, it’s the specific fantasy action part we’re focusing on in the RPGs.
There’s just something appealing about the blend of the high fantasy setting and some good old-fashioned action combat. Maybe it’s the bridge between the freedom of movement of action games with the progression of roleplaying titles. Or perhaps, the fantasy action RPGS on PS3 possess a unique vibe that’s nowhere else in traditional action or roleplaying games. Either way, they’re awesome!
Which Fantasy Action RPGS On PS3 Are the Greatest?
Usually, we don’t mind whether a roleplaying game is Japanese or Western because we love the genre itself. However, with the PS3 launch debacle, there was concern for the console. Thankfully, with the support of the developers, the PS3 got a lot of system-selling games, including fantasy action RPGs.
So, with that outta the way, let’s talk about today’s list. There are probably lots of choices for us to consider, and with 11 spots to fill, we will. However, we’re also relaxing our rules a bit because honestly? Some major fantasy action RPGs are now franchises that are a big hit. We want to applaud the developers who got their reach. So, expect to see more than one game per franchise today. Let’s go!
11. Dark Souls 2
We’re kicking off the party with one of the more unique entries in the mainline Souls games, Dark Souls 2. The git-gud community has dubbed Dark Souls 2 as the black sheep of the franchise; we must disagree with this sentiment. In fact, for us, Dark Souls 2 represents a level of innovation that’s made it the most accessible title in the series. Yes, it’s not without its flaws, but it’s still pretty fun.
So, in true Souls-like fashion, asking for a clear-cut story is outta the question. Instead, we get vague dialogues and item descriptions and one big mystery surrounding the bearer of the curse, the protagonist. We come to the land of Drangleic, where our main character will face adversity. The monsters in each region and section are grotesque and relentless; they will surprise players.
Dark Souls 2’s combat has much more depth than its predecessor. Also, thankfully, you can port between bonfires from the start after activating one. The bosses, heck, even most mini-bosses (looking at you, Pursuer!), are tough as nails and require players to strategize. If you rush, you die. Also, the Emerald Herald is the best souls-waifu, making Dark Souls 2 one of the best fantasy action RPGs ever.
10. Diablo III
For the next pick on our list of great fantasy action RPGs on the PS3, we have Diablo III. So, this game has got rave reviews, and fans love it, and for the most part, we’re in the same boat. However, there’s a reason it’s not higher up in our ranking. It’s got an always online DRM requirement, which we have strong feelings about. Anyway, gameplay and presentation-wise, Diablo III is top-notch.
Diablo III serves up real-time combat with fluid animation and fancy attacks with colorful names and patterns. It’s the perfect game for players who are into hack-and-slash games. The character classes all feel unique, and their different skills add to the game’s fun factor of mixing and matching. Players will also receive upgrades depending on the type of enemies they’ve slain, which encourages exploration alongside combat.
Diablo III drastically ramps up the difficulty level if you’re playing as a hardcore character. If you don’t know, the hardcore characters are one-offs that you can’t revive if they die. The trade-off is that you get rare loot, including special gear and armor, as well as ingredients. Fans of PS3 fantasy action RPGs shouldn’t sleep on Diablo III. As much as we despise the always-online requirement, we can’t deny we had fun.
9. Kingdom Of Amalus: Reckoning
For the next entry on our list of amazing fantasy action RPGs, we have one that aimed for the stars but couldn’t quite get there. Well, we say that, but Kingdom Of Amalur: Reckoning is actually pretty awesome. The creative leads behind the game were all veterans of the industry, and their passion is visible in every facet of the game design. Kingdom Of Amalur: Reckoning has a gorgeous aesthetic, and the visuals are pure eye candy.
A great thing about Kingdom Of Amalur: Reckoning is that it borrows ideas and mechanics from other excellent PS3 JRPGS. You get an expansive open world with various regions, each with a distinct look. Plus, there are also powerful enemies with plenty of minions that reside within dungeons and caverns that the protagonist explores. The combat is where the game truly excels.
Kingdom Of Amalur: Reckoning ensures players will have plenty of options to engage their enemies. From melee heavy swords and versatile dual-wielding blades to bows and staves with magical spells for ranged combat, it’s got everything. There’s even the inclusion of stealth attacks to add layers of strategy to the gameplay. Kingdom Of Amalur: Reckoning is one of the most wonderful action fantasy RPGs to come to the PS3.
8. Final Fantasy XIII: Lightning Returns
For our next pick of excellent fantasy action RPGS on the PS3, we have Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. This absolute feast for the eyes Final Fantasy game is an absolute joy to play. Lightning is up there among the best girl debate of Final Fantasy, and this game shows why. From her strong resolve that perfectly mirrors her beauty, to her combat prowess that makes her a standout character, Lightning is beyond wonderful.
In Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, fans are in for an experience that’s as stressful as it is enjoyable. We personally could have done without the time constraints the game forces on players. However, it’s precisely because of the time limit that Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII feels like such a fresh game. It’s not just a gimmick either; the stakes are high, like the end of the world type scenario if Lightning fails.
On the plus side, fans get a treat with a highly innovative combat system. Lightning’s outfits hold power and must be switched up constantly to recharge once their ATB depletes. This, by the way, is a fantastic choice for fans who love cosmetics in their video games, like skins in Fortnite. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is unquestionably one of the most tremendous fantasy action RPGS on the PS3.
7. Demon’s Souls
Demon’s Souls is an eldritch horror story wrapped around the gameplay style of fantasy action RPGS on PS3. It is one of Sony’s greatest games of all time, regardless of console generation. If you’re wondering why we’re heaping so much praise on this game, it’s because it was the original precursor to the Souls-like genre. Yes, Dark Souls popularized it, but Demon’s Souls is where it all began.
Demon’s Souls has all the grand epic storytelling techniques that you’d expect in games of similar scope. The twist? The players must slay demons that appear from the fog surrounding the world. If that doesn’t sound epic to you, we don’t know what will. What Demon’s Souls offers is highly in-depth and the classic iteration of Souls-like combat. You need to learn to parry, riposte, look for opportunities to attack, and not rush.
The bosses in Demon’s Souls have incredibly haunting designs, with each bossing having a domain over one of the six regions. You reach them thanks to the central hub area, the nexus, which connects all the sections. The main antagonist is an Old One, who is straight out of HP Lovecraftian cosmic terror and will appeal to fans of PS3 horror games. Demon’s Souls is one of the best PS3 high fantasy action RPGS you’ll ever play.
Oh yea, this next pick for the greatest PS3 fantasy action RPGS is a no-brainer. We all know and love The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. As far as we’re concerned, it’s one of the biggest open-world RPGS ever. Bethesda is known for delivering memorable experiences with its offerings, and with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the devs have knocked it out of the park.
In Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, players take on the role of a character they can fully customize. Later on in the story, the protagonist becomes the Dragonborn. The goal of the Dragonborn is to vanquish the mighty dragons who are terrorizing the citizen of Skyrim. To that end, players can shape their playstyle to their preference. You can make a warrior, a thief, or a sorcerer, maybe even an amalgamation of all three.
In addition to the regular perks and skills, the players have access to the ever-popular and powerful dragon shouts. By far, the most meme-worthy and most frequently used one is Fus Roh Da! All jokes aside, The game offers an unprecedented level of freedom to progress and experience the story at a pace suitable to your tastes. It’s what makes The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim one of the most influential fantasy action RPGS to date on the PS3.
5. Dragon’s Crown
We’re really riding the retro train with this next choice of spectacular PS3 action fantasy RPGS in Dragon’s Crown. This incredibly stellar game holds breathtaking 2D visuals and a side-scrolling style of gameplay. Dragon’s Crown is basically a love letter for gamers who love NES games. The game’s no picnic wither, containing that vibe of old-school classics, where you need to learn to time your attacks.
The enemies and bosses, in particular, are colorful and exaggerated in Dragon’s Crown. Usually, the gameplay revolves around beat’em up mechanics using one of the six playable characters. When the special attack meter fills up, you deal out the super attacks and clear the screen or at least damage every enemy on the screen. However, there’s a complexity to this simple formula, which requires looking out for the right moments.
You need to charge up the super meter by landing hits and dodging enemies until you can unleash your super attack. There are companions who join the protagonist in Dragon’s Crown to allow for some breathing room. The dungeons in Dragon’s Crown are linear but have excellent replay value. Oh, and you can also play the game with friends in co-op. Dragon’s Crown is an absolute gem among PS3 action fantasy RPGS.
4. Dark Souls
Here it is! The one game you were fishing for on our list of fantasy action RPGS, Dark Souls. If you don’t know, you’re either a late gamer or were born after a long time after the release of Dark Souls. Anyway, Dark Souls offers a truly unique experience with layers to the enjoyment the more you ponder and explore its world. There’s despair all over, and as the chosen undead, you’re goaded toward a certain objective.
Dark Souls will reward you if you’re observant and learn the ways enemy attack and how the environment is structured. Fail to do that, however, and you’ll quickly learn the hard way, why Dark Souls’ definitive version was titled, Prepare To Die Edition. The bosses are not only intimidating but are just some of the most overpowered in all of gaming. Like they can one-shot the chosen undead 9 times out of 10.
Another nifty feature of Dark Souls is its flexible layout of the world design. You can open up paths and shortcuts to go in completely opposite directions from the intended path. Dark Souls character builds are diverse and suit multiple playstyles. The lore isn’t spoon-fed to players; you gotta work for it and piece together information. It’s things like this, that make Dark Souls one of the most enjoyable dark fantasy action PS3 RPGS.
3. Nier
Coming in hot at number 3 on our list of amazing fantasy action RPGS on PS3, we have Nier. This game is a masterpiece that dives into absurdity. Every subsequent playthrough, and makes the players feel bad about their actions in the game. Players will take on the role of an overprotective brother who’s always looking after his frail sister. She has a condition that makes her physically weak.
To find a cure, the titular hero Nier embarks on a journey. He comes across a mystical tome, who’s ancient and full of sass. Giving the pairing some really fun banter, as Nier goes about slaughtering strange supernatural creatures and sentient automatons. The creator of the Nier franchise and its prequels, the Drakengard series, Mr. Yoko Taro, is a quirky fellow, and his nature bleeds into Nier.
Expect a lot of disturbing and mature scenarios, with dark implications. In Nier, things go grim as the story progresses, and there’s a tragic element present in every character’s backstory that accompanies the protagonist. Nier is for players who love compelling characters and plots with loads of intrigue, like our favorite story-driven games. We love Nier a lot and think it tops many conventional action fantasy RPGS on PS3.
2. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
We’re in the runner-up position on our list of top-tier fantasy action RPGS on the PS3. Coming in at second place, we have Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, one of Capcom’s best games ever. Players take on the role of The Arisen, a special individual whose heart is forcibly taken by Grigori, an elder dragon. As The Arisen, players take up arms and develop their character’s skills by slaying monsters and completing quests.
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is a semi-open-world fantasy adventure game with deep combat mechanics. Skills and augments play a crucial role gameplay-wise. Heck, even your physical stats like height and weight affect the carrying capacity and whether or not they can fit through tiny spaces. There are numerous enemy types, and their variants are even deadlier in late and post-game.
The game’s non-linear structure ensures you can take on dangerous quests even at low levels. Also, to make things easier and mitigate surprises from enemies, The Arisen has pawns. They’re loyal companions who join The Arisen on his campaign. What’s more, you can even customize a main pawn to your liking, just like The Arisen. Dragon’s Dogma Dark Arisen is more like medieval-themed fantasy RPGS than traditional PS3 action games, but it’s super fun.
1. Dragon Age: Origins – Our Top Choice for the Best Fantasy Action RPGS on PS3
The greatest fantasy action RPGs pale in comparison to Dragon Age: Origins on the PS3. We adore and love this amazing high-fantasy title so much that we’d buy a remake or remaster in a heartbeat. Dragon Age: Origins has a timeless appeal, where it truly feels like the ultimate fantasy experience. Players take on the role of a Grey Warden, who can be a human, an elf, or a dwarf, but that’s not even the half of it.
Each version of the Grey Warden can further be fine-tuned, like having a character class from a warrior, rogue, or mage. Their backstory will further have complex plot threads, that tie into the overarching plot. The central story is about the blight upon the land of Ferelden, unholy abominations; the darkspawn are plaguing the land. Caught in the middle of a power struggle, our Grey Warden survives a conspiracy against the order.
Now, players must rally the allied forces of the Grey Wardens to thwart the darkspawn, while also seeking vengeance on the conspirators. There’s massive intrigue and loads of variety in the story outcomes. While on the gameplay side of things, Dragon Age: Origins is an acquired taste. Dragon Age: Origins is methodical and has more of a tactical combat fantasy RPG action vibe, in the same vein as the best Fire Emblem games.
Final Thoughts On the Greatest Fantasy Action RPGs on PS3
Well, that was a trip down memory lane, and one well worth taking, we’d say. So, we hope you all had a blast going through our list of fantastic PS3 fantasy action RPGs. Let us know in the comments below if that’s the case. Also, if you think we’re missing any of your favorites, don’t forget to mention it as well.
The PlayStation 3 is such an enigma even today. The architecture and design were so drastically different that it missed out on quite a few third-party games. Having said that, there are some great titles that are still locked on the retro system. You can check out our guide for more details about accessing PS3 games on your PS5. Well, that’s it for now, so until next time, happy gaming!
