12 Backlog PS3 Games I Would Like to Play Through This Year

As a physical game collector, I have a LOT of games I've never played, and throw in digital games and that number grows by....well way too much. I also am into a very wide range of genre's, meaning I want to play a LOT of those games. And no console has my attention as a collector like the PS3 does. Not only is it the first console in the PlayStation family to include trophies, but I fully believe the PS3/360 generation has some of the wildest and most imaginative games we've ever gotten, though indie games are now bringing that style of game back. So I've chosen 12 PS3 games I want to play through this year and knock out of my back log.

Because I'm a numbers person with my OCD, for each game I will also add the HowLongToBeat time for Main + Extra.

Also remember, a goal is merely a goal. Not achieving the full goal is OK.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

I've dabbled in Castlevania before, playing Symphony of the Night, Rondo of Blood, and 64, but I've never beaten a game in the series. So my best jump on point is probably the 3D action adventure game that launched in this generation. While I don't know much about it, I have seen game play and it looks right up my alley.

HLTB - 27 Hours

John Woo's Stranglehold

A sequel to John Woo's Hard Boiled, John Woo's Stranglehold also stars Chow Yun Fat returning to continue his characters story. I played a portion of this back in the early days of the 360 and enjoyed it but I have always been a stickler of "this game is set between these movies/is a sequel/prequel so I have to see the movie/movies or I won't feel good about playing the game" so I never finished it. Fast forward to now, I have the special edition of the PS3 version which includes Hard Boiled on the disc to be able to be watched, so I can partake in that, then continue the story through the game.

HLTB - 7 Hours

F.3.A.R.

The final entry in the horror FPS series, F.E.A.R. 3 (also typed as F.3.A.R. on the case) sees you headed towards a final confrontation with your brother, Alma's other son. I LOVED the first game, and really enjoyed the second, so it's time I finally finish the story. I don't know much about this entry other than that it's generally well regarded.

HLTB - 8 Hours

Asura's Wrath

I admittedly know NOTHING about this game except for 2 things. 1. It's full of Quick Time Events, and 2. The real ending is DLC you have to buy. Well I love QTE's, and....yes I'll break down and get the DLC's. A dark moment in Capcom's decision making.

HLTB - 13 Hours

Alone in the Dark: Inferno

An enhanced version of Alone in the Dark that was released in the PS2 generation, this version included QoL changes and extra content. I've only ever beaten 1 title in the series (the 2024 release) and seen 2 bad movies....which I will watch again, and I would like to explore the series more and dig into it's lore.

HLTB - 12.5

Silent Hill Downpour

I LOVE Silent Hill, but I haven't played too many of the games, so I'm rectifying that. I've decided to focus on Silent Hill Downpour for a mixture of reasons. I have a trophy list started for it and I want to increase its percentage, I want to read the comics in the Downpour universe, and I have easy access and ability to play it. Downpour tells the story of Murphy Pendleton, a convict who escapes from a crashed prison bus and must face his demons. The most recent game in the mainline series prior to Silent Hill F, this playthrough is 14 years in the making.

HLTB - 12 Hours

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razers Edge

I put off this game for a long time having only ever heard bad things. But I then heard that the Razers Edge version of the game makes changes and improvements that right a number of the wrongs. I had a blast with Black 2 last year, and I want to play 3 before I tackle 4.

HLTB - 12.5 Hours

American McGee's Alice

I love twisted takes on classic tales......and by that I seem to mean I have an obsession with dark tales of Wonderland. I've started this game a couple times, but always get distracted. NO MORE! This is the year I finally do it, the year I see this tale through. Will I beat this AND the sequel this year? That might be....a little mad.

HLTB - 12.5 Hours

Alice Madness Returns

In a continuation to the previous game, the sequel is also a must play for me this year. I even have a replica of the Vorpal Blade she uses. I cannot stress enough how much I love the art direction of this game, and every time I look at it I say "I love this game" while having played maybe an hour of it 7 years ago. That all changes this year. I'll finally finish it and be on the sad train of knowing the third one won't be made.

HLTB - 16 Hours

Blacksite: Area 51

I played a bit of this game back when the Xbox 360 was my main console, and I enjoyed it. It wasn't good by any means, but I had fun in the bad. If I remember correctly , it's the classic tale of Aliens escape from Area 51 and you are trying and stop them. This was the generation of "this shooter isn't good but for some reason I enjoy it" considering I can think of a large number of games that fit that mold (as I look at the copy of Haze on my shelf) and Blacksite: Area 51 might be the earliest release on that list.

HLTB - 6 Hours

The Darkness 2

I loved the Darkness back in the day, but never played the sequel for....no reason that I can think of. Jackie, a former member of the Mafia has been gifted with the darkness, which talks to him as well as gives him the ability to use 2 living.... tentacles? Creatures? Things? in his combat. I know it is a shorter game and therefore easy to complete, but it's one worth completing.

HLTB - 8 Hours

Aliens Vs Predator

There are 2 games from the Alien series on the PS3. I chose this one purely because I'm already most of the way through Colonial Marines (and I will defend that it's not as bad as people make it out to be) and because I want to play more games from the Alien universe. Is this game going to be good? Probably not. But I'm a sucker for this series, for better or worse. I know there is both single player and multiplayer in it. That's about it.

HLTB - 12 hours