Shopping for PS3 video games in 2026 is less complicated than you suppose

Again within the late 2000s, I selected an Xbox 360 over a PS3, principally as a result of all my buddies have been getting 360s and I needed to play Halo 3 with them. After that, I skipped the subsequent two Xbox generations in favor of the PS4 and PS5, because of video games like Spider-Man and God of Conflict. However even all these years later, I nonetheless regretted by no means proudly owning a PS3. So final yr, I mounted that by selecting one up from my native retro recreation retailer, a journey I wrote about right here on Pocket-lint.

I went with a PS3 Slim, and it has been incredible for revisiting classics I by no means acquired to play of their unique kind, like The Sly Cooper Assortment, the Uncharted trilogy, and Steel Gear Strong 4: Weapons of the Patriots.

One of many largest surprises for me, although, was simply how straightforward it nonetheless is to purchase PS3 games — even in 2026. Each new and used titles are on the market, they usually’re not loopy costly both.

So, for those who’re fascinated with selecting up a PS3 — or if you have already got one and need to begin constructing your assortment once more — discovering the video games you need is less complicated than you may anticipate. And with recreation costs today skyrocketing (taking a look at you, $80 Swap 2 titles), an inexpensive journey down reminiscence lane is perhaps precisely what you want. This is how I began constructing my very own PS3 assortment from scratch and the way you are able to do the identical.

There are just a few completely different locations I’m going to

You may get video games from a neighborhood recreation retailer and even brand-new ones from Amazon

The primary place I tracked down PS3 video games was at my native retro recreation retailer. From my expertise, there are tons of retro recreation shops within the US, Canada, and the UK (and different nations, I am positive), so for those who’re trying to get your palms on each a console and a few video games simply, this can be a great way to take action and help native companies. If you do not know if there are any shops round you, a fast Google search ought to level you in the fitting path, as that is how I discovered the shop I go to regularly to get PS3 video games.

After all, there are downsides to native recreation shops, one being that stock enormously varies, as a number of these shops depend upon trade-ins, so it may not all the time be the simplest place to seek out the precise video games you are in search of, particularly if it is a title that occurs to be extra in-demand or uncommon. Additionally, value can differ, too, so preserve that in thoughts.

The second place I have been capable of reliably get video games from is none aside from Amazon itself. I’ve lately began enjoying by means of all of the Steel Gear Strong video games, and once I was in search of a replica of MGS4: Weapons of the Patriots, Amazon was the simplest and least expensive place to seek out it. I used to be capable of get a sealed, brand-new copy for simply $20 (it wasn’t offered by Amazon, simply shipped by Amazon). Not each PS3 recreation is accessible on Amazon these days, however there are tons you will discover new for affordable costs, such because the Ratchet & Clank Collection, the Jak & Daxter Collection, Red Dead Redemption, Borderlands 2, and The Sly Collection, so it is value a glance to see if there are video games of curiosity to you on Amazon at costs you are okay with.

One other place I typically examine for PS3 video games is eBay. I normally flip to eBay once I’m looking for harder-to-find titles, since there is a good likelihood somebody someplace is making an attempt to promote a replica. Moreover, I have never personally used it, however just a few of my buddies have additionally had luck discovering low-cost used PS3 video games on Fb Market — although your mileage will differ relying on what’s obtainable in your space.

PS3 PlayStation Retailer

You may nonetheless purchase PS3 video games digitially

One actually superior factor about proudly owning a PS3 in 2026 is that the PlayStation Retailer remains to be surprisingly up and operating. Not like Microsoft, which shut down the Xbox 360 Market in 2024, Sony has saved the PS3 PlayStation Retailer alive, and you may nonetheless purchase video games and DLC digitally.

In case you’re centered on constructing a bodily assortment, the web retailer will not be fairly as helpful. However for video games I do not actually care about proudly owning a bodily copy of, it has been an amazing useful resource. With the ability to purchase a recreation and begin enjoying it the identical day can be an enormous plus.

One recreation I lately picked up this fashion was Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith. It was initially launched on PS2, nevertheless it’s additionally obtainable on PS3 by means of the PlayStation Retailer, so I jumped on the likelihood to replay it.

Not each PS3 recreation is accessible digitally, however there are nonetheless loads of strong choices, together with The Sly Assortment, LittleBigPlanet, Murderer’s Creed, God of Conflict HD, Crimson Useless Redemption, and Grand Theft Auto 4.

There’s one caveat value mentioning, although. To purchase video games on the PS3 PlayStation Retailer, you first have so as to add funds to your PlayStation account by means of the PlayStation Store website, since you may now not use a bank card immediately on the console. I am undecided why it really works this fashion — it simply does. Nonetheless, if that is the value of having the ability to preserve shopping for PS3 video games digitally in 2026, I can dwell with it.

Total, for those who’re fascinated with enjoying the PS3 once more in 2026 (or for the primary time) and constructing a recreation library, you have acquired a number of choices, every with its personal professionals and cons. Personally, I all the time begin with my native retro recreation retailer, then examine Amazon, and use the PS3 PlayStation Retailer as a final resort if what I am in search of is there.