Have you ever commanded legions of soldiers against demonic aliens? Or defended suburban lawns with peashooting plants? PlayStation 3 offered these delights and more for real-time strategy gamers.
In this comprehensive guide, we uncover the 7 RTS greats no PS3 devotee should miss – masterpieces that still warrant revisiting today.
Get ready for history‘s most impactful battles recreated virtually… along with some charmingly goofy ones too!
What Are Real-Time Strategy Games? A Quick Explainer
Before starting the countdown, let‘s overview real-time strategy (RTS) games for anyone unfamiliar with toppling civilizations in their spare time:
- Resource Management – Gather materials like gold, oil and berries to bankroll expands your empire‘s offensive and defensive capabilities
- Base Building – Construct settlements, barracks, walls and other infrastructure to unlock advanced troops and technologies
- Unit Control – Direct armies, vehicles and heroes across the map to capture territory, gather intelligence and assault enemy strongholds
- Real-Time Gameplay – Action happens continuously rather than in turns, forcing you to react and multitask rapidly to emergent threats
- Strategic Decision Making – Determine which units, buildings and research to invest in to counter opponents‘ nearing attacks
So RTS games challenge you to grow an army that outsmarts and overwhelms rivals through shrewd resource allocation. You‘re playing chess but all pieces move simultaneously… and artillery barrages threaten your back row!
Now let‘s exam the 7 PS3 RTS titles that executed this formula best…
Why RTS Games Ruled on PlayStation 3
Sony‘s third home console launched in late 2006 to zealot like fandom. While cinematic adventures like Uncharted and The Last of Us defined PlayStation‘s future, the PS3 also delivered groundbreaking strategy epics that consumed weekends.
Real-time and turned based strategy games flourished thanks to the PS3‘s processing muscle and adoption of high capacity Blu-Ray discs. Ambitious Risk-like conquests once restricted to PCs came seamlessly to the couch. And connectivity innovations through PlayStation Network brought cooperative and competitive real-time clashes online, presaging the streaming dominance we see today.
For gamers more interested in massing troops than third person adventures, the PS3 proved a godsend. Now let‘s unveil the era-defining releases no armchair general should miss…
#7 Tom Clancy‘s EndWar
Our Take: This milestone brought fluid voice controlled warfare waged across the entire globe!
The Gist – It‘s the near future and the major nuclear superpowers – the US, Russia and a unified EU – have sparked atomic Armageddon. As commander of one faction, direct the entire WWIII campaign using audible battle orders!
Key Gameplay Mechanics – EndWar focuses heavily on online battles where up to 8 players command their armies against each other. Offline, the single player campaign has you managing high tech units across recognizable locales like Washington D.C. and Paris. Unique to EndWar is an optional voice control system to issue orders and configure units.
Pivotal Moments – Critics praised the ambition of the voice system but felt units lacked complexity compared to genre leaders. Still, launching coordinated assaults and pulling off tactics using only your voice proved novel and intense. The globe trotting locales added immersion.
Accolades
- Nominated for Best Shooting Game on Xbox 360, BAFTA Game Awards
Release Date: Nov 4, 2008
Where To Grab It Today: Amazon has used copies starting under $10!
#6 R.U.S.E.
Our Take: Revel in duping adversaries with decoys and deception flanking attacks as you reshape WWII‘s outcome!
The Gist – It‘s the onset of WWII in 1939. As the Third Reich voraciously grabs territory, assume control of Allied, Soviet or Axis forces. Outsmart rivals using propaganda and espionage to conceal your true battle plans!
Key Gameplay – R.U.S.E. has you harvesting resources and directing companies of tanks, aircraft and infantry. But the real thrill comes from bamboozling enemies with fake bases, decoy battalions and other subversions so the real assault catches them off guard. Online multiplayer raises the stakes facing devious human adversaries.
Pivotal Moments – Reviewers thrilled to the misdirection elements merged with traditional base construction and skirmishes. The intuitive console controls impressed too – this was complex PC-style strategy made sofa friendly!
Accolades
IGN: Editor‘s Choice Award
GameTrailers: Best Strategy Game 2010Nominee
Release Date: Sep 7 2010
Where To Grab It Today: PlayStation Store frequently discounts digital edition to under $15.
#5 Anomaly: Warzone Earth
Our Take: Rush convoys through alien hordes in this topsy-turvy take on tower defense!
The Gist – It‘s 2018 and extraterrestrial machines have embarked on a genocidal invasion! As commander of the 34th Battalion, lead armor and mechs through the alien‘s perimeter towers to uncover why they attacked and how to stop them!
Key Gameplay – Anomaly ingeniously flips typical tower defense conventions. Here you attack rather than defend as your convoy plows across urban warzones confronting alien encampments. With limited lives, determine the swiftest yet safest route avoiding confrontations when possible.
Pivotal Moments – Critics adored the inversion of tower defense games along with the beautifully bleak visuals of the alien takeover. The challenge was praised though some felt the 13 mission campaign was on the short side. Gamers overwhelmingly endorsed the fresh concept and Robotic alien antagonists.
Accolades
- IGN: IGN‘s Best of E3 2012 Awards Nominee
Release Date – Sep 1, 2012
Where To Grab It Today – PlayStation Store offers this creative strategy gem for $9.99
#4 Fat Princess
Our Take: Rescue royals and fatten foes in 32 player medieval mayhem!
The Gist – Two colorful kingdoms battle to rescue their princesses in this vibrant warfare spoof. Players invade enemy castles to save captive royals. But rival forces can feed her enchanted cake to weigh her down during the escape!
Key Gameplay – This quirky premise manifests in frenetic online 5 on 5 matches with 16 players per side. When raiding the enemy fortress, seize cake to slow their princess‘s movement for an escape advantage. Sabotage and ambush foes by filling moats, spawning ogres and constructing traps. Specialist builder, healer and mage classes have key support duties too.
Pivotal Moments – Critics delighted in the absurd premise and blissfully bright visual style. Rolling boulders onto enemies or tossing their portly princess produced indefatigable laughs during furious battles. The class system added replay value too.
Accolades
- IGN Best New IP on PS3 2008 Winner
Release Date – Jul 30, 2009
Where To Grab It Today – PlayStation Store offers this riotous title for $14.99
#3 PixelJunk Monsters Encore
Our Take: Defend colorful isles from invaders by executing smart tower placement and upgrades!
The Gist – Alien hoodlums have assaulted the tranquil rainforest islands! Playing as an enforcer rookie, construct explosive, freezing and sniper towers along winding paths to counter marching villainy. Earn coins from fallen foes to purchase tower improvements.
Key Gameplay – This acclaimed lane defense game sees you tactically building turret towers on parasites‘ routes to shred assailing monsters. Studying enemy movement patterns to position area splash, slowing and high penetration weapons is a must across 60+ levels! 2 player local and online co-op enables covering twice the terrain.
Pivotal Moments – Critics adored the cheery hand drawn aesthetics and accessible gameplay for newcomers that grew addictively challenging. With no similar contemporary tower defense console options, local co-op was hailed as a revelation.
Accolades
- IGN Best Original Downloadable on PS3 2008 Nominee
Release Date – May 8, 2008
Where To Grab It Today – The PlayStation Store offers this acclaimed title for $14.99
#2 PixelJunk Monsters
Our Take: The pinnacle of addicting, accessible lane defense anchored by 2 player couch co-op!
The Gist – Colony islands have once again been occupied by outlandish trespassers! As defender rookie Tikiman, construct smarter mazes and tower grids to counter the misfits across sprawling forests, glaciers and volcanos in this well polished sequel.
Key Gameplay – Veterans will feel at home with the signature strategic path defense premise. As in chess, optimal situating of long range, rapid fire, freezing and splash damage weapons proves mandatory to survive 60 waves across 8 worlds. New elements like environmental hazards, unlockable dance moves and enhanced local 2 player add tremendous replay value.
Pivotal Moments – Reviewers extolled the new focus on cooperative tower construction play augmenting the flawless formula. Vibrant, tribal visuals again won applause for creating console strategy with mainstream appeal.
Accolades
- IGN Best Original Downloadable Game on PS3 2008 Winner
- Gamespot Best Puzzle/Parlour Game nominee 2008
Release Date – Jan 24 2008
Where Grab It Today – The PlayStation Store offers the definitive version for $14.99
#1 Plants vs Zombies
Our Take: The undisputed king of lane defense – flawlessly fun deadening zombies with ferocious flora!
The Gist – Brain munching zombies are swarming your home! As a desperate homeowner, enlist explosive cherry bombs, demonic venus fly traps and other fatalistic foliage to wipe them out. The shambling legions will come wave after wave – build a unconquerable botanical fortress to outlast the apocalypse!
Key Gameplay – This monumentally popular tower defense game delivers easy learning but tremendous depth as undead assaults intensify. Finding the right mutant plants to counter various zombie types and formations grows challenging. Puzzle, Survival and Zen Garden modes add tremendous gameplay variety. 2 player local co-op lets you double down on the delightful carnage!
Pivotal Moments – Reviewers called this an instant classic thanks to the bursting plant personality, adorable zombies and gradual difficulty curve into the addicts zone. tower defense fans relished the colossal wealth of content and customization too.
Accolades
- IGN Best Xbox Live Arcade Game 2007
- GameTrailers Best New IP 2007 Nominee
- Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Casual Game of the Year 2008 Winner
Release Date – Feb 2011
Where To Grab It Today – Amazon offers new copies available for resale around just $18!
Where To Buy These PlayStation 3 Classics In 2023
While the PlayStation 3 concluded its triumphant run in 2013, many nostalgic fans are keen to replay these era defining RTS achievements. Tracking down physical copies grows increasingly difficult but several digital storefronts offer rescues:
PlayStation Store – Sony‘s official marketplace remains the best source for digital PS3 games. Tower defense gems like PixelJunk Monsters go on sale for up to 75% off!
Amazon – Peer to peer sellers offer a wealth of used PS3 game discs here. Rigorously vet seller ratings before purchasing to guarantee quality.
GameStop – The gaming mega retailer sells an abundance of preowned PS3 software online for reasonable rates.
For strategy fans yearning to replay acclaimed generals like EndWar and R.U.S.E., grab new or used copies before availability disappears entirely!
Are PlayStation‘s RTS Glory Days Gone?
While PlayStation consoles have trended away from mammoth turn based campaigns, real-time strategy gaming lives on through indie darlings like Airborne Kingdom and streaming services.
Titles like Frostpunk present immense base building challenges across vivid frozen wastelands. And tower defense diehards can revisit freshly imagined takes on the classics via Apple Arcade. Accessible genre gateway games like Bad North: Jotunn Edition lower barriers for novices too.
So while the PS3 era represented a apex of mainstream accessibility for army control simulators, substantial options exist for today‘s wannabe battlefield commanders!
Yet PS3 catalogue RTS juggernauts like PixelJunk Monsters with local co-op may never see superior successors. Their flawless execution of fun foundations make them immortal digital board games forever retrievable online.
For PC refugees seeking strategy simplicity on the sofa, the PlayStation 3 catalogue delivered in spades!
Let‘s Recap The 7 Essential PS3 RTS Experiences
The PlayStation 3‘s all-star real-time strategy library made grizzled PC franchise veterans portable at last. And it introduced tower defense and base building basics to millions via groundbreakers like Plants vs Zombies.
While the platform‘s install base moved on to cinematic narrative adventures, these 7 classics remain eternal for those coveting cerebral contests:
7) Tom Clancy‘s EndWar – Innovative voice command controls empowered you to issue battlefield orders yourself across WWIII‘s global theatre!
6) R.U.S.E. – Duped rivals with decoy battalions and espionage subterfuge flanking attacks against Nazi Germany‘s march.
5) Anomaly: Warzone Earth – Rush convoys through alien hordes in this inverted spin on tower defense conventions!
4) Fat Princess – Lead hilarious medieval rescue missions sabotaging 32 player rival squads by overfeeding captive royalty!
3) PixelJunk Monsters Encore – Construct elaborate tower mazes to counter colorful yet deadly island intruders with a couch buddy.
2) PixelJunk Monsters – The refined pinnacle of 2D tower defense anchored by silky strategic gameplay and integrated local co-op.
1) Plants vs Zombies – Flawless lawn defense against charismatic zombies via ingeniously conceived flora warfare.
May these 7 PS3 hallmarks unleash latent talents for lightning fast base building, tactical counter assault plotting and tower maze schematics! Their one touch magic endures.
