Can you play PS3 games on PS5? How to access classic titles

04.01.2024 - 20:35 / radiotimes.com

One of the great bonuses of buying a new console is when platform holders add the ability to play classic games, such as having the option to play PS3 games on the PS5.

Not everyone has access to these retro titles, so the more places they're available, the better.

While the PS5 is known for its backwards compatibility with PS4 titles — by simply inserting the disc or purchasing the game digitally — the ability to play PS3 games is slightly more complex.

For one, backwards compatibility is done via streaming, rather than the physical games themselves.

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Thankfully, it's worth the effort to gain access to a tremendous library of classic PS3 games, with entries in popular franchises like Castlevania, Ratchet & Clank, Ninja Gaiden, Star Wars, Dynasty Warriors, Resident Evil, LEGO, Sam & Max, Motorstorm, Devil May Cry, Fallout and many, many more.

In fact, there are more than 300 PS3 games available, as of January 2024.

Taking this all into consideration, we've laid out the details of how to play PS3 games on PS5, as well as listing out every single title that is currently available.

While the PS5 cannot play PS3 discs directly, a selection of PS3 games can be played digitally.

This works via a PS Plus Premium subscription, which costs £13.49 per month, £39.99 per quarter or £119.99 per year.

Once an internet connection is established, numerous PS3 games can then be streamed to the PS5 console.

To play PS3 games on PS5, you need to first sign up for a PS Plus Premium subscription before following the below steps:

There's no specific PS3 filter on the PS5 console, so it's best to just scroll through the selection of PlayStation games until you find the one you want. That's at least good for providing some inspiration as to what to play next.

Alternatively, you can find the list on the official PlayStation website.

From our experience, a decent internet speed is required to enjoy streaming to its fullest. It's fine for single-player experiences, but can be restrictive in anything multiplayer or fast-paced.

This was taken from the average download speed as of March 2023 (via Ofcom) of 69.4 Mbps in the UK. If you want the best streaming experience, we'd recommend investing in higher speeds.

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The following list is compiled of all the PS3 games available on PS5 via a PS Plus Premium subscription. As of January 2024, there are 352 games in total. See below for the complete list:

Remember, only these specific games can be played on PS5, with