I bought a PS3 in 2025 and here’s how you can too

While many great games have been released so far this year, such as Clair Obscure: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and Donkey Kong Bananza, I’ve recently found myself continually going back to play older games on the PlayStation 3 (PS3).

Why, you may ask? Back in the late 2000s, I originally had an Xbox 360, so I entirely missed out on all the great games the PS3 had to offer, such as Uncharted, Demon Souls, and Metal Gear Solid. So, when the PS3 received a system update earlier this year, despite being nearly 20 years old, it sparked a renewed interest in the console for me, which made me realize I finally need to pick one up and experience everything I missed out on. And most importantly, PS3 consoles and games are cheap in a time when the cost of games and consoles continues to rise.

That said, with the PS3 having been released originally in 2006, it is no longer a console you can simply walk into any store and buy nowadays. If you want to buy a PS3 in 2025, it’s not difficult, but there are a few different options, with each offering different trade-offs. Here’s how you can get your hands on a PS3 in 2025.

GameStop Retro and local game stores are the simplest options

You can get a console that you know works, and is likely to come with a warranty

One of the easiest ways to buy a PS3 in 2025 is through GameStop Retro. If you’re unfamiliar with it, last year, GameStop began converting some of its US locations to GameStop Retro stores, which focus on selling older consoles and games. You can view their selection of pre-owned PS3s online, and have it shipped right to your front door, or you can pick it up in-store if a GameStop Retro has it near you.

While GameStop Retro may have a higher price than, say, using a site like Facebook Marketplace or eBay, you’re guaranteed to get a console that works, and you also get GameStop’s pre-owned guarantee, which means it can be returned if you run into any issues. Considering the PS3 is approaching 20 years old, there are potentially issues that could arise with any given console, so the added peace of mind may be worth it to you.

That said, GameStop Retro isn’t the only option to get a PS3 in 2025, nor is it necessarily the best. When I was looking for a PS3 myself, I chose to buy one from my local retro game store. The price was actually lower than at GameStop, and they offered a 30-day warranty in case anything went wrong with the console. All the consoles my local game store sold were also refurbished, cleaned, and tested in-house, so I knew the PS3 I was buying would actually work. So not only was I able to support a local business, but I also got a good deal and a warranty.

Of course, a major caveat here is actually having a local retro game store nearby. I found one near me that I didn’t even know existed just by Googling “retro game store near me.” Who knows, you might be surprised how close some retro stores are to you. If you find one, I recommend checking out their policies to learn how they handle refurbished consoles and whether they offer any warranty. 30-day or 60-day warranties are preferable.

Online marketplaces are still a viable option

You can find the best prices on sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace

If you’re on the hunt for the lowest price possible and aren’t overly concerned about warranties, buying a PS3 from an online marketplace like eBay or Facebook Marketplace is probably worth considering over local stores.

At the time of writing, there are thousands of listings for the PS3 on eBay, with prices varying widely depending on the type of PS3, storage space, and whether any games or a controller are included. When I also checked Facebook Marketplace in my city, I saw a dozen or so listings that were also pretty tempting and cheaper than GameStop Retro.

The biggest risk associated with buying a console from Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, or any other online marketplace is that there is no warranty, and if something goes wrong with the console, you may be out of luck. Although eBay does have an “eBay Money Back Guarantee” process in case an issue arises.

If you decide to go down a route like Facebook Marketplace, it’s always best to ask the seller beforehand if you can test the console quickly when you pick it up to see if it boots and loads up a game okay.

There are three PS3 models

The PS3 Slim is the most common

When you’re looking at PS3 models online, you’ll likely also notice that the look and design of the console may vary from listing to listing. This is because Sony released three main models of the PS3 during its lifespan. The original PS3, released in 2006 (commonly referred to as the “Fat” PS3), the PS3 Slim, released in 2009, and the Super Slim PS3, released in 2012.

The PS3 Slim is likely the model you’ll see the most often. This is the PS3 I opted for, simply because it was on sale for the best price and offered the most storage, at 320GB. The Super Slim PS3 is also pretty common and the most compact of the three PS3 models. It’s fairly priced from most sellers and has a top-loading disc drive.

The original “Fat” PS3 is the rarest of the three models, and as the name implies, it is a larger version compared to the PS3 Slim and Super Slim. However, one of its advantages is that it’s backwards compatible with PS2 games, whereas the PS3 Slim and PS3 Super Slim are not. That said, the original PS3, released in 2006, is also the rarest, and some units did suffer from overheating issues, making it a riskier and potentially more expensive buy.

Based on my experience, I recommend the PS3 Slim, as there are so many available, and you can likely get the best deal for a PS3 with this model. While it’s handy that the original “Fat” PS3 can play PS2 games, I don’t think it’s worth the extra cost and risk associated with it. If you really want to play PS2 games, you could always pick up a cheap PS2 or try out emulation.

To sum it all up, if you’re aiming to buy a PS3 in 2025, GameStop Retro and local retro game stores are probably the safest and most convenient options for most people. Online marketplaces like eBay and Facebook Marketplace can offer the best deals, but they come with risks such as receiving a console that might not work or lacking warranty. When choosing the type of PS3, the PS3 Slim and Super Slim are typically the easiest to find and typically the most affordable.