After 19 Years, This Underrated PlayStation Dragon Game Is Still a Must-Play

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I love digging up older video games to find those forgotten titles that hardly anyone remembers now, except maybe through brief conversations with friends. Luckily, I’m good at searching online, and it’s led me to discover some amazing games I would have otherwise missed. These include the delightfully charming Magic Pengel, which was created with the help of the legendary Studio Ghibli. I’ve also found gems like Divinity 2: Ego Draconis by Larian Studios, the exciting shooter Section 8: Prejudice, and, of course, the game we’re talking about today – a dragon-themed adventure.

Among the many fantastic games that don’t get the recognition they deserve, Lair stands out as particularly overlooked. This action-adventure game, created by Factor 5 and published by Sony, is full of the kind of impressive spectacle you can only find in video games, with unique controls and creative ideas that were common in the mid-2000s but are rare today. It lets you ride a dragon and unleash fiery attacks on armies during massive battles, and it really deserves more attention than it’s received.

Lair Is A Misunderstood PS3 Classic

The video game Lair has faded into obscurity, the kind of title you might spot on a TV in the background of shows like Breaking Bad, and one that players who experienced it upon release occasionally remember fondly. Despite having all the potential to be a true classic, Lair never reached that status, largely due to the strange choice to initially launch with only motion controls. While a patch eventually added traditional controls – something the developers claim they always intended – the damage to the game’s reputation was already done. PlayStation reportedly refused to include those standard controls at launch.

The incredible soundtrack by John Debney, or even a short clip of gameplay, immediately showcases the grand vision behind Lair, a surprisingly overlooked PlayStation game. Few games offer the same level of large-scale destruction and warfare, especially with the unique perspective of riding and battling on a dragon. Lair is truly unlike anything you’ve played before, and likely won’t again. It’s important to acknowledge that the game had a rocky start; it launched with frustrating motion controls and technical issues that made it difficult to enjoy. In fact, PlayStation even provided a lengthy 21-page guide to help players navigate the complex control scheme.

Despite its flaws, Lair was a brilliant game that was ahead of its time and demonstrated the potential of the PS3. Like The Order 1886, it wasn’t a bad game itself, but suffered from issues surrounding its development and release. Unfortunately, it’s now inaccessible without a PS3, leaving it with an unfairly tarnished reputation. It’s a real loss, because we could use more ambitious games like Lair that try something different, even if they don’t quite succeed.

We Need More Bombastic Games Like Lair

I’m not saying truly innovative games are a thing of the past. In fact, many would argue we’re currently in a fantastic period for game development. However, I think a certain feeling has been lost in modern games. We’ve become so focused on technology and player expectations that games don’t always feel uniquely like games anymore. Even though it received criticism, especially for its motion controls, a game like Lair represented a time when games weren’t afraid to fully embrace what only a video game could offer – a truly immersive and powerful fantasy experience.

Since Lair came out, no game has quite captured the same feeling. While Crimson Desert has a rideable dragon, it’s limited by a frustrating timer. Lair had a truly grand, fantastical story, but unfortunately, very few games manage to live up to such ambitious ideas and actually be fun to play. I think we need more games that try something different like Lair, but I don’t expect to see them. Sony still occasionally invests in developers with unique concepts, but these projects are becoming rare, and even their biggest initiatives haven’t created games that really capture the public’s attention.

The game Lair reportedly cost $25 million to make, a tiny fraction – just 6% – of Concord’s budget. Even accounting for inflation, Lair would only cost around $40 today. The video game industry is becoming incredibly expensive, making it difficult for games like Lair to get made. PlayStation and other companies are hesitant to invest in smaller teams or innovative concepts, feeling pressured to spend hundreds of millions on each title. This is a frustrating trend in an industry that’s spiraling financially, especially after the temporary revenue boost seen during the pandemic.

It’s unlikely we’ll see another game quite like Lair, but thankfully the PS3 version still exists. While it had a rough start, numerous updates have fixed many of the initial problems, creating a fondly remembered experience for those of us who miss when games weren’t as expensive as movies. I don’t anticipate anyone buying a PS3 just to play it—very few games justify the cost of a console, even an older, cheaper one like Sony’s. Still, I hope people remember Lair for what it eventually became, not the flawed version it was at launch. And definitely give its soundtrack a listen—it might be one of the best ever composed for a video game.

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2026-05-10 20:17