PlayStation Network, like the Xbox Live Arcade, is a fantastic place for players to consume downloadable games on command. While Sony has plenty of big-box retail games available for download on the service, where it really shines is in the smaller game department.

PSN has some true gems, and with the PlayStation 4's November 15 release date rapidly approaching, many gamers will putting their PS3s away in favor of the shiny new model. Before that happens, there are some games that absolutely need to be experienced from the service.

There is nothing not to love about these games. Each comes with its own particular level of charm, and of course, polished gameplay that is incredibly fun. Check them out, and send your PS3 out to pasture in style.

Castle Crashers

Castle Crashers is an awesome side-scrolling beat 'em up that everyone should play. It comes with an incredibly beautiful cartoon art-style that adds a lot of enjoyment to the gameplay. That, coupled with some of the most enjoyable same-console cooperative play, makes this an experience that all gamers with a PlayStation 3 need to purchase, download, and enjoy.

Journey

Not only is Journey one of the best PlayStation Network games, it is actually one of the most joyous experiences one can have in video games. The splendor and beauty of the world is second to none. The gameplay is simple, but the way in which multiplayer functions is awesome. The nameless person you play with becomes a part of your adventure, and since they cannot talk to you, there is no need to worry about Internet trolls. Seriously, just play Journey.

Mega Man

Mega Man, a franchise best known for its classic games on the NES and SNES, actually has two fantastic releases on modern consoles. Mega Man 9 and Mega Man 10 both do a fantastic job of capturing much of what made the old games awesome. Everything from the art style right down to the incredibly brutal difficulty is there, so anyone who longs for the old days of video games will have the time of their life with these two releases.

PixelJunk Games

There are quite a few PixelJunk games released on the PlayStation Network, and all of them are special in their own way. Seeing a franchise not run itself into the ground with low quality releases is always refreshing, and PixelJunk most certainly has not done that.

Most of the games in the series take mechanics from popular genres. For example, PixelJunk Monsters features tower defense gameplay, Eden comes with simple platformer-like gameplay, Shooter is, well, a shooter. Each one comes with its own charm, and each is completely different from the others. Q-Games has made it clear that it is capable of working in all sorts of genres, which is something most developers cannot say.

Super Stardust HD

This is another PS Network game that features a very old school style of gameplay. It feels like a mix of Robotron 2084 and Aestroids. Of course, these are classics by any meaning of the word, so it's off to a great start. Add in some HD graphics and the intensity of a game like Geometry Wars, and you have an impressive game. This game hit PSN all the way back in 2007, and it still holds up incredibly well. If you somehow have missed this one, you need to download it now, and strap yourself in for an amazing visual and gameplay experience.

Dead Nation

Twin-stick shooters are all over both of the major download services, but Dead Nation stands out for its fantastic visuals and zombie gameplay. Of course, zombie games are a little overdone now, but the way this one mixes the old-school shooter feel and zombies makes it seem like something completely new. It's just simple, gruesome fun that is well worth a look.

Conclusion

For those of you who prefer PS3, these are some of the games that you can download to your console right now that you need to play before you forget about the console altogether. Your PlayStaion 3 experience will not be complete before you sit down and enjoy the incredibly fun gameplay these bring to the table.

For you Xbox fans, some of these games are also available on the Live Arcade, so you can get in on the action too.

What PSN games do you think everyone needs to play before they move on to the next console generation? Hit the comments section below and let your voice be heard!