After the monumental success of the original PlayStation, in no small part due to the best PS1 games pushing sales, Sony followed up with the even more impressive PlayStation 2. This system captured the attention of gamers for obvious reasons, but the public at large for also being one of the cheapest DVD players available. That made it the perfect gateway for new players to play some of the best games of all time.
This time it wasn’t just Nintendo and the best GameCube games PlayStation had to compete with, but Xbox entering the market with its own catalog of the best original Xbox games it could put out. Still, the PS2 ended up crushing the competition and remains one of the most beloved consoles ever made. We did our best not to leave any amazing games out of this list of the best PS2 games of all time.
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Action
Resident Evil 4
82%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Capcom, Sourcenext
Publisher
Capcom, Ubisoft
Release
October 25, 2005
One of the best Resident Evil games of all time, Resident Evil 4 created a new blueprint for the popular horror game genre. You played as Leon Kennedy, a police officer tasked with rescuing the president’s daughter from a terrifying cult. While some longtime fans weren’t all too pleased with the turn to action-oriented gameplay and far fewer jump scares, you’d be hard-pressed to name a better third-person shooter from the PS2 era. Running down hordes of zombies, monsters, and impressive bosses always provided a thrill. With limited ammo available, you always had to make your shots count. RE4‘s environments and the non-linear setup offered tantalizing reasons to revisit RE4 after you reached the credits. The Resident Evil series has since gone back to its horror roots with Resident Evil 7, but RE4 will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
82%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher
Ubisoft Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (SCEI), Nintendo
Release
November 06, 2003
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time really came out of left field. While the previous two entries in the series were well-received, no one could’ve expected The Sands of Time to literally change the game. With a mighty assist from the Prince’s dagger, The Sands of Time quickly became one of the best PS2 action-platformers upon launch in 2003. The Prince’s dagger wielded a nifty ability that allowed you to rewind time. This came in handy for tough jumps and when falling in battle. You could even freeze enemies in place. The Sands of Time also told a great story, featured innovative puzzle sequences, and had excellent level design.
Viewtiful Joe
79%
Platforms
PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube
Genre
Fighting, Platform, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
Developer
Team Viewtiful, Clover Studio
Publisher
Capcom
Release
June 26, 2003
Viewtiful Joe brought a comic book to life. Created by Hideki Kamiya, Viewtiful Joe follows Joe, an unassuming guy who suddenly finds himself in Movieland and in a fight to preserve the universe. Fashioned as a side-scrolling beat ’em up, Viewtiful Joe stood out for its comic book art style, where panels of a comic book became scenes that you could play. Viewtiful Joe‘s arresting art style still looks great 15 years later. If only the franchise would get a revival. Imagine Viewtiful Joe on Nintendo Switch. Sounds perfect to us.
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
84%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2
Genre
Shooter, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer
Capcom
Publisher
Capcom, Ubisoft Entertainment
Release
February 17, 2005
Third time’s the charm, as they say. Devil May Cry was great. Devil May Cry 2 was not so great. Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening was exquisite. A prequel to the original, Dante’s Awakening showed off the frayed relationship between Dante and his brother Vergil in all its messy glory. Devil May Cry 3 stood out for its superb gameplay. Though you can call it a hack and slash, DMC3 had more nuance than your ordinary button masher — especially because it proved to be very challenging, requiring players to string together pretty combos to stay alive. Packed full of brooding attitude and great music to help you get in your combat groove, DMC3 remains an action game classic today. It has influenced plenty of games in its genre in the years after its release.
God of War
85%
Platforms
PlayStation 2
Genre
Strategy, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer
SIE Santa Monica Studio
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (SCEI), Capcom
Release
March 22, 2005
Sure, 2018’s God of War is easily the best God of War game in the Sony series, but let’s not forget about 2005’s God of War, one of the most impressive action games of the era. God of War introduced us to Kratos and a world steeped in Greek mythology. Featuring colossal boss fights and the ridiculously cool Blades of Chaos, God of War was action game bliss. The puzzles and platforming sequences weren’t too shabby either. God of War jump-started one of Sony’s most well-known series. Though it hasn’t aged as well as some other PS2 games, in 2005, it was awesome.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
88%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita
Genre
Adventure
Developer
Konami Computer Entertainment Japan
Publisher
Konami
Release
November 13, 2001
It’s hard to find a more ambitious game on PS2 than Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Developed by Konami and led by renowned creator Hideo Kojima, Sons of Liberty tried to touch on a wide array of lofty and complicated themes, including some post-truth politics that happen to be present today. Once again, you play as Solid Snake, sneaking your way through a multitude of areas, inching closer and closer to uncovering a grand conspiracy that spreads worldwide. Though sometimes confusing and overwritten, Sons of Liberty is commonly referred to as one of the greatest games of all time, not just the best Metal Gear game. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater was also superb, but we give the nod to Sons of Liberty here.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
88%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2, Xbox, Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4
Genre
Shooter, Racing, Adventure
Developer
Rockstar North
Publisher
Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive
Release
October 27, 2002
During the PS2 era, no game franchise stirred more controversy than Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto. From the free reign it gave players to murder anyone they saw to its sexual themes and more, Grand Theft Auto was the main target for those who thought video games negatively affected teens. That didn’t stop Grand Theft Auto: Vice City from becoming one of the best-selling games on PS2. And for good reason, considering most people consider it the best GTA game. Set in an open world based off of Miami, Vice City featured engaging missions, tons of side content, and an “everything but the kitchen sink” approach to its open world. Though Grand Theft Auto III had already successfully turned the franchise into a 3D open-world game, Vice City refined the formula, making it one of the greatest experiences to be had on the PS2.
SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs
89%
Platforms
PlayStation 2
Genre
Shooter, Simulator, Strategy, Tactical
Developer
Zipper Interactive
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (SCEI)
Release
November 04, 2003
A tactical third-person shooter, Socom II U.S. Navy Seals is the game we remember most when we think about online multiplayer on PS2. The platform wasn’t especially known for online features, but Socom II became a well-known online staple thanks to its riveting team-based gameplay. Socom II also had a great single-player campaign featuring 12 large missions that took players all across the world. Socom II is a relic of early online shooters today, but it’s an important game to consider when thinking about the history of team-oriented shooters.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
83%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube
Genre
Shooter, Tactical
Developer
Ubisoft Shanghai
Publisher
Ubisoft Entertainment
Release
March 23, 2004
Sam Fisher’s second espionage adventure featured numerous critical improvements over the already great original. For starters, enemy AI was smarter and detection wasn’t nearly as wonky, making for a more realistic experience of sneaking past and taking down enemies. The story, set in 2006, sent Fisher to East Timor to a growing militia. Once again, the story was a tightly wound political thriller with high stakes. In terms of stealth-action games on PS2, Pandora Tomorrow and the other Splinter Cell games were unmatched.
Adventure
Shadow of the Colossus
90%
Platforms
PlayStation 2
Genre
Platform, Puzzle, Adventure
Developer
Team Ico
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (SCEI)
Release
October 18, 2005
Shadow of the Colossus is arguably the greatest game to grace the PS2. Developed by SIE Japan and Team ICO, and directed by Fumito Ueda, Shadow of the Colossus followed Wander, a young man who comes to a strange land to resurrect a young girl named Mono. To do so, he must travel by horseback to the locations of sixteen Colossi. And slay them one by one. Each Colossus is simply marvelous in scope and demeanor. You had to climb their massive bodies, find their weak points, and destroy them with your trusty sword. While these boss fights were the main means of gameplay, Shadow of the Colossus excelled on an atmospheric level, too. The gorgeous world provided a breathtaking adventure to embark on. PlayStation 4 owners were reminded of how stunning of an achievement this game was when an HD remake landed on the console back in 2018.
Ōkami
87%
Platforms
Wii, PlayStation 2
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Clover Studio, HexaDrive
Publisher
Capcom
Release
April 20, 2006
Clover Studio’s Okami launched in the final months of the PlayStation 2 era to critical acclaim. However, sales for the game never took off and Clover shut its doors shortly after launch. What a shame, too, because the gorgeous cel-shaded tour through Japanese folklore was one of the very best adventure games for PS2. Playing as a white wolf, you progressed through the game in a similar fashion to the best Zelda games. While no game quite captures the magic of The Legend of Zelda, Okami came incredibly close. Thankfully, the game has since been remastered for Xbox One, PS4, and Switch, breathing new life into this essential adventure.
Ico
85%
Platforms
PlayStation 2
Genre
Platform, Puzzle, Adventure
Developer
Team Ico
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (SCEI)
Release
September 24, 2001
Before Shadow of Colossus came Ico, another masterpiece from the mind of Fumito Ueda. In Ico, the eponymous boy is thrown inside an abandoned fortress because the people of the village believe his horns, which he was born with, would curse the village. Once inside the supposedly abandoned place, Ico finds Yorda, a princess whose mother wants to sacrifice to live forever. What ensues is an escape attempt in which Ico guides the princess through the fortress to safety. Filled with smart puzzles and shadow creatures that jump from the floor and walls to try and contain Yorda, Ico is engaging to play. Like Shadow of the Colossus, though, Ico stood out for its atmosphere, which created feelings of melancholy, hope, and wonder all in the span of a few moments.
Silent Hill 2
92%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2, Xbox
Genre
Puzzle, Adventure
Developer
Team Silent
Publisher
Konami
Release
September 24, 2001
Silent Hill 2 took players back to the eponymous town in the successor, but not a direct sequel, to the Konami game that helped define the horror genre. In Silent Hill 2, James Sunderland goes to the town three years after his wife’s death after getting a letter alluding to the fact that she may not be dead after all. Naturally, things don’t go as planned, and the town soon makes James and the player controlling him a bit mad in the head. Silent Hill 2 masterfully injected its special brand of psychological horror into the town, making you wonder what was real and what was just a figment of your tortured mind.
Fighting
SoulCalibur II
82%
Platforms
PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Arcade
Genre
Fighting
Developer
Project Soul
Publisher
Namco
Release
July 10, 2002
SoulCalibur II, the first entry in the series to grace a Sony console, featured better graphics, gameplay, and more game modes than the original and rapidly became a bestseller following its 2002 launch. The SoulCalibur series has always felt a bit different than the other best fighting game franchises due to its reliance on melee weapons in combat rather than fists. SoulCalibur II added much-needed improvements to defense and counters, creating a balanced fighting experience that favored skill over button mashing.
First-person shooters
TimeSplitters 2
89%
Platforms
PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Free Radical Design
Publisher
Eidos Interactive
Release
October 09, 2002
TimeSplitters 2 let you and your friends mow down the Gingerbread Man, Undead Priests, Monkeys, and a clown named Stumpy. Do we need to back up its inclusion on this list? Seriously, though, if you wanted to play a fast-paced, zany FPS, TimeSplitters 2 was your best option. Featuring a dazzling set of fun guns, great mechanics, and cool maps, the multiplayer was good for long couch sessions with friends and family. The single-player campaign was also over-the-top and delightful.
Music
Guitar Hero
84%
Platforms
PlayStation 2
Genre
Music
Developer
Harmonix Music Systems
Publisher
RedOctane
Release
November 08, 2005
Guitar Hero turned all of us into make-believe rock stars. Released in 2005, the game came bundled with a plastic replica of a Gibson guitar with five face buttons. Little did we know that it would become one of the most popular franchises and party games of an era. As far as rhythm games go, Guitar Hero is arguably the best ever. Honing your skills to be able to play hard and expert tracks, which utilized all five buttons was endlessly entertaining. Regardless of how silly it made you look while playing, mastering a song on expert felt like a true triumph.
Platformers
Psychonauts
85%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Mac, PlayStation 4
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Double Fine Productions, Budcat Creations
Publisher
Majesco Entertainment, THQ
Release
April 19, 2005
From the mind of Tim Schafer, Psychonauts starred Raz, a young boy with psychic abilities. While at a summer camp learning to become a psychic spy alongside other gifted children, Raz discovers everything is not as it seems. Featuring a unique, cartoonish art style that only Double Fine Productions could come up with, Psychonauts oozed peculiar appeal. The writing was charming, the world design was varied and surprising, and the platforming sequences and powers were a joy. The long-awaited sequel, Psychonauts 2, arrived in 2021 and didn’t disappoint.
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
81%
Platforms
PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
Genre
Shooter, Platform, Adventure
Developer
Insomniac Games
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (SCEI)
Release
November 02, 2004
Insomniac Games’ Ratchet & Clank series was one of the best franchises on PS2. Following the interstellar adventures of the Lombax Ratchet and his pal robot Clank, the series was never short on great action, platforming, and humor. Ahem, Up Your Arsenal. The third entry in the series gets the nod here because everything that made Ratchet & Clank great — awesome guns, killer gadgets, sweet set pieces — even better. Unlike some other popular PS2 franchises, Ratchet & Clank offered fun for the whole family.
Jak II
81%
Platforms
PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4
Genre
Shooter, Platform, Adventure
Developer
Naughty Dog
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (SCEI)
Release
October 14, 2003
While Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy had a relatively small scope, Jak II wildly expanded on Naughty Dog’s platforming series. Jak II was set in a fairly large open world, gave our hero guns, and let him commandeer any hovercar he pleased. Yes, Naughty Dog turned Jak and Daxter into a family-friendly version of Grand Theft Auto in some ways. Haven City, the main setting of the game, was a dystopia filled with interesting characters and activities. The solid platforming sections and humor from the original returned as well. The Jak series is universally great, but Jak II was by the best one. The HD remaster of Jak II is available on both PS3 and PS4.
Katamari Damacy
90%
Platforms
PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3
Genre
Puzzle, Adventure
Developer
NOW Production
Publisher
Namco
Release
March 18, 2004
The quirkiest game on this list, Katamari Damacy followed a young celestial prince in his pursuit of rolling up all the contents of Earth to rebuild the moon and the stars. His father, King of All Cosmos, accidentally destroyed these important things while drunk. Whoops. The gameplay simply revolved around picking up progressively larger items, from shoes to pets to homes to clouds. With a catchy soundtrack and a premise so relaxing that it puts you in a calming trance, Katamari Damacy was more than just a strange Japanese game; it was one of the best platformer-puzzlers to roll onto PS2. A remastered edition, Katamari Damacy Reroll, is available now on Nintendo Switch and PC.
Sly 2: Band of Thieves
85%
Platforms
PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Sucker Punch Productions, Sanzaru Games
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (SCEI)
Release
September 14, 2004
Sly 2: Band of Thieves rounds out the excellent trio of cartoonish platformers — Ratchet & Clank, Jak and Daxter, and Sly Cooper — that won over our hearts on PS2. While Ratchet and Jak were more similar to one another, Sly Cooper relied on stealth rather than going in guns blazing. The main new addition to Band of thieves, the best PS2 entry, was the ability to play as Bentley and Murray in addition to Sly. Each character had their own unique skill set that changed the way you had to approach a level, all of which were more open than in the original. More lighthearted than your average stealth game, Sly 2: Band of Thieves held laughs, charm, and excellent stealth mechanics that rivaled the more “serious” stealth games of the time.
Racing
Gran Turismo 4
86%
Platforms
PlayStation 2
Genre
Racing, Simulator
Developer
Polyphony Digital
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. (SCEI)
Release
December 28, 2004
The best racing game for Sony consoles since the original PlayStation, Gran Turismo 4 was easily one of the most impressive games on PS2. Not only did it feature a dizzying number of tracks and cars, but it went as far as to care about the tiniest technical details such as the rubber on tires wearing out. Gran Turismo 4 firmly fell in the “serious” racing sim category, so it wasn’t for everyone but if you wanted to feel like a true race car driver, there was no better option on PS2.
Burnout 3: Takedown
83%
Platforms
PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360
Genre
Racing
Developer
Criterion Games
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Release
September 07, 2004
The polar opposite of Gran Turismo, the Burnout series was all about high octane stunts, crashes, and over-the-top racing mechanics. Burnout 3: Takedown, we’d argue, has a higher fun factor than just about any racing game — ever. This is in large part due to its eponymous mode which lets you play a sort of battle royale with cars. In Takedown matches, your goal was to ram other cars until they were heaps of metal, all the while flying at speeds of over 100mph. It was almost too fun, especially when you played with friends. Burnout 3 had a ton of different single-player challenges, from traditional races to stunt challenges and more, all of which kept us playing Takedown long after its launch.
Role-playing
Final Fantasy X
87%
Platforms
PlayStation 2
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Square
Publisher
Square, Square Electronic Arts
Release
July 19, 2001
The first, and perhaps best Final Fantasy game for PS2, Final Fantasy X revised the rules of the classic role-playing franchise to great success. The active time battle system was replaced with a more traditional turn-based system and the upgrade system was significantly overhauled with a skill tree. You played as Tidus, a Blitzball star who watches his hometown get destroyed by the evil entity known as Sin. Tidus then finds himself on a journey in Spira to take down Sin alongside Yuna, a summoner, and several other party members. A massive game, Final Fantasy X featured great boss fights, a well-written story, and wonderful cutscenes. Final Fantasy X has since been remastered for just about every PlayStation platform, and it’s every bit as great today as it was in 2001.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
87%
Platforms
PlayStation 2, Android, iOS
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure
Developer
Level-5, Square Enix
Publisher
Square Enix
Release
November 27, 2004
The Dragon Quest series has never fully caught on outside of Japan. That’s a shame because the franchise is home to some of the best JRPG experiences you can play. And Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is arguably the best the series has to offer. As the first DQ game to be fully made in 3D, Journey of the Cursed King was rendered in gorgeous, cel-shaded graphics that still look good today. You played as a nameless hero who joins up with others to defeat a terrible evil. None of the DQ games have especially awesome stories to tell, but Journey of the Cursed King had great environments to explore, a wide variety of enemies, and an addictive progression system. It was incredibly easy to sink 100 hours into DQVIII. If you missed out, you can pick up the excellent 3DS port.
Persona 4
88%
Platforms
PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Visual Novel
Developer
Atlus
Publisher
Atlus, NIS America, Ubisoft Australia, Square Enix
Release
July 10, 2008
Persona 4 is the newest game on this list, as it actually launched on PS2 nearly two years after the PlayStation 3 launched. Persona 4 was part regular RPG, part teenage dating simulator. You played as a high school student in the Japanese countryside. A portion of the game takes place in the real world, while the other part happens in the TV World, a strange place where you and your friends could harness the power of Persona. Like each Shin Megami Tensei game before it, Persona 4 took a few hours to really get going, but when it clicks, good luck pulling yourself away from your TV. This gargantuan RPG can take more than 100 hours to complete, but each minute spent in Persona 4 is time well spent. The story was deep and engaging, the characters came to life, and the highly varied gameplay always delighted. Persona 4 grew in popularity when it launched on Vita as Persona 4 Golden. If you don’t have the means to play either version, though, we heartily recommend checking out Persona 5.
Kingdom Hearts
82%
Platforms
PlayStation 2
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
Squaresoft
Publisher
Disney Interactive Studios, Squaresoft, Square Electronic Arts, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Release
March 28, 2002
Kingdom Hearts was built off a truly bizarre premise: Disney mashed up with Final Fantasy. Strangely, though, Kingdom Hearts worked. You played as Sora, accompanied by Donald Duck and Goofy, on a mission to rid a bevy of worlds from the Heartless. You visited classic Disney worlds inhabited by characters such as Tarzan, Jack Skellington, Hercules, Alice, Aladdin, and many more. While the action RPG combat wasn’t always the best, the world-building, music, and story elevated Kingdom Hearts into one of the most memorable PS2 games. If you haven’t played Kingdom Hearts before, you can pick up the entire collection on PS4 — or you can go ahead and jump right into Kingdom Hearts 3.
Sports
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
79%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Mac, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance
Genre
Sport
Developer
Neversoft Entertainment
Publisher
Activision
Release
October 23, 2002
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 changed the super successful franchise for the better. In previous entries, you had a set amount of time to complete objectives in a contained level. In THPS4, you were unleashed into a much larger set of levels, free to roam as you please, picking up challenges from fellow skaters on the map at your convenience. The change fundamentally altered how the experience played. Already one of the best skateboarding games itself, which let you chain together ridiculous combos, was also improved in THPS4. We recently saw an updated version of Pro Skater 1 + 2 released on modern consoles — so here’s hoping the same happens to this legendary game.
SSX 3
89%
Platforms
PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube
Genre
Racing, Sport, Adventure
Developer
EA Canada
Publisher
EA Sports BIG, Electronic Arts
Release
October 20, 2003
Extreme sports games may not have been as popular as they once were, but these games were (and are) still plenty of fun to dust off and play. Just like THPS, EA’s SSX series fell by the wayside after enjoying a good run in the PS2 era. The third entry in the franchise, SSX 3, was by far the best. SSX 3 moved the snowboarding sim to an open world, giving players the freedom to roam similar to THPS4. The single-player campaign allowed gamers to go across the mountain and unlock items at their own speed. SSX 3 also featured a terrific couch multiplayer. It’s not the most lifelike snowboarding game, but it’s definitely fun.
NBA Street Vol. 2
90%
Platforms
PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube
Genre
Sport, Adventure
Developer
EA Canada
Publisher
EA Sports BIG
Release
April 28, 2003
If you love NBA Jam, one of the most popular retro arcade games of all time, you will love the NBA Street Game series. NBA Street Games have a lot more moves available than NBA Jam. You can perform not just the NBA Jam dunks and long shots but also dribbling sequences and slick passes. Of the NBA Street Game series, we’ve included Vol. 2 because of its “Be A Legend Feature.” In “Be A Legend,” your character can travel around the world to play against other teams.
