Best PS2 Games

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The original PlayStation changed gaming with its introduction of 3D graphics and by challenging Nintendo’s dominance. It was followed by the PlayStation 2, which remarkably remains the best-selling game console ever, especially considering gaming wasn’t as popular then as it is now. The PS2’s early success was thanks to features like its ability to play DVDs, but it’s remembered most for its incredible game library. The console offered a huge number of games, and they were consistently high-quality across a wide variety of genres.

Picking the best PlayStation 2 game is incredibly difficult. There are easily over a hundred games that could be considered, and we’re talking about some of the most popular, groundbreaking, and innovative titles ever made – games that many people cherish.

Well, let’s give it a go.

To offer a wider range of experiences, we’re limiting each game franchise to just one title and focusing on including as many different game genres as we can.

15. Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal

The Pinnacle Of A Proper PS2 Success Story, And Just An All-Around Masterfully Done 3D Action-Platformer

The original PlayStation was important for establishing 3D platformer games, but the PlayStation 2 really perfected the genre, especially for Sony. By the early 2000s, game creators understood what made these games successful, so they could concentrate on improving them instead of figuring out the basics.

Insomniac Games made one of the best trilogies on the PlayStation 2 with Ratchet & Clank, and all three games are considered classics. While Up Your Arsenal is often highlighted, it really comes down to which one you enjoy most. The series is known for its funny humor, charming characters, and incredibly fun gameplay that perfectly mixes action and platforming. They were also ahead of their time by including online multiplayer on the PS2.

14. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

The Cinematic Platformer Gets a Facelift for the 2000s

The first Prince of Persia game essentially created the style of platforming games that feel like watching a movie. It used realistic movement to let players navigate complex levels filled with traps and challenges. Games like Flashback, Out of this World, and Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee were all influenced by the original Prince of Persia. But when games moved to 3D, it was hard to translate the Arabian adventure successfully, and Prince of Persia 3D isn’t very well-regarded.

Ubisoft found success when they reimagined the game as Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Similar to the first game, it features a prince attempting to rescue a princess from an evil vizier. This time, the prince and princess team up to prevent the vizier from using the Sands to conquer the kingdom of Azad. While the prince can fight, the game emphasizes using the Dagger of Time to rewind time up to 10 seconds. This allows players to find the best moments to attack, navigate difficult challenges, and avoid danger.

13. Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec

The PS1’s Best Racing Series Makes Its PS2 Debut

The original PlayStation was great for fast-paced car games. Titles like Wipeout offered sleek, futuristic racing, Crash Team Racing provided a competitive kart experience, and Twisted Metal delivered chaotic, demolition-based action. However, if players wanted a more realistic driving simulation, they turned to the Gran Turismo series. The first Gran Turismo became the best-selling game on the PS1, and the sequel is often considered its high point. That success then led Polyphony Digital to develop a new installment for the PlayStation 2.

Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec was a mixed bag. While it boasted impressive graphics for its time and more realistic driving, particularly with the force feedback of the GT Force steering wheel, it had fewer cars than Gran Turismo 2 and could be quite difficult, making it hard to earn upgrades. Despite these drawbacks, it remains a classic title and a highlight of the Gran Turismo series, standing alongside the games that came before and after it.

12. Resident Evil 4

Too Big for One Console to Keep

Originally, Resident Evil 4 was planned as a game only available on the Nintendo GameCube. It was one of five key titles – alongside Viewtiful Joe, Killer 7, P.N.03, and Dead Phoenix – intended to attract players to the console. However, Dead Phoenix was ultimately cancelled, and with the exception of P.N.03, all the other games were later released on other platforms. Despite this, Nintendo still benefited, as the PlayStation 2 versions of Resident Evil 4, Viewtiful Joe, and Killer 7 are often seen as inferior to the originals due to reduced graphics and slower loading times.

Despite its age, the original Resident Evil 4 on PlayStation 2 included some exclusive content. It introduced the ‘Separate Ways’ campaign, letting players experience the story from Ada Wong’s perspective alongside Leon’s. The PS2 version also had additional costumes and weapons, including a powerful laser gun that could instantly defeat enemies when fully charged. These additions were included in later versions of the game, making the original GameCube release seem a bit simpler in comparison, though it still looked visually impressive.

With the recent release of the PS5 remake, the original PS2 version of RE4 isn’t the ideal way to play this classic game anymore.

Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.

Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)

Your Order

Results

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11. Madden NFL 2005

Making the Winning Play on the PS2

The Madden series was incredibly successful throughout the 2000s, consistently releasing games that were considered among the best of the year. While many of the PlayStation 2 versions were excellent, Madden NFL 2005 and 2008 are often seen as the highlights. Interestingly, the PS2 version of 2008 was actually superior to the versions on newer consoles like the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Madden 2005 built upon what came before it, offering an improved Franchise mode, a wider range of plays, and more options for customization.

Franchise mode got a big update with Storyline Central, making each player on your team feel like a unique individual with their own personality and demands, rather than just generic opponents. If you preferred to focus on gameplay, Defensive Playmaker Control let you customize your defense to better handle the challenging AI. You could also deliver powerful hits with well-timed stick flicks, all while enjoying the energy of your personalized fanbase.

10. Devil May Cry

An Aborted Survival Horror Sequel Became a Genre-Defining Classic

The story of how Devil May Cry came to be is well-known. Originally, Hideki Kamiya designed a sequel to Resident Evil 4, but producer and creator Shinji Mikami felt it focused too much on action. He suggested it be developed as a separate game, and that’s how Devil May Cry was born. The game follows Dante, a demon hunter, as he journeys to Mallet Island to confront Mundus, the demon who killed his mother and brother. Mundus is attempting to return after being defeated years ago by Dante’s powerful demon father, Sparda.

Devil May Cry 1 still clearly shows its origins, with fixed camera angles, Dante’s constant thoughts, over-the-top deaths, and somewhat awkward voice acting. But when it came out in 2001, its mission structure, hidden challenges, fluid hand-to-hand combat, and ranking system felt innovative. While that formula has been improved upon – even by the same creator in games like Bayonetta – Devil May Cry 1 was the original that kicked everything off.

Honorable mention to Devil May Cry 3, which has arguably better combat than the original game.

9. Tekken 5

The King of Iron Fist Reclaims Its Throne

The early 2000s were a challenging period for fighting game fans. Arcades were declining, and online play wasn’t widely available yet, leaving limited options. While dedicated players could enjoy titles like Guilty Gear X2 #Reload and the Melty Blood series, access was often restricted. The most popular games dominated, with VF4: Evo offering a deep and complex combat system, and Tekken 5 providing a large roster of characters, exciting combos, and lots of different ways to play.

This game marked a return to the series’ roots after the changes made in Tekken 4 weren’t well-received. While it kept the enclosed stage designs introduced in Tekken 4, it also brought back more of the classic, open-ended stages. Several beloved characters like Bruce and Anna returned, and were joined by new faces such as Asuka, Raven, and Feng Wei. Players could also control Devil Jin for the first time, who had the same moves from Tekken 3, including his powerful laser attacks.

Honorable mention to Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution, which would have been number 16 in this article.

8. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3

One Of The First Truly Great PS2 Games

Following the huge popularity of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater on the original PlayStation, the series made its PlayStation 2 debut with what many consider its best game – though Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 is almost as good. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 quickly became a must-have title for PS2 owners and a defining game of the early 2000s. It refined the series’ arcade-style gameplay, creating a loop that remains endlessly fun and addictive.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 is surprisingly popular. Though it’s an extreme sports game, which might appeal to a smaller audience, it seems like everyone owned it. It’s one of the first games many people associate with the PlayStation 2, and it feels like a throwback to a more straightforward time in gaming.

7. Shadow of the Colossus

The Premier Game for Giant Killing

The developers of God of War, Sony Santa Monica Studios, originally planned a massive level based around the Titan Cronos, but they didn’t have enough time to fully develop it and had to make it a cutscene instead. They revisited the idea for God of War 3, but by then, the game Shadow of the Colossus had already demonstrated how compelling it could be to fight giants as if they were massive platforms. In Shadow of the Colossus, players ride a horse named Agro across a large world, searching for and battling sixteen colossal creatures, believing that defeating them will bring a sacrificed girl named Mono back to life.

Each giant enemy presents a unique puzzle, forcing players to approach and discover its glowing weak spot. Some require skillful climbing, demanding players hold on tight to avoid falling. Others need Agro’s assistance or involve diving into the depths. The game is quietly emotional and has influenced many games that followed.

6. Okami

Perhaps the PS2’s Most Underrated Game

Today, Okami is celebrated as a classic game where players take on the role of Amaterasu to save the world from darkness, battling enemies with an array of weapons. The most unique of these is the Celestial Brush, which lets players draw shapes to perform attacks, overcome challenges, and unlock new areas. Players can also strengthen both Amaterasu and the Brush itself by collecting Praise, earned through completing sidequests and optional activities.

Despite positive reviews and word-of-mouth, the game didn’t sell well initially. While it had some issues with balancing difficulty, similar games weren’t affected. The timing of its release late in the PlayStation 2’s life was a major factor, as even popular games struggled to gain attention. Its beautiful, hand-painted art style, though unique, didn’t quite capture players’ attention like the more advanced graphics of newer games. Interestingly, the game has been much better received with its later releases on modern platforms.

I almost included God Hand on my list, it was so close! Clover Studio was just on fire back in 2006, releasing game after amazing game.

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2026-02-18 01:38