The PS2 is the best-selling game console of all time for more reasons than its DVD player. The software library this system boasts is one of the best we’ve ever experienced. Let’s just say there’s a reason why half the games that release these days are either sequels, remasters or remakes of games that came out during that generation, and it’s not just nostalgia. So here are our team’s picks of the best games from the PS2, in no particular order, a complete list of greats from any genre, enjoy! Please note that we may have skipped over some games that have had remakes or enhanced ports as they may be played best on another system in a different list to come in the future!
1. Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
The poster child of the second PlayStation generation was sure to be another Naughty Dog classic. Jak and Daxter hits highs in the collectathon genre that rivals even greats like Banjo and Spyro. Its sense of world-building and scale is unmatched for the time period, with a seamless setting not bound by loading screens. There’s a real sense of wonder from being able to look back at locales you’ve visited prior: the mountain tops you reach at the end of the game will show just how far you’ve come.
Whilst it may not be as mechanically advanced or groundbreaking as its sequels, the original outing here has a lot of charm and heart. It is one of the greatest experiences within its genre for varied gameplay, cohesive worlds and environmental storytelling. Even the NPC’s mundane tasks tie in perfectly to the gameplay so you never feel put out spending your hard-earned collectables to complete their work.
2. Final Fantasy X
Listen to my story…
To put it simply, Final Fantasy X is my favourite game of all time. I am not exaggerating when I claim this game to be a masterpiece. This is a title that weaves together all the things I want in a quality experience, with a gripping story, excellent turn-based combat and a soundtrack full of tunes that I still listen to outside of the game. It also tricked me into liking Rammstein nearly 2 decades ago when I was erroneously told that the opening theme, ‘Otherworld’ was performed by them… which turned out to be a heap of lies.
The quality of the minigames varies greatly, with the chocobo race in particular causing plenty of frustration for those aiming for 100% completion. The grind is true, but the rewards are even truer.
Also, I still refuse to pronounce Tidus any way other than Tide-Us.
3. Yakuza
The remake of the original Yakuza is awesome and deserves to be played in its own right. But Yakuza is still up there as one of the best open-world fighting games on the PS2. The voice acting is meme-worthy and frankly bad, which makes the game worth playing on its own. But the actual story and characters are fantastic and honestly don’t get enough praise. The combat, while dated by today’s standards, is still really fun and the open world is fun to explore. Actual Yakuza praised the series for its accuracy in depicting the life they live. So if you are ever at all interested in knowing more about that life play this, I guess.
4. The Simpsons: Hit and Run
Some might say this is the most iconic and well-executed licensed game of all time. Some might well be right. What I do know is that Hit & Run is the perfect mix of GTA-style chaos and pop culture comedy synonymous with The Simpsons. Born from a need to parody another franchise after SEGA objected to their previous title, Simpsons: Road Rage, riffing on the Crazy Taxi formula. Vicarious Visions decided to throw their hat into the ring of GTA clones that were becoming common at the time. The result was beloved among tweens and adults alike as a faithful adaptation of the franchise’s comedic style finally made it into game form.
5. Silent Hill 2
The second entry in the Silent Hill series stands out as something of an anomaly amongst the other games that came before and after it. Whilst 1, 3 and 4 were heavily based around the misdeeds of the titular town’s cult and the resulting consequences, Silent Hill 2 tells a much more personal story. Forgoing the cult plotline in favour of one man’s mission to find the truth behind a letter from his deceased wife, Silent Hill 2 plunges the player into a dank, horrific world that’s quite literally dripping with atmosphere so thick you have to wade through it. The terror is much ‘less in your face’ than the other Silent Hill games, opting for a more oppressive, enveloping sense of dread that slowly takes over and might make you want to take a shower afterwards. The gameplay might seem a bit dated by today’s standards, but it is absolutely worth pushing through because everything else is so masterfully crafted.
6. Canis Canem Edit (Bully)
What do you get if you take the sensibilities of Grand Theft Auto and place them into a high school? Canis Canem Edit, a sprawling adventure taking place within a large boarding school (and the surrounding town) sees protagonist Jimmy take on the hierarchy of popularity and become king of the school. Not only is the gameplay loop fun and engaging with teen-friendly antics, but Bullworth might possibly be Rockstar’s most impressive open world on the PS2. Every NPC is unique with their own personalities and idiosyncrasies that make the world feel much more lived in and active. Combine this with Jimmy’s classes, the collectables and the school’s unique cliques and you have yourself an immersive experience that is begging for a sequel.
7. Katamari Damacy
Director Keita Takahashi said that there were four objectives the team had to succeed at during this game’s development: novelty, ease of use, enjoyment, and humour. They succeeded.
Quirky, colourful, and simple, the game’s about a silly little guy who’s tasked with restoring the universe—star by star—after his father (a sillier bigger guy who is also the “King of All Cosmos”) annihilated most of it during a crazy bender. You do this by rolling everyday items in a sticky ball until the resulting clump is big enough to be jettisoned into space by God. Despite you only playing with two analogue sticks across ten stages, there’s plenty of replay value. Some missions have you try and make the biggest clump possible within the time limit, others have you rolling up specific items while avoiding everything else, and others just let you chill out and admire the carnage at your own pace.
With a charming art style, sincere and fun writing, and a spectacular soundtrack, Katamari Damacy remains one of my favourite games to this day.
8. Need for Speed Underground 2
Fast and Fabulous!
Swapping the first game’s mission-based structure for an open world, Underground 2 tasks the player with crafting the coolest ride imaginable to rise to the top of the ranks and get revenge on the guy who slighted you. That wasn’t hyperbole by the way: the game literally has a star ranking system based on how tricked-out your car is, which you need to pass in order to continue on in the story. Boasting an incredible soundtrack topped off by Snoop Dogg’s cover of ‘Riders On the Storm’, Need for Speed Underground 2 is a fun time for any fan of racing or customising their cars to look as gaudy as humanly possible.
9. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3
Ey, O! Let’s Go!
While the original Pro Skater game remains a PS1 classic, it’s the third entry in the series that truly ingrained itself as one of the greatest of all time. This was the game that introduced mechanics which would go on to become mainstays of the series such as manuals which allowed for much longer combos, in turn leading to absolute monster scores. The soundtrack alone makes it worthwhile, featuring some absolute bangers like ‘Blitzkreig Bop’, ‘Ace of Spades’, ’96 Quite Bitter Beings‘ and of course, ‘AMOEBAAAAA!’
10. Star Wars: Battlefront 2
Set Controls To Outer Space, Now…
The original Star Wars Battlefront was a groundbreaking title that sought to fulfill the dream of many a budding Star Wars fan; to put them right into the action of all the major battles from across the series (which up to that point only went up to Attack of the Clones.)
By the time the sequel rolled around, the franchise was (presumably) wrapping up with Revenge of the Sith, which brought a slew of new planets to battle across and forms of infantry to use, as well as plenty of new vehicles to hop into. The removal of some features of the original such as surface-to-air vehicular combat, squad commands, and the ability to go prone was balanced out with plenty of new additions such as playable (and horribly unbalanced) hero characters, space battles and a narrated story mode, which kept Battlefront 2 from feeling like a retread of its predecessor.