The Best PS2 Games Of All Time

POSTED: April 25, 2025

The PlayStation 2 was a revolutionary console, and as it approaches its 5th wedding anniversary, were recalling at the video games that made it renowned. From PS2 exclusives like Okami and Darkness of the Giant to best sellers like Final Fantasy 10 and GTA: Vice City, when it involves choosing the best PlayStation 2 video games, theres no shortage of games to select from. Yet, weve took care of to pick 25 of the most effective PS2 video games that we feel pushed the technical and social borders of the age and still hold up today.

5. Grand Theft Car: Vice City

Developer: Rockstar North|Publisher: Rockstar Games|Release day: Oct 29, 2002|Review: IGNs GTA: Vice City testimonial

Grand Theft Automobile 3 might have transformed the open-world action game with its 3D third-person point of view, yet it was the 2002 sequel that took the idea and refined it. GTA: Vice City upped its game in virtually every imaginable way. It added a tale that was both a compelling story and professional witticism of all its 80s-era motivations, an actors of unforgettable personalities voiced by hollywood pros – consisting of the likes of Ray Liotta, Dennis Hopper, and Burt fucking Reynolds – improved almost every facet of its mechanics and gameplay and Vice City still has among the most effective computer game soundtracks ever.Read about ps2 roms for android At website Even now, after being ported to PC, handheld and mobile systems, Vice City remains not just one of the most effective PS2 video games every, yet one of pc gamings all-time greats, and we cant wait to go back to Rockstars Miami in GTA 6.

4. Local Evil 4

Designer: Capcom Production Workshop 4|Author: Capcom|Launch day: January 11, 2005|Testimonial: IGNs Local Wickedness 4 evaluation

Citizen Wickedness 4 was a splendid shakeup for the collection, ditching the even more conventional bump-in-the-night haunted home antics for an over-the-shoulder capturing gallery in an expansive Spanish village. A better concentrate on action didn’t plain the scary, either. Resident Wickedness 4 is still a deeply uneasy experience thanks to its monsters – the Los Illuminados, the Regenerators and the chainsaw male are all memorable – and it presented a solid feeling of The Unusual that transformed what’re ya buyin? into a legendary expression. Now with the arrival of the Citizen Wickedness 4 remake, this spots survival horror is just as popular as ever before.

See our guide to the Resident Wickedness video games in order for much more.

3. Darkness of the Colossus

Developer: SIE Japan Workshop|Publisher: Sony Computer System Home Entertainment|Launch date: October 18, 2005|Testimonial: IGNs Darkness of the Colossus testimonial

More of a challenge video game hidden within a giant-boss-fight covering, Shadow of the Colossus leaves you amazed well after the credit histories roll. Transforming the should-be brave affair of slaying giant monsters in the name of love moody in the subtlest way, it is an impactful and unforgettable experience, unlike anything we had played in the past during that time. Shadow of the Colossus’ bleak world, brilliant problems, downplayed storytelling, dynamic music, and, obviously, badass large colossi still stand tall over numerous, also today, especially with the release of its 2018 remake.

2. Metal Equipment Solid 3: Snake Eater

Programmer: KCEJ|Author: Konami|Release day: November 17, 2004|Evaluation: IGNs Steel Equipment Solid 3: Serpent Eater testimonial

Steel Equipment Solid 3 took a step back from the high-tech-and-concept structure of MGS2, and in doing so gave us what is still extensively considered as the very best access in the franchise business to day. Mechanically, Serpent Eater increased on all of the innovative systems presented by its predecessor, added new survival aspects like cravings and camouflage, and presented us with some of the cleverest boss fights of all time. The later Subsistence re-release consisted of additional mechanical updates like a free-moving third-person camera, yet MGS3’s best aspect without a doubt is its tale: an intricate tale of honor and obligation, of love and nationalism, one that not just works as a self-supporting experience, however establishes and recontextualizes every other game in the series as well. Thats why a lot of followers are thrilled for the upcoming remake.

1. Grand Burglary Auto: San Andreas

Programmer: Rockstar North|Publisher: Superstar Games|Launch date: October 21, 2004|Evaluation: IGNs GTA: San Andreas evaluation

While Superstar regularly discovered vibrant brand-new means to increase the open-world bar, 2004’s GTA: San Andreas represented a leap ahead like we would certainly never ever been seen before. The game’s large, dynamic state of San Andreas – with 3 cities, based loosely on Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas – is the perfect play ground for players to have CJ and his accomplices endure gang shootouts, high-speed authorities chases, and frenzied, stretching break-ins walking or in dozens of different cars. San Andreas also introduced RPG and survival aspects into the collection for the first time, like tracking what CJ consumed or just how much he worked out, and changing his abilities as necessary. While all of the GTA series are classics in their very own right, San Andreas is among one of the most robust and remarkable open-world games ever made, and the pinnacle of the pc gaming experience on the PlayStation 2.

What PS2 Gamings Are Offered on PS5 in 2025?

Unfortunately, PS2 discs are not suitable with the PS5, but you can still stream some PS2 games thanks to PlayStation And also Costs membership. This subscription rate will establish you back $17.99/ month, but its worth it for what you obtain. With the subscription, along with the directory with PS4 and PS5 video games, youll have access to over 300 video games from PS3, PS2, original PlayStation, and PSP. To see an updated listing of whats offered in the Classic Brochure, visit our IGN Playlist page below.