From PS2 exclusives like Okami and Shadow of the Colossus to best sellers like Final Fantasy X and GTA: Vice City, when it comes to picking the best PlayStation 2 games, there's no shortage of titles to choose from. It's true -- Sony's second console has quite the game library and story behind it.
Released in the US on October 26, 2000 and nearly one month later in Europe and Australia, the PS2 arrived right at the start of a new millennium. And like the many other consoles that came out around that time (Nintendo Gamecube, Sega Dreamcast, and original Xbox), it became an important piece of video game history, innovating the way we play by bringing the experience online and making online gaming much more accessible to a larger audience.
The PS2 was a revolutionary console, both in terms of its hardware and its massive library of games. It birthed franchises that are still going today, and kept classics alive for future generations to enjoy. Reigning for about 12 years and with a catalog of almost 2,000 games under its belt, there are dozens upon dozens of titles that remain replayable classics til this day.
To celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the PlayStation 2 this year, we ranked our picks for the best PS2 games of all time.
More on the best PlayStation Games of all time:
25. Guitar Hero II
Guitar Hero may have changed party games for the next decade, but Guitar Hero 2 was the series at its best. GH2 was developed at a time when the core concept of the franchise was "bitchin' rock/metal tracks that are fun to play on a plastic guitar" and not "fun karaoke songs that sort of also have guitars in them, maybe".
Guitar Hero 2 was also the last game in the rhythm-action genre to come out before every music publisher realized how much money there was in it, so Harmonix had its absolute pick of songs. You had Suicidal Tendencies, Megadeth, Danzig, The Rollling Stones, Iron Maiden, Iggy and the Stooges – you name it, it was in there, and it rocked.
24. Sly Cooper 2: Band of Thieves
The Sly Cooper series is a wonderfully unique blend of family-friendly action, stealth, and genuinely funny writing, and Sly 2: Band of Thieves exemplifies this better than any other entry in the franchise. Its genuinely enjoyable story is serviced by a varied and intriguing set of worlds to explore – along with the ability to play as Sly's whole crew, including the powerhouse Murray and the tech-savvy Bentley. And with some genuinely thrilling stealth at the core of it all, Sly 2 offered an original, trilogy’s-best experience; one that was unlike anything else in the Sony first-party pantheon at the time.
23. ICO
For a game that was designed almost entirely around the escort mission – which were almost universally reviled, even back in 2001 – it ended up being nothing short of amazing. Part of that success is due to the quality of its puzzles, but just as important was how ICO develops the bond between its two main characters. It conveyed a deep personal connection not through dialogue, but through the simple act of navigating through its labyrinthine castle together. It’s one of the finest examples of minimalist storytelling to date, not to mention an excellent showcase of how to tell stories in a way that only video games can.
22. NBA Street, Vol. 2
NBA Street, Volume 2 is arcade-style basketball at its best. Visually flashy but easy to execute game breakers appealed to more casual sports audiences, while the superb ball handling and all-star lineup is irresistible to hardcore basketball fans. Featuring 4 game modes and the ability to unlock “street” and NBA legends alike, NBA Street is an ever-enticing loop of crossovers and slam dunks with more style and swag than anyone ould ask for — but mostly, there’s nothing like going head to head against a friend to try and break some ankles.
21. Kingdom Hearts II
Kingdom Hearts II is a prime example of how sequels can improve upon their predecessor. While we certainly recommend playing the first before the second for the full effect, Kingdom Hearts II offered series-best combat thanks to a mix of magic, its signature Keyblade, different form states for protagonist Sora, and more.
And its exploration of the mythology offered satisfying depth to ideas and characters introduced in the first game, even despite its pretty long intro section. Kingdom Hearts II might not be the best starting point, but every facet, from its world design to its story to its combat, is emblematic of why so many Disney, Final Fantasy, and zipper fans fell in love with the Kingdom Hearts games.
20. Tony Hawk's Underground
THUG took everything that was great in the Tony Hawk series and added to it. The story was fun and campy, the soundtrack was huge, with more than 70 licensed tracks, and the create-a-skater/park/trick features were super easy to use and surprisingly deep (plus, you could unlock and play as Iron Man!) While there were some mixed reactions from the community to its story mode and seemingly Jackass-inspired humor, Tony Hawk: Underground was the best Pro Skater game in everything but name and then some. If they ever go back to the franchise in the future, we're likely to see a lot of the features that debuted in this game come back for another run.
19. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
Long after Disgaea’s initial release, it remains one of the most iconic games of the generation. Enemy-filled isometric battlefields and a variety of characters with different skills and weapons are sure to keep you busy with all the tactical possibilities on your adventure with Demon prince Laharl across the Netherworld. Sure, it can be a grind at times – but Disgaea: Hour of Darkness thrives despite it. Its flamboyantly gothic themes, comical characters, and delightfully intricate combat make it an endlessly entertaining classic you can put down and revisit anytime.
18. Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
The Ratchet & Clank series was exceptional from the start, serving up lovable characters, galaxy-spanning stories, and loads of wacky weapons. The third installment, Up Your Arsenal, was the biggest yet, with a mountain of new gadgets and mini-games, alongside one of the most ambitious online modes ever seen on console at the time. What other game lets you use a Suck Cannon to turn an army of enemies into bolts? That's just good, clean fun.