That the PlayStation 2 was one of the best consoles ever created is beyond doubt. Its success is perceptible by the number of sales, which has already exceeded 150 million dollars. In addition to being the best-selling gaming platform in history, it certainly houses many of the best games that have ever been developed. See the top 70 below!
1. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Genre: Action
GTA: San Andreas is considered one of the most important titles of the 6th generation of consoles. It is the best-selling PlayStation 2 game and one of the most acclaimed in the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Despite all the controversy generated over its violent gameplay, it has become a historic hit among many cultural products.
2. Black
Genre: Shooting
Black is perhaps the best first-person shooter on the PlayStation 2. Some even consider it one of the 100 best games of the genre ever created. First because even though it belongs to a 6th generation console, its graphics are better than many titles of the later generation. Visually speaking, it's a very detailed game, with spectacular graphics and sound.
3. God of War II
Genre: Adventure/RPG
God of War II was the last adventure of the Ghost of Sparta, the god of war Kratos, on PlayStation 2. Enhancing what worked in the first title and correcting minor mechanical errors, this title stood out for its strong narrative and simple and simple gameplay. efficient. And with an ending that was unforgettable!
4. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Genre: Action
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is one of the best looking games on the PlayStation 2. For the time, the graphics were perfect. The fact that two-thirds of the game is set in a forest further favored the franchise's greatest feature: stealth. The implementation of other mechanics in this sense makes this game one of the best PlayStation 2 stealth titles.
5. Bully
Not much need to be said about Bully. It was one of the best PS2 games as it allowed players to face school bullies while attending classes. Basically a GTA of studies!
6. Spider Man II
Genre: Action
Not everyone remembers how good Spider Man II was. After Marvel's Spider Man, it is perhaps the best web game ever made. Realistic New York, smooth and fluid game mechanics and quite convincing graphics marked this title.
7. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
- Genre: Sport
- Multiplayer: Coop and PvP
One of the most beloved games in the franchise. For the PS2 it allowed players to control the likes of Wolverine and Darth Maul. Apart from the innovations in relation to the PS1, such as online game support.
8. Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock
- Genre: Musical
- Multiplayer: Coop and PvP
Legendary! Guitar Hero 3 allowed players to take on and control Slash and Tom Morello, as well as featuring for the first time in the franchise original music not recorded by other artists.
9. SoulCalibur III
- Genre: Fight
- Multiplayer: PvP
SoulCalibur III was the pinnacle of the franchise on PS2. In addition to being a fighting game with iconic characters, it brought a story mode with evolution and character creation, in the best Role Playing style.
10. Def Jam: Fight for NY
- Genre: Fight
- Multiplayer: PvP
Def Jam wasn't just a fighting game, but a fighting game between... rappers. You could control Snoop Dogg or Ludacris in insane battles in New York settings. A very underground game, but very fun.
11. Shadow of the Colossus
Genre: Adventure/RPG
This title is seen as a work of art within the gaming world. It brought to the PlayStation 2 a gaming system that was not very common for an action game. As Wander, you explore a more or less open world, in which you must defeat 16 colossi, which are giant creatures. This to resurrect a girl named Mono.
12. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Genre: Adventure/RPG
The experience provided by The Sands of Time is what makes it a very important title on PlayStation 2. The plot is interesting and intriguing. The atmosphere of the game, whether visual or sound, is fantastic. However, it is in the combination of fighting phases with exploration phases that this Prince of Persia conquered players.
13.Final Fantasy X
Genre: Adventure/RPG
The tenth main title in the Final Fantasy franchise was a milestone on the PlayStation 2. It is the transition from pre-rendered backgrounds to a 3D setting. In addition, it brought voice acting to the series' games for the first time. Finally, combat in Final Fantasy X is no longer based on real-time turns. Instead, it uses shifts that are not time-conditioned.
14. Devil May Cry 3
Genre: Adventure/RPG
To this day Devil May Cry 3 is considered by many to be the best in the franchise. It's massive and complex, featuring a younger, fiercer version of the demon hunter Dante.
15. Marvel vs. Capcom 2
- Genre: Fight
- Multiplayer: PvP
One of the most epic games in the franchise, bringing virtually all the classic characters. There are almost 60 fighters, more than half of which need to be unlocked in single player mode. Once you've unlocked them all, you can invite friends to endless battles between Marvel folks and Capcom gaming folks.
16. God of War
Genre: Adventure/RPG
God of War is also worth mentioning. The first game in the franchise was exciting for its graphics and narrative. Controlling Kratos as he slayed mythological creatures was wonderful.
17. Devil May Cry
Genre: Adventure/RPG
It deserves the spot on this list because it gave us one of the most important characters in games: Dante. Devil May Cry, by the way, reinforced a new form of action mechanics, with a super dark narrative.
18. Onimusha
Genre: Adventure/RPG
Onimusha had a long life on the PS2, with several good sequels. The first title is one of the best precisely because it presented the universe of samurai and Japanese gods in the midst of a modern society.
19. Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
Genre: Adventure/RPG
The sequel to Sands of Time brought a more closed, dark and furious prince. In this game you must escape the Time Guardian, who wants to punish you for the changes made in the previous game.
20. ICO
Genre: Adventure/RPG
ICO is a game for those who like to think and solve puzzles. It's complex, slow and was one of the first PS2 games to bring that concept of game-art, focused on a beautiful graphic and a good story.
21. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Genre: Action
Vice City was a success as it was an expansion in terms of the GTA III map. In addition, the setting in a summer of the 80s in the United States, with a soundtrack faithful to the time, was sensational to guarantee the immersion of the players.
22. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Genre: Action
Snake Eater is perfect, but Sons of Liberty is also a wonderful game. Dozens of plot twists, advanced shooting mechanics and drooling graphics for the time are things that define this game.
23. Star Wars Battlefront 2
- Genre: Action Multiplayer
- Multiplayer: Coop and PvP
The 2 Star Wars Battlefront 2005 is considered a classic within the Star Wars game franchise. It brought many elements that were not included in the games until then, such as the possibility of being a Jedi or a Sith. It is an excellent multiplayer game, containing almost 2 dozen battle scenarios, including locations from the classic trilogy.
24. Max payne
Genre: Shooting
Some of Max Payne's mechanics are inspired by the Matrix movies, such as the idea of slow motion when the bullet passes through the player. Max is an outstanding protagonist, and the player's choices affect his fate in the game!
25. Medal of Honor Frontline
Genre: War
Before Call of Duty and Battlefield, Medal of Honor ruled war games. Frontline had you traversing Holland, France and Germany during WWII. Lots of shooting and lots of adrenaline!
26. Okami
Genre: Adventure
Let's go to one of the greatest masterpieces of the PlayStation 2. Okami was released almost together with the PlayStation 3. Even though it was well received by the specialized critics, it had low sales. Still, it was very successful and is still remembered today for its watercolor design and strong narrative traits.
27. Kingdom Hearts II
Gender: Children
Kingdom Hearts II is a fusion between Disney characters and characters from the Final Fantasy franchise, just as the first title in this series was. Here we accompany Sora once again, in the company of Donald Duck and Goofy, traveling between fantastic worlds of Mickey Mouse's kingdom.
28. Splinter Cell
Genre: Action
Splinter Cell is, like Metal Gear, a stealth game. Spy Sam Fisher had many tools, gadgets and weapons at his disposal to carry out all missions with maximum perfection!
29. Twisted Metal: Black
- Genre: Action
- Multiplayer: PvP
Some consider this the best of the Twisted Metal franchise. In fact, it is very similar to the PS1 versions, but with more cars, with more refined mechanics and with higher quality graphics.
30. Bloody Roar 4
- Genre: Fight
- Multiplayer: PvP
Another underground fighting game, but one that surprised by the proposal. All fighters turned into an animal in the middle of the fight. You had everything from Rabbit to Dragon and even a Mechanical Mole!
31. Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
- Genre: RPG
- Multiplayer: Coop
Dark Alliance was the arrival of Baldur's Gate on PS2, bringing with it a lot of fun co-op multiplayer. Two friends can share the same screen as they explore the world of the Forgotten Realms. It's very good for the narrative, and the simple game mechanics make it easy for all players to master the gameplay.
32. Rock Band 2
- Genre: Musical
- Multiplayer: Coop and PvP
Rock Band 2 is one of the best music games. Take on other players online in Battle of the Bands or play your favorite tunes with your friends in local co-op or PvP multiplayer. This game features iconic songs, by the way, like Chop Suey, from System of a Down, and Everlong, from Foo Fighters.
33. Silent Hill 2
Genre: Horror
Silent Hill 2 is often seen as one of the greatest, if not the greatest horror game of all time. The narrative is very well developed from an effective and simple gameplay. The soundtrack and dark setting offer the perfect elements for a title known for its psychological horror theme.
34. Resident Evil 4
Genre: Horror
The fourth main title of the Resident Evil franchise was considered one of the most important PlayStation 2 games. Entirely in third person, it shows a great evolution in terms of gameplay in relation to Resident Evil 3. The camera mechanics have been modified, for example, mainly regarding the shooting system.
35. Need for Speed Most Wanted
- Genre: Racing
- Multiplayer: PvP
Most Wanted was one of the best racing games on the PS2. The open world was spectacular, and the car customization options bordered on infinite. The police escape was frantic, and being able to win the cars of other street racers was quite challenging.
36. Gran Turismo 4
- Genre: Racing
- Multiplayer: PvP
Gran Turismo 4 was one of the few games that allowed the PS2's maximum resolution, 1080i. It was the best racing game (not counting Need for Speed Most Wanted) as it had hundreds of cars, dozens of tracks and many achievements to get.
37. Need for Speed Underground
- Genre: Racing
- Multiplayer: PvP
Need Underground and Need Underground 2 were iconic. Customization has been taken to an even higher level, and nighttime gameplay has brought a very interesting air to the franchise. Not to mention the soundtrack, which marked a generation!
38. Guitar Hero II
- Genre: Musical
- Multiplayer: Coop and PvP
Guitar Hero II was an even greater success than its predecessor and helped to popularize music games. In addition, it is a very democratic game, since it does not require players to use the "guitar" to play it. Anyone who is most comfortable with the joystick can use it without any problems.
39. Winning Eleven
- Genre: Sport
- Multiplayer: Coop and PvP
On PS2, Konami was in charge of football, with its Winning Eleven or Pro Evolution Soccer. Any of the titles, whether 7, 8 or 9 represent the quality that the franchise had on this console.
40. FIFA Street
- Genre: Sport
- Multiplayer: Coop and PvP
FIFA Street began and reached its peak on the PS2. It brought Messi, Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo as protagonists, focusing on street matches, with freestyle dribbles and the possibility of customizing the players.
41. Virtua Fighter 4
- Genre: Fight
- Multiplayer: Coop and PvP
SEGA's fighting game met the players' appeal and arrived much simpler than its predecessor. The more arcade style was successful, mainly because this title was a return to the origins.
42. Contra: Shattered Soldier
- Genre: Shooter/Platform
- Multiplayer: Coop
Contra: Shattered Soldier follows the pattern of the Contra series, bringing an intense platformer style game, with a lot of shooting. It is one of the games in the franchise with multiple endings, which depend on the performance of the players. Remembering that you can go through the levels alone or with the help of a second player.
43.Tekken 5
- Genre: Fight
- Multiplayer: Coop
Tekken has no mistake for those who want to give some virtual beatings. 5 brought greater customization of fighters, more intense combats and new characters.
44. Killzone
Genre: Shooting
Killzone is a futuristic shooter that even reminds a little of games like Halo or Destiny. The plot pits players against enemies on Earth colonies or on the villains' home planet, Helghast.
45. Person 4
Genre: Adventure/RPG
The last PS2 Persona explored parallel dimensions, bringing concepts of quantum physics, with an anime look. It was so cult that it spawned other spin-off games, as well as sequels on Sony's next consoles.
46. Mortal Kombat Shaolin Monks
- Genre: Fight
- Multiplayer: Coop
Shaolin Monks is good because it's more than a fighting game. This beat n' up is reminiscent of arcade games, allowing the player to control Liu Kang or Kung Lao in stages, both cooperatively and solo.
47. Dragon Quest VIII
Genre: Adventure/RPG
The manga created by Akira Toriyama gave rise to a wonderful game franchise. And Dragon Quest VIII is perfect, visually and in terms of storytelling. A must-have action RPG for all fans of the style!
48. Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies
Genre: War
In 18 missions you control several planes to intercept targets, escort allies or simply launch missiles at enemies. With 21 aircraft models available and with radio speech system, the game shone among warplane lovers.
49. SOCOM 2: US Navy Seals
Genre: War
SOCOM 2 is a war game that takes place in 4 countries, including our country. This tactical shooter allowed you to give orders to team members, in addition to having online modes!
50. The Simpsons: Hit and Run
Gender: Children
The open world of The Simpsons: Hit and Run has brought fans of the show a massive Springfield to explore. The game had beautiful graphics, hundreds of missions and all the beloved characters from animation.
51. Enter The Matrix
Genre: Action
Enter The Matrix was a success, having been released alongside the last two films. They are two protagonists who experience events parallel to the plots of the cinema, with a fighting mechanic very close to the beating performed by Neo.
52. Beyond Good & Evil
Genre: Action
A game in which you control a reporter who fights martial arts and who must investigate an alien conspiracy. That alone made Beyond Good & Evil an amazing game!
53. Viewtiful Joe
Genre: Action
Joe, the game's hero, was very reminiscent of Deadpool, with his acid jokes and aggressive fighting style. The game had a violent narrative, with a drawn look and references to several other products, including Devil May Cry.
54. Yakuza 2
Genre: Action
Yakuza 2 improved what was already good in the first title. It explored in depth the conflicts of Japanese mafias, offering players more precise combat mechanics.
55. Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers
- Genre: Adventure/RPG
- Multiplayer: Coop
One of the best games in the franchise The Lord of the Rings. You could control Aragorn, Legolas or Gimli, in fierce combats, which conveyed the atmosphere of the movies very well.
56. Metal Slug Anthology
- Genre: Action
- Multiplayer: Coop
Metal Slug is one of the most beloved arcade games of all time. This edition brought more than 7 franchise games on a single disc, which allows for hours and hours of action and many bullets fired in this platform game.
57. Burnout 3 Takedown
- Genre: Racing
- Multiplayer: Coop
Burnout 3 Takedown is an example of a perfect mix between winning a race and destroying scenarios and other runners. The emotion and adrenaline are fantastic!
58. Resident Evil Code: Veronica X
Genre: Horror
Code: Veronica X is almost like a spin-off from The Resident Evil franchise. It takes place shortly after the events of The Resident Evil 3, involving Claire and Chris Redfield in an even bigger conspiracy than the previous games.
59. Fatal Frame
Genre: Horror
Fatal Frame was a franchise that was successful in Japan, but not so much in our country. Still, it was of high quality. In it you had a camera, which you used to photograph and kill ghosts. The game was really scary...
60. TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
- Genre: FPS
- Multiplayer: Coop and PvP
This first-person shooter features multiplayer co-op where players take command of soldiers who return from the 25th century to save humanity's future as they try to change the past. In addition to the cooperative mode, on PS2 there is the possibility to participate in PvP battles.
61. Dynasty Warriors 4
- Genre: Action
- Multiplayer: Coop
Dynasty Warriors 4 is an action co-op, hack n' slash style, in which players face dozens of enemies in stages. The game follows the narrative of the novel on which it is based, the book Three Kingdoms, set in Ancient China.
62. Destroy All Humans! 2
Genre: Action
In this game you take command of an alien who wants to destroy the human race and control the world. With several references to pop culture and political events, it's an essential game for those who have a good mood and for those who like a lot of action!
63. NBA Street Vol. 2
- Genre: Sport
- Multiplayer: PvP
Think of a FIFA Street Basketball and that's what we have in NBA Street. Focused on dribbling and street play, you have a series of character customization options and outdoor court options to participate in fierce games.
64. SSX Tricky
- Genre: Sport
- Multiplayer: PvP
SSX Tricky was a little snowboard game. With very simple controls, it was successful for having very competitive difficulty levels in the AI and for including a world championship mode.
65. Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
Genre: Adventure/RPG
Jak and Daxter is clearly inspired by Banjo Kazooie. The objective was to collect items in the stages, to be able to advance to the next scenario, facing enemies and level bosses.
66. Dark Cloud
Genre: Adventure/RPG
For the time, Dark Cloud was a revolutionary action RPG. The mechanics of scenario creation and time travel gave a very fun touch to the game.
67. Rayman 2 Revolution
Gender: Children
Rayman 2 was at the time well received for its impeccable 3D visuals. The high number of phases was also a positive point, with a strong focus on the ability to explore the scenarios.
68. Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Gender: Children
Up Your Arsenal was the first to have multiplayer in the franchise. The improvements were focused on increasing the size of the arsenal and giving more powers to the space explorer duo.
69. Crash Twinsanity
Genre: Action/Platform
Twinsanity differs from other games in the franchise because it allows players to freely explore a world in search of quests, not leaving a room where they choose quests. Another good differential is being able to play not only with Crash, but also with Cortex and Nina.
70. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
- Genre: Fight
- Multiplayer: PvP
At the time, Budokai Tenkaichi 3 was the game with the most characters in the Dragon Ball franchise. It had 98 fighters in 161 different forms. The fast gameplay is still one of the points most remembered by those who miss this game, which was, in fact, one of the few games in the franchise to have unofficial tournaments spread all over the world.
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