The 8 best PS2 games of all time

THE PS2 is the single best-selling console of all time thanks to its incredible lineup of games.

The second PlayStation was marketed to perfection, priced affordably, and bundled with a DVD player making it a no-brainer for people wanting to buy a console.

With the console being in so many homes, it’s no wonder that developers put their best foot forward when it came to creating landmark titles.

Looking through the PS2’s library you’ll find many of the greatest games of all time.

New series that are now gaming icons began, while other series that were yet to make a mark finally broke through in a major way.

Only a select few can be named the very best though, and we’ve picked out a series of great old games you need to seek out and play right now.

Persona 4

The Persona series is arguably PlayStation’s most successful JRPG series. 

A generation later Persona 5 would win near-universal praise on the PS3 and PS4, but it’s Persona 4 that set the stage. 

While previous games in the series were popular, it was Persona 4 that really broke through in the Western world like never before. 

It’s one of the all-time great JRPGs thanks to the social link system mixing in with the classic dungeon-crawling action and it continues to be ported to modern devices for a reason.

Guitar Hero 2

Although the rhythm genre has now retreated back to being a niche affair, it cannot be understated just how huge the craze around Guitar Hero was.

We may look with modern eyes and scoff at the plastic guitar and gimmicky gameplay, but for a while, it was the ultimate game to play when gathering with friends and family.

Final Fantasy XII

With such a historic series spanning every console imaginable, you can ask ten different people which Final Fantasy game is the best and get ten different answers.

Final Fantasy XII was a landmark title for the series, and it finally moved away from turn-based combat and used rapidly improving 3D graphics to create something stunning for the time.

While the classic games will always get the credit they deserve, if you love the modern Final Fantasy games the most, then you have this game to thank.

Shadow of the Colossus

One of the most memorable experiences in all of gaming, Shadow of the Colossus is something that is still unique even now.

No game has ever quite nailed the feeling of fighting huge creatures quite like this one or created a world that feels so beautiful in how completely barren and dead it is.

Then, there’s the story, and how it suckers you in before dealing one of the most genius emotional blows of all time.

Devil May Cry

Devil May Cry is an interesting case because it started life as Resident Evil 4. However, it was so action-focused that the decision was made to make it something brand new.

The actual Resident Evil 4 ended up being a brilliant game, but there’s something to be said with the cool mayhem of Devil May Cry.

Metal Gear Solid 2

The original Metal Gear Solid is undoubtedly a revolutionary title, but when it comes to unbelievable polish and design, the sequel has it beat.

With its memorable bait-and-switch opening, weird and wonderful cast of characters, and endless VR missions, it can be argued that the series has never done anything better.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Grand Theft Auto has a lot of brilliant entries on the PS2, and each of them could be reasonably considered the best.

GTA 3 brought the series to 3D and arguably laid the groundwork for the cash-cow Rockstar has on its hands today.

GTA: San Andreas refined the fun of the franchise down to a point, and feels the most like the modern GTA games.

However, GTA: Vice City nails the vibe. The world and the characters ride the line between silly and serious perfectly, with an expertly chosen soundtrack to fully immerse you in this over-the-top 80s world.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3

The Tony Hawk series was one of the lone soldiers that carried the spirit of the 90s loud and proud into the 2000s.

Punk and ska music all over the place, and rad skater lingo wherever you looked. Cowabunga, dude.

Plus, it’s arguably where the skating mechanics were at their best. The addition of manuals meant you could chain insane combos together on expertly designed stages.

Written by GLHF.