The PlayStation 2 was an advanced console, and as it approaches its 5th wedding anniversary, were recalling at the games that made it renowned. From PS2 exclusives like Okami and Shadow of the Giant to best sellers like Final Dream 10 and GTA: Vice City, when it comes to choosing the best PlayStation 2 games, theres no lack of video games to pick from. But, weve took care of to choose 25 of the best PS2 games that we feel pushed the technological and cultural borders of the era and still stand up today.
5. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Programmer: Superstar North|Author: Rockstar Gamings|Launch date: Oct 29, 2002|Evaluation: IGNs GTA: Vice City testimonial
Grand Burglary Car 3 might have transformed the open-world activity video game with its 3D third-person perspective, yet it was the 2002 follow up that took the concept and perfected it. GTA: Vice City upped its video game in nearly every imaginable way. It included a tale that was both a compelling narrative and specialist witticism of all its 80s-era inspirations, a cast of memorable personalities articulated by hollywood pros – consisting of the similarity Ray Liotta, Dennis Receptacle, and Burt fucking Reynolds – enhanced virtually every aspect of its mechanics and gameplay and Vice City still has among the most effective video game soundtracks ever before.read about it pcsx2 roms from Our Articles Even now, after being ported to PC, handheld and mobile platforms, Vice City stays not just one of the best PS2 video games every, yet among gamings all-time greats, and we angle wait to go back to Rockstars Miami in GTA 6.
4. Resident Wickedness 4
Designer: Capcom Manufacturing Workshop 4|Publisher: Capcom|Launch date: January 11, 2005|Evaluation: IGNs Local Wickedness 4 review
Homeowner Wickedness 4 was a wonderful shake-up for the series, dumping the more typical bump-in-the-night haunted residence antics for an over-the-shoulder capturing gallery in a sprawling Spanish town. A better focus on action really did not dull the horror, either. Local Wickedness 4 is still a deeply anxious experience thanks to its beasts – the Los Illuminados, the Regenerators and the chainsaw guy are all extraordinary – and it presented a strong feeling of The Unusual that transformed what're ya buyin? into a famous phrase. Now with the arrival of the Citizen Evil 4 remake, this landmark survival scary is equally as preferred as ever before.
See our overview to the Resident Wickedness video games in order for more.
3. Shadow of the Giant
Designer: SIE Japan Workshop|Author: Sony Computer Entertainment|Release day: October 18, 2005|Review: IGNs Darkness of the Colossus review
More of a problem video game hidden within a giant-boss-fight covering, Shadow of the Giant leaves you in awe well after the credit reports roll. Turning the should-be brave affair of slaying large monsters in the name of love sorrowful in the subtlest method, it is an impactful and unforgettable experience, unlike anything we had played before at that time. Darkness of the Titan' grim world, clever problems, downplayed narration, dynamic music, and, certainly, badass huge colossi still stand tall above numerous, even today, especially with the release of its 2018 remake.
2. Metal Gear Solid 3: Serpent Eater
Programmer: KCEJ|Author: Konami|Release date: November 17, 2004|Testimonial: IGNs Metal Gear Solid 3: Serpent Eater testimonial
Metal Equipment Solid 3 took a step back from the high-tech-and-concept structure of MGS2, and in doing so provided us what is still widely regarded as the most effective entry in the franchise business to date. Mechanically, Snake Eater expanded on all of the innovative systems introduced by its precursor, added new survival aspects like hunger and camouflage, and provided us with a few of the cleverest employer fights of all time. The later Subsistence re-release included more mechanical updates like a free-moving third-person camera, but MGS3's strongest aspect by far is its tale: a complicated story of honor and duty, of love and patriotism, one that not only functions as a self-contained experience, yet sets up and recontextualizes every other video game in the collection as well. Thats why a lot of fans are thrilled for the upcoming remake.
1. Grand Burglary Auto: San Andreas
Designer: Superstar North|Author: Rockstar Gamings|Release date: October 21, 2004|Testimonial: IGNs GTA: San Andreas review
While Superstar continually found bold brand-new methods to raise the open-world bar, 2004's GTA: San Andreas represented a jump onward like we 'd never been seen prior to. The video game's large, lively state of San Andreas – with 3 cities, based freely on Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas – is the ideal play ground for players to have CJ and his cohorts survive gang shootouts, high-speed police chases after, and frenzied, stretching heists on foot or in loads of various automobiles. San Andreas also presented RPG and survival elements into the collection for the first time, like tracking what CJ consumed or just how much he worked out, and adjusting his abilities appropriately. While every one of the GTA collection are classics in their very own right, San Andreas is one of one of the most robust and unforgettable 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?
Regrettably, PS2 discs are not suitable with the PS5, but you can still stream some PS2 video games thanks to PlayStation And also Premium membership. This membership tier will certainly set you back $17.99/ month, but its worth it of what you obtain. Through the membership, together 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 upgraded list of whats offered in the Standard Directory, visit our IGN Playlist web page listed below.