The Best PlayStation 2 Game From Every Year Of The Console’s Life
The PlayStation 2 fulfilled its predecessor’s potential and firmly established Sony as the biggest console manufacturer in the world. Even multiple generations later, the PS2 is still the best-selling console of all time, and an argument could be made that it also has the greatest video game library ever. Every genre had dozens upon dozens of brilliant representatives, and each year produced multiple masterpieces that are still fondly remembered and respected.
8 Most Influential PS2 Games, Ranked
As the best-selling video game console of all time, the PlayStation 2 was home to some of the most influential video games in history.
From 2000 to the early 2010s, the PS2 received thousands of games, and the console was still relevant years after the PS3’s launch. Frankly, there are way too many stunning PS2 titles to cover them all, but let’s still try to pick the best release of each year of the console’s life.
As regional launch dates complicate matters, games will qualify for the year they debuted in, regardless of region. We will also include a few honorable mentions.
TimeSplitters (2000)
GoldenEye 007 For A New Generation
The PS2’s launch lineup may not have been perfect, but it had some solid titles in it, like Armored Core 2 or Tekken Tag Tournament. But most people who bought this console on its first day wanted to play one game above everything else: TimeSplitters, by the creative minds at Free Radical Design.
The developer’s previous experience working at Rare paid off because this felt like a worthy successor to titles like GoldenEye 007 or Perfect Dark: A unique shooter with satisfying mechanics, fun time-traveling levels, and an addictive multiplayer component.
Other Great 2000 PS2 Games
- Armored Core 2
- Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore
- SSX
Silent Hill 2 (2001)
One Of The Best Horror Games Ever Made
In less than a year, the PS2’s catalog was already changing the industry with excellent games like Grand Theft Auto 3, Metal Gear Solid 2, and Jak & Daxter. But out of all of them, Konami’s Silent Hill 2 was the best title released in all of 2001.
The story of James Sunderland’s disturbing and depressing journey to Silent Hill was quickly cemented as one of the best video game narratives ever made. The entire titular town has a terrifying atmosphere that makes players feel uneasy, and the intense survival horror gameplay can make anyone feel helpless. It is no wonder Silent Hill 2 is still considered one of the best exponents of the horror genre to this day.
Other Great 2001 PS2 Games
- Devil May Cry
- Grand Theft Auto 3
- Gran Turismo 3
- Ico
- Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
- Final Fantasy 10
Kingdom Hearts (2002)
Final Fantasy With Disney Magic
The Final Fantasy franchise was associated with the PlayStation brand for years, but Square was looking for the next big thing that would attract the attention of an even bigger demographic. That’s when they joined forces with Disney to create the mind-blowing Kingdom Hearts franchise.
The original game was a magical adventure like no other, as Sora, Donald & Goofy traveled to different worlds based on classic animated movies like Aladdin, Hercules, and The Little Mermaid. With its beautiful soundtrack, memorable story, and accessible action combat, Kingdom Hearts was the beginning of a legendary new IP that would end up making a huge impact on the PS2.
Other Great 2002 PS2 Games
- 007: NightFire
- Ape Escape 2
- Dark Cloud 2
- Final Fantasy 11
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
- Ratchet & Clank
- The Getaway
Ratchet and Clank: Going Commando (2003)
The Return Of The PS2’s Biggest Mascots
Just like its predecessor, the PS2 was popular among kids because it was home to some new and iconic platforming mascots. While Sly Cooper and Jak and Daxter were really great, Ratchet and Clank were definitely the most popular mascots, and pretty much became the faces of the entire console.
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Their second adventure, Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, was a perfect sequel, with more crazy weapons to use, improved controls, better comedic writing, hilarious cutscenes, and timeless cartoon graphics. The first game was good, but Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando truly paved the way for the future of this franchise.
Other Great 2003 PS2 Games
- Beyond Good & Evil
- Def Jam Vendetta
- Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
- Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
- Jak 2
- Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
- Silent Hill 3
- Soulcalibur 2
The Perfect Prequel
The first Metal Gear Solid game was a PS1 classic, and its sequel was one of the best games of 2002, but Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater quickly became one of the best video games ever made, as Hideo Kojima and his team took this as an opportunity to create a prequel that told the story of Big Boss, and it paid off.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater features an incredible story, with deep characters and a lot of twists & turns that will shock players. The stealth gameplay was refined and perfected, with some really creative mechanics and innovative boss fights. Add to that some of that classic Hideo Kojima madness, and this was a revolutionary game that every PS2 owner had to own.
Other Great 2004 PS2 Games
- Burnout 3: Takedown
- Def Jam: Fight for NY
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Jak 3
- Katamari Damacy
- Killzone
Shadow Of The Colossus (2005)
A Giant Among Giants
2005 was one of the best years for PS2: Resident Evil 4, Devil May Cry 3, Kingdom Hearts 2, and many other incredible titles were released during that year. But it was up to Sony and their legendary Team ICO to deliver what would become one of the most memorable experiences on the entire console: Shadow of the Colossus.
The concept is simple: defeat 16 enormous colossi in 16 unique & epic boss fights, and each one of them leaves the player feeling goosebumps thanks to their sheer size. With its incredible soundtrack, unbelievable graphics, and somber atmosphere, Shadow of the Colossus is a masterpiece that proves video games can definitely be art.
Other Great 2005 PS2 Games
- Burnout Revenge
- Darkwatch
- God of War
- Killer7
Okami (2006)
A True Work Of Art
Okami
- Released
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September 19, 2006
The PlayStation 3 was released in late November 2006, but this wasn’t really an issue for PS2 owners, since that console still had amazing games released on it throughout the year. And surprisingly, Okami would end up looking way better than the PS3 had to offer at that time, thanks to its timeless watercolor-styled graphics.
Okami perfectly encapsulates the feeling of playing firsthand through a classic Japanese folklore legend, as players control the goddess Amaterasu on her journey to defeat the evil Orochi. This meant they’d have to explore a vast, open world filled to the brim with fun side quests and charming characters. Not to mention that it featured the creative Celestial Brush mechanic that made everything even more fun.
Other Great 2006 PS2 Games
- Black
- Bully
- Final Fantasy 12
- God Hand
- Hitman: Blood Money
God Of War 2 (2007)
Kratos Keeping The PS2 Relevant
Fans were perplexed when a first-party sequel to one of Sony’s most popular IPs was released for the PS2 in 2007, even if the PS3 had already been on the market for months. This was the case with God of War 2, and it demonstrated that Sony still believed in their console.
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This sequel improved on everything that was so great about the first God of War: Bigger bosses, bigger levels, more deadly weapons for Kratos to use, and a deeper storyline, but still kept the energetic combat system that made this franchise so beloved in the first place. In 2007, PlayStation fans were having a better time with their PS2s than with their PS3s.
Other Great 2007 PS2 Games
- Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
- Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
Persona 4 (2008)
The Best JRPG On The System
The PS2 was slowing down by 2008, but it still saw the release of an unexpected exclusive, in the form of Persona 4 by Atlus. This was an excellent JRPG with a solid art style that was a huge hit among fans of the genre, and it solidified the PS2 as a console worth owning in 2008.
Persona 4 really stood out among other games in the genre, with a colorful art style, catchy music, and a mysterious plot that took advantage of its supernatural elements. The cast of characters is likable and memorable, and the turn-based combat perfected the formula of the series. This is a long game that most players don’t mind spending many hours on.
Other Great 2008 PS2 Games
- Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
- Guitar Hero World Tour
Secret Agent Clank (2009)
An Entertaining Spin-Off
In the latter stage of its life cycle, the PS2 was kept relevant because Sony ported numerous PlayStation Portable games to this home console since they shared similar hardware, and it was a good way of letting players choose how to play their favorite handheld experiences. And Secret Agent Clank was one of the chosen titles.
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The Ratchet & Clank IP once again showed how vital it was to the PS2, with a really entertaining spin-off starring Ratchet’s loyal robot companion, Clank, in a funny parody of the James Bond franchise. It may not be the best game in the series, but it has some great moments, and it was great to see a solid first-party game still being released on the PS2.