PlayStation Turns 25: Remembering the 5 Best PS2 Games
We're tackling a list of the best PlayStation 2 games as the video game company celebrates 25 years in the business this week. | Credit: Deni Williams/Shutterstock.com
- PlayStation is celebrating 25 years this week.
- To go along with that, we’re listing the five best PS2 games.
- It’s hard to narrow the list down this far with so many great titles.
PlayStation is celebrating its 25th anniversary this week, and it only makes sense to mention the best console Sony has ever made: the PlayStation 2.
We aren’t just remembering the PlayStation 2 but also the games that really helped it shine during its whopping 13-year lifespan.
Some of the Best Games Came Out on the PlayStation 2
I’m listing out what I think are the best PlayStation 2 games to ever come out. I know. I know. It was dumb to limit it to just five games, but I have to draw the line somewhere.
With all that said, let’s get started.
5. Persona 3 FES
We’re starting off strong with Persona 3 FES. I’m specifically picking this version as it includes additional content not present in the original release. Granted, I think we can all agree to forget that The Answer exists. Either way, this is a great entry in the series. Anyone that came into the series with Persona 5 owes it to themselves to go back and check out this PlayStation 2 classic.
4. Shadow of the Colossus
This spiritual successor to Ico drops players in a massive open world and lets them explore and kill giant rock creatures. At the same time, it also offers a narrative slim in details but incredibly moving. There’s not really been another game like it since and that’s a dang shame. Luckily, this one has a re-release on the PlayStation 4.
3. Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening
Devil May Cry 3 takes everything the first game did and kicks it up to 11! (We don’t talk about DMC 2 here.) This PlayStation 2 game is fast-paced hack-n-slash fun at its finest. To this day, it still stands up as one of the best games in the genre. Luckily it’s available in modern HD collections. Even if Switch owners are getting the shaft.
2. Final Fantasy X
There are loads of Final Fantasy games on the PlayStation 2, but this one towers over the others. It offers gamers a deep love story in a world full of sacrifice. At the same time, it also gives them a neat twist on traditional turn-based combat and introduces a new way of leveling up with the Sphere Grid. Like many others on this list, new re-releases make it easy to check this one out on modern consoles.
1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
It’s crazy to think that Hideo Kojima will probably never make another Metal Gear Solid game, but at least we can still experience this masterpiece. This PlayStation 2 game offers Cold War conspiracies, stealth action, and a great story to boot. It’s also available in a few HD collections and serves as a wonderful entry point to the series since it takes place earliest in the timeline.
There you have it! These are my picks for the best PlayStation 2 games. That’s not to say there aren’t other great games though. The PS2 was a beast in terms of high-quality games. Feel free to sound off in the comments with you’re own picks, or hit me up on Twitter (@WilliamWhiteIP ) if you’d rather go that route.
