The PlayStation 2 era of games is considered by many to be the golden age of gaming. It brought so many iconic games to the forefront and played a huge role in helping countless gamers make invaluable memories. But which of these PlayStation 2 classic games were actually the best?
From games that weren’t able to be remade even with modern technology to those that are still played by gamers worldwide, here are our picks for the five best PlayStation 2 classic games that are still must-tries.
5: Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
The player spends the whole game parkouring, chaining wall runs, vaulting poles, and grabbing ledges to get from one place to another. The Dagger of Time helps a lot by letting the player rewind a few seconds after a bad jump or a losing fight. It’s a small mechanic, but it changes how forgiving the game feels because the player doesn’t have to restart a whole sequence over one mistake.
Combat is basic in this game, with just some sword swings and dagger freezes, but it gets the job done. The game is carried by its platforming, alongside the Prince’s constant commentary over everything happening around him. It’s easy to see this game’s team’s experience in later Ubisoft games like Assassin’s Creed with its traversal system featuring climbing and vaulting.
4: Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening
After the critical failure of DMC2, Capcom rebuilt the series around player expression and looking good. This game gives Dante four styles to choose from, like Swordmaster, Gunslinger, Trickster, and Royal Guard, and players can switch between them before going on a mission, or at certain points, encouraging them to try out different mixtures.
The Style Rank meter climbs from D to SSS based on how varied and well-timed the combos are. This encourages players to fight with style instead of spamming a heavy damage-dealing combo. The Vergil fights punish everyone who tries to button mash their way through. It isn’t a stretch to call it the definitive entry of the series.
3: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
GTA San Andreas was the first 3D GTA game with three cities and the countryside to explore, while adding simulation features on top of it. CJ has numerous stats like stamina, muscle, respect, and driving that all change depending on how the player interacts with the world. Going to places like gyms, tattoo shops, and barbershops starts to feel like mechanics the player needs to engage with rather than side content with no point.
Movement has a boost too. Swimming and bicycles became new ways to travel across the map, which older entries never added. Gang turf wars gave the world some structure alongside the main missions, so territory could shift while the player was out doing something else. It’s also one of the biggest maps of the PS2 generation.
2: Shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus has no filler, no towns, and no side quests. Players control Wander, ride his horse Agro, and hunt down sixteen creatures scattered across the map. Each colossus is a different puzzle, and figuring out how to climb one while it’s trying to shake the player off is a thrilling experience. There’s no leveling up, no gear grinding, just the player learning each giant’s weak points and holding on.
The stamina meter matters, draining as players grip fur or stone, and forcing them to plan their climb instead of just blindly climbing. Instead of making players feel victorious over every kill, it feels more like something they shouldn’t have done, especially when the story starts dropping hints on what the creatures are. Even more than two decades later, developers are still attempting to replicate the scale of Shadow of the Colossus.
1: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Snake Eater takes the series from military bases into the jungle, then introduces new stealth mechanics based on the area. Camouflage changes constantly depending on what Snake’s wearing and where he is, and a stamina system tied to hunting and eating wildlife encourages players to hunt random animals and look for food.
CQC lets Snake grab, interrogate, kill, or choke people out at close range, greatly increasing the game’s close-quarters options. The game has excellent boss fights like The End, a sniper fight that can last across multiple areas, and a climactic and emotional final boss. It has the most responsive mechanics in the series and the best story, which is why it is one of the most revisited games in the franchise.
