The Most Outstanding PlayStation 2 Games

The 2000s were set apart by incredible and unforgettable games, which makes it difficult to list the best, so I had to create some rules before writing this article.

First I’ll consider the appeal that these games have with players, then how well positioned it is on aggregators like Metacritic and the third condition will inevitably be a certain nostalgia and appreciation, after all it would be impossible to create a list without having played these games and without having memories of them.

Finally, I’d like to emphasize that this is not about listing from worst to best, but rather about bringing out those who certainly had a big impact on the PS2 era and which the vast majority of readers of this article will remember fondly, even if, were they to create their own top 10, it’d come out very differently, but with equally iconic games.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

It’s indisputable that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the most memorable game in the GTA franchise, featuring a character still remembered today and a gigantic map to be explored in a way that only GTA can provide.

CJ had the Rockstar version of all of California to interact with and even a version of Las Vegas. Whether following the story or simply carrying out all kinds of crazy things that the game allows you to do, GTA: San Andreas is an immortal classic that will forever remain in our memories.

God of War 2

God of War introduced us to Kratos, the tough Spartan who sought revenge against Ares, the God of War, for being tricked by him and causing irreparable mistakes. His journey took him to godhood, where he himself became the God of War.

In God of War 2, everything that the first game did was elevated, bringing a new search for revenge after Kratos was betrayed by the gods, a journey that would gain another chapter and yield a new franchise in the new generation, forever leaving its mark in gaming history with this complex character and it all started on the PlayStation 2, with God of War 2 being the one most remembered to this day by fans from that time.

Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Visionary Hideo Kojima created the Metal Gear franchise and introduced us to Solid Snake, one of the most memorable protagonists in gaming history, but in the third chapter of the saga we would be introduced to an even more memorable protagonist, Snake's “father”, who would be known as Big Boss.

The story of Big Boss' rise in the world of espionage is told in a cinematic experience and Snake Eater features bosses with creative combat and captivating characters. The game will soon receive a well-deserved Remake, as it is undoubtedly one of the best chapters in this franchise.

Shadow of the Colossus

Another game that really marked the second era of the PlayStation was Shadow of the Colossus. A game that presents us with Wanderer, a hero alongside his mare searching for colossal beings on a journey to save his loved one, a tragic, epic story, with visually beautiful battles and, without a doubt, memorable.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3

And who doesn’t remember the Tony Hawk’s series? Even those who aren't fans of the sport or don't care about skateboarding at all, but have had a PlayStation, know the famous skateboarder. The game allowed us to perform radical tricks and compete with friends or even online to find out who was the king of the skate parks.

Resident Evil 4

The Resident Evil franchise was present in several different gaming eras, but the fourth chapter marked it differently. This was the beginning of the transition that the series underwent from a horror game to a more action-focused game and introduced several new elements, as well as bringing back much-loved characters from the franchise and new enemies, who now organized themselves and even cursed at you!

The atmosphere of the game, the bosses, the story, everything about RE4 is incredible. So much so that the game got a reimagined version that further improved what was already great.

Devil May Cry 3

If Leon is the face of Resident Evil, what about Dante, the protagonist of Devil May Cry? DMC left its mark on the PlayStation 2 era with Dante’s Awakening, the third game in the franchise, which told us of the protagonist’s past with his brother, Vergil.

Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock

The Guitar Hero franchise marked the beginning of the PlayStation promoting a unique experience for players, being a rock star and playing your favorite songs with your friends, but Legends of Rock elevated this, putting you in the shoes of icons like Slash and featuring legendary songs like Through the Fire and Flames by DragonForce.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted

Need For Speed ​​had chapters remembered with great affection by fans, such as the beloved Underground and its sequel, but Most Wanted brought an open world to be explored and a strong inspiration in street racing culture that was very reminiscent of one of the film franchises that marked the era, Fast and Furious.

SoulCalibur III

Soul Calibur sets itself apart from other fighting games by focusing on combat with weapons, mainly swords. The third chapter in the franchise brought elaborate combat, a character creation menu that allowed you to customize even attacks, and a different and exciting story mode that made Soul Calibur III leave its mark in the Play 2 era.

The PlayStation 2 had so many memorable games that I could write a gigantic article and even another one for each of these games. It's impossible not to remember games like Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time, Splinter Cell, Tekken, Winning Eleven, Final Fantasy and so many others that have a special place in our memories and our hearts, and maybe I'll do a part two of this article with more memorable games.

I conclude another article here. Leave your questions, suggestions, criticisms and/or compliments in the comments. Thanks for reading, and see you next time.