Five years after the PlayStation revolutionized the way video games were made, the PlayStation 2 arrived, and the console wars heated up as it went face-to-face with the new Microsoft Xbox. The way the two systems competed, outside of hardware and specs, was with exclusive video games that one system carried and the other did not.
While not all the games were hits, many PlayStation 2 releases ended up as some of the most beloved video games of all time. Here is a look at the best PlayStation 2 games ever made, based on ratings from Metacritic.
Updated March 16, 2022 by Jack Pursey: The PlayStation 2 was instrumental in making the gaming industry a major form of entertainment. The decision to offer the PlayStation 2 as both a gaming console and a cheap way to get a DVD player was a risky one, but one that paid off as Sony put their console in millions of homes generating eye-watering sums of game sales. The console is home to countless classics, so we've updated this list to shine a light on some more of the best PlayStation 2 games, according to critics.
15 God Of War (94)
The game that kick-started the now-iconic God of War franchise was released exclusively on the PlayStation 2 in March 2005. The hack and slash game introduced players to Kratos for the first time, who embarked on a quest to kill Ares after he tricked Kratos into killing his own family.
God of War undoubtedly shows its age today, though the game thoroughly deserved its 94 Metascore at the time of release as it provided players with spectacle fights at a scope that many had never seen before in gaming.
14 Virtua Fighter 4 (94)
Virtua Fighter 4 was first released in arcades back in August 2001, before releasing on PlayStation 2 the following year. The fighting game is still regarded as one of the genre's best ever releases, thanks to its incredibly well-balanced gameplay and punishing AI that makes it an addicting challenge.
Sega clearly made an effort to make Virtua Fighter 4 more beginner-friendly than previous entries in the series, most notably with its new training mode and streamlined gameplay.
13 Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (94)
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence was first released in Japan in December 2005 before reaching North America and Europe the following year. The game is an expanded edition of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and implemented a handful of new features, including online multiplayer and a new camera angle.
Snake Eater is regarded as one of the best - if not the best - Metal Gear Solid games of all time while also being considered one of the best ever stealth releases.
12 Madden NFL 2002 (94)
Madden NFL 2002 was the second game in the Madden NFL series to release on the PlayStation 2. Although the graphics may not look like much today, the game turned heads upon release in August 2001 for making huge strides in visuals for the series and was regarded by some as the most visually impressive game of all time when it first hit stores.
The gameplay has, of course, been greatly improved upon in the many iterations that followed, though the game will always be remembered for providing such a significant leap in visuals and player immersion.
11 Madden NFL 2004 (94)
Whereas Madden NFL 2002 took huge strides in visuals from its predecessor, Madden NFL 2004 significantly raised the bar for the series' gameplay, as it felt like EA had finally perfected the immersive, simulation style that they had been building for many years.
The game is also remembered for introducing franchise mode for the first time and for having the infamously overpowered quarterback Michael Vick, who boasted a speed rating of 95.
10 Devil May Cry (94)
Devil May Cry was an early PlayStation 2 game, hitting the system in 2001. Initially, it was going to be part of the Resident Evil game-line, but that changed with all ties to that series eliminated. Instead, Devil May Cry followed a demon hunter and private investigator named Dante who wanted revenge after his mother and brother's deaths.
Reviews on Metacritic compared Devil May Cry to Onimusha Warlords, with many saying it beat that game easily. The controls were also praised, calling the game a step up from the "cumbersome" controls of the Resident Evil series. The game sold over three million copies and released the fifth game in the series in 2019.
9 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (94)
Released in 2002, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 hit most major consoles, including the PlayStation 2, Xbox, Microsoft Windows, and Nintendo platforms as well. One thing that made this version of Tony Hawk different from the previous releases was the elimination of a time limit to reach goals. This change allowed gamers to play each of the 190 levels at their own pace and delve into various tricks.
Reviews on Metacritic for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 say the levels are more immersive than previous versions and also more interactive. There are also better tricks and improved graphics. The removal of the timer is what seemed to push this game to the top of most critics' best-of lists for the PlayStation 2.
8 Madden NFL 2003 (95)
EA Sports was knocking it out of the park with their football games on the PlayStation 2. Their 2002 and 2004 versions of Madden ranked at 94, and they had the 2004 NCAA college game also rated at 94. However, the game that topped them all when it came to football was Madden NFL 2003.
This version was the 14th installment of the Madden franchise and was the first-ever to have the minicamp mode and also replaced Pat Summerall with Al Michels on the commentary track. Reviews on Metacritic call it the best Madden game ever made and one that has a lot to enjoy, including a robust franchise mode.
7 Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (95)
Gran Turismo was a video game that helped make the original PlayStation a must-own console. Initially debuting in 1997, the Gran Turismo franchise ended up as the bestselling PlayStation franchise in history. The highest-rated version of the PlayStation 2 according to Metacritic was the third release, subtitled A-Spec.
This version adds two more new courses and some of the most sought-after iconic cars in racing. The reviews call this one of the most realistic racing games ever made, with all the details "dead on" including the physics of racecar driving. It is called tough and challenging, but one that makes reaching achievements a highlight.
6 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (95)
Grand Theft Auto was the most popular video game in the world for many years, and three versions of the game made the list of the top-rated PlayStation 2 games. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was the second release for the PS2. The story followed Tommy Vercetti, who got out of prison and then was involved in an ambushed drug deal.
Tommy then set out to get revenge. The game was praised for its use of '80s pop culture TV and movies such as Scarface and Miami Vice as well as the homage to real-life mobsters and events from the Miami area. Reviews on Metacritic called it bigger, better, and badder than Grand Theft Auto 3.
5 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (95)
Ranked with the same score as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was its follow-up Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Both games were controversial, with San Andreas accused of glamorizing drugs, prostitution, and murder. That didn't stop people from buying the game, and it was one of the top-selling PlayStation 2 games ever.
It was also the highest-rated of the Grand Theft Auto games when it came to user scores, the only one of the three to break the 9.0 rating. Reviews on Metacritic say this edition has a strong story with great dialogue and voice actors and is one of the best games ever to hit the PlayStation 2.
4 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (96)
Metal Gear Solid was a massive hit for the PlayStation when it came out in 1998. The original game told the story of Solid Snake, a soldier sent in to save hostages and stop terrorists from launching a nuclear attack. The cinematic cut scenes made this game something special, as did the great gameplay. In 2001, the sequel came out for the PlayStation 2 with Metal Gear Solid: Sons of Liberty.
Once again, Solid Snake is the hero. This time, he finds himself onboard a ship that a heavily armed terrorist group has infiltrated with plans to steal the new Metal Gear. Metacritic reviews praise the game's lifelike effects and improvement in every area, from the cut scenes to the gameplay.
3 Resident Evil 4 (96)
The Resident Evil games were one of the core titles that the PlayStation sold itself on. The horror game about the Umbrella Corporation and their horrific experiments that brought monsters to life revolutionized the survival-horror video game genre. By the time the PlayStation 2 came around, there had been three games and some spinoffs and remakes.
With the PlayStation 2, Resident Evil 4 was a highly-anticipated release, coming in 2005, after it debuted initially on the GameCube. The game followed a government special ops agent sent to save the President's daughter. The Metacritic reviews call the game difficult yet challenging and rewarding, one of the best games to ever hit the PS2.
2 Grand Theft Auto 3 (97)
The highest-rated Grand Theft Auto game to hit the PlayStation 2, according to Metacritic, is Grand Theft Auto 3. The game got the same polarizing controversy as later efforts, but it was the title that showed what the PS2 could bring to the world of Grand Theft Auto.
Based in Liberty City, players take on the role of Claude. After being left for dead, he sets out to take on the crime and gangland world of Liberty City by foot or by crook. The open-world design brought hours upon hours of gameplay to fans, becoming one of the most essential titles of the sixth generation.
1 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (97)
The highest-ranked PlayStation 2 video game of all time by Metacritic is Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3. The game hit a ton of consoles, including the original PlayStation. It was also the last title released for the Nintendo 64 and the first title on the PlayStation 2 to feature online play.
One of the key additions for this version of the game was the revert, which allowed for much longer combos, allowing amazing tricks that also included hidden combos. Reviews on Metacritic called the skateboarding game "nearly perfect" with a lot of credit going toward the environments, where everything was part of the game.