The PlayStation 2 is considered by many as one of the greatest video game consoles ever made, ushering in a new wave of gaming that would remain ever-present for decades to come. The enhanced graphics of the console allowed developers to push the boundaries of gaming as we know it, leading to stellar gaming experiences that will remain fresh in the minds of players for years to come.
The ever-evolving nature of the system would make games with real-time combat the norm on the console, and the golden age of JRPGs on the console was on a decline. However, this didn't stop developers from making some truly insane JRPGs that have stood the test of time as some of the best games in the genre... along with some of the longest as well.
10 Suikoden V — 76.5 Hours
The Suikoden Series is one of the most beloved RPGs of all time, and it's a shame that this series hasn't really seen any representation in modern media since the fifth title hit the PlayStation 2 all the way back in 2006. Suikoden V generally received positive critical appraisal upon release and was one of the longest games on the PlayStation 2.
9 Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne — 78.5 Hours
Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne is easily one of the most challenging games on this list, and people who play this game for the 80-or-so hours that the story runs for are bound to be equal parts entertained with the interesting setting and frustrated by the countless challenging encounters that they have to deal with.
8 Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories — 95 Hours
The Disgaea series is one of the more niche JRPGs around, what with the series adapting to a tactical format that is generally considered to be less of a selling point that the overt turn-based variant. However, people who decide to get over this hurdle would definitely enjoy this series, with both the games on the PlayStation 2 having enough runtime to satiate the most hardcore of JRPG players.
7 Dragon Quest VIII: Journey Of The Cursed King — 100 Hours
For the majority of fans, Dragon Quest VIII was the entry point into a historied JRPG series that had become a staple of gaming culture, especially in Japan.
The title is an absolute blast to play through and the charming visuals still hold up to this day — something that's very much required given the 100+ hour runtime of this brilliant title.
6 Persona 4 — 102.5 Hours
The Persona series was at its peak on the PlayStation 2, releasing two brilliant titles that still hold up to this day as some of the greatest JRPGs of all time. Out of Persona 3 and 4, most consider the latter to be better and possibly one of the greatest games in the entire franchise. The plot is as personal as can be and ends on what is easily the happiest note in the series, making the massive number of hours that players have invested in the game all the more worthwhile.
5 Star Ocean: Till The End Of Time — 105 Hours
Star Ocean might not be a name that most casual fans are familiar with, but any JRPG veteran would be more than aware of this legendary series. The third Star Ocean game is ridiculously long, with players able to put hundreds of hours into a title whose post-game content arguably outdoes the already lengthy main story.
4 Final Fantasy X — 110 Hours
Final Fantasy X was a resounding move by Squaresoft that managed to keep the conversation around the Final Fantasy alive and active into the sixth generation of gaming. The main plot itself might not take that much time to complete — although it's still quite substantial — but it's the side content of this game that can truly take ages to complete, with some people going north of 200 hours in their quest to defeat Penance.
3 Persona 3 FES — 122 Hours
Persona 3 was a lengthy title in its own right, but it's Persona 3 FES that truly went above and beyond to provide players with the ultimate Persona 3 experience.
A major reason why Persona 3 FES has such a massive runtime is due to the new epilogue. The Answer might be one of the most divisive chapters in the entirety of the Persona series, but one can't deny that the wealth of content it offers is quite engaging.
2 Final Fantasy XII — 126 Hours
Final Fantasy XII was the biggest evolution for the series, making the combat real-time in nature while simultaneously upping the scale when it comes to the visuals and presentation of the series — something that is definitely one of the main constants of the Final Fantasy series. The story and a massive wealth of side content lead to this game being one of the longest titles on the PlayStation 2, bested only by...
1 Disgaea: Hour Of Darkness — 200 Hours
The Disgaea games make an appearance on again, with the first game being one of the most jam-packed RPGs of all time when it comes to the sheer amount of content on display. The ridiculous endgame of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is one of the biggest reasons why it tops this list, with the player being forced to reach a stupidly high level to fight an ultimate boss... who can be refought at a way higher level as well!