Highlights

  • The PlayStation 2 had many impressive multiplayer games that allowed for up to four players, such as Shrek 2 and Crash Nitro Kart.
  • Some multiplayer games on the PS2 went under the radar, like WWE SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain and Rayman Arena, but they still offer great multiplayer experiences.
  • TimeSplitters 2 stands out as a wild and humorous multiplayer shooter on the PS2, allowing for up to 16 players with the system link accessory.

Many video game consoles have made an undeniable mark on the industry, but the leap forward that came with the PlayStation 2 is unbelievable. The Sony console brought with it many impressive features and what’s largely considered to be one of the best libraries of games for any console.

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The PlayStation 2 found tremendous success with most of its ideas, but it also pushed forward certain innovations that flew under the radar. The PS2 is largely a two-player console, but the advent of Sony’s multitap allowed more people to jump in on the multiplayer action. However, most people might not have used this feature all that much.

Updated on February 2, 2024 by Mark Sammut: The PlayStation 2 might not be synonymous with multiplayer games, but Sony's system existed during an era when the online scene was starting to take off on consoles. Even though the Xbox led the charge in this area, the PS2 was no slouch either. Furthermore, the console had plenty of projects that supported more than 2 players via local multiplayer, and the library was not lacking in 4-player PS2 games.

18 Shrek 2

4 Players

A screenshot of Shrek 2 with characters Donkey, Gingerbread Man and Puss In Boots
Shrek 2

Released
June 18, 2004
Developer
Luxoflux
Publisher(s)
Activision
Genre(s)
Action-Adventure

Movie tie-in games are rarely seen today, but back in the early 2000s, almost every major film release with action sequences had a video game adaptation. Many of these games struggled to impress fans and critics, likely due to them having to stick to tight release schedules that coincided with the film's release.

Although Shrek 2 is far from a masterpiece, the 4-player PS2 game does offer some great action-packed fun and is still worth a play today for any group looking for some simplistic entertainment.

17 WWE SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain

6 Players

6 wrestlers and a referee fighting in a ring
WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain

Released
October 27, 2003
Developer(s)
Yuke's
Publisher(s)
THQ
Genre(s)
Fighting , Sports

WWE video games were once considered to be among the most enjoyable multiplayer sporting releases, with Royal Rumble matches, in particular, bringing hours of joy. Unfortunately, WWE's gaming franchise has since taken a nosedive, with WWE 2K20's disastrous launch being the last straw for many fans.

Thankfully, the classic pro-wrestling games still exist, and WWE SmackDown! Here Comes The Pain remains an absolute blast to play. Up to six people can join the action and have a wealth of iconic WWE stars to choose from.

16 Crash Nitro Kart

4 Players

crash nitro kart ps2
Crash Nitro Kart

Released
November 11, 2003
Developer(s)
Vicarious Visions
Publisher
Universal Interactive Studios
Genre(s)
Racing

Vicarious Visions' Crash Nitro Kart may not have lived up to the high standards that Naughty Dog set with Crash Team Racing in 1999, but it's still a fantastic kart racer in its own right and great fun to play with friends.

Racing isn't the only multiplayer mode that Crash Nitro Kart offers, as the game also brings back the Battle Mode from the PlayStation 1 classic.

15 Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003

4 Players

Tiger Woods 2003 teeing off
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003

Released
October 29, 2002
Developer(s)
EA Sports
Publisher(s)
EA
Genre(s)
Sports

Released in October 2002, EA's Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 is the highest-rated golf gaming of all time on Metacritic, with a PC Metascore of 92. The game is also excellent on PS2 and allows up to four players to compete across multiple game modes.

Most of the multiplayer modes can be played by alternating with just one controller. Speed golf, however, must be played simultaneously as it requires players to chase after their ball once they've hit it, leading to some great golfing races.

14 Buzz!: The Mega Quiz

8 Players

Buzz The Big Quiz ps2
Buzz!: The Mega Quiz

Released
October 30, 2007
Developer
Relentless Software
Publisher(s)
Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre(s)
Party Game

Although most of the PlayStation 2's attempts at creating innovative equipment like the EyeToy fell flat, there were a few that performed well; one of which is the Buzz! Buzzer.

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Buzz! The BIG Quiz was the second entry into the Buzz! franchise, and is one of a whopping 13 games from the franchise that appeared on the PlayStation 2. Buzz! The BIG Quiz was a huge hit with causal gamers, earning it the 2006 BAFTA for best Casual and Social game.

13 Rock Band 2

4 Players

Rock Band 2 four player gameplay
Rock Band 2

Released
December 18, 2008
Developer
Harmonix Music Systems
Publisher
MTV Games
Genre(s)
Rhythm

The Rock Band series finally gave people the chance to get a band together with friends while giving them the safety of a virtual crowd to ensure that no fruit would be thrown at the struggling vocalist.

Rock Band differentiated itself from its Guitar Hero competitor by allowing four people to play simultaneously with microphone, drum, lead guitar, and bass guitar controllers.

12 FIFA 2003

8 Players

fifa 2003
FIFA Soccer 2003

Released
November 14, 2002
Developer(s)
EA Canada , Exient Entertainment
Publisher(s)
EA
Genre(s)
Sports

One of the strongest entries in the FIFA series during its PlayStation 2 era, FIFA 2003 scored an impressive 88 on Metacritic. As the third FIFA game to be released on the console, it was clear that EA had found its feet on the system, offering its most realistic soccer sim yet.

FIFA 2003 lets up to 8 players compete simultaneously on the PS2, via the console's multi-tap. Otherwise, it is a 2-player game. While the title is a bit dated nowadays, the core gameplay is still a lot of fun.

11 Mystic Heroes

4 Players

mystic heroes cover
Mystic Heroes

Released
November 24, 2002
Developer
Koei
Publisher
Koei
Genre(s)
Action RPG

Koei’s explosive Dynasty Warriors series has helped redefine the action genre with its musou games that specialize in seemingly endless hordes of enemies that need to be taken down. The Dynasty Warriors series has spun off in many unique directions, but Mystic Heroes marks one of the first deviations from the norm as it embraces magic and sorcery over melee weapons and pure combat.

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Mystic Heroes never lets up and it’s a title that not only allows for four-person multiplayer but there’s also a co-op mode present that allows for even more of a group experience.

10 Micro Machines V4

4 Players

micromachines v4
Micro Machines V4

Released
June 27, 2006
Developer
Supersonic Software
Publisher(s)
Codemasters
Genre(s)
Racing

Micro Machines V4 is an inventive take on the racing genre and while it’s far from a perfect game, it does enough things differently that it deserves its due. The main novelty of Micro Machines is the creative tracks that emphasize the small nature of the vehicles. Players not only race, but they can assault one another with power-ups to gain the advantage.

Micro Machines V4 allows for four players to race at once, but it doesn’t use a split-screen option. If a player is far behind then they’re left off-screen, making it much harder to win.

9 Rayman Arena

4 Players

rayman arena
Rayman Arena

Released
September 24, 2002
Developer(s)
Ubisoft
Publisher(s)
Ubisoft
Genre(s)
Racing

The Rayman franchise is one of the quirkier platformer franchises out there and it’s become a dark horse for Ubisoft over the years. Despite how the Rayman games have done some inventive things for platformers, Rayman Arena (known as Rayman M in Europe) instead focuses on multiplayer gameplay and allows four people to jump in on the action.

Impressively, Rayman Arena offers both battle-type multiplayer as well as foot races, which add a surprising amount of versatility to the spin-off title. While not as acclaimed as the core series, Rayman Arena is much better than it deserves to be.

8 Project Eden

4 Players

project eden
Project Eden

Released
October 22, 2001
Developer(s)
Core Design
Publisher(s)
Eidos Interactive
Genre(s)
Action-Adventure

Project Eden is a title that got greatly overlooked during the PS2 era, but it’s the kind of game that would deeply benefit from a modern remake.

The game is set in a futuristic society where players control a powerful group of law enforcement officers who are hunting for some missing people. There are four members on the team, all of whom have different skills that cater to the game's puzzles. Project Eden can be played alone where the gamer hops between characters, but the game truly comes alive when four people are playing together and working as a team.

7 Quake 3: Revolution

4 Players

Quake III Revolution (2001)
Quake 3: Revolution

Released
March 26, 2001
Developer
Bullfrog Productions
Publisher(s)
EA
Genre(s)
FPS

The Quake series is one of the formative shooter franchises for the PC that helped move the genre forward in tremendous ways. The PC was the best place to play Quake during the early 2000s, but the PlayStation 2 offered a satisfying alternative in the form of Quake 3: Revolution.

The port combines Quake 3 Arena and Team Arena, and it's one of the first games that showed what the PS2 could accomplish with multiplayer that extends beyond simply two players. Quake 3: Revolution allows for four-player frag matches with the game handling the frenetic chaos without compromise.

6 Twisted Metal: Black

4 Players

Twisted Metal Black Online Sweet Tooth cover
Twisted Metal: Black

Released
June 18, 2001
Developer
Incognito Inc.
Publisher
SCEA
Genre(s)
Vehicular Combat

The video game genre of demolition-based racers has dwindled in more recent years in favor of more traditional titles, but Twisted Metal was one of the original PlayStation’s flagship titles and the series’ big debut on the PlayStation 2 does not disappoint.

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Twisted Metal: Black helps push the destructive title into the next generation of gaming and one of the biggest advents is that this messy chaos supports four players. An online updated version of the game makes the multiplayer experience even more of a priority.

5 007: Nightfire

4 Players

nightfire james bond 007
007: Nightfire

Released
November 18, 2002
Developer(s)
Eurocom , Gearbox Software
Publisher(s)
EA
Genre(s)
FPS

The Nintendo 64’s GoldenEye 007 is still looked at as one of the best multiplayer games of all time and The PS2’s 007: Nightfire is the console’s attempt to cash in on the previous title’s success. Nightfall crafts an original story and the multiplayer features many love letters to classic James Bond films.

The multiplayer here may not be as addictive as Goldeneye’s, but it’s still an extremely satisfying substitute. The PlayStation 2 allows for up to four players to join in on the spy action, with the addition of AI bots adding even more to the experience.

4 Tekken Tag Tournament

4 Players

Tekken Tag Tournament

Released
1999-00-00
Developer(s)
Namco
Publisher(s)
Namco
Genre(s)
Fighting

The Tekken series has been a mainstay of the fighting genre for decades and it’s been exciting to watch the arcade fighter progressively shift over to the home console market. Each of the early games in the series refines the formula a little more, but Tekken Tag Tournament is a juggernaut of a title that packs a lot into one game.

Tekken Tag Tournament still only allows for two fighters in a match at once, but the “tag” aspect of the game allows for four players to duke it out, two-on-two, and leads to some interesting gameplay strategies.

3 Gauntlet Dark Legacy

4 Players

PS2 Gauntlet Legends Dark Legacy Dragon Fight
Gauntlet: Dark Legacy

Released
May 1, 2001
Developer(s)
Midway Games
Publisher(s)
Midway Games
Genre(s)
Beat 'Em Up

The Gauntlet Legends series has fallen out of favor in recent years, but the games had a solid run of being some of the best four-player fantasy action games on the market.

There’s a very familiar structure to the Gauntlet Legends series as players choose from diverse classes of fighter-like wizards or warriors as they prepare for an onslaught of enemies. Dark Legacy is the entry of the series on PlayStation 2 and the luxury of hacking and slashing through monsters and enemies with four players is such an enjoyable experience.

2 Star Wars Battlefront 1 & 2

16 Players (Battlefront) Or 24 Players (Battlefront 2)

star wars battlefront 2004
Star Wars Battlefront

Released
September 24, 2004
Developer(s)
Pandemic Studios , Beenox
Publisher(s)
LucasArts , Aspyr , THQ
Genre(s)
Third-Person Shooter , FPS

Both Star Wars Battlefront games were highly ambitious multiplayer projects for their era, and their conquest-based gameplay loop holds up well after all these years. The series attempted to replicate the sci-fi franchise's large-scale battles, an ambitious feat considering they were debuting on consoles alongside PC. The PC and Xbox versions of Star Wars: Battlefront supported an impressive 32 players. However, the PlayStation iteration could only reach 16 players with some PC help. Generally, PS2 users had to settle for either 2-player split-screen or 4-player online multiplayer.

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Battlefront 2 adapted to the PS2 hardware better than its predecessor, and it could support 24-player online multiplayer. Similar to the first entry, it is still arguably weaker than the Xbox and PC iterations, but it was and still is great.

1 TimeSplitters 2

24 Players

TimeSplitters 2
TimeSplitters 2

Released
October 8, 2002
Developer(s)
Free Radical Design
Publisher(s)
Eidos Interactive
Genre(s)
FPS

The PlayStation 2 is teeming with shooters that get the adrenaline pumping, but for anyone who truly wants to go nuts and celebrate a wild time with a mob of people, there’s no better title than TimeSplitters 2.

The time-traveling shooter doesn’t just offer slick gameplay, but it has a shrewd sense of humor as it gets anachronistic with the many time periods visited in the game. TimeSplitters 2 doesn’t only allow for four-person multiplayer with a multitap, but it even allows for a 24-player showdown with the use of the system link accessory. Even now, that’s an impressive feat.

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