The PlayStation 2 remains one of the best game libraries of any console. This is a selection of 32 games that deserve a second life, grouped by genre. Each has a listing on GigaROM and can be played on PC with the PCSX2 emulator, which we cover in our guide to installing and setting up PCSX2.
This is an editorial list, not an objective ranking: it gathers games known for their quality, influence or ability to stay fun today.
Action and adventure
- God of War: Kratos and the Blades of Chaos in an action adventure with giant bosses and Greek-mythology settings.
- God of War II: Bigger and more spectacular than the first, with Zeus as the great rival. Many consider it among the console's best.
- Shadow of the Colossus: Sixteen colossi and an almost empty world. It stands out for its art, music and silence.
- Ōkami: An adventure with a Japanese ink-painting look and a Celestial Brush to draw powers.
- Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening: Fast, demanding action with swappable combat styles and memorable bosses.
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater: Jungle espionage in 1964 with camouflage, hunting and survival.
- Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time: Acrobatic platforming and a dagger that lets you rewind a few seconds.
Open world
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: Three cities, a huge map and CJ's story in Los Santos.
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City: 1986 Vice City with an 80s soundtrack and Tommy Vercetti in charge.
- Bully: Bullworth Academy and a protagonist who must survive the school year.
- Red Dead Revolver: A Wild West of shootouts with the Dead Eye system and a bounty hunter lead.
Horror
- Silent Hill 2: Psychological horror in a fog-bound town. A genre landmark.
- Resident Evil 4: Over-the-shoulder camera, action and an infested village. It changed the series.
- Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly: Two sisters, an abandoned village and a camera used to fight ghosts.
Role-playing (RPG)
- Final Fantasy X: The first Final Fantasy on PS2: Tidus, Yuna and the world of Spira.
- Kingdom Hearts: Disney and Final Fantasy in an action RPG with the Keyblade.
- Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES: School life by day and dungeons by night, with social links and an extra epilogue.
- Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King: A turn-based RPG with an open world and design by Akira Toriyama.
- Disgaea: Hour of Darkness: A tactics RPG with humour and an almost endless levelling system.
Fighting
- Tekken 5: A wide roster, 3D combos and the Iron Fist Tournament.
- Soulcalibur III: Weapon-based fighting, Chronicles of the Sword mode and a character creator.
- Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3: Over 150 characters and free-roaming third-person fights. A favourite among Dragon Ball fans.
Racing
- Gran Turismo 4: Polyphony's simulator with over 700 cars and a very complete Career mode.
- Burnout 3: Takedown: Extreme speed, takedowns and spectacular crashes.
- Need for Speed: Most Wanted: Police chases and Rockport's Blacklist of racers.
Platformers and adventure
- Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy: A continuous world with no loading screens and Power Cells to collect.
- Ratchet & Clank: Platforming, action and a huge arsenal of original weapons.
- Sly 2: Band of Thieves: Heists with Sly, Bentley and Murray in a cartoon style.
- Katamari Damacy: Roll a sticky ball and pick up everything you find. Colourful and different.
Sports and shooters
- Pro Evolution Soccer 6: Master League and football gameplay that defined an era.
- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4: Free skating with no time limit and goals in open levels.
- TimeSplitters 2: A time-travel shooter with humour and split-screen multiplayer.
How to play them
To run these games on PC you need the PCSX2 emulator and a PS2 BIOS dumped from your own console, plus your own copies of the games. Before downloading anything, read our safety guide. You can browse the whole catalogue in the PS2 ROMs section.
Notice: GigaROM does not host files. Use only copies of games you legally own. If you are a rights holder and want a listing removed, see our DMCA policy.
