10 Best PS2 Games Of All Time

Quite possibly the most widely adored video game console of all time, Sony’s PlayStation 2 was the must-have system when it hit shelves in 2000. This was undoubtedly benefitted by the fact that its competition (the Nintendo GameCube and Microsoft Xbox) hadn’t yet been invented, but that shouldn’t take away from just how impressive a bit of kit this thing was.

Leaping miles ahead of its predecessor in terms of software and innovation, the PS2 broke new ground for gaming and produced an outstanding catalogue in its heyday, finally being discontinued in 2013. During this period, the PS2 sold over 1.55 million units and laid claim to over 3,800 titles for us to play on it.

With that being the case, it’s quite the challenge to pick the ten best games on this wonderful console. Still, using highly complicated and formulaic analysis, we’ve managed to work out the definitive top ten games for the PS2.

You may read through this article and wonder where certain titles are, but if you do, just remember that this was decided through science and science doesn’t lie.

Disclaimer: The author of this article has absolutely no formal qualifications in a scientific field.

Back before EA were considered a comically evil corporation, they held a reputation for publishing some great titles. EA Sports BIG was responsible for the arcade snowboarding franchise, SSX, which took the PS2 generation by storm.

The most critically acclaimed of these games was undoubtedly 2001’s SSX Tricky. This game wasn’t exactly a sequel to the original SSX, released in the previous year, but more of a revamp of this title with certain tweaks to the gameplay that perfected the formula.

Alongside redesigned tracks from SSX and a couple of additional ones, Tricky introduced Uber Moves to the series. Here the player could fill up a boost bar and then pull off insane stunts, usually involving them removing their feet from the board and doing something that would be impossible on a real snowboard. Completing six Uber Moves to spell out the word “Tricky” awarded the player with an infinite boost bar for the remainder of the track.

SSX Tricky benefited from launching during an era when arcade sports games were held in high regard, as opposed to the more realistic titles we see doing so well today. Its simple yet addictive mechanics and over-the-top stunts made this game an absolute joy and one that will live on in our hearts forever.