10 PS2 Games That Still Blow Our Minds

Rogue Galaxy could've been a defining RPG for the PlayStation 2 if it hadn't come as late as it did. Whilst Japan got the game in 2005, the Western world didn't see it until 2007, after the PS3 had already released.

Ironically, Rogue Galaxy is so pretty that it could almost be mistaken for a PlayStation 3 launch title. Ergo, it deserves to be in the conversation for one of the best looking PS2 games ever.

Taking a stylistic approach means that the game avoids some of the more jagged textures that the console was sometimes known for. Rogue Galaxy moves incredibly smoothly, both exploring its luscious location variety and in and out of its random encounters, which take place in the adventure field. Even better, the game is basically loading screen free.

This is made all the more impressive by the game's scope as you explore multiple worlds as part of your Star Wars-esque space-pirate-adjacent adventure.

Rogue Galaxy is hardly perfect, as side-quest design gets pretty repetitive and padded after a time and the story is certainly hit and miss, but even today the game has an undeniable charm. Compare Rogue Galaxy to console launch titles like Dynasty Warriors 2 or Armored Core, and it goes to show just how much Level-5 got out of the PS2.