The 10 Most Underrated Games on the PlayStation 2, Ranked (2025)

Sony's PlayStation 2 is the best-selling console of all time. It was home to genre-defining classics, like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Shadow Of The Colossus. The PS2 game library was massive, and it had games for every possible player.

Because there were so many PS2 games, some great titles are often overlooked. From cult classics to forgotten hidden gems, these are the most underrated games on the PlayStation 2.

10 Red Dead Revolver Kicked off an All-time Great Series

This Game From the Old West Was Released Back In 2004

Red Dead Revolver is the origin of two of the best games of all time. Acting as the launch pad for both Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2, this old-school adventure through the Old West relies more on the tropes of that genre than its successors. The missions, characters, art styles, location, and storyline are all heavily influenced by Old West cinema, with the protagonist. Red Dead Revolver's protagonist, Red Harlow, is clearly influenced by Western movie icon Clint Eastwood.

The story begins with a young Red Harlow waiting for his father to return from an expedition. After he comes back, Red is shown his dad's new revolver just before a mysterious group raids the homestead. As in all good Westerns, this sets Red on a path of revenge that consumes his life. The game then flashes forward to Red as a hardened bounty hunter still searching for those who killed his parents. Along the way, he meets a cast of brilliant characters, and the story takes plenty of twists and turns.

Red Dead Revolver

Action

Adventure

Franchise

Red Dead

Platform(s)

PS2, Xbox (Original)

Released

May 4, 2004

Developer(s)

Rockstar San Diego

Publisher(s)

Rockstar Games

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer

Engine

RAGE

ESRB

m

9 GrimGrimoire Was a Callback To 2D Gaming

Magic And Witches Were Brought to The PS2 In 2007

While GrimGrimoire is filled with witches and wizards, it was originally inspired by StarCraft. It's a side-scrolling real-time strategy game with striking 2D visuals. By 2007, 2D games had largely been phased out in favor of the more advanced 3D format. At the time of its release, GrimGrimoire felt like a callback to another era of gaming. The entire game takes place in the Tower of the Silver Star, where the main character, Lillet Blan, is studying magic.

One night, Lillet awakes to find the tower under attack by a ghost. Just before she's killed, time rolls back, and the week restarts. This kicks off a series of time loops that Lillet must complete. Along the way, she learns about her fellow students and the history of the tower itself. GrimGrimoire has a deep story and blends its strategy mechanics with a visual novel style of storytelling.

8 Mark Of Kri Took Influence From Polynesian Culture

San Diego Studio's First Ever Game Released In 2002

The Mark of Kri is an action-adventure game heavily inspired by Polynesian culture. It begins with protagonist Rau Utu explaining his heritage as a protector of the Rakus, those who bear the Mark of Kri. Trained since childhood in the ways of stealth, combat, and honor, he acts more as a hero than a mercenary as he travels the land. He's joined on his travels by a raven called Kuzo, who acts as Rau Utu's spirit guide, scout, and the narrator of the story.

The story revolves around a seemingly innocuous quest Rau takes on from a mysterious man in a tavern. Rau is sent into the forest of Heidoko to retrieve a parchment from the tomb of Sambu-usu. This parchment ends up being a piece of human skin bearing one of the Marks of Kri. The Mark of Kri combines cartoony 2D graphics with more realistic violence, which makes the game's visuals stand out.

7 Rule of Rose Focused on Psychological Horror

This Game Haunted the PS2 In 2006

Rule of Rose is one of the rarest and most underrated titles on the PS2. Developed by Punchline Games, it was a horror title that emphasized psychological horror. It also took heavy inspiration from the original Brothers Grimm fairy tales and Silent Hill. The game takes place in 1930s England and revolves around a young woman named Jennifer who finds herself trapped in a world ruled by children.

Described by its director as "essentially an interactive movie," the game features Jennifer exploring its world while fending off sporadic attacks from enemies and various bosses. Rule of Rose was highly controversial due to a media panic about the game's depiction of violence towards children. While the controversy limited the game's reach, it's a fantastic horror game that any fan of the genre should check out.

Rule Of Rose

Set in the 1930s, Rule of Rose is a psychological survival horror game that follows a young woman named Jennifer who finds herself at the mercy of a group of cruel young girls. Players must guide Jennifer through the girls' trials, known as the Red Crayon Aristocrats, as she attempts to delve through her trauma and survive the complex challenges ahead.

Survival Horror

Adventure

Platform(s)

PlayStation 2

Released

January 19, 2006

Developer

Punchline, Shirogumi

Publisher

Atlus, Atlus USA, 505 Games, Sony Interactive Entertainmen

Engine

unity

ESRB

m

How Long To Beat

10 hours

6 Freedom Fighters Had So Much Potential

The Resistance Started In 2003

Freedom Fighters is set in an alternate timeline where the Soviet Union created the first atomic bomb and used it on Germany during World War II, becoming a global superpower. This newfound power allowed the Soviets to support other communist countries around the globe. Two plumbing brothers, Chris and Troy Stone, are on their way to their next job in New York at the home of political activist Isabella. When they arrive, they find her apartment abandoned, just as the Soviet Union launches a surprise attack on the United States and quickly takes over.

During the initial attack, Troy is captured by Russian forces, leading Chris to join the resistance to rescue his brother and, coincidentally, Isabella. The game jumps a few months into the future, with Chris and Troy now fully fledged members of the resistance, taking part in raids on Soviet facilities in hopes of inspiring the rest of New York to rise up and take back their city.

5 Beyond Good & Evil Has Had a Recent Resurgence

The Cult Classic Game Came Out In 2003

Following the adventures of an investigative reporter might not sound like an interesting premise for a game, but Beyond Good & Evil has plenty of action. Not only is the protagonist, Jade, a reporter, but she's also a spy, hitwoman, and martial artist who's working with a resistance cell. Over the course of the story, players must fight their way through enemies and solve puzzles to gather information about a sinister alien conspiracy.

This game made waves at its release but then faded into obscurity until recent efforts to revive its gaming universe. The unique characters are a huge part of its appeal, with Jade's best friend being a boar-like creature called Uncle Pey'j, a heavily armored character called Double H, and Secundo, the AI. A sequel, , is reportedly still in development.

Beyond Good And Evil

Action

Adventure

Systems

Platform(s)

PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, Xbox (Original), Nintendo GameCube, PC

Released

November 11, 2003

Developer(s)

Ubisoft Milan, Ubisoft Montpellier

Publisher(s)

Ubisoft

Engine

Jade

ESRB

T For Teen due to Comic Mischief, Violence

How Long To Beat

11 Hours

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4 Dark Cloud 2, Also Known as Dark Chronicle

This Sequel Released In 2002

Dark Cloud 2 is a sequel to Dark Cloud, which was also released on the PS2. It shares some gameplay mechanics with the original, but the plot and characters are very different. The game puts players in control of Max and Monica, who must stop Emperor Griffon from destroying the world. Dark Cloud 2 won several awards at release, but it's faded from memory in recent years.

Highlights of Dark Cloud 2 include its hugely detailed world and procedurally generated dungeons. Max fights with a wrench as his melee weapon, a gun for ranged attacks, and can even use a mech vehicle called the Ridepod. Monica, however, uses a sword for melee, a magic bracelet for ranged, and instead of a mech, she can transform and shapeshift into the various monsters encountered throughout the game. This game's innovative mechanics are seriously underrated. It even dabbles in time travel throughout the plot.

3 Okage: Shadow King Was a Turn-Based Strategy RPG

This Game Was Originally Released In 2001

Okage: Shadow King has an interesting release history. While it was originally released in 2001, it was only available in North America and Japan. Okage wasn't available in PAL regions until its 2016 release as a PlayStation 2 Classic for the PlayStation 4. This limited availability helps why the game is so underrated. It was nearly impossible for many gamers around the world to play.

In the game, players step into the shoes of a 16-year-old boy named Ari. When he and his grandfather try to save his sister with a ritual, they spawn a great evil, which bonds with Ari's shadow. From there, he's pulled out of his quiet life and sent on a quest to take over the world. The game features a huge variety of incredibly well-written characters, including powerful beings, ghosts, and adventurers.

2 Project Eden Had So Much Potential

This Innovative Title Came Out In 2001

Project Eden is a hugely impressive game that's been lost to time. It's an action-adventure game with a cast of four playable characters who make up a squad in the Urban Protection Agency. Each character has different abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as a unique backstory.

During the game, players must solve puzzles and collect clues while holding off attacks from various gangs and they descend deeper into the lower levels of the city. Players must use and become familiar with all four characters to get to the end. Project Eden also offers four-player co-op, which makes the game a lot easier. In 2001, this game was truly ahead of its time, and it could really use a remake in the modern era.

1 The Warriors Captured the Soul of Its Source Material

This Movie Tie-In Title Was Released In 2005

Movie tie-in games don't have a great reputation. However, The Warriors which is based on the 1979 movie of the same name, is the exception to this rule. The story revolves around armies of gangs across New York. After a conclave arranged by the biggest gang in the city, The Riffs, The Warriors from Coney Island are framed for the murder of The Riffs' leader, Cyrus. The Warriors must fight their way through different gangs and the police all the way from Gramercy Park back to Coney Island.

The film and game both have an enormous cult following. While half the game follows the movie in an incredibly faithful manner, The Warriors also expands on the events leading up to the film. It's one of the greatest games based on a movie and the most underrated PlayStation 2 game of all time.

The Warriors

Action-Adventure

Beat 'Em Up

OpenCritic Reviews

Platform(s)

PS2, PS4, PSP, Xbox (Original)

Released

October 17, 2005

Developer(s)

Rockstar Toronto, Rockstar Leeds

Publisher(s)

Rockstar Games

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer

Engine

RenderWare

ESRB

m

How Long To Beat

11 Hours