Forget Ghost of Tsushima and Horizon; you want to know all about the best PS2 games on PS4, right?
Maybe we’re psychic, or maybe we’re just assuming that because you clicked on this article. We’ll let you decide.
Still, the fact remains that even when new games come out, we still get more excited by old games being released on fresh consoles, especially if they look super slick and in crisp HD.
That’s the reason we all went crazy for Super Mario 64 on the Nintendo Switch, after all.
And, let’s be honest, the PS2 had some amazing titles in its back catalogue. Why shouldn’t we be excited about playing them on our 4K TVs without feeling like our eyes are bleeding, am I right?
So, without further ado, let’s crack on and check out the 20 best PS2 classics on the PlayStation 4!
Table of Contents
1. GTA Trilogy (2016)
The GTA Trilogy is officially the best PS2 game on PS4. It had to be, didn’t it?
The GTA series is one of the most iconic and widely played franchises of all time. We can all remember where we were the first time we played GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas, and these games are still mega-popular with gamers of all ages today…
… even though they’re definitely 18+ titles.
San Andreas has to be my all-time favourite, and although all 3 games work brilliantly up on the PS4, this is definitely one that I’ve gone back to the most.
The streets are alive with the harrowing sounds of gangland turf wars, and you’re thrown into a world of drugs, sex, fast cars, and all the crime you can handle.
There are basically no rules in these games, giving players a chance to live life on the wild side and do some crazy stuff. These titles will always be loved by kids and hated by their parents, which is the same for music, e-numbers, and fizzy drinks.
Still, if the Hot Coffee Mod sex game in San Andreas is anything to go by, then maybe the parents got this one spot on!
Still, if you’re old enough to be buying your own games and doing what the heck you want, then this trilogy is one that you need in your life. It’s fast, it’s lewd, and it makes for one hell of a ride!
2. Dark Cloud (2015)
Dark Cloud takes the silver medal in this list, bringing even more spectacular RPG action to living rooms in HD goodness.
Maybe I could coin ‘spectaction’ as a word for future articles..?
I guess the main reason I plumped for Dark Cloud back in the day is that it looked a lot like a Zelda game on the front cover. Maybe that was intentional, maybe not. Still, I reckon there were lots of others who did the same thing as me and were happy with the results.
It’s worked for Immortals Fenyx Rising and Windbound, after all…
Speaking of Windbound, Dark Cloud was one of the first games with a meter on the screen denoting the character’s hunger, or in this case, their hunger for water… which is thirst.
If you don’t keep hydrated, you die… that’s a life lesson worth knowing, kids!
So, just who is the kid in the Kokiri hat then? Well, that’s Toan, and he’s on a mission to gather orbs to restore life to his home planet.
Remember, the orbs are the same as the Dark Cloud 2 but none of the characters are the same… that much you must remember, or nothing that follows will seem wondrous.
Dark Cloud is a fantastic RPG with the same weapon-upgrading features as its predecessor. Toad looks the same throughout, but his weapons become increasingly more powerful as the game progresses.
Slay any bad guy, and your weapon soaks up all the skill points. It certainly makes things easier than running around collecting even more skill crystals and orbs. Man’s got too many orbs as it is!
For me, it’s the storyline that I enjoy the most about Dark Cloud. It’s just like being immersed in a fantasy novel, and there have definitely been times that I’ve thought about dressing up as Toan while playing…
… hey, I’m only human.
3. Max Payne (2016)
Max Payne takes the bronze medal in this list of the best PS2 games on PS4. It’s a title that I first played on the PC, found incredibly cumbersome, and then rediscovered on the PS2.
Max has had a really tough life. His wife and daughter were murdered by three druggies high on a new substance. Then, his friend gets killed, and Max gets landed with the blame.
Everyone is after him, good and bad, and Max is on his own with only his pistols for company. From a family man who had everything to a man with nothing to lose, he’s a loose canon fighting for his life…
… this should be a movie… (spoiler alert – it is, and not a very good one at that!).
Max Payne is a third-person shooter that looks and plays a little like an updated version of Mission Impossible for the N64.
I’m not sure how the developers managed to get away with stealing Neo’s slow-motion moves for Max Payne’s ‘bullet time’, but it allows Max to pick out enemies accurately in slow motion and makes for some epic-looking footage in the process.
Wield everything from a baseball bat to a Molotov cocktail, destroying everyone and everything that stands in your way.
If you’re thinking that this game sounds pretty dark, then you’d be right. It has all of the drama and moodiness of a Film Noir epic twinned with the classic tension of a James Bond story.
If that’s not a cocktail for success, then I don’t know what is!
4. Jak & Daxter Bundle (2017)
If you’re as much of a PlayStation 2 fan as you say you are, then the Jak & Daxter bundle collection for the PS4 should definitely be of interest.
With new upscaled graphics and all the same fantastic gameplay, this epic bundle sees pointy-eared Jak and his Ottsel friend Daxter taking on epic adventures on their colourful home planet.
Mess with Dark Eco, wield impressive weapons, and pilot epic crafts and machines as you blast your way to victory.
Play Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Jak II, Jak 3, and Jak X: Combat Racing in one package, all in 1080p thanks to the might of the PS4.
It would be rude not to!
Like most of the best gaming duos, Jak and Daxter have their own specific traits. Jak barely says two words throughout these games, whereas it’s impossible to shut Daxter up! He’s the comedy element, whereas Jak is definitely the braun, the brains, and pretty much everything else.
Discover the secrets of the Precursors, Eco, and much, much more in this critically acclaimed collection. Race through epic levels in some seriously bonkers vehicles in Jak Combat Racing, and witness the moody antics of Dark Jak.
You don’t need me to tell you how awesome these games are – I already did that in my article ranking Jak and Daxter games, after all!
5. Red Dead Revolver (2016)
We’ve all played Red Dead Redemption, arguably one of the most influential Xbox 360 games of all time. Well, Red Dead Revolver is where the story starts, and it’s the next game on our list to receive the PS4 HD treatment.
The use of ‘Red Dead’ in the title isn’t just because it sounds cool. Players control Red Harlow, an orphan out to seek revenge. He’s a bounty hunter, the kind of man who’s always on alert and watching for clues, clues that might lead him to his parent’s killers.
Red uses a great move that’s akin to Neo’s bullet time called ‘Dead Eye’ which is super cool. It slows time down and allows players to lock onto multiple targets to take them down in quick succession.
That’s proper Wild West shooting right there!
In true Rockstar Games fashion, players earn more money by linking shots together and get more for multiple kills.
Save up that hard-earned bounty money for extra characters and Spaghetti Western weapons that make you feel like a rootin’ tootin’ cowboy.
Oh, and you can blow stuff up with dynamite too!
It might not look as open and wondrous as Red Dead Redemption, but this game will always have a place in my heart as it’s where the series started. The gameplay flows perfectly and the story never fails to get me pumped up.
Now… where did I leave my horse?
6. Bully (2016)
Rockstar Games know how to make brutal open-world titles, and Bully is no exception. It’s basically GTA in a school setting, and it’s another game that proves just what sick little puppies we all really are.
Violence and risqué behaviour, stopping bullying by being the uber bully, and beating people up for sport. Yep, it was always going to sell over 1.5 million copies!
Gamers take James Jimmy Hopkins, the dude in the tank top above, through Bullworth Academy on a mission to stop bullying once and for all. There are missions to complete and social ladders to climb, all while going to classes and being a ‘model student’.
Listen, if you’ve ever wished that Hogwarts was more like a royal rumble in a tank top, then this game is gonna be right down your Diagon Alley. Jimmy makes Harry Potter look like a wounded house elf, and he’s not afraid who knows it.
Get around on foot or use loads of cool equipment like go-karts and skateboards as you move between fights and classes. It’s one of my favourite PS2 titles ever, and it’ll go down in the annals of history as one of those go-to titles that every gamer goes back to when feeling stressed, messed up, or just a little bit blue.
7. Star Wars: Bounty Hunter (2016)
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter is an epic tale that sees one of my favourite Star Wars characters, Jango Fett, taking the spotlight.
The guy who brought Boba Fett into the world doesn’t need his own game to be cool, but he still manages it in this epic space-age shooting title.
Employed by Darth Tyrannus, or Count Dooku to you and me, Jango must get rid of a nasty gang who are making things tough for the Empire…
… yeah, he’s definitely not a good dude, but that doesn’t really matter right now.
The background scenery looks a little sparse up on the PS4, but the game is still a classic and super playable. Plus, any guy who wields dual blasters and uses a jetpack definitely shouldn’t be messed with.
Jango might not be in the same league as Samus when it comes to bounty hunting, but using his skills and earning cash while completing mini bounties along the way legitimately made me want to try the career out for myself.
Now, where can I find a space-age scanner?
I waited so long to get this game on the GameCube that I actually bought it on the PS2 instead… and then played it on the GameCube afterward. Don’t make the same mistake; waiting is for losers. Just download it on the PS4 right now instead!
8. Dark Cloud 2 (2016)
Dark Cloud 2 has always held a special place in my heart with other RPGs such as Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger. It’s one of the most exciting PS2 role-playing titles by a country mile, and while it shares the same name as the original Dark Cloud, it’s actually a whole new adventure.
So, it’s a sequel with a whole different set of characters and scenarios. Got it… that makes sense.
Have you ever seen a hero take on a difficult challenge with a spanner? I guess if your Mum or Dad is a plumber, then probably yes.
In Dark Cloud 2, however, players wield a spanner and a sword through two different characters in order to change the future.
Ok, I might have been a little overzealous with the ‘nothing like the prequel’ thing. A lot of the gameplay elements such as picking up glowing orbs in order to rebuild the planet feature in this game. Plus, the explorative gameplay is very similar and features lots of dungeon-crawling antics.
If you liked the level features in Super Mario Maker, then you’ll be all over the world-building features in DC2. It’s a little like a fantasy version of Theme Hospital crossed with Black & White.
Time travelling games are always high up on my wish list, but they’re so hard to pull off effectively. Sometimes they can be an absolute mess, but Dark Cloud 2 does it brilliantly and manages to make all the dots connect without any confusing elements.
Your mission – stop Emperor Griffin from plummeting the universe into chaos.
It’s a tough job, so make sure you grease up that spanner!
9. Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits (2016)
How many of you played this epic game back on the PS2? It’s one of those games that hardly ever left my console and that I played to absolute death.
In a world where two races live in seclusion from one another, their shared reliance on spiritual stones creates a really tense atmosphere. It’s a tale of heroes and a battle to reunite a broken world…
… told you it was epic.
As the fourth game in the Arc the Lad series (which sounds a little like a folk band from rural England), this is a tactical battle title with a heavy emphasis on monster combat.
We all love a good RPG here at Retro Dodo, and Brandon and I have spent countless hours tackling this game throughout the COVID-19 lockdowns.
I like it because there aren’t hundreds of characters to think about; party size remains small throughout, and the game concentrates on gameplay and storyline over enormous skill trees and multiple character arcs.
Don’t worry though; there are plenty of skills to learn and collectibles to find along the way alongside dungeon exploration and chatting to NPC in towns filled with secrets and mystery.
Have I sold it to you?
10. The Mark of Kri (2015)
Rau (that’s the chap on the cover above) and his brilliant buzzard Kuzo are ready to take on complicated challenges and hordes of enemies in this action-packed beat-em-up title.
The Mark of Kri feels a little bit like Beyond Good & Evil crossed with Crash Bandicoot… or more precisely Papu Papu!
Rau has a pretty nifty array of weapons strapped to his back including swords, axes, and bows. Kuzo also uses his scroll reading skills to help out along the way…
…I know, a scroll-reading bird. Kazooie better watch out!
There are so many ways to play The Mark of Kri, giving it a high replayability factor. Go in all guns blazing or stealth your way to victory.
Yeah, he might look like a big brawler, but Rau’s pretty light on his feet!
11. Manhunt (2016)
Manhunt is up next, possibly one of the most brutal games on any console.
Despite the game selling 1.7 million copies during its lifetime, it’s been surrounded by controversy and legal action. It’s been linked to multiple acts of violent behaviour and even murder, so please don’t give it a try if you’re of a nervous disposition.
It is a game where people get points for brutal killings, after all… not exactly a family-friendly title.
Still, at the end of the day (it’s nighttime..?), it’s important to remember that this is just a game, even If it is a brutal one.
Players take a death row inmate who mysteriously avoids the lethal injection on a mission to kill people in real life. If he follows the mysterious voice in his ear, he gets his freedom and can lead a new, crime-free life.
Doesn’t sound shady in the slightest!
Go up against gangs, carry epic weapons, and slay everyone in sight. The weirder the kill and the more unusual the weapon, the more points you get.
Right, let’s get onto something a little less scary, shall we?
12. Fahrenheit (2016)
Fahrenheit, or Indigo Prophecy if you don’t live in Europe, is one of those games that can leave you wondering what is real and what isn’t… and I don’t just mean in the game!
This wouldn’t be the ultimate list of the best PS2 games on PS4 if we didn’t include one of the most famous psychological thrillers ever made.
How many games do you know of where gamers take control of a murderer and the people hunting for him? It’s not very often you get to see how both sides of the story play out. It makes for immersive and often tense gameplay that will leave you perched firmly on the edge of your seat.
Lucas Kane commits a murder without seemingly knowing it. He’s overtaken by some sort of presence, and now he has to evade two super sleuths hot on his case.
To make matters worse, he’s not very good at the whole criminal game.
Every action in Fahrenheit is measured and developed to create the most interactive experience possible. Like Heavy Rain, choosing the right answer (or wrong answer, in some cases) sets off different actions, and actions such as wiping surfaces require players to move the joystick like they were moving an actual cloth.
It’s all designed to draw you into the character’s lives and their current mindset in every scenario, and it does a fantastic job.
Seriously, it might not be the best of the best PS2 games on PS4, but it certainly gets the Retro Dodo Players Choice award!
13. Star Wars: Racer Revenge (2016)
After the success of Star Wars Episode 1: Racer, we all wanted a new Pod Racing game. Gamers asked, and LucasArts provided, dropping Star Wars: Racer Revenge into our lives.
New racers, new tracks, new characters – it’s Pod Racing but not as you know it, and it looks phenomenal up on the PS4!
Now, the single-player mode is all well and good. Racing the Boonta Eve Classic with the lights off and a beer by your side always makes for a fun night in.
But, if we’re being honest, Racer Revenge is truly epic because of the classic multiplayer action it provides. What could be better than trying to blast through courses at breakneck speeds of 600mph while screaming and forcing your eyes open…
… just me then?
So what’s the score here? If it’s not Episode 1, then what’s the story?
Well, remember when Sebulba got owned by Anakin? It’s been eight years since that fateful moment, and Sebulba’s back with a brand new track… I mean craft… you get the idea.
Still, Anakin hasn’t been idle either. He’s honed his skills and stored a few tricks of his own up his sleeve, setting the scene for a battle of the champions like no other.
If you love games such as F-Zero X and Wipeout 2049, then Racer Revenge will be the yin to your gaming yang!
14. PaRappa The Rapper 2 (2015)
Anyone who’s ever owned a Playstation 2 has undoubtedly played PaRappa the Rapper 2 before. Upscaling this title for the PS4 wasn’t exactly hard thanks to the quirky cartoony graphics, but man, does it look slick now!
As the sequel to the original PaRappa The Rapper, a bona fide PS1 Icon, players must defeat an evil corporation by using the only skills they have to hand – rapping like a boss.
The premise is simple – copy the moves set out by a teacher on each level.
Gaming alone is super boring after all!
If you’ve ever played Samba De Amigo or Guitar Hero, then this is basically a mixture of both games. It’s simple to grasp and terribly difficult to put down…
… all the best titles are!
There is actually a two-player mode, but it takes a little work to uncover fully. Play each level through in one-player mode in order to go head-to-head with a mate (or your worst rival)!
I guess the only question that matters is ‘do you have what it takes to be wax lyrical?’
15. Twisted Metal: Black (2015)
If you ever find yourself wishing that car games were more brutal and had way more crashes, then Twisted Metal: Black should 100% be in your collection.
This PS2 native title looks superb on the PS4, It’s post-apocalyptic, dark, moody, and dripping with explosive actions and pieces of metal flying through the air at every turn.
And there’s more to this ‘smashing’ combat title than meets the eye. With seamless 60fps gameplay and gameplay that moves through sun and darkness (commonly known as a day/night cycle), Twisted Metal: Black feels realistic and horrifying in equal measure.
Of course, one of the main reasons why it’s worth having this PS2 game on PS4 is the epic wireless multiplayer action.
Battle with up to 4-players in a whole host of battle arenas or team up together to take down insane vehicles and beat back Calypso’s minions.
I suppose, in a way, it’s almost like a demolition derby version of Crazy Taxi… which we can all agree sounds like an epic idea.
Oh, and the music!
Any game with gothic techno blasting out of the speakers is alright in my book!
16. Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter (2016)
Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter takes the 16th spot in this list of the best PS2 games on PS4, an intergalactic space shooter from everyone’s favourite franchise.
Unless you don’t like Star Wars, that is, then you probably won’t care at all…
Basically, if you’ve ever wished to be in an A-Wing or any kind of fighter jet from the series, then this game is ‘gonna feel like every Christmas Day you’ve ever had…
… especially with the polished PS4 treatment!
The game bears a resemblance to Attack of the Clones, and players take the newly crafted Jedi Starfighter into battle in order to defend a defenceless planet.
Mace Windu charges his old apprentice Adi Gallia to take on the challenge of piloting the Starfighter. It’s a two-for-the-price-of-one game in many ways as gamers control both Adi and her mate Nym as they traverse the skies in search of cannon fodder.
Adi’s new ship has many of the same powers that Jedi’s boast such as force powers that electrify and push back enemies. There are force shields and even reflexes, and two players can team up together for some epic dogfighting action!
17. War Of The Monsters (2015)
Next up is War of the Monsters, a chaotic Rampage-style game that sees players battling all sorts of weird and wacky aliens and monsters trying to destroy the Earth.
Easy job then, eh?
In true typical humankind ignorance (we really aren’t good at planning ahead), the fluid from the damaged aliens ends up making more monsters. It’s a kind of exponential muck-up of epic proportions…
So what can be done about it then? How do we battle back wave upon wave of evil beings so we can go back to shopping in supermarkets and eating toast on the sofa?
Well, through modes such as Adventure, Endurance, and Free for All, one to two players can take control of certain monsters tasked with fighting against the other monsters, using cars, spears, and other insane weapons in the process.
Oh yeah, this is an incredibly ridiculous game, but don’t bog yourself down trying to understand the hows and whys – just enjoy the madness!
Unlock new costumes, mini-games, and more as you progress through the game. And remember, give ’em hell kid!
18. Rogue Galaxy (2015)
So what’s the deal with Rogue Galaxy then? Are we looking at a space-age shooter or an open-world adventure?
It’s actually one of the PS2’s most prolific RPG titles, oozing with science fiction and fantasy elements, including real-time battles and all the usual upgrading and weapon collecting that we’ve come to expect from the genre.
Players take a lad called Jaster around the galaxy in a time where no one is permitted to travel. Mistaken for a hunter, he’s recruited as a pirate and taken on an adventure to seek out the mysteries of the universe.
Cool, right?
One of the best bits about Rogue Galaxy is the battles. There are no loading times and the action is fast-paced, keeping gamers hooked from start to finish.
Why isn’t every RPG like this?
Unlike most RPGs, however, players level up weapons instead of levelling up their characters. When a weapon can’t be upgraded anymore, it can be moulded with another weapon to create a sort of ‘Megazord’ style series of brutal slashers and hackers.
With luscious scenery lovingly remastered for the PS4 and a storyline it’s impossible not to get sucked into, Rogue Galaxy is yet another game that PS4 gamers need to go back and discover.
It takes you to a whole other world!
19. Forbidden Siren (2016)
Forbidden Siren remains one of the top-rated Horror games of all time. If you’re a fan of zombies and being sh… I mean… being really scared, then you need this game in your life.
Sometimes called Siren, this horror didn’t get the take up that it deserved back in 2003. Gamers in the West just didn’t show any interest, and it kind of went into the ‘underrated pile’.
Now, thanks to the PS4 reviving this epic title, more and more gamers are picking out their brown pants and trying not to hide behind the sofa for too long!
Gamers play as humans that can ‘sight jack’, which essentially allows them to mould their minds with zombies. It sounds insane, and let’s be honest, it is.
The zombies are Calle Shibito, and linking with one leaves players incredibly vulnerable, especially when zombies start screeching and attracting more zombies into the area…
… that’s a disaster waiting to happen.
Sony did their best to push this game, and it even had a film adaptation. The annoying thing is that Forbidden Siren was trampled over by more famous franchises such as Resident Evil.
The truth is, Forbidden Siren is, quite often, scarier than titles like Silent Hill and is a cracking game if you’re up for shriekfest.
And, it’s cheap on the PS4!
20. FantaVision (2015)
I know that FantaVision sounds like a game where people just see everything through a fizzy orange haze, but hear me out.
This game is one of the strangest but most addictive puzzle titles on the PS2. It’s based on fireworks shooting up into the night sky, and users must connect them together.
Do it quickly, and you’ll get a nice colourful explosion!
Maybe it should be called FireworkVision instead…
So how do gamers earn points in this game?
Well, by pulling off combos and exploding rockets in unison, players can pick up multiple-point streaks and aim for that all-time high score.
FantaVision boasts a pretty nice multiplayer mode too! Battling against another player has the same feeling as a Tetris trash battle and is just as exciting as a Goldeneye Deathmatch.
This is a game for the strategically minded amongst us, true explosive action that is super difficult to put down.
Plus, it looks super slick on the PS4!
