The PlayStation 2 celebrates its 25th anniversary in the UK this week, as we pay tribute to its best and most persistent video games.

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the PlayStation 2, at least here in the UK. While we didn’t have to wait over a year for it, like the original PlayStation, there was still an eight month gap following its initial Japanese launch, and we still had to wait an extra month after the US got it in October.

Surprisingly, Sony hasn’t done anything to celebrate the occasion, much to some fans’ annoyance, so you’ll probably need to wait for the 30th anniversary in 2030 for the company to do something truly special.

After all, the PlayStation 2 is the most successful console ever, being so popular that Sony kept supporting it until 2013 (far longer than most consoles last), which helped cement it as the best-selling console of all time, at over 160 million units sold.

To honour its history, we’ve put together a list of the PlayStation 2’s best franchises that originated on the console and have persisted till today… as well as those that sadly haven’t.

1. Devil May Cry

Originally conceived as a prototype for Resident Evil 4, Capcom’s Devil May Cry invented an entirely new style of action game, that emphasised complex, fighting game style moves in a fully 3D space.

The series has proven so successful that its deeply unpopular second entry was quickly forgiven, with the third entry going on to become a modern classic and fishing out the initial PlayStation 2 trilogy.

Perhaps because of competition from the Bayonetta series, which was also created by director Hideki Kamiya, the franchise has seen long gaps between new entries in recent years. 2019’s Devil May Cry 5 is still selling extremely well, thanks to the recent Netflix show, but strangely Devil May Cry 6 still hasn’t been announced.

2. God Of War

Anyone who was introduced to Kratos through the 2018 God Of War is in for some tonal whiplash should they ever check out the original PlayStation 2 games, even with all the context the modern entries provide.

Aside from the fact that its gameplay is very different, with a greater emphasis on combo-based hack ‘n’ slash action, the original God Of War games portrayed Kratos as a deeply unlikeable and immoral protagonist. A lot of it seemed very try-hard even at the time, but the modern games create a redemption arc that is made all the better by how reprehensible Kratos is in the early titles.

Despite being one of Sony’s biggest PlayStation franchises, there’s no sign of a new entry following 2022’s God Of War Ragnarök. One is undoubtedly in the works (and commonly rumoured to be set in Ancient Egypt), but there have also been claims of the series returning to its Greek roots with remasters and/or a prequel game.

3. Katamari Damacy

The original Katamari Damacy (which was never originally released in Europe) is one of our favourite gems of the PlayStation 2; a delightfully bizarre puzzle game, all about using a sticky ball to roll up and everything and anything at the behest of the camply dressed King of All Cosmos.

It’s the sort of quirky idea you’d expect to be a cult classic and nothing more, but publisher Bandai Namco has turned it into a full franchise, for better or worse. As much as we love the original, each subsequent sequel has had increasing trouble justifying its existence, given how few new features are introduced each time.

The newest entry, Once Upon A Katamari, launched just last month and while it’s still a fun time, we’d recommend newcomers start with the first game, which is widely available via the REROLL remaster.

4. Kingdom Hearts

For as bizarre as its premise of Final Fantasy meets Disney is, something about this mishmash of disparate franchises clicked with a lot of people in 2002, enshrining Kingdom Hearts as one of the most iconic PlayStation 2 era games.

Whether it be for the copious amounts of Disney fanservice or the action role-playing gameplay, enough people have stuck with the series long enough for it to remain a core Square Enix franchise, as it finally completed its 17 year long story arc in 2019’s Kingdom Hearts 3.

Of course, Square Enix and Disney aren’t willing to let a cash cow like this die, as they announced Kingdom Hearts 4 in 2022, with what seemed to be a hint at a Star Wars world. Since then, though, Square Enix has only shared some vague screenshots to make up for cancelling a Kingdom Hearts mobile spin-off.

5. Lego Star Wars

There were already plenty of Lego games before Traveller’s Tales got involved, but the original Lego Star Wars cemented what would become a new template for future Lego games based on existing properties.

The formula Lego Star Wars established has been re-used and refined for Indiana Jones, Batman, The Lord Of The Rings, and many more. The quality varies, but we’ve always welcomed them for being stacked with content, having a good sense of humour, and being one of the only examples of family co-op games that adults can enjoy with their younger relatives.

2022’s Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga was particularly good, but we’re very interested to see how Traveller’s Tales’ next release, Lego Batman: Legacy Of The Dark Knight, turns out next year, as it has more in common with Rocksteady’s Batman Arkham games than just the protagonist.

6. Monster Hunter

Long before Monster Hunter: World elevated the franchise to worldwide success in 2018, Capcom’s online action role-player was only popular Japan. Not just popular, but a social phenomenon that was almost single-handedly responsible for the success of the PSP handheld.

Everything started on the PlayStation 2 though, where the game began as a fairly obvious clone of Phantasy Star Online, before forging its own identity… and a bewildering number of sequels and spin-offs.

Monster Hunter: World is still Capcom’s best selling game ever, with 2021’s Monster Hunter Rise in second place. This year’s entry, Monster Hunter Wilds, was a big hit at launch, although sales have slowed faster than expected due to, amongst other things, the poor state of the PC version.

7. Ōkami

While we’re on the subject of Capcom, we never would have imagined these next two picks would become relevant again in time for the PlayStation 2’s 25th anniversary. But it’s thanks to the successes of games like Monster Hunter that Capcom can take chances on its less commercially successful properties like Ōkami.

It may not have been much of a hit, but many a ‘best PlayStation 2 games’ list makes note of Ōkami, and for good reason. While it draws influence from Nintendo’s Legend Of Zelda series, Ōkami successfully forges its own identity thanks to the Celestial Paintbrush, which lets you interact with the world around you in myriad ways.

Some elements, like the combat, do feel dated, but the watercolour graphics certainly don’t, ensuring Ōkami will remain one of the most beautiful looking games ever made.

While there was a crack at a revival in 2011, with Ōkamiden for the DS, we’re far more excited for the sequel Capcom announced last year, especially since Hideki Kamiya, the first game’s director, has been enlisted for it.

8. Onimusha

What’s better than one cult classic Capcom revival? Two of them, of course. That sounds like fan wishful thinking but is exactly what happened last year, with announcements for the aforementioned Ōkami and samurai action series Onimusha.

Initially designed as a Resident Evil sequel, Onimusha saw several entries on the PlayStation 2, featuring samurai fighting demonic oni to save Japan (and Paris). They’re schlocky and showing their age, but the original game’s 2019 remaster still showed a lot of potential for a modern glow-up.

After nearly two decades of no new games (barring a Japan-only mobile spin-off), Onimusha: Way Of The Sword is slated to launch next year, boasting superb graphics, that are clearly influenced by the Resident Evil remakes, and easily the best combat the series has ever had.

9. Ratchet & Clank

Depending on who you ask, the role of PlayStation 2 mascot was shared between Ratchet & Clank, Jak & Daxter, and Sly Cooper, who all offered their own brand of action platforming and multiple entries across the console’s lifetime.

Of those three, though, it was obvious that Insomniac’s Ratchet & Clank, which blended platforming with third person shooting and wacky weapons, had the most staying power. Whereas Jak and Sly fell to the wayside, Ratchet & Clank has enjoyed multiple PlayStation 3 games, a handful of spin-offs, their own movie, and was picked to help debut the PlayStation 5 with Rift Apart.

Fours year later, though, and the only new game on the horizon is a mobile spin-off called Ratchet & Clank: Rumble that Insomniac isn’t involved with. Although that’s because the studio’s currently busy with its next Marvel project, Wolverine.

The infamous Insomniac hack from 2023 mentioned a new Ratchet & Clank that’s aiming for an autumn 2029 release, but those plans may have changed since then.

10. Yakuza

Sega’s Yakuza series (or Like A Dragon as it’s officially called nowadays) has come a long way since its 2005 origins. While the first two games for the PlayStation 2 were big hits in Japan, they struggled to find much of an audience in the West.

It was a shame since both games were solid 3D brawlers wrapped in gripping crime drama storylines and were favourably described as more refined takes on Dreamcast cult classic Shenmue. The originals aren’t easy to come by, but they live on via their Kiwami remakes.

Thanks to the blow out success of 2017’s Yakuza 0 the series now stands as one of Sega’s core franchises, enjoying simultaneous worldwide releases and full English dubs. The next mainline game has yet to be announced, but 2026 will see a remake of Yakuza 3.

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