Summary
A lot of elements go into making a great video game. Things like gameplay, graphics, and replay value are all crucial, but one thing that truly makes a game memorable is a great story. Much like a film or a television series, an engaging plot will hook people for years to come.
The PlayStation 2 is a few generations old now, but it is widely considered to be one of the best video game consoles of all time. It is certainly the highest selling in history and part of the reason is the number of great games that featured compelling tales. Players who want to take a stroll down memory lane will love the many amazing PS2 games with amazing narratives that are still a blast to experience to this day.
Updated on June 13, 2025, by Mehrdad Khayyat:PlayStation 2 has been the first ever console for many of today’s young gamers, and it sure had a lot of fantastic games that still hold up and can still let gamers have a lot of fun playing them.
Some of the biggest gaming franchises that are getting fourth or fifth entries nowadays were created back in the PlayStation 2 era. A few of them have already received remakes, but most of the original entries still belong to PlayStation 2, and they do deserve a revisit.
For games that have already received a remake, we consider the original version on this list.
It’s a testament to the quality of this game that the remake of Resident Evil 4, a game that has been lauded by numerous critics as one of 2023’s best releases, is still considered to be inferior to the original iteration. A lot of Resident Evil 4’s charm came from the B-movie vibe and the game’s overall cheesiness, which has become way more professional in the remake.
The original Resident Evil 4 also looks great even now, with the title’s visual clarity, character models, and environment design being truly exemplary. Sure, the gameplay may not have aged all that well, but players who want to check out the history of the Resident Evil series and what made it great should definitely check out the original iteration of the fourth mainline entry.
Persona 3was a massive shift in the right direction for thisShin Megami Tenseispinoff. The idea of setting this JRPG in a modern-day version of Japan where the protagonist goes to school and fights monsters in their spare time was a tantalizing idea that fans couldn’t get enough of.
The narrative ofPersona 3is possibly the saddest one in the entire series, and players will love this journey from start to end. It helps that the game’s visual clarity makes it pretty playable to this day, even if most people would just be waiting forReloadto experience this masterpiece yet again.
The PlayStation2’s first foray intoFinal Fantasyis also arguably one of the best titles in the series, with Squaresoft being at the very top of their game when they developed and released this masterpiece. The Conditional Turn-Based battle system allowed for fast-paced fights where party members could tag in and out without any issues whatsoever.
However,the crowning jewel ofFinal Fantasy 10was perhaps the greatest narrative ever presented in the series. The game deals with some really dark themes, with the overarching threat of Sin placing the residents of Spira in a constant state of unrest as they fear for their lives. Sin’s unpredictable nature causes him to appear and destroy players without a care in the world.
When talking about games that depict organized crime,Mafiais usually the first name that comes to mind, overshadowing other games in the same sub-genre likeThe Godfather.
Electronic Arts' first attempt to useThe Godfather’s license and create a game based on the original movie ended pretty well. Unlike the originalMafia,The Godfathervalued the open-world nature much more by introducing side-quests and various activities for players to enjoy in the world.
However, this was also accompanied by a good story that put the players in the shoes of their very own character while serving the Corleone family. Unfortunately, the sequel toThe Godfatherdid not make any progress and caused the series to be canned by EA.
WhileSplinter Cell: Double Agentmight not be everyone’s best game in the series, it had some great innovations, especially in the storytelling. Sam Fisher is tasked with infiltrating a terrorist group, and this forces him to make tough decisions sometimes to cover his true identity.
One of the best missions in the entireSplinter Cellseries belongs toDouble Agentwhen Fisher has tobreak out of prison. This mission was surely memorable for anyPrison Breakfan, as the game was launched almost a year after the first season of that brilliant TV series.
There are a lot of aspects that theGrand Theft Autofranchise is consistently praised for, with their storylines being some of the best in gaming.Grand Theft Auto: San Andreashad an intriguing plot that saw Carl “CJ” Johnson return to his home of Los Santos following his mother’s murder. He rejoins his old gang to find out the truth behind her death.
As the plot unraveled, CJ found himself caught up in a drug war, dealing with corrupt cops, and situating in-fighting among his friends. When the story took a wild turn that saw two of the main good guys, Big Smoke and Ryder, turn heel, gamers were blown away. This tale of deceit and corruption is an amazing one that fans adore with all their heart.
The firstShadow Heartsgame was already pretty great in its own right, even if it had a few issues that needed to be ironed out. Regardless, fans loved this gothic Lovecraftian JRPG, and they were more than pleased to find that the sequel would serve as a marked improvement in every department.
Shadow Hearts: Covenantuses the real-life conflict of World War I to weave a mysterious and engaging tale with dark connotations. The Judgment Ring battle system rewards well-timed button presses, while the cast of lovable characters and the plot’s complex structure made it downright unforgettable forfans lucky enough to experience this underrated gem.
TheYakuzaseries took quite some time before catching on and becoming mainstream titles, gaining a dedicated fanbase. The release ofYakuza 0was a huge hit in the West, bringing a horde of new fans over to check out these amazing titles. However, long-time fans whochecked out the PS2Yakuzagameshad a great time playing through the two games released on this platform, includingYakuza 2.
While the first game was great in its own right, many fans consider the prequel to be mandatory for players to get fully invested in Nishikiyama as a believable antagonist. Meanwhile, the second game introduces Ryuji Goda as the Dragon of Kansai and puts him and Kiryu on a collision course, which is breathtaking to watch unfold over the game’s epic story.
Released a little over a year afterGTA: San Andreas,Bullyfeatured an open-world environment that could be navigated in a multitude of ways. This game told a much simpler story, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t captivating.
Jimmy Hopkins is the protagonist who is put into Bullworth Academy against his will. He discovered that it was run by bullies and goes on a journey to bring peace to the school.Bullyfeatures similar clique rivalries and backstabbing surprises likeGTA: San Andreas. It may not be as fun as that game, but the tale is slightly more interesting.
Kingdom Heartsis a truly ambitious experiment that combines the characters fromSquare’s excellentFinal Fantasyserieswith those from the Walt Disney Company. It had no business working but turned into one of the most successful franchises in the world of gaming.
While the gameplay and visuals were praised, the story proved to be better than most expected. The team behindKingdom Heartsmanaged to take elements from both worlds to form a tale that made sense and was gripping. Sora teams up with various Disney characters to find his friends, take down the Heartless, and return the King of the Disney Castle home.
