The Best RPG From Each Year Of The PS2's Life

The Best RPG From Each Year Of The PS2’s Life

Just thinking about the PS2 is enough to get some gamers feeling misty-eyed. Its launch in 2000 was one of the most important gaming events of the decade, and the PS2 stayed in production until 2012. During that period, it sold 158 million units worldwide, making it the best-selling video game console of all time.

Part of that success came down to the treasure trove that was the console’s catalog. In particular, the PS2 had a great selection of RPGs. They may not have been as popular in the West back then as they are today, but that didn’t stop Sony from filling each year of the PS2’s life out with big RPGs, many of which went on to become classics.

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2000: Dark Cloud

Metacritic Score: 80

Dark Cloud

Platform(s)PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2ReleasedDecember 14, 2000Developer(s)Level 5Genre(s)Action-Adventure, Fighting, Action RPG, JRPG

Dark Cloud was a launch game for the PS2 in Japan and did a great job of showing off just how much of an upgrade the PS2 was over its predecessor. It was a third-person action RPG in which players explored procedurally generated dungeons while killing monsters and collecting loot.

The game had a lot of features that wouldn’t feel out of place in a modern title, including survival elements like a thirst meter and extra hard hidden areas with harder monsters but better loot. Dark Cloud received mainly positive reviews, drawing positive comparisons to both The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Vagrant Story. The game is often forgotten today, but those who do remember it, remember it fondly.

2001: Final Fantasy 10

Metacritic Score: 92

Final Fantasy 10

Platform(s)PS2ReleasedDecember 17, 2001Developer(s) Square EnixGenre(s)JRPG

Final Fantasy X introduced a whole new generation of Western gamers to the delights of JRPGs. It featured all the hallmarks of the franchise: a twisting main story, a lovable cast of characters, and strategic turn-based battles, wrapping it all up in a stunningly pretty package. Few other early PS2 games were as good to look at as FF10.

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It also made some bold changes to the Final Fantasy formula. Battles were still turn-based, but time stopped while players made their decisions, and they could see which enemies would attack when. This gave combat a more strategic feel. The game also included one of the best minigames ever made: blitzball (underwater soccer). Blitzball had surprising depth, and some fans spent as much time playing it as they did the core game.

2002: Kingdom Hearts

Metacritic Score: 85

Kingdom Hearts

Platform(s)PS2ReleasedSeptember 17, 2002Developer(s) Square Enix

2002 was an incredible year for RPGs on the PS2. Suikoden 3, Dark Cloud 2, and Deux Ex all released that year. However, the year’s best RPG was a Disney game: Kingdom Hearts. One of the best Square Enix games on PS2, the game was a team-up between Disney and the creators of the Final Fantasy series.

The series’ storyline has gotten painfully complex over the years, but basically includes characters from both Disney and the FF franchises (especially FF7). Kingdom Hearts’ combat was more action-oriented, but borrowed plenty of gameplay elements from its inspiration. While some RPGs of that year got slightly higher review scores, Kingdom Hearts deserves its spot here for being weird, trying something new, and creating a legacy.

2003: Final Fantasy 10-2

Metacritic Score: 85

Final Fantasy 10-2

Platform(s)PS Vita, PS3, Switch, PS4, PS2, Xbox OneReleasedNovember 18, 2003Developer(s)Square Product Development Division 1Genre(s)JRPG

2003 wasn’t such a good year for RPGs on the PS2, but there was one big release: Final Fantasy 10-2. The Final Fantasy series has pumped out a lot of games and a few direct sequels, but Final Fantasy 10-2 is the one most fans remember.

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The game made some big (and daring) changes. This time, Yuna was the protagonist and the party was limited to three characters. The old battle system was thrown out and replaced with a much more action-heavy version, while the party could change class mid-battle via dress spheres. Not everyone loved these changes at the time, but going back to it now, Final Fantasy 10-2 is a lot of fun. Parts of its DNA can be felt in later main entries to the series, especially Final Fantasy 13.

2004: The Lord of the Rings: Third Age

Metacritic Score: 72

The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age

Platform(s)PS2, Xbox (Original), Xbox 360, Game Boy Advance, GameCubeReleasedNovember 2, 2004Developer(s)EA Redwood ShoresGenre(s)RPG

This is easily one of the best Lord of the Rings games ever made. Back in the early 2000s, licensed games had a deservedly bad reputation, but the PS2 was home to several surprisingly good LOTR titles. A handful of other RPGs in 2004 may have gotten slightly better reviews, but none of them felt as special as Lord of the Rings: The Third Age.

While some critics complain the game cribbed too much from FF10, it’s hard to see that as a bad thing. The core turn-based RPG gameplay was a ton of fun, and the developers did a great job of adapting action-heavy films into an RPG.

2005: Dragon Quest 8

Metacrtic Score: 89

Dragon Quest 8: Journey of the Cursed King

Platform(s)PS2, iOS, Android, 3DSReleasedNovember 15, 2005Developer(s)Level-5Genre(s)JRPG

Dragon Quest 8 wasn’t just the best RPG of 2005; it’s one of the best entries in the series. That’s no small claim when considering the fact that Dragon Quest basically birthed the RPG genre. The game had it all: stunning graphics, a great combat system, and a simple but compelling narrative.

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If someone were looking for the “perfect” example of a JRPG, then Dragon Quest 8 would be a great suggestion. Level-5 knew that with this entry, there was no need to reinvent the wheel. With Dragon Quest 8, they decided simply to give fans more of what they loved.

2006: Final Fantasy 12

Metacritic Score: 92

Final Fantasy 12

Platform(s)Switch, PS4, PS2, PC, Xbox OneReleasedOctober 31, 2006Developer(s) Square EnixGenre(s)JRPG

2006 marked the launch of the PS3, but developers weren’t done with the PS2 yet. That year marked a handful of big releases for the aging console, including Final Fantasy 12. The game was a big step away from what fans of the franchise had become accustomed to. What made it controversial then makes it beloved today.

FF12 allowed a level of build-depth and micromanagement never before seen in a Final Fantasy game. Its multitude of systems can be intimidating, but thoroughly rewarding. Despite being on an aging console in many ways, the game felt “next-gen”. No wonder it’s one of the most timeless games in the franchise.

2007: Persona 3 (NA)

Metacritic Score: 86

Persona 3

Platform(s)PSP, PS3, PS2Developer(s)AtlusGenre(s)JRPG

By 2007, most of the love was going to the PS3. That year was a particularly bad year for RPGs on the PS2, with few big releases, especially in North America and Europe. In fact, the only really positively reviewed RPG that year was Persona 3, which was released the previous year in Japan.

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One of the darkest games in the Persona series, Persona 3 was centered around depression, death, and feeling lost in the world. The game featured one of the series’ best stories and most beloved characters. Like other Persona games, it’s a weird mix of traditional RPG and simulation, where players must juggle school life with battling supernatural threats. Persona 3 is so beloved that it has seen multiple releases over the years, including one in 2024.

2008: Persona 4

Metacritic Score: 90

Persona 4

Platform(s)Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PS Vita, Switch, PS4, PS2, Xbox OneReleasedJuly 10, 2008Developer(s)Atlus

Persona 4 was one of the very last PS2 exclusives, and the developers pulled out all the stops. Many fans would argue it’s one of the top-tier Persona games, and for good reason. The game oozes style, and despite coming so late in the PS2’s lifespan, its graphics hold up surprisingly well.

Persona 4 has a more lighthearted story, involving high school students being dragged into a TV world. But it still gets plenty dark, and it features some of the series’ best companions — especially Yosuke. The game sparked several spinoffs and updated versions, and is as easy to jump into today as it was over 15 years ago.

The PS2 limped on until 2012, but didn’t see any more big RPG releases for the rest of its lifespan — just obscure JRPGs and poor ports of PS3 releases. Still, few consoles witnessed as many gems as the PS2.

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