There are a lot of PlayStation games out there, so picking the best of the best is not an easy feat. Within the 2000s, the PlayStation 2 and 3 had a ton of memorable games. Today, a lot of PlayStation 4 games are still loyal to these old franchises.
In the 2000s, a lot of impressive series began. Some of them changed game industry forever by either creating new ideas for how video games can be or inspiring future companies in what they create. Here are the ten best PlayStation games that came out of the 2000s.
10 Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy is one of the best-known series for a reason, and its tenth title is known as one of its best games. It was released in 2001 and created a major legacy in the Japanese RPG community. It was popular enough to get a sequel, and people cosplay characters from the game at Comicons to this day (most notably, Tidus and Yuna).
It was loved for its emotional storytelling, rich music, and had amazing graphics for its time.
9 Guitar Hero
The first game of this well-known series came out in 2005. It was a musical rhythm game that had controls that were simulating playing different instruments such as guitar, bass, and drums. It was incredibly addictive and was a fantastic party game as it was very co-op friendly.
This game inspired many others and had a significant cultural impact that was not just in the video game community. It inspired more youth to take music classes and it boosted music sales for artists whose songs were in the game.
8 Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time
This game was released on a lot of different consoles, including the PlayStation 2, in 2003. It was Ubisofts' best title before they began the Assassin's Creed franchise in 2007 (which was actually going to be a Prince of Persia game at first).
The game had a ton of personality, as it was narrated like a storybook by the unnamed prince himself. When he dies in the game he would say, "Wait, that's not what happened." It was also a game that used time magic mechanics long with a lot of parkour.
7 Devil May Cry
In 2001, this hack and slash game came out and started the birth of a series. Interestingly enough, it was originally going to be a Resident Evil game but that changed as the game found its own unique identity. The game got near perfect reviews on all fronts from publications like IGN, GameSpy, and Eurogamer.
After this game, three more were made. There were novels written that expanded the story. It even got its own anime. With that kind of legacy, this is one of those games that other action-adventure franchises try to measure themselves against.
6 ICO
ICO is a puzzle game from 2001 that was incredibly influential to all other games that came after it. In fact, it influenced a ton of the games that are on this list! Others it influenced include Journey, Halo 4, and The Last of Us. It was one of the first ever video games to use the bloom lighting effect that would be later used by many more companies.
The famous director, Guillermo del Toro, has even cited this game as something he considers as a masterpiece.
5 God Of War
The first God of War came out in 2005 and it was the beginning of a major video game icon. To this day, God of War stands at the top of video games, with its latest release dipping into Norse mythology. The series produces unforgettable fights that you would expect for Greek gods, Titans, and more.
It is not just one of the best PlayStation games of all time, but it is also the best action games there is.
4 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty
The Metal Gear series took a big risk in introducing the new protagonist, Raiden, into their franchise. The risk paid off, and they got perfect to near perfect reviews on all boards. What made it fantastic is what makes most of the series already good, from its incredibly odd twists and dialogue to its over-the-top characters.
To those who love theory, the game really dives into postmodernism. Essays have been written about this game and how it explores a lot of political and sociological themes in detail.
3 Shadow Of The Colossus
Released in 2005, this game was considered as a great example of video games as an art form. It has been remastered many times because players never have tired of exploring the world and fighting the colossi. The music, land, and fights are gorgeous. The game is pretty minimalist in a sense because there are few characters and only one goal in the story.
The game as influenced a ton of films and video games. Some would even say this title is one of the greatest video games of all time.
2 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Released for the PlayStation 2 in 2002, Snake Eater took its gamers on quite the unforgettable journey through the Soviet jungle. It got perfect to near perfect scores in its ratings. Those who did not like Sons of Liberty found Snake Eater to be just what they wanted in a Metal Gear game. Some even consider this title to be the best game of the series.
There are a lot of unforgettable moments such as the boss fights, Revolver Ocelot's juggling routine, and of course getting to disguise yourself as local wildlife.
1 Ōkami
There is not another game quite like Ōkami. It was released in 2006 and is thought of as one of the best video games of all time. It is rich in Japanese culture, folklore, and mythology and takes you on an adventure with a ton of artistic expression and personality.
The mechanics were also creative, making you use god-like powers in the form of a paintbrush to fight and solve puzzles.