The PlayStation 2 is Sony's second video game console and is the successor to the original PlayStation. This video game console was immensely popular and successful. It was critically acclaimed upon release for its hardware and graphics capabilities, which were groundbreaking for its time.

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The PS2 went on to sell 158 million units worldwide throughout its lifespan making it the best-selling video game console of all time. The console gave fans an incredible amount of critically acclaimed and commercially successful games. Many of them spawned franchises that would go on to this day such as God of War and Kingdom Hearts. Production for the console ended in 2013, but a handful of games were still released on the console until the end of that year.

Updated July 29th, 2021 by Stephen LaGioia: Though Sony's potent PS5 is all the rage these days, both fans and gamers as a whole still often point to the Japanese company's second home console as a high watermark in their gaming history. It's not surprising why, given the vast and diverse array of quality titles available for all ages.

The machine had a long, successful run, illustrated by the lineup of titles that were still coming down the pipeline as recently as the last decade. Many of these games were forced to compete with sleeker variants and similar titles an entire generation ahead of them, but often still hold up and prove fun today. So in the spirit of posterity, it seemed fitting to refresh this list and include the next five most recent PS2 efforts down the line.

15 MLB 11: The Show - March 8, 2011

MLB The Show 11 PS2 hitting button cues Yankee player at Fenway Park

Developed by San Diego Studio, this MLB fan-favorite really started to hit its stride with its sleeker PS3 release in particular. But while the visuals may look a bit crude on the PS2, the gameplay certainly wasn't. While it was a tad nuanced for newcomers, veteran players appreciated the refinements and robust gameplay.

After several entries in the series, the studio's experience really shines through in this well-crafted baseball sim, with a new, more dynamic system of hitting, pitching, and fielding as well as greater customization. The game is loaded with appealing content, including a fun co-op mode and a cycling "Challenge of the Week" online event; a feature that was ahead of its time.

14 WWE Allstars - March 29, 2011

WWE Allstars PS2 breat hart warrior wrestling in ring

Unlike certain sports, wrestling tends to mesh with the intense, frenzied gameplay of arcade-style romps; and developer THQ seems to fully embrace this here. The game rides the line between wrestling and combo-laden brawls more akin to a fighting game. Further adding to this over-the-top style are avatars and wrestling moves that are more exaggerated than those found in most of its ilk.

There's plenty of fun, addictive gameplay to be had in this, encompassed by a trio of unique game modes. This includes "Fantasy Warfare" which features past Legends, as well as a theatrical story mode. This enjoyable showdown proved PS2 wasn't ready to throw in the towel even after a decade-plus on the market.

13 Madden 12 - August 20, 2011

Madden 12 PS2 Box art 1st and 10 player intercept ball

This staple football franchise has a knack for lingering on older consoles and cranking out yearly entries for a time - and this EA Sports hit from 2011 is no different. While it's one among many incremental updates in the series, this year's rendition is known partly for being able to play as a team comprised of Madden developers.

Along with this comes 25 new plays, a reworked Franchise mode that allows trades for future draft picks, as well as some tweaks and added depth to the gameplay. The game was generally well-received, though it also garnered some shrugs for its more marginal updates and lack of extra game modes.

12 FIFA 12 - September 27, 2011/h2>Fifa Soccer 12 PS2 red yellow shirts in grass field<This EA Canada production was touted by the line producer David Rutter for being "a revolutionary year for FIFA... especially in the gameplay department." This year's rendition of the hit soccer franchise would use the more refined "Impact Engine" while adding nuances like Precision Dribbling and improved AI for a more realistic experience.Though it wasn't much graphically on the PS2, fans regarded this one for its deep, addictive gameplay, partly thanks to a new online seasonal mode and a more sim-like career mode. Despite the occasional bug and rough patch in career mode, FIFA 12 was released to mostly critical acclaim.

11 NBA 2k12 - October 4, 2011

NBA 2k12 gameplay Spurs at Phoenix Suns arena game beginning

Just as most games in this famed basketball franchise, Visual Concepts strives to provide a realistic NBA experience with NBA2k12. At the same time, this effort maintains a fast, fun pace to the game and learning curve that's appealing and fairly accessible. The detailed career option returns, though players can also simulate the experience of owning a whole organization through Association Mode.

Another highlight is "NBA's Greatest" mode, which pits players in notable NBA scenes and eras, such as the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson's Lakers of the '80s. Outside of some long load times and repetitive commentary, this game is often praised as one of the better basketball sims out there.

10 Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 - October 28, 2011

Pro Evolution Soccer 2012

Pro Evolution Soccer 2012, also known as World Soccer: Winning Eleven 2012 in Asia, is a simulation sports video game developed and published by Konami. This game is the eleventh game to come out of the Pro Evolution Soccer series. It was licensed by UEFA to utilize the teams under the administration's umbrella.

This appealing soocer romp was also released on other various platforms such as PC, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, and Wii, among others. The game was met with mixed to positive reception upon release. Many players - football fans in particular - praised its decent graphics and enjoyable gameplay that's both nuanced and exciting.

9 Shin Koihime Musou: Otome Ryouran - November 10, 2011

Shin Koihime Musou Otome Ryouran box fighting stance health bar

Shin Koihime Musou: Otome Ryouran was a Japanese video game exclusive to Sony consoles, though it was also released for PC in 2008. It was later revised for the PS2 and came out on November 10, 2011 and was developed and published by Yeti.

The game didn't gain much attention and sales due to it being only released in Japan - though the niche nature of this colorful romp, based on an adult visual novel, likely would have had limited appeal anyway.

The game tells the story of a character who one day wakes up and suddenly finds himself in a different universe. The adventure told is an alternative version of a classic Chinese historical novel called Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

8 Major League Baseball 2K12 - March 6, 2012

Major League Baseball 2K12 box art pitching to batter

Major League Baseball 2K12 is a baseball game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K Sports. It was a licensed sports video game and released on March 6, 2012, on various platforms including the PS2. The game ended up receiving mixed reviews.

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Many believed the game simply polished over some of the aspects of the previous entry instead of actually innovating in key areas. But this title did feature game modes such as The Perfect Game Challenge, MLB Season Mode, and Franchise Mode. It also boasted a more refined throwing system and realistic, tactile hitting, along with some improved AI.

7 Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 - September 25, 2012

Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 boxart grassy field goalie

Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 is the 12th installment in the series. The game itself was rather loved for its improved AI, better gameplay, and a wider range of roster picks to choose from. Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 was the first game in the series to utilize all 20 teams from the Brazilian national league.

This title released on September 25, 2012. It was the last game in the franchise to be released for the PS2 in North America. Unfortunately, in today's gaming zeitgeist, FIFA seems to have a monopoly when it comes to soccer games.

6 FIFA 13 - September 25, 2012

FIFA 13 PS2 box art grassy field split image

FIFA 13 is a football sports video game developed and published by EA. While also released on the PS2, its sleeker release on the PS3 and Xbox 360 was widely praised for its incorporation of the PlayStation Move and Kinect sensor devices.

The game was met with critical acclaim. Many called it an "excellent football game" with a slew of stadiums, some innovative control features, and incremental upgrades that would reappear in future FIFA titles. The game sold about 1.23 million copies in just 48 hours.

5 Street Cricket Champions 2 - September 29, 2012

Street Cricket Champions 2 PS2 box art standing on grassy courtyard

Street Cricket Champions 2 is a sequel to the massively successful Street Cricket games. It was released for the PS2 on September 29, 2012, and was met with a majority of positive responses by fans and critics alike. The experience was very fast-paced and the gameplay relied on the player's skill and reflexes.

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Many consider this frenzied cricket showdown a huge improvement from its predecessor in terms of gameplay. It debuted new animations to add to its realism, and features including Exhibition, Tournament, and Street League modes.

4 Don 2: The King is Back - February 15, 2013

Don 2 The King is Back PAL box art firing pistol beyond crates at run down building

Don 2: The King is Back is a unique action-adventure game adapted from the film of the same name. Gameshastra developed the game, but it did not gain massive attention as it was only released in India. It only reached foreign shores until copies started circulating around the web years later.

While on the campy side, the game was largely enjoyed by those few who discovered it and had a chance to play it. The gameplay focused on fast-paced shooting and covert stealth mechanics and featured 12 missions with four intense boss battles.

3 Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin - March 27, 2013

Final Fantasy XI Seekers of Adoulin using radiating light spell on monster in grassy field battle

The Final Fantasy franchise is a classic JRPG epic recognized and beloved by many. This particular expansion was loved by many for its imaginative story, lush locales featuring marshes and murky caverns, and other staple FF elements which are as charming as ever here.

The base Final Fantasy XI game, a fairly overlooked MMORPG, released in May of 2002. However, Square Enix released a DLC of the game called Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin on March 27, 2013. That's almost 11 years after the release of the original game, and a very late arrival for the PS2 library.

2 FIFA 14: Legacy Edition - September 27, 2013

Fifa 14 Gameplay yellow shirt team on grassy field near goal

FIFA 14 is a sports football simulation game developed by EA Canada and published by EA Sports. FIFA 14: Legacy Edition was the name given to the Wii, Nintendo DS, PSP, PS Vita, and PS2 versions of the game. The PS2 version, however, was not released in the United States. It was only available in Europe, Mexico, Australasia, and South America.

This detailed sim received very high scores across all platforms. Many fans loved the game's well-crafted game modes and an attention to detail in the soccer gameplay. The game did originally released for the PSP in North America, but only as a digital download. Its physical variant stands as one of the last PS2 games made.

1 Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 - November 8, 2013

Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 PS2 box art playing on grassy field with map

Pro Evolution Soccer 2014, also known as World Soccer: Winning Eleven 2014 in Asia, is the 13th game in the series. The game took the series to greater heights by incorporating new and advanced gameplay mechanics, physics, and features in an effort to create the most realistic football gaming experience.

Several football leagues were fully licensed for the game including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and a few others. Fans received the game positively game when it was released on November 8, 2013. Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 is officially the last PS2 game ever made.

NEXT: The Last Games To Come Out On The PS1