5 Most Underrated PS2 Games Ever

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The PlayStation 2 was a huge hit for Sony, building on their reputation for quality gaming hardware. It remained incredibly popular throughout its life, boasting a library of over 4,000 games – some fantastic, some not so great, and a few hidden gems that many players missed. We’ve looked back at the PS2’s history and selected five of the most underrated games, presented here in random order.

1) The Mark of Kri

Released in 2002, The Mark of Kri is an action-adventure game known for its striking visuals. It blends cartoon-like characters with surprisingly graphic violence, all set within a beautiful Polynesian-inspired fantasy world drawing from Maori mythology. Critics loved the game’s unique art style and responsive controls, and players who gave it a try found it to be a fun, roughly 10-hour experience. Unfortunately, despite positive reviews, The Mark of Kri didn’t sell well and was largely overlooked when it first came out.

2) Beyond Good & Evil

Released in 2003 by Ubisoft for consoles like the PlayStation 2, Beyond Good & Evil is an action-adventure game starring Jade, a reporter who’s also a spy and martial arts expert. She works with a resistance group to expose a hidden alien plot. While praised for its beautiful animation and art, the game didn’t sell well initially, and plans for a sequel series were cancelled. Over time, Beyond Good & Evil gained a dedicated following and became a cult classic, despite its lack of initial success.

3) Rez

Rez is a unique shooting game where action happens in time with the music. You play as a hacker trying to repair a broken computer system by shooting enemies, and the game uses vibrations to create a cool, immersive experience. While critics loved Rez for its graphics, music, and gameplay when it came out on the PS2 and other consoles in 2001, it didn’t become very popular. Fortunately, the game has had a resurgence with Rez Infinite, a virtual reality version now available on PS4 and PS5.

4) Ico

Ico is a unique and captivating action-adventure game for the PlayStation 2. Players control Ico, a horned boy trapped in a castle, and work with a girl named Yorda to escape. Together, they overcome challenges and solve puzzles. While it didn’t achieve massive sales numbers, Ico was a groundbreaking game that introduced innovative mechanics later used in many other titles. It received widespread praise and is now celebrated as a prime example of video games as an art form, and has been re-released several times.

5) Ōkami

The PlayStation 2 was home to many unique and visually creative games, and Ōkami is a prime example. Its striking art style uses cel-shading and resembles traditional Japanese sumi-e ink wash painting, making it stand out from almost every other game on the system. Despite being critically acclaimed and widely praised, Ōkami didn’t sell well when it was first released in 2006, likely because it came out near the end of the PS2’s lifespan. It was later released on the PS3 in 2012 and has been re-released on various platforms since. Similar to Ico, Ōkami is often cited as a game that demonstrates the artistic potential of the medium, thanks to its beautiful design and execution.

What’s a PS2 game you love that doesn’t get enough attention? Share your pick in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-04-09 15:11