6 Best Open World PS2 Games You Forgot Were Awesome

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The PlayStation 2 remains the best-selling game console ever. Developers were eager to create games for it, and when Rockstar Games released Grand Theft Auto 3, it revolutionized gaming with its open-world design. This inspired many developers to create similar games. While some of these *GTAinspired titles became incredibly popular and are still cherished by players, others, though excellent, have faded from memory over time.

Here are the six best open-world, PlayStation 2 games that you likely forgot about.

6) The Getaway

While heavily influenced by Grand Theft Auto, The Getaway also takes cues from classic British gangster films. Set in a detailed London, it offered Grand Theft Auto fans the experience of playing in a foreign city – something many had requested. Although it doesn’t quite match Grand Theft Auto in terms of refinement and overall scale, The Getaway still carves out its own identity and isn’t simply a copycat.

What sets The Getaway apart from popular games like Rockstar’s series is its use of realistic cars and weapons, adding to the game’s immersive feel. The developers intentionally aimed for a cinematic experience, even removing traditional features like a heads-up display or map – a choice that divided players but was a unique approach. Despite receiving mixed reviews, The Getaway proved successful enough to inspire two sequels, a 2020 television show, and a 2022 graphic novel.

5) Gun

In the early 2000s, the game studio Neversoft was best known for the Tony Hawk Pro Skater series. But when they had a chance to work on a different project, they created a fantastic Western-themed game – essentially a precursor to Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption.

While not quite as groundbreaking as Red Dead Redemption, the game offers a ton of activities. You’ve got a strong main storyline, plus lots of fun side things to do like poker, herding cattle, and tracking down bounties. Sadly, the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater team needed Neversoft’s help shortly after this game came out, and they weren’t able to develop it further.

4) Scarfare: The World is Yours

As a big fan of the movie Scarface, I have to say the game, Scarface: The World is Yours, is really something else! It’s a sequel, which is wild because, well, if you’ve seen the film (and it’s been out for ages!), you know Tony Montana doesn’t exactly make it to the end. So, it’s pretty surprising to see him back in the game, picking up right where he left off and trying to rule Miami all over again!

Okay, let’s be real, this game basically is a Grand Theft Auto clone, but honestly, that’s not a bad thing! It actually does some things better than GTA. The biggest improvement, for me, is the gunplay. It just feels tighter, and the ‘Blind Rage’ mechanic, which gives you bullet time, is awesome. They even had plans to make a whole series out of it, which would have been cool, but sadly, that never happened.

3) True Crime: Streets of LA

Unlike most open-world games like Grand Theft Auto, True Crime lets you play as a police officer in Los Angeles. While it still has many similarities to Grand Theft Auto – it was, after all, the first open-world action game released after GTA 3 that wasn’t a GTA title – it offers a different perspective.

While the game follows a similar style to others in the genre, True Crime does introduce some welcome changes. Notably, you won’t always have to restart a mission if you fail – the story can often continue down a different path. The game also puts a greater emphasis on close-quarters fighting. It’s not flawless, but it’s a significant improvement over GTA. The previous installment, True Crime: New York City, wasn’t well-received, but there’s a bright spot: Sleeping Dogs is actually a fantastic game and is considered part of the True Crime series.

2) Total Overdose: A Gunslinger’s Tale in Mexico

Let’s switch things up a bit. Total Overdose is a fun spoof of Robert Rodriguez’s Mexico Trilogy films. Expect over-the-top action with tons of gunfire, huge explosions, and an incredible amount of slow-motion – more than you’ll find in most action games. You’ll be running around a large world, taking down enemies in large numbers.

Total Overdose is similar to Grand Theft Auto, but with constant, over-the-top action. You can use a variety of special abilities to destroy almost anything in a flashy way. While the graphics and story aren’t great, the combat is really fun. Unfortunately, a sequel that was in development was ultimately cancelled.

1) Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction

I always loved how Mercenaries did open-world gameplay. Pandemic just dropped you into this huge sandbox and let you go wild trying to take down the leaders of all these fighting groups. You could blast your way in guns blazing, or sneak around in disguise to infiltrate enemy bases while hunting your target. Seriously, the amount of different ways you could approach combat was insane, especially considering it was on the PlayStation 2. It almost feels unreal how much they packed into that console!

With stunning graphics, explosive action, and a massive open world, this game stood out from the many Grand Theft Auto imitators. A worthy sequel followed in 2008. A third Mercenaries game was planned, but unfortunately, it was cancelled when the development studio, Pandemic, closed in 2009.

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2026-05-18 00:41