PlayStation 2 is remembered as the golden age of gaming, with many classic platformer titles from 2000 to 2006 that you can still enjoy. These games can be played on the original console, through the PlayStation 5 Classic Catalog, or in the form of remakes and remasters in development. Despite being released 20 years ago, many PS2 titles remain relevant and worthy of being passed down.
Platform games or jump and run games, are a subgenre of action games where the player moves a character around an arena with uneven terrain and platforms of different heights. The genre emphasizes the character’s ability to jump or climb in order to achieve certain goals.
In the early 2000s, platformers reached their peak with many high-quality side-scrolling and 3D games released on PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube. Many titles from this period received critical acclaim and became part of the gaming canon.
These platformers combine creativity, engaging narratives, and gameplay suitable for all ages. There are ten best PS2 platformers recognized for their high quality, timeless legacy, and the fun they offer.
List of Best PlayStation 2 Platformer Games
Here’s a look at the best platformer games of all time on PlayStation 2.
10. Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves
Fans of anthropomorphic raccoon and thief Sly Cooper often argue about the best game in the series. Many argue that Sly 3 is the best, as it manages to improve on the foundation of the previous games.
Retaining the stealth action platforming gameplay, Sly 3 also offers many new minigames and mechanics, as well as introducing four new characters for you to play as, following the story of Sly assembling a team of thieves for one last heist.
The conclusion of the original trilogy is a compelling one, addressing themes of legacy and family with an emotional storyline. While many of the new mechanics feel ambitious, the entertainment value and charm still make for a rich experience. With a larger supporting cast, multiplayer modes, and bright cel-shaded graphics, Sly 3 became one of the best games in the series and one of the best platformers on the PlayStation 2.
9. Ratchet & Clank
The first Ratchet & Clank game laid the foundation for the hugely popular PlayStation franchise, with nine main titles, spin-offs, and an animated movie. The games combined platforming with gadget-based combat, as the protagonists explored the galaxy to acquire powerful weaponry.
Iconic weapons like the Glove of Doom, RYNO, and Morph-o-Ray offer creative ways to battle space enemies. Ratchet & Clank is famous for its quirky humor, diverse interplanetary levels, and interesting characters, making it a classic upon release.
The sequels continue to refine this formula with Rift Apart as one of the flagship titles on PS5, but Ratchet & Clank remains a masterpiece that evokes memories.
8. Jak 3
Jak 3 is the final game in the Jak and Daxter series, developed by Naughty Dog. It combines exciting platforming gameplay with vehicle combat and open-world exploration, and presents a more mature story.
In Jak 3, the main character Jak and his companion Daxter explore the harsh Wasteland a year after the events of Jak 2. While it expands on the core elements of the series, Jak 3 retains the humor and charm that fans have come to love.
The addition of Light and Dark Jak powers in Jak 3 provides depth and interesting level design, encouraging exploration in vast environments. The visuals remain impressive and have a nostalgic appeal.
While there were fans who felt the storyline was rushed and the difficulty level was easier than its predecessors, Jak 3 was still a solid end to the franchise, showing character evolution and game development. Its success led to Jak 3 being included in the PS2’s Greatest Hits collection in 2005.
7. Psychonauts
Psychonauts is a unique and imaginative platformer game, developed by Double Fine and led by Tim Schafer. The story follows Raz, a young psychic who infiltrates a camp for gifted people, where they learn to enter the minds of others.
The level design is very creative, with each stage depicting a different character’s mind in a unique surreal landscape. Each level represents a different soul in a strange and interesting way.
Its eccentric humor and creativity made it a classic game with many fans, despite its underwhelming sales when it was first released on PlayStation 2. After successfully raising funds, Double-Fine released a sequel 16 years later in 2021, which was also met with praise. Both the first game from 2005 and its sequel remain unrivaled in terms of originality.
6. Sly 2: Band of Thieves
Sly 2: Band of Thieves is the culmination of the Sly series thanks to its refinement of stealth action gameplay. In this sequel, the Cooper Gang attempts to regain the parts of Clockwerk, the antagonist of the first series. Sly 2 improves upon many elements of Sly 1 and introduces an open world design, allowing players to freely explore the hub area, discover secrets, face enemies, and explore pickpocketing opportunities.
Sly 2 highlights the importance of teamwork, allowing players to take control of other Cooper Gang members such as Sly, Bentley, and Murray, who each have unique abilities. Refinements to the game mechanics made Sly 2 a favorite among platformer fans on the PS2.
5. Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando is the second game in the series that expands on the unique platforming and weaponry combination of the first game. With the addition of more outlandish weapons and RPG elements for health upgrades, this game offers a balance between platforming, shooting and exploration.
Exciting new planets and improved game mechanics made Going Commando one of the best platformers on the PS2.
4. Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
The Precursor Legacy is a legendary platformer series from Naughty Dog that quickly became one of the most famous games of the PS2 generation, with a very short loading time despite belonging to the open-world genre.
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy was a commercial and critical success thanks to its detailed graphics, interesting puzzles and tight platformer mechanics. Fans also rate this game as one of the greatest on PS2.
3. Klonoa 2
Klonoa 2 is an underrated 2D side-scrolling platformer game, similar to Psychonauts. Although not as popular as other games, its simple yet challenging gameplay makes it very engrossing. With a Metacritic score of 91, Klonoa 2 is positively recognized and sits side by side with famous games like Guitar Hero and Metal Gear Solid 3.
Klonoa 2 game is a 2.5D platforming game that offers increasingly difficult puzzles and challenges, testing the player’s intelligence and reflexes. With beautiful cel-shaded graphics and a unique atmosphere, the game is considered one of the hidden gems of the PlayStation 2 and one of the best in the platforming genre.
2. Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Despite some excellent recent games, Up Your Arsenal remains the best Ratchet & Clank game. It encapsulates the golden era of PS2 platformers with expanded RPG elements, giving players access to bigger guns and more exciting platforming action. The story is also filled with funny moments and visually stunning new planets.
Up Your Arsenal’s non-stop action gameplay was successfully implemented in multiplayer modes, both online and offline, making it a breakthrough in the platforming genre. Despite this unusual choice, many fans still enjoy its multiplayer mode on emulation systems, proving that Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal is one of the all-time best platformer games of the PlayStation 2 era.
1. Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
Although challenging, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time managed to define 3D platforming with innovative gameplay that Ubisoft is still adapting in the *Assassin’s Creed* series. With its smooth parkour mechanics, time replay, and strong narrative, the game received widespread acclaim. Playing as the prince, you’ll experience the smoothness of climbing walls, avoiding dangerous traps, and battling ferocious sand creatures.
News of a remake of Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia: Sands of Time is long overdue. However, it is still remembered as one of the best platformers of all time in the PlayStation 2 era, and the prince deserves the recognition.
That’s a list of the best platformer games of all time on PlayStation 2 that can be your choice to play PS games. Hope this helps!
