The PS2 games library is so expansive,you have over 4000 titles to choose from. You can pick anything from arcade classics to JRPG masterpieces. Plenty of titles are suitable for short sessions, but what if you’re looking for something you can return to again and again?
“Infinitely Replayable” may be subjective becauseyou’ll always return to your favorites, but some PS2 titles beg to be revisited.Others offer so much content or ways to enjoy them that you could play for hundreds of hours without seeing everything.
If games that are more of a commitment are up your alley, here’s a selection of games you may have to take some time off work for and free up some space on your trusty 8MB memory card.
Longand ‘replayable’ are two very different things. I considered putting a few RPGs on the list, but many are incredible experiences you put away for a while after beating them.
8Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3
For The Gearheads
Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3
I’m a massive fan of street anddrift racinggames, and I’ve included one of my favorites with good reason. Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3 is a superb street racing game, set on the Wangan and nearby roads in Japan. The game makes the list for its absurd attention to detail, offering some of the most in-depth tuning options I’ve seen in the genre.
You can tweak every aspect of your car from the gear ratios to ride height. Sure, some cars are better than others, but your Nissan 350Z may be totally different from mine because of its settings. Every vehicle feels unique.
You can build a ride that sticks to the road like glue. If you’re like me, you can try to make a slippery monstrosity that takes corners sideways. The tuning and races are so rewarding, TXR3 practically begs to be replayed with different vehicles and setups.
7Timesplitters: Future Perfect
RIP Free Radical
TimeSplitters: Future Perfect
Timesplitters: Future Perfect is the final installment in the series.I’ve long lost hope in ever seeing a Timesplitters 4, but if Future Perfect is the end, it’s a superb title to finish on.
For the uninitiated, Timesplitters: Future Perfect is a feature-rich first-person shooter with more modes, maps, and characters than you’d reasonably expect from the genre. There are plenty of heroes to unlock, a fun campaign, and asolid map editorso you can make your finest ideas a reality.
Even regular modes have a ton of variables, so you can create the scenario of your dreams. Weapons range from old shotguns to plasma rifles, and Timesplitters remains one of the best party shooters on the console.
No two sessions are the same in Timesplitters, and many challenges (like exploding cow carcasses with the injector gun) are unforgettable.
6Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis
Message From Dr. Grant!
Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis (2003)
Consoles aren’t really known for their library of simulation games, butJurassic Park: Operation Genesis is an example of the genre done right without requiring a keyboard.
Operation Genesis is a solid park-building sim set in the Jurassic Park universe. There’s a decent selection of over 20 dinosaurs, and characters from the movies will make sure to bother you constantly with messages.
The title is notably more basic than modern park builders, but not to a detriment. Controls are well-suited to the PS2, and you can assemble a park in infinite ways before tropical storms come and ruin your hard work.
Honestly, I prefer Operation Genesis to the newer JP games.At least the PS2 game doesn’t have missions where you have to kill dinosaurs to keep a faction happy.
You’re Tuned To Radio BIG
SSX3 is a stacked snowboarding game with a mountain with three peaks as your playground.SSX 3 ditched the menu-style approach of the previous two games for something that feels a little more open-world.Honestly, I detest many open-world racers, but it fits here, and you can still fast travel to get around.
There is a huge roster of characters, each with disciplines they excel in. For example, Mac is great for tricks, but you might prefer someone like Elise for racing. You have plenty of events to enjoy, whether you’re a freestyler or racer.
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Best of all, some events take place on multiple peaks, so they may last upwards of 20 minutes. There’s an almost overwhelming amount of content in SSX3, especially if you level up more than one snowboarder.
4Burnout 3: Takedown
Where Is The Fun In Racing Fair?
Burnout 3: Takedown
Few classic racing franchises are as beloved asBurnout, and while many would say the series peaked withParadise, only a fool would downplay Burnout Takedown.
Burnout 3: Takedown offers arcade racing at its finest.Races are turbo-paced, and the crash and damage physics are so good they still hold up today.There are dozens of races to take part in, and it’s a brutal journey if you’re after 100% completion.
Takedown also leans heavily into its destruction mechanics with plenty of diversions from standard races. The Crash mode is incredible, and Eliminator races force you to play aggressively no matter what. I may be a PS2 fanboy, but I often return to Burnout Takedown over 20 years later.
3Tekken Tag Tournament
Tag Battle. Fight!
Tekken Tag Tournament
Fighting games are a low hanging fruit for a replayability list becauseyou could play for thousands of hours and still find players who can kick your ass.
Even with PvP out of the equation, Tekken Tag Tournament features a stacked roster of 39 characters. The onlyTekkengame to topple it is Tekken Tag Tournament 2, which came out on the PS3.
There are a few ‘palette swap’ characters in TTT, but it will take dozens of hours to get comfortable with every fighter, let alone become proficient with them. The tag system adds an extra layer of complexity to battles, and there’s even a fun bowling mode if you want to hang up the gloves and relax.
Tekken 5 is arguably the best of the series on the PS2, but few fighting games come close to the wealth of content in Tekken Tag Tournament.
2Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
A Kojima Masterpiece
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)
Metal Gear Solid 3isarguably the best MGS game with an unforgettable story that can make grown men cry.It’s a wonder how MGS3 even fits on the PS2 disk, with its roster oficonic villains, hours of cinematics and voiced codec conversations, and huge map.
Strictly speaking, MGS3 doesn’t have infinite content, especially when you can beat the campaign within 15 hours. However, there are countless secrets and easter eggs you will only appreciate during multiple playthroughs.
The game begs to be replayed, and the collectathon isn’t for the faint-hearted. I’m one of those weirdos who enjoys MGS2 the most, but it’s the title I grew up with. I’ve spent hundreds of hours on the Big Shell, and there’s far more to explore in MGS3.
1Hitman: Blood Money
Assassination Is An Art Form
Hitman: Blood Money
TheHitmangames offer playerscountless ways to dispatch their targets, and more opportunities open up as you learn each locale.
World of Assassination is the latest game in the series, and perfectly exemplifies this approach, although you can achieve similar things with the PS2 games. Hitman: Blood Money on the PS2 is much tougher than WoA, and it will take dozens of attempts and failures to cover your tracks like a pro.
Hitman offers a radically different take on 3rd person shooters, with the journey being just as important as the destination. Knowledge is rewarded over twitchy reflexes, and it’s a joy to play as Agent 47, even in the older games.
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I also peaked in the 2000s, so I know the feeling.
