Sony’s PlayStation 2 first came out in 2000 and instantly changed the way players experienced games on consoles. Not only did PS2 offer next-gen visuals and modern gameplay, but it also offered some of the best games that eventually became successful franchises over the years. These titles included Ratchet & Clank, Kingdom Hearts, Gran Turismo 4, among others.
Apart from well-known games, PlayStation 2 also offers a few of the best titles with extremely detailed worlds, unique concepts, and lore that is still unmatched by many modern games. These are games that featured the in-depth lore players have universally enjoyed researching over the years.
10 God of War Series
The original God of War and its sequel God of War 2, were two of the most popular PlayStation 2 games of all time, and for good reasons. Both these titles featured some of the best visuals on the console, in addition to amazing gameplay mechanics, cinematic action, and a story full of myths.
Since God of War is a game about Greek mythology, it features some of the deepest lore ever. Despite that, the game’s story is fairly simple and revolves around a man seeking revenge on the gods.
9 Shadow Of The Colossus
Shadow of The Colossus is one of the most memorable games on PlayStation 2. The action-adventure puzzle game first came out in 2005 and became an instant hit on the console. Over the years, the game remained extremely popular among fans, eventually pushing Sony to release a full-blown remake on PlayStation 4 in 2018.
Shadow of The Colossus is a unique experience with a fairly simple story of a man who wants to save a cursed comatose woman. To do so, he must take down the Colossi in the massive open world. Everything about the game, from its environment to designs, is dripping with lore most players would enjoy exploring.
8 Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 is the 12th game in the hit Capcom survival horror series, but the fourth main title overall. It’s a third-person shooter with elements of horror & inventory management which is very different from older RE games. Still, the game’s innovative and timeless design makes it one of the most popular games ever.
Resident Evil 4’s story revolves around a U.S. government agent Leon S. Kennedy, who has a mission to save the president’s daughter, Ashley. Despite the simple concept, the game features a world full of environmental storytelling and lore that’s hard to find in later RE titles.
7 Ōkami
Ōkami is another one of the most underrated gems on PlayStation 2 that does a lot to innovate the action-adventure genre. The game came out in 2006 but still stands apart due to its timeless art direction and visual aesthetics. Perhaps that’s why Capcom always remasters it on newer consoles, as it is also available on PS3 and PS4.
Ōkami’s story revolves around Amaterasu, a wolf representing a Japanese goddess by the same name. Since the game is set in ancient Japan and based on Japanese mythology, it is full of deep lore and mythical tales.
6 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is an action-adventure open-world title and the grandest Grand Theft Auto game on the PlayStation 2. The title originally came out in 2004 and has since been released on Windows, Xbox, Mac OS X, iOS, Android, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and newer consoles.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreasfeatures the story of Carl Johnson, whose main villain and goals are established in the first few minutes. Despite that, the open-world title offers a massive world full of overwhelming details, side stories, myths, and lore that players can explore right after the first mission.
5 Final Fantasy 10
Final Fantasy 10 is one of the most popular games in the series that most players still remember two decades after its release. The game features advanced gameplay mechanics, breathtaking cutscenes, and a visual design that works well in 2022.
Final Fantasy 10, like every other FF game before it, is a role-playing game with dozens of unique characters. The backstories, the world, the myths, and every bit of the details in the game are full of lore players can explore as they play through it.
4 Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill games feature some of the most complex concepts within their relatively simple storylines. The second entry in the series also does the same by bringing the game's psychological horror and survival aspect to the forefront and letting players uncover the hills full of mist.
Like every SH game before, Silent Hill 2 is complicated when it comes to its world design and exploration. Hence, players always uncover new theories, myths, legends, and lore as they progress in the story. As for the people who haven’t played the game yet, Konami has recently announced they’re remaking the 2001 classic on next-gen consoles.
3 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is a stealth espionage game that first came out in 2004 as a PS2 exclusive. Soon after, it arrived on newer consoles and remained just as popular as ever. Even in 2022, legendary game director Kojima’s third main MGS title is one of his best games ever.
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is part of a long-running game series packed with unique characters and concepts. Hence, despite being a pretty cinematic game, it has no shortage of lore.
2 Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening is one of the best PlayStation 2 hack-and-slash games of all time, packed with a timeless combat design that still rocks. The Capcom classic features a lengthy straightforward story featuring Dante and his brother/nemesis Vergil.
Devil May Cry series oozes with details, backstories, myths, and lore, as it takes place in a unique fantasy world. The game takes inspiration from various mythologies, including Greek, Scottish, Norse, and Indian, while its characters take their names from Italian poet Dante Alighieri and Romilius Vergilius Maro, respectively.
1 Persona 4
Persona 4 came out almost fifteen years ago on PlayStation 2 and was one of the final big titles on the console. Over the years, the game has made its way to PlayStation Vita, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and more.
Persona games, including the fourth part, are role-playing titles with a major emphasis on social simulation. Hence, they allow players to freely explore the world and build theories based on side stories and things they hear NPCs say. The detailed dialogue and word-of-mouth storytelling are major reasons Persona 4 is full of deep lore.