The PlayStation 2 remains the highest-selling video game console of all time more than two decades after it released in 2000. But despite its overwhelming popularity at the time, and its lasting legacy, there are some games for the PS2 that have now become some of the rarest PlayStation 2 games out there.
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The most valuable PlayStation 2 games of all time tend to be those that fell into obscurity or didn't release in multiple markets – but there are a few expensive PS2 games based on well-recognized IPs that, for whatever reason, have become rare collector's pieces over time.
All values for Loose, Complete In Box, and New prices were taken from PriceCharting.com and are accurate as of March 24, 2024.
13 Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 w/ Bonus Disc
Complete In Box Price: $214.99
Loose | $169.99 |
|---|---|
Complete in Box | $214.99 |
New | $461.38 |
The Dragon Ball franchise is very extensive, with hundreds of episodes across a huge variety of spin-off shows and movies. The Dragon Ball franchise also includes a huge number of video games, and one of the rarest PS2 games is the third entry in a sub-series of the franchise: Budokai Tenkaichi.
Though Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is valuable on its own, the most valuable version of this game is the Bonus Disc release. This special release came with both the base game and a bonus disc that showed some of the best fights in the game. The bottom of the PS2 disc case should read "INCLUDES BONUS DISC", so be sure to check if copies you already own might be worth more than you think.
12 .hack/QUARANTINE
Complete In Box Price: $276.87
Loose | $198.67 |
|---|---|
Complete in Box | $276.87 |
New | $324.86 |
The .hack series of games, often styled .hack//Games, are based on the world of .hack//Sign, an anime that first premiered early in 2002. In June of that year, the first game in the four-part series came out and was simply called .hack. In early 2004, the fourth and final part of the gaming branch of the .hack series was released titled .hack/QUARANTINE.
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In Japan, this game had the subtitle "Absolute Encirclement," where it was also a more popular series. However, a North American version of this niche series' conclusion is much harder to come by, which is why .hack/QUARANTINE is one of the rarest and most expensive PS2 games.
.hack//Sign
- Release Date
- April 4, 2002
- Studio
- Bee Train
- MyAnimeList Score
- 6.95
11 Futurama
Complete In Box Price: $280.24
Loose | $181.55 |
|---|---|
Complete in Box | $280.24 |
New | $715.01 |
Of all the most expensive PS2 games, and of all the pop culture IPs represented on the PlayStation 2, none is more recognizable than Futurama, Matt Groening's adult-oriented classic cartoon. The game adaptation, simply called Futurama as well, was released on the PS2 in 2003 to mixed (but mostly negative) reviews.
The game wasn't particularly awful or anything, it just wasn't anything special, and a lot of the comedy value was lost in the series being adapted to fit this new medium. As a result, none other than Futurama is the ninth most expensive PS2 game currently available.
10 ObsCure
Complete In Box Price: $290
Loose | $105.88 |
|---|---|
Complete in Box | $290.00 |
New | $360.00 |
This rare PlayStation 2 game is pretty aptly named, all things considered. As the eighth most expensive game collectors can buy for the PlayStation 2, ObsCure is another survival horror game that fell into, well, obscurity over time. On release, it had pretty middling reviews, but certain elements received a lot of praise, like players' ability to combine items and play co-op through the campaign.
Why this game became one of the rarest PS2 games ever is a bit murky, but it's likely something to do with a lack of interest in the game on its release and a resurgence of interest in it once it was re-released on Steam. When ObsCure was ported with better graphics to PC, perhaps new fans of the game were shocked to find how rare physical copies of the original were.
Obscure
- Platform(s)
- PC , PS2 , Xbox (Original)
- Released
- April 6, 2005
- Developer
- Hydravision Entertainment
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Language, Violence
9 Bully Collector's Edition
Complete In Box Price: $300
Loose | $164.71 |
|---|---|
Complete in Box | $300.00 |
New | $560.00 |
Rockstar was once known for a lot more than just Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2. More than a decade ago, the studio put out new IPs and tried out new ideas more often than it does now. Around the time of Grand Theft Auto 4's release came Bully, one of the most controversial games of all time in several countries.
The game was very popular, and eventually, Rockstar released a Collector's Edition, complete with an embossed unique cover that looked like a school locker with a volleyball and comic set. This collector's edition is one of the most expensive PS2 games ever, though the original title in its original case is not quite as pricey.
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7 Blood Will Tell
Complete In Box Price: $324.71
Loose | $182.96 |
|---|---|
Complete in Box | $324.71 |
New | $550.00 |
Blood Will Tell is a game based on the Dororo manga series, by legendary manga artist Osamu Tezuka. Players take the role of Hyakkimaru, whose body was stolen by 48 fiends and replaced with prosthetic parts. It's the player's goal in Blood Will Tell to recover their body by defeating all 48 of these fiends.
Released in 2004, Blood Will Tell is one of the most expensive PS2 games thanks in large part to its cult appeal. Fans of Tezuka's work, and of the Dororo manga, will have a great time with this game that took so much inspiration from the series – if they can get over that $200-600 price tag.
6 Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
Complete In Box Price: $333.25
Loose | $210.08 |
|---|---|
Complete in Box | $333.25 |
New | $535.67 |
The Silent Hill series is one of the most famous PS2 game series of all time, so much so that fans still clamor for a Silent Hills, despite no new news about such a project in years. But back in the PS2 days, the series was booming, and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories offered a new take on old events.
The only problem was, the PS2 version of this game was ported from the original Wii version, and most reviews gave it worse marks for bad optimization and other issues the port had. The Wii version of this game isn't too pricey, but the PS2 version will set fans back a few hundred dollars.
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
- Franchise
- Silent Hill
- Released
- December 8, 2009
- Developer
- Climax Studios
5 Haunting Ground
Complete In Box Price: $341.00
Loose | $249.99 |
|---|---|
Complete in Box | $341.00 |
New | $557.64 |
Survival horror games make up a lot of the rarest PS2 games, and to add another one to the pile, Haunting Ground comes higher on the list than in previous months and years. This game was relatively poorly received across the board, but it was re-released in 2015 as a digital exclusive, only in Japan.
Because of the limited availability of physical copies of the game, and perhaps because a digital version came out almost a decade ago, the price of this game has steadily gone up over the years. It falls a little short of the most expensive PS2 games, but can still cost collectors quite a bit, particularly those looking for a complete in-box copy.
4 God of War II – Press Kit
Complete In Box Price: $400
Loose | $307.69 |
|---|---|
Complete in Box | $400.00 |
New | $960.00 |
Far from a niche series, the God of War franchise has existed far longer than Kratos' recent Nordic adventures. This beat-em-up action game released on the PlayStation 2, and proved to be one of the system's most popular games. However, there was a special Press Kit version that had a special cover, unique inside cover art, and a special slot that held the game disc itself.
This version of the game is incredibly rare, but perhaps due to the popularity of the base game, you can get one for only around $400. The special art work is particularly nice on both the outer and inside covers, and it makes for a great centerpiece to a God of War franchise collection.
God of War 2
- Released
- March 13, 2007
- Developer(s)
- Santa Monica Studio
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
3 Xenosaga 3 - Lenitucular Cover
Complete In Box Price: $500
Loose | $467.50 |
|---|---|
Complete in Box | $500.00 |
New | $605.00 |
Both the original version of Xenosaga 3 for the PlayStation 2 and the version of the game with the special lenticular box art, are among the most expensive PS2 games of all time nowadays. Xenosaga Episode 3 is the finale to a long-running series that was on the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS.
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The game itself is a turn-based JRPG with lots and lots to explore and do, and it's far from a bad game. In fact, when it was released, it was only second to the Nintendo DS title New Super Mario Bros that week. This game is pricey both for it being the final part of a relatively niche series, and of course for the separate version with a lenticular cover – a cover that changes depending on which angle it's viewed from.
2 Rule of Rose
Complete In Box Price: $642.25
Loose | $489.94 |
|---|---|
Complete in Box | $642.25 |
New | $1,082.39 |
Rule of Rose garnered controversy upon its release in Europe in late 2006 for its portrayal of children "without the filter of guilt or sin," which made the EU at the time seek to ban its sale. It's Another survival horror title, this time with a bit of a psychological twist and a fairytale-like flavor.
Though controversy around the game stemmed from exaggerated claims against it, which later proved to be false, it still wasn't received well – because of bad reviews and an embattled European release, the game became incredibly rare.
Rule Of Rose
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2
- Released
- January 19, 2006
- Developer
- Punchline, Shirogumi
- ESRB
- m
1 Kuon
Complete In Box Price: $733
Loose | $519.99 |
|---|---|
Complete in Box | $733.62 |
New | $1,187.63 |
The most expensive PlayStation 2 game, going by the complete in box price, is Kuon, a not-very-well-known survival horror game by now-well-known developer From Software. Released in 2004, this survival horror was something new for From Software at the time, but it didn't have much reach and wasn't received very well by critics, so it fell into obscurity.
Nowadays, Kuon is such a rare game that just its loose disk is worth more than most other valuable PS2 games' "new" price. Now that From Software is a household name in the gaming industry, it's more of a collector's item than ever, a reminder perhaps of a time when From Software could do wrong.
