this post was submitted on 06 Oct 2025
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I got through phases of games, and right now I'm in the one I like to think of everything-modern-is-making-me-angry-so-I'll-turn-back-to-vintage-games - and that's in the form of PCSX2 on my Steam Deck.

Playing the PS2 generation on the Steam Deck is kinda the 'perfect' generation: I can upscale the resolution without a performance hit, I can apply HD texture packs, Retro Achievements and I can drop the TDP to extend the battery life.

Anyway, I never had a PS2 (it was just a touch before my time), so there's so many games I'm yet to discover there. I'd love to hear any suggestions you might have for what I can play on there:

Just a couple notes:

  • No GTA games because they're better with the PC versions. While I've bought the games, the account that Rockstar demands people have to play their games makes me angry on principle (a single-player game forcing an online check each week to be able to play it? No thanks), so I've got cracked versions to play.

  • No Final Fantasy because I'm not even sure where to start!

So if anyone was around back in the PS2 era, and has some recommendations for games they've loved, I'm all ears. I've been having such a fun time playing these.

Some big thanks to my friends who made and run RetroDECK (my choice for emulating on the Steam Deck), and to the PCSX2 team (who I'm chatting to right now actually, so keep an eye out and in a week or so I'll share that chat with them all about creating and maintaining the PS2 emulator!)


Also, if you do have a Steam Deck, and want to play with the HD texture packs I do, then it's really simple. Just download the pack, and name then according to their game's I.D. code - SLUS-20743 for example, then place it in the texture_packs folder:

From there, go into PCSX2, then right-click the game, select properties, graphics, texture replacement and tick the two boxes I have:

Then you've got the games looking the best they can be!

Here's a link to a stack of pre-done HD textures for a lot of PS2 games, to help you on your way!

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[–] VM_Abrantes@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Wild ARMS 3 Godzilla: Save the Earth

[–] Gonzako@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

May have been suggested already but Arc the Lad: Twilight of the spirits

It's an interesting story who's main overarching theme is messy families. The protagonists family gets separated very early at their birth, fathers lose their families and vice versa.

[–] bss03@infosec.pub 1 points 1 week ago

R-Type Final -- more than 100 fighters to unlock across a branching campaign, including at least one secret stage.

I was a little disappointed with R-Type Final 2, but I might need to just play more.

[–] Aatube@kbin.melroy.org 1 points 1 week ago

Haunting Ground

[–] Underwaterbob@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

Final Fantasy isn't continuous. Aside from races, the occasional character name, and some thematic elements, the games are not connected at all. PS2 has two of the best: 10 and 12.

Of the two, 10 is a more traditional turn-based experience with notoriously awful-in-a-good-way voice acting and a very typical FF plot. It's not really a spoiler to say that you end up killing god. It features some of the most egregiously awful mini games to grace the franchise. And if you want some of the best gear in the game, you will be committing a not -insignificant amount of time to frustrating button mashing.

Square tried a whole bunch of new stuff with 12 including realtime, MMO-like combat and a much smaller and focused narrative that is mostly a side story occurring inside a larger narrative. The voice acting is infinitely better than 10's, and there are no obnoxious mini games.

They're both still worth playing. The PC ports don't add all that much to the games over what you can do with them emulated. In fact, I bet save states make some of the mini game awfulness of 10 better.

I did not intend to write an essay...

[–] KenOh@feddit.online 1 points 1 week ago

I had a ton of fun with Unreal Tournament. I got into the zone while playing Instagib CTF.

[–] imetators@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 week ago

Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2 or 3

[–] FRYD@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

I love Magic Pengel and Graffiti Kingdom. First is a turn-based JRPG, second is an action platformer. Both share the same gimmick where you collect materials to make the characters you play with the clunky in-game 3D modeler.

[–] Zilliah@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 week ago

The Shadow Hearts series! I so badly wish it was remade so I could play it again.

Also, Magna Carta.

[–] LettyWhiterock@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

I recommend giving graffiti kingdom a try. It's a 3d platform er where you draw your own character.

[–] Zortrox@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Not sure how well it holds up since nobody mentions it, but Tiny Tank was fun when I was a kid!

You're a sarcastic tank and fight other huge robots after they took over the world basically. You have 4 spots on your tank to put a lot of different weapons and could upgrade them during the level with positronic brains from enemies to make them more advanced (e.g. homing missiles, faster firing, etc.)

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[–] observes_depths@aussie.zone 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I fing love this post. You're making me feel old but I'm glad younger peeps appreciate these games too. Igrew up on the PS2 and you've already got some amazing games there including some I missed and might have to try myself.

Anyway, here's my favourites. You have to try try the Ratchet and Clank games, at least the first one! They're still super unique and iconic today. I feel the most nostalgic about the 1st but the 3rd (going commando) probably has the best gameplay. The second is a longer, harder grind but still great. And the 4th (gladiator) is similar to the 3rd, but less story.

Other than that, Red Dead Revolver, Jak and Daxter, Medal of Honor Rising Sun and Battlefield 2 were all amazing. And Sly 3 if you liked Sly 2.

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[–] Mostly_Roblox@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

The only PS2 game I ever played was a Toy Story 3 game and it was pretty good

[–] BurgerBaron@piefed.social 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Not played by many because it's one of the last releases on PS2, but if you like horror games then check out Rule of Rose. Up there for some of the best graphics on the console too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_Rose

Others are suggesting Resident Evil Outbreak File 1 and 2. It's much better played online with other people than AI. There's fan server support: https://obsrv.org/ (you have to make an account to see the forum, sorry) and they have guides to set it up on PCSX2. I'd recommend learning how to install it to the virtual hard drive because the loading times are pretty awful otherwise and server hosts generally only make hard drive install only servers.

Their Discord community is a good way to find a group to play with, unless you have a few willing friends :)

[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Do PS2s even work anymore?

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[–] thespcicifcocean@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Silent hill 2 Tekken

But my actual favorite was guitar hero.

[–] fading_person@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 week ago
[–] njm1314@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

I have a bit of an odd one for you; Ephemeral Fantasia. It's a jrpg for very eclectic tastes. It's a game in which you're dealing with time loops. You can think of it as a mix between Groundhog Day and your average jrpg. Little bit like Majora's Mask but more extreme I'd say.

[–] AnimalsDream@slrpnk.net 0 points 1 week ago (2 children)

So judging from the comments, there is your ps2 games recommendations: the entire PlayStation 2 library.

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