Best games
Best PlayStation 2 games of 2002
The 33 best PlayStation 2 games released in 2002, ranked from 11,351 critic and player ratings.
The best PlayStation 2 game of 2002 is SoulCalibur II, with a critic score of 95/100 — updated August 2026.
01
SoulCalibur II
SoulCalibur II is the third installment in the Soul series and continues the tradition of his predecessors with improved graphics, new characters and new levels. A majority of the action takes place in Weapon Master mode where you have to choose a character and travel a set map to fight the many other warriors through different levels and challenges. Console ports were released, including guest characters from other franchises. The Arcade version has a unique mode called "Conquest Mode". This mode, which uses a name and password system to save data, allows the player to select one army among four. The player then fights against enemies in a series of eight 1-round battles, win or lose (the first seven are based on the player's rank, and the eighth is chosen by the player – this can only be interrupted by a Versus challenger.) After each round, the player earns EXP and can be promoted, and the game also rates the player in four categories: Soul, Power, Wisdom and Skill. The game also keeps track of which moves the player knows and uses most often. After the eight battles, territory control is updated and the player has the option to fight a bonus round against their character played by the AI.
95
/100
02
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
In the year 1986, Tommy Vercetti is heavily indebted to his mafia superiors after a drug deal gone awry, but his dreams of taking over Vice City (based on Miami) push him down a different path. Featuring a wide variety of vehicles and weapons, radio stations playing hit songs from the era and an intense atmosphere, GTA: Vice City is an open-world sandbox satire of '80's Miami.
94
/100
03
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
91
/100
SoulCalibur II
SoulCalibur II is the third installment in the Soul series and continues the tradition of his predecessors with improved graphics, new characters and new levels. A majority of the action takes place in Weapon Master mode where you have to choose a character and travel a set map to fight the many other warriors through different levels and challenges. Console ports were released, including guest characters from other franchises. The Arcade version has a unique mode called "Conquest Mode". This mode, which uses a name and password system to save data, allows the player to select one army among four. The player then fights against enemies in a series of eight 1-round battles, win or lose (the first seven are based on the player's rank, and the eighth is chosen by the player – this can only be interrupted by a Versus challenger.) After each round, the player earns EXP and can be promoted, and the game also rates the player in four categories: Soul, Power, Wisdom and Skill. The game also keeps track of which moves the player knows and uses most often. After the eight battles, territory control is updated and the player has the option to fight a bonus round against their character played by the AI.
95
/100
02
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
In the year 1986, Tommy Vercetti is heavily indebted to his mafia superiors after a drug deal gone awry, but his dreams of taking over Vice City (based on Miami) push him down a different path. Featuring a wide variety of vehicles and weapons, radio stations playing hit songs from the era and an intense atmosphere, GTA: Vice City is an open-world sandbox satire of '80's Miami.
94
/100
03
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
91
/100
04
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
91
/100
05
TimeSplitters 2
90
/100
06
Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven
88
/100
07
Ratchet & Clank (2002)
88
/100
08
Medal of Honor: Frontline
88
/100
09
Burnout 2: Point of Impact
88
/100
10
KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX
85
/100
11
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
85
/100
12
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny
84
/100
13
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
82
/100
14
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
82
/100
15
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
81
/100
16
A
Kingdom Hearts
80
/100
17
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
79
/100
18
James Bond 007: NightFire
78
/100
19
The Thing
78
/100
20
Space Channel 5: Part 2
78
/100
21
Syberia
77
/100
22
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
77
/100
23
Spider-Man: The Movie
77
/100
24
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
74
/100
25
Worms Blast
73
/100
26
Conflict: Desert Storm
67
/100
27
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai
67
/100
28
Army Men RTS
67
/100
29
BloodRayne
65
/100
30
Red Faction II
64
/100
31
Metal Slug 4
64
/100
32
Mafia
63
/100
33
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
59
/100
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
91
/100
05
TimeSplitters 2
90
/100
06
Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven
88
/100
07
Ratchet & Clank (2002)
88
/100
08
Medal of Honor: Frontline
88
/100
09
Burnout 2: Point of Impact
88
/100
10
KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX
85
/100
11
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
85
/100
12
Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny
84
/100
13
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
82
/100
14
Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance
82
/100
15
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
81
/100
16
A
Kingdom Hearts
80
/100
17
Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
79
/100
18
James Bond 007: NightFire
78
/100
19
The Thing
78
/100
20
Space Channel 5: Part 2
78
/100
21
Syberia
77
/100
22
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
77
/100
23
Spider-Man: The Movie
77
/100
24
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
74
/100
25
Worms Blast
73
/100
26
Conflict: Desert Storm
67
/100
27
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai
67
/100
28
Army Men RTS
67
/100
29
BloodRayne
65
/100
30
Red Faction II
64
/100
31
Metal Slug 4
64
/100
32
Mafia
63
/100
33
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
59
/100
FAQ
What is the best PlayStation 2 game of 2002?
SoulCalibur II currently tops the ranking with a score of 95/100 across 187 ratings. Ranking updated August 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.