Best games
Best PlayStation 2 games of 2003
The 47 best PlayStation 2 games released in 2003, ranked from 7,928 critic and player ratings.
The best PlayStation 2 game of 2003 is SSX 3, with a critic score of 93/100 — updated August 2026.
01
SSX 3
93
/100
02
Beyond Good & Evil
Beyond Good & Evil is an action-adventure game with elements of puzzle-solving and stealth-based games. The player controls the protagonist, Jade, from a third-person perspective. Jade can run, move stealthily, jump over obstacles and pits, climb ladders, push or bash doors and objects, and flatten herself against walls. As Jade, the player investigates a number of installations in search of the truth about a war with an alien threat.
91
/100
03
Tony Hawk's Underground
90
/100
SSX 3
93
/100
02
Beyond Good & Evil
Beyond Good & Evil is an action-adventure game with elements of puzzle-solving and stealth-based games. The player controls the protagonist, Jade, from a third-person perspective. Jade can run, move stealthily, jump over obstacles and pits, climb ladders, push or bash doors and objects, and flatten herself against walls. As Jade, the player investigates a number of installations in search of the truth about a war with an alien threat.
91
/100
03
Tony Hawk's Underground
90
/100
04
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
90
/100
05
Viewtiful Joe (2003)
90
/100
06
Silent Hill 3
Silent Hill 3 is the third installment in the Silent Hill series. Like the previous entries, Silent Hill 3 is a survival horror combining action-based combat and puzzle-solving, but is somewhat more combat-oriented than the preceding installments. The main character is able to side-step and block some attacks, but in general shares with the other protagonists of the series their relative ineptitude in combat.
88
/100
07
Jak II
87
/100
08
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
Crimson Butterfly is the second installment in the Fatal Frame series, although not a direct sequel to the first title, Fatal Frame. The story follows twin sisters Mio and Mayu as they explore an abandoned village and experience encounters with the paranormal. Players must use the Camera Obscura to defeat ghosts and uncover the secrets of the village. An Xbox port, subtitled Director's Cut, was released in 2004 and included additional features. a remake of the game titled Project Zero 2: Wii Edition was released for the Wii in 2012 in Europe and Japan.
87
/100
09
Final Fantasy X-2
85
/100
10
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Max Payne 2 is a third-person shooter, in which the player assumes the role of Max Payne, but also plays as Mona Sax in a few levels. Initially, the player's weapon is a 9mm pistol. As they progress, players access other weapons including other handguns, shotguns, submachine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, and hand-thrown weapons. To move the game along, the player is told what the next objective is through Max's internal monologue, in which Max iterates what his next steps should be.
84
/100
11
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
84
/100
12
Need for Speed: Underground
82
/100
13
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
82
/100
14
Broken Sword 3 - The Sleeping Dragon
82
/100
15
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
82
/100
16
Midnight Club 2
81
/100
17
Ghost Master
81
/100
18
Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2
80
/100
19
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence
79
/100
20
Zuma
78
/100
21
Delta Force: Black Hawk Down
77
/100
22
Manhunt
75
/100
23
Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim
74
/100
24
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
73
/100
25
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
73
/100
26
XIII
72
/100
27
Worms 3D
72
/100
28
True Crime: Streets of LA
72
/100
29
The Hulk
71
/100
30
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom
71
/100
31
Resident Evil Outbreak
71
/100
32
Legacy of Kain: Defiance
70
/100
33
Freedom Fighters
70
/100
34
Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb
69
/100
35
Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
68
/100
36
Medal of Honor: Rising Sun
68
/100
37
Sonic Heroes
67
/100
38
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
65
/100
39
Resident Evil: Dead Aim
65
/100
40
Drakengard
63
/100
41
Enter the Matrix
60
/100
42
Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon
60
/100
43
Guilty Gear X2 #Reload
60
/100
44
Devil May Cry 2
59
/100
45
X2: Wolverine's Revenge
56
/100
46
Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death
55
/100
47
Chaos Legion
51
/100
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando
90
/100
05
Viewtiful Joe (2003)
90
/100
06
Silent Hill 3
Silent Hill 3 is the third installment in the Silent Hill series. Like the previous entries, Silent Hill 3 is a survival horror combining action-based combat and puzzle-solving, but is somewhat more combat-oriented than the preceding installments. The main character is able to side-step and block some attacks, but in general shares with the other protagonists of the series their relative ineptitude in combat.
88
/100
07
Jak II
87
/100
08
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly
Crimson Butterfly is the second installment in the Fatal Frame series, although not a direct sequel to the first title, Fatal Frame. The story follows twin sisters Mio and Mayu as they explore an abandoned village and experience encounters with the paranormal. Players must use the Camera Obscura to defeat ghosts and uncover the secrets of the village. An Xbox port, subtitled Director's Cut, was released in 2004 and included additional features. a remake of the game titled Project Zero 2: Wii Edition was released for the Wii in 2012 in Europe and Japan.
87
/100
09
Final Fantasy X-2
85
/100
10
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Max Payne 2 is a third-person shooter, in which the player assumes the role of Max Payne, but also plays as Mona Sax in a few levels. Initially, the player's weapon is a 9mm pistol. As they progress, players access other weapons including other handguns, shotguns, submachine guns, assault rifles, sniper rifles, and hand-thrown weapons. To move the game along, the player is told what the next objective is through Max's internal monologue, in which Max iterates what his next steps should be.
84
/100
11
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
84
/100
12
Need for Speed: Underground
82
/100
13
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
82
/100
14
Broken Sword 3 - The Sleeping Dragon
82
/100
15
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
82
/100
16
Midnight Club 2
81
/100
17
Ghost Master
81
/100
18
Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2
80
/100
19
Castlevania: Lament of Innocence
79
/100
20
Zuma
78
/100
21
Delta Force: Black Hawk Down
77
/100
22
Manhunt
75
/100
23
Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim
74
/100
24
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
73
/100
25
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
73
/100
26
XIII
72
/100
27
Worms 3D
72
/100
28
True Crime: Streets of LA
72
/100
29
The Hulk
71
/100
30
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom
71
/100
31
Resident Evil Outbreak
71
/100
32
Legacy of Kain: Defiance
70
/100
33
Freedom Fighters
70
/100
34
Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb
69
/100
35
Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
68
/100
36
Medal of Honor: Rising Sun
68
/100
37
Sonic Heroes
67
/100
38
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003)
65
/100
39
Resident Evil: Dead Aim
65
/100
40
Drakengard
63
/100
41
Enter the Matrix
60
/100
42
Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon
60
/100
43
Guilty Gear X2 #Reload
60
/100
44
Devil May Cry 2
59
/100
45
X2: Wolverine's Revenge
56
/100
46
Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death
55
/100
47
Chaos Legion
51
/100
FAQ
What is the best PlayStation 2 game of 2003?
SSX 3 currently tops the ranking with a score of 93/100 across 41 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.