Best games
Best PlayStation 2 games of 2004
The 52 best PlayStation 2 games released in 2004, ranked from 15,068 critic and player ratings.
The best PlayStation 2 game of 2004 is Burnout 3: Takedown, with a critic score of 94/100 — updated August 2026.
01
Burnout 3: Takedown
94
/100
02
A
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Returning after his mother's murder to the semi-fictional city of Los Santos (based on Los Angeles), Carl Johnson, a former gang banger, must take back the streets for his family and friends by gaining respect and once again gaining control over the streets. However, a story filled with crime, lies and corruption will lead him to trudge the entire state of San Andreas (based on California and Nevada) to rebuild his life.
93
/100
03
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
91
/100
Burnout 3: Takedown
94
/100
02
A
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Returning after his mother's murder to the semi-fictional city of Los Santos (based on Los Angeles), Carl Johnson, a former gang banger, must take back the streets for his family and friends by gaining respect and once again gaining control over the streets. However, a story filled with crime, lies and corruption will lead him to trudge the entire state of San Andreas (based on California and Nevada) to rebuild his life.
93
/100
03
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
91
/100
04
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
90
/100
05
Tekken 5
88
/100
06
Sly 2: Band of Thieves
88
/100
07
Far Cry
A tropical paradise seethes with hidden evil in Far Cry, a cunningly detailed action shooter that pushed the boundaries of combat to shocking new levels.Freelance mariner Jack Carver is cursing the day he ever came to this island. A week ago, a brash female reporter named Valerie had offered him an incredible sum of cash to take her to this unspoiled paradise. Shortly after docking, however, Jack's boat was greeted by artillery fire from a mysterious militia group swarming about the island. With his boat destroyed, his money gone, and the gorgeous Valerie suddenly missing, Jack now finds himself facing an army of mercenaries amidst the wilds of the island, with nothing but a gun and his wits to survive. But the further he pushes into the lush jungle canopy, the stranger things become. Jack encounters an insider within the militia group who reveals the horrific details of the mercenaries' true intentions. He presents Jack with an unsettling choice: battle the deadliest mercenaries, or condemn the human race to a maniac's insidious agenda.
88
/100
08
Gran Turismo 4
Gran Turismo 4 is a racing video game, and the fourth installment in the Gran Turismo series. It is also the final game to support the Sony PlayStation 2. Gran Turismo 4 is one of only four titles for the PlayStation 2 that is capable of 1080i output. GT4 was delayed for over a year and a half by Polyphony Digital, and had its online mode removed. The game features over 700 cars from 80 manufacturers. The game also features 51 tracks, many of which are new or modified versions of old Gran Turismo favorites, with some notable real-world additions.
87
/100
09
Katamari Damacy
86
/100
10
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is the prequel to the entire Metal Gear series. Most of the series' defining gameplay elements have been carried over and as before, Snake must use stealth and wits rather than brute force to infiltrate enemy zones and eliminate his major adversaries. Unlike the previous games, this installment takes place in a large outdoor jungle. Snake is able to use camouflage, climb trees, hide in tall grass or wear clothes that make him less noticeable.
86
/100
11
Onimusha 3: Demon Siege
85
/100
12
Jak 3
84
/100
13
Tony Hawk's Underground 2
84
/100
14
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
84
/100
15
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
84
/100
16
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
84
/100
17
Need for Speed: Underground 2
82
/100
18
The Suffering
82
/100
19
Mortal Kombat: Deception
81
/100
20
Syberia 2
80
/100
21
FlatOut
80
/100
22
Colin McRae Rally 2005
80
/100
23
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
80
/100
24
Need for Speed: Underground 2
78
/100
25
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga
78
/100
26
Hitman: Contracts
77
/100
27
Star Wars: Battlefront (2004)
76
/100
28
Call of Duty: Finest Hour
76
/100
29
Second Sight
75
/100
30
Bejeweled 2
74
/100
31
A
Red Dead Revolver
73
/100
32
Star Wars: Battlefront
73
/100
33
Silent Hill 4: The Room
72
/100
34
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
72
/100
35
SIREN
72
/100
36
The Sims 2
71
/100
37
The Urbz: Sims in the City
71
/100
38
Hitman: Contracts
70
/100
39
The Bard's Tale
70
/100
40
Killzone
70
/100
41
Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone
70
/100
42
Shark Tale
69
/100
43
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
68
/100
44
BloodRayne 2
64
/100
45
Crash Twinsanity
64
/100
46
Shrek 2: The Game
63
/100
47
Obscure
63
/100
48
Asterix & Obelix XXL - Kick Buttix!
59
/100
49
Driv3r
51
/100
50
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus
49
/100
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
90
/100
05
Tekken 5
88
/100
06
Sly 2: Band of Thieves
88
/100
07
Far Cry
A tropical paradise seethes with hidden evil in Far Cry, a cunningly detailed action shooter that pushed the boundaries of combat to shocking new levels.Freelance mariner Jack Carver is cursing the day he ever came to this island. A week ago, a brash female reporter named Valerie had offered him an incredible sum of cash to take her to this unspoiled paradise. Shortly after docking, however, Jack's boat was greeted by artillery fire from a mysterious militia group swarming about the island. With his boat destroyed, his money gone, and the gorgeous Valerie suddenly missing, Jack now finds himself facing an army of mercenaries amidst the wilds of the island, with nothing but a gun and his wits to survive. But the further he pushes into the lush jungle canopy, the stranger things become. Jack encounters an insider within the militia group who reveals the horrific details of the mercenaries' true intentions. He presents Jack with an unsettling choice: battle the deadliest mercenaries, or condemn the human race to a maniac's insidious agenda.
88
/100
08
Gran Turismo 4
Gran Turismo 4 is a racing video game, and the fourth installment in the Gran Turismo series. It is also the final game to support the Sony PlayStation 2. Gran Turismo 4 is one of only four titles for the PlayStation 2 that is capable of 1080i output. GT4 was delayed for over a year and a half by Polyphony Digital, and had its online mode removed. The game features over 700 cars from 80 manufacturers. The game also features 51 tracks, many of which are new or modified versions of old Gran Turismo favorites, with some notable real-world additions.
87
/100
09
Katamari Damacy
86
/100
10
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is the prequel to the entire Metal Gear series. Most of the series' defining gameplay elements have been carried over and as before, Snake must use stealth and wits rather than brute force to infiltrate enemy zones and eliminate his major adversaries. Unlike the previous games, this installment takes place in a large outdoor jungle. Snake is able to use camouflage, climb trees, hide in tall grass or wear clothes that make him less noticeable.
86
/100
11
Onimusha 3: Demon Siege
85
/100
12
Jak 3
84
/100
13
Tony Hawk's Underground 2
84
/100
14
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
84
/100
15
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
84
/100
16
James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
84
/100
17
Need for Speed: Underground 2
82
/100
18
The Suffering
82
/100
19
Mortal Kombat: Deception
81
/100
20
Syberia 2
80
/100
21
FlatOut
80
/100
22
Colin McRae Rally 2005
80
/100
23
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within
80
/100
24
Need for Speed: Underground 2
78
/100
25
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga
78
/100
26
Hitman: Contracts
77
/100
27
Star Wars: Battlefront (2004)
76
/100
28
Call of Duty: Finest Hour
76
/100
29
Second Sight
75
/100
30
Bejeweled 2
74
/100
31
A
Red Dead Revolver
73
/100
32
Star Wars: Battlefront
73
/100
33
Silent Hill 4: The Room
72
/100
34
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie
72
/100
35
SIREN
72
/100
36
The Sims 2
71
/100
37
The Urbz: Sims in the City
71
/100
38
Hitman: Contracts
70
/100
39
The Bard's Tale
70
/100
40
Killzone
70
/100
41
Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone
70
/100
42
Shark Tale
69
/100
43
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
68
/100
44
BloodRayne 2
64
/100
45
Crash Twinsanity
64
/100
46
Shrek 2: The Game
63
/100
47
Obscure
63
/100
48
Asterix & Obelix XXL - Kick Buttix!
59
/100
49
Driv3r
51
/100
50
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus
49
/100
FAQ
What is the best PlayStation 2 game of 2004?
Burnout 3: Takedown currently tops the ranking with a score of 94/100 across 161 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.