5 Hit PS2 Games No One Remembers Today

July 20, 2026 - 11:50

The PlayStation 2 remains one of the best-selling consoles ever made, and its library is stuffed with classics that still get talked about today. But for every "Grand Theft Auto" or "Final Fantasy," there are dozens of excellent games that simply vanished from the conversation. Here are five hits from the PS2 era that most people have completely forgotten.

First up is "The Mark of Kri." Released in 2002, this action-stealth game had a striking visual style inspired by concept art from Disney's "Mulan." You played as a hulking warrior named Rau, who could scout ahead using a floating raven. The combat was brutal and strategic, letting you lock onto multiple enemies at once. It sold well enough to get a sequel, but today it is rarely mentioned when people list the console's best action games.

Next is "Frequency." Before "Guitar Hero" and "Rock Band" took over the world, Harmonix made this trippy rhythm game. Instead of a plastic guitar, you used the standard controller to hit notes across several tracks, switching between drums, bass, and vocals in real time. It was a critical darling with a killer soundtrack featuring artists like The Crystal Method and No Doubt. But its successor, "Amplitude," and the later plastic-instrument craze completely buried it.

"Shadow of Destiny" (also known as "Shadow of Memories") is a strange one. You played a man who gets murdered in the opening cutscene. Then a mysterious being gives you the power to travel through time to prevent your own death. You jumped between different historical eras of a small German town, solving puzzles and changing small details. It was a cult hit for its clever story, but the clunky controls and short length kept it from becoming a mainstream success.

"Ring of Red" is a tactical mech game that played more like a war simulation. Instead of fast-paced robot battles, you commanded soldiers on a grid-based map in an alternate-history Cold War Japan. The mechs felt heavy and dangerous, and the combat focused on positioning and ammo management. It had a gritty, realistic tone that set it apart from flashier mech games, but it was quickly forgotten after the PS2's first year.

Finally, there is "Splashdown." This jet ski racing game from 2001 was pure arcade fun. You performed tricks off massive waves while racing through beautiful tropical courses. The controls were tight, the sense of speed was fantastic, and the split-screen multiplayer was a blast. It got a sequel, but the genre of watercraft racing basically died out, leaving "Splashdown" as a fond memory for those who owned it. These games were all well-reviewed and sold decently, but they have been left behind by a generation that only remembers the biggest blockbusters.