In 2026, Rockstar Games is the biggest developer in the world, and this success can be traced back to the PS2 era. While it had been around for a while, Rockstar not only exploded in popularity during the early 2000s but also enjoyed arguably its creative peak. On the PS2, Rockstar published three GTA open-world masterpieces (and spin-offs like Vice City Stories), multiple Midnight Runs, two Manhunt games, Bully, The Warriors, Red Dead Revolver, and a host of other titles developed by external teams.
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Most of these games were must-plays during their heyday, but we left behind the 2000s a long, long time ago. Age is a cruel mistress, and some of the greatest PS2 games have become borderline unplayable. While not immune to the passage of time, quite a few of Rockstar’s PS2 games have aged well enough to still be enjoyable today.
Games developed by Rockstar will be prioritized, but we will also include some PS2 titles that were only published by the company.
Quick Picks: Best Rockstar PS2 Games by Category
|
Category |
Top Pick |
Why It’s the 2026 Winner |
|---|---|---|
|
The Open-World GOAT |
GTA: San Andreas |
Still the gold standard for map scale and RPG-lite mechanics, and it has aged pretty well compared to most early attempts at an open-world. |
|
Best Combat Loop |
The Warriors |
Unrivaled street brawling that feels more visceral than some modern titles. Dated as the visuals might be, the beat ’em up gameplay doesn’t feel antiquated. |
|
The “Deep Cut” Gem |
Oni |
Rockstar published a game by Bungie… yes, that Bungie. The hand-to-hand combat was top-tier in 2001, and it is pretty great in 2026. |
|
Best Atmosphere |
Manhunt |
The definition of “edgy for edgy’s sake.” That said, Manhunt nails the analog horror presentation, and it is genuinely intense. |
|
Best High-Speed Thrills |
Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition |
Perfectly captures the 2006 car culture with an incredible sense of speed. |
|
Best Storytelling |
May Payne 2 |
A “Graphic Novel” noir tragedy that relishes and heightens the genre’s tropes. Still fun to play, too. |
10
Manhunt
Not As Edgy Or Controversial As It Used To Be
While GTA has gotten far more attention over its lifespan, Manhunt is, actually, Rockstar’s most controversial and borderline-testing game. The publisher has rarely cared about ruffling feathers, and that was never more apparent than with this 2003 monstrosity. However, in 2026, Manhunt‘s controversy means absolutely nothing, and it plays no part in determining whether this edgy game is still worth playing more than two decades later. The thing is, Manhunt is the definition of a mixed bag, and your mileage will depend on what elements mean the most to you.
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Craving a deep stealth game with diverse level design and a wide pool of moves and tools? Manhunt is not the game for you. Compared to even PS2 entries in the genre, Rockstar’s project has simple gameplay that is dragged down further by repetitive level design. Throughout the 10-hour campaign, you do essentially the same thing, over and over again. The premise involves The Director (masterfully voiced by Brian Cox) forcing the player’s convict to kill people for a snuff film, and it is by far the darkest foundation for a Rockstar game. However, the story is very minimal and doesn’t develop all that much throughout the campaign.
So, is there any reason to play Manhunt? If it is a mixed bag, what are the positives? Well, the horror atmosphere is incredible. Presenting with a VHS footage style, Manhunt looks as nasty as its story, with brutal kills and haunting environments. As repetitive as the missions get, they combine to craft a dilapidated city that is fascinating to behold.
9
Oni
The PS2 Game Developed By Bungie And Published By Rockstar
Oni is such an oddity of a game, both historically and mechanically. An anime-inspired action game that emphasizes stylish melee combat, this bizarre PS2 title is pretty far removed from Bungie’s typical effort, and the studio would never return to this type of gameplay once Halo: Combat Evolved dropped a couple of months after Oni. The early 2000s were really the last time Rockstar published a significant portion of games developed by other studios; even then, most of those projects were developed by Angel Studios, which is nowadays known as Rockstar San Diego. Right in the middle of that sits a collaboration that would be absolutely massive today but was largely ignored in 2001.
Should you go out of your way to play Oni? Well, you should not go in expecting a Bungie or Rockstar game, at least not by their modern standards. However, if you are a big fan of stylish fighters like Devil May Cry or even God Hand, this forgotten gem could really hit the mark. Its hand-to-hand combat was pretty revolutionary in 2001, and it is still impressive despite being somewhat janky by today’s standards. Konoko, the protagonist, has access to a huge arsenal of moves, all of which players should really learn.
8
Red Dead Revolver
The Precursor To One Of Rockstar’s Biggest Franchises
A lot of people, even those who loved Red Dead Redemption 1 and 2, have never heard of Red Dead Revolver. Unlike its younger siblings, the game has a linear, mission-based structure that rarely encourages any kind of exploration and is more of an arcade shooter. The game’s gunplay was pretty good for the time, but movement and aiming are both nowhere near as smooth as in modern games.
However, Red Dead Revolver has a lot of charm. Its Spaghetti Western style, over-the-top characters, and comic book-like cutscenes have all aged well. The story is decent, too, although those hoping for connections to the later games will be left disappointed. The main reason the game remains relevant, however, is its “sequels”. Much of the early DNA of what makes Red Dead Redemption one of Rockstar’s best franchises, like the Dead Eye mechanic, is present here. There are far too few cowboy games out there, and the original Red Dead is still worth picking up, even if it is showing its age.
7
Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition
A Soundtrack This Good Never Gets Old
A lot of gamers of a certain age have a soft spot in their hearts for Midnight Club 3. It was easily one of the best-looking and stylish games of its time, with some features that wouldn’t be out of place in a modern racer. Its vehicle customization was impressively deep, it had large open-city maps, and the soundtrack is the stuff of legend. All things that made it one of the PS2’s best racing games, which is high praise indeed.
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However, take off the rose-tinted glasses, and players can see why Midnight Club 3 gets a lower ranking here. The rubberband AI (a problem that still plagues too many modern racers) can be annoying and adds a level of artificial difficulty. The handling model, while pleasantly arcadey, hasn’t aged that well, thanks to the physics, and is tough to go back to after playing new arcade racers. The graphics, once stunning on the PS2, are showing their age, too. Still, if players set their expectations, there’s still tons of fun to have racing around Midnight Club 3’s streets, and in a lot of ways, it is still more enjoyable than many of its modern contemporaries.
6
The Warriors
A Cult Classic Game Based On A Cult Classic Movie
The Warriors
- Released
-
October 17, 2005
- ESRB
-
M // Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
The Warriors remains one of Rockstar’s most underrated and overlooked games. That’s a pity because it’s aged pretty well. It does a particularly good job of capturing the gritty atmosphere of the 1979 cult film it’s based on and expands the film’s story with enjoyable prequel elements. As a beat ’em up, a genre Rockstar isn’t usually associated with, the combat system still mostly holds up. Melee attacks are brutal, environmental interactions are intuitive, and the co-op takes players back to the golden age of split-screen couch co-op. Considering this is one of Rockstar’s hardest games, the option to play with a friend is particularly welcome.
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However, there’s also a reason so many people forget The Warriors existed. The controls are a bit on the stiff side compared to modern action games, and the mission design can be repetitive. The graphics are also a bit rough, considering how good some PS2 games still look today. However, as beat ’em ups go, The Warriors isn’t all that different from modern games in the genre and remains that rare thing, a good game based on a movie.
5
Max Payne
Helped Make Bullet Time Even Cooler
Ignore the very early-looking PS2 graphics and some stiff controls, and the original Max Payne has aged well indeed. Its dark, graphic novel-inspired story, combined with Max’s internal monologue, is as gritty and entertaining as ever and manages to stay just on the right side of cheesy. Gameplay-wise, the bullet-time system, which allows players to slow time and dodge bullets, was way ahead of its time and is still one of the best implementations of slo-mo in an action game.
Just the bullet-time system alone makes Max Payne still worth playing today if players can overlook the dated spots. Combat is great, but the movement is stiff (again), and the game is proof that enemy AI has come a long way. Most levels are great, but the inclusion of weak platforming sections is an unwelcome reminder of a time when out-of-place sections like these were all too common. Finally, while the game oozes style, the graphics really haven’t aged well. No wonder fans are crying out for the upcoming remakes to round off the handful of rough edges.
4
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
A Bloody Time Machine Back To The Eighties
It’s amazing to think how little time passed between Rockstar releasing GTA 3 and Vice City, considering how many improvements they crammed in. Improvements mean Vice City has aged far better. In particular, its neon-drenched 1980s setting, iconic soundtrack, and brilliant cast of characters all lend the game a sense of place and time that has slowed its aging. The fact that the soundtrack is one of Rockstar’s best doesn’t hurt.
Meanwhile, new additions like property ownership, a celebrity-voiced protagonist, and improved weapon/ vehicle variety all make the game feel like a big upgrade. But a handful of issues hold it back from a higher ranking. The gunplay is only a slight step up, and shooting is still clunky. For a game set on three islands, the lack of swimming remains mind-boggling, and watching Tommy drown for the hundredth time is an instant reminder of how old the game is. Mission design has perhaps suffered the worst of all; it’s easy to die, and there are no checkpoints. One of the most beloved open-world games ever made, Vice City is a ton of fun to play but full of irritations one would expect from a golden oldy.
Although revolutionary, GTA 3 was left off the article as it has aged far worse than Vice City or San Andreas. That said, it can still be a blast to play, especially if it holds nostalgic value.
3
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne
Improved On The Original In Every Way
Anyone who wants to play Max Payne but struggles with the original’s more dated aspects should give its first sequel a try. One of the best third-person shooters of its era (and perhaps ever), it takes everything that made the first game so great, and it refines them. The story is just as drenched in noir clichés and atmosphere, but is more emotional and a bit less cheesy. Max is more likable, and the emphasis on his relationship with Mona Sax (what a name) is compelling.
Best of all is the gameplay. The bullet-time mechanics are smoother, and the Havok engine physics system makes every shootout brilliantly dynamic. Some of the controls are a little less flexible than we’ve come to expect, and the levels are a bit too linear, but overall, Max Payne 2 is as fun to play today as it was over 20 years ago.
2
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Pushed The Mighty PlayStation 2 To Its Limits
Again, there was a surprisingly short amount of time between the PS2’s GTA releases, especially considering how long we’ve been waiting for GTA 6. These days, San Andreas still comes across as incredibly ambitious thanks to its even bigger emphasis on story, (seemingly) huge open world, and myriad gameplay improvements over GTA 3 and Vice City.
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Clever world design and use of technology mean San Andreas’ open world still seems expansive even though in reality its map is far smaller than we’d expect today. Mission variety is far wider than in earlier GTA games, and the combat is much more fun thanks to the inclusion of aiming. Combine that with some RPG-like progression systems and tons of side content, and San Andreas has aged really well. Just a few rough spots, like dated graphics, lack of checkpoints, and some lousy RC and turf war missions, hold it back from the top ranking.
1
Bully
Somehow Makes Going To School Look Cool
Bully
- Released
-
October 17, 2006
Rockstar made and published some epic PS2-era games, and picking the top ranking was no easy choice. It was close, but in the end, Bully came out on top thanks to its unique setting, strong writing, and relatively smooth gameplay. The combat, both ranged and melee, is still fun, the school-life mechanics are unique, and the humor hasn’t dated.
More than anything, though, no other AAA game like Bully has been released. It takes some of the best parts of the GTA, gives players a surprisingly relatable child protagonist, and then lets players cause mayhem in a high school. The map was small but extremely detailed and NPC interactions were a joy. At release, the game was overshadowed by silly controversy, but we’re long past that. Now, we’d love a remaster or a remake, but the game really doesn’t need one unless players are upset by the PS2’s standard graphics.
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