A classic PS2 open world game that's currently unplayable

The PlayStation 2 holds a special place in the hearts of many people, including myself. Sony's juggernaut isn't just the best-selling console, it also has the strongest video game library of all time, and open-world games are a big part of that legacy. GTA, spiderman 2, mercenary, teaser, gunand getaway All were massive PS2 releases that helped define and shape the future of the genre, cementing themselves as all-time legends in the process.

But the PS2 is 26 years old at this point, and time is an absolutely evil mistress. What once pushed boundaries and rewrote conventions is now outdated and, frankly, unplayable. While many releases from this era have stood the test of time, most PS2 open world games have not aged well due to the genre's relative infancy and rapid expansion at the time.

I still think all of these games deserve a lower rating, even if they aren't fun to play in 2026.

also, We're not dealing with a game that is literally unplayable.Rather, it's a PS2 classic that's very difficult to revisit and enjoy these days.

Grand Theft Auto 3 is the most important unplayable open world game of all time

Founders often age worst.

• Rockstar's masterpiece basically wrote the open world playbook, and Liberty City seemed huge at the time.

• rock star itself vice city and san andreas The much better PS2 open world games are much more worth revisiting, especially the latter.

• The images are mainly from the remaster. The PS2 version obviously looked worse (although it's not that bad).

As I've waited 13 years GTA 6 The fact that Rockstar has announced 5 threatens to end in November. GTA Games from the PS2 era look incredible. Especially when paired with other great releases like: teaser, Midnight Club 3and Warriors. Of all the PS2 games from Rockstar GTA 3 It was arguably the most groundbreakingAnd its success led to an open world boom. The free-form interactivity of Liberty City was unlike anything else at the time, and it made you feel like you could go anywhere and do anything.

GTA 3The charm started to disappear in an instant. Vice City and san andreas It became a reality, and by the end of the console's run, it already looked small. The original PS2 version has too many disappointing elements that make it not worth playing these days. The checkpoint system is terrible, the driving and cameras constantly break down, and the cars feel completely weightless.. Additionally, the faction NPCs are so aggressive towards the end of the game that traveling to the area becomes a death sentence, limiting where you can go.

Why we asked too much of the PS2 (and it wasn't very good)

The series begins with Just Cause 2.

• Released in September 2006, just cause It came out towards the end of the PS2's lifespan, and its ambitions were clear for all to see.

• Even the PC and Xbox 360 versions aren't worth playing in 2026, let alone the far inferior PS2 release.

great just causeAnd I think a lot of people feel the same way. But whenever someone discusses this game, they almost always skip the 2006 original in favor of the sequel. This may sound unfair, but it's not really unfair. Don't misunderstand. Avalanche has achieved the incredible feat of bringing to life an island sandbox designed to accommodate merciless destruction and fabrication. The most ambitious open world title at the time.

Sometimes ambitions become bigger than what is actually possible. just cause That was asking too much of a 6 year old console that was just about to be put out to pasture.. To run on PS2, the draw distance had to be shortened to non-existent, resulting in barely playable frame rates. The world was big but empty, and there was no place fun enough to blow up. Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction or The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate DestructionOf course Just Cause 2. It wasn't until the sequel that even the hooks started to become boring.

Of course don't play just cause On PS2, no one will be picking up that version in 2026. However, none of the other versions hold up because the game is too rough around the edges. I've been playing the PC version in recent years, and it felt like I was playing a proof of concept that would eventually turn out to be outstanding. Come together Just Cause 2 or 3 Instead.

Without Kiwami, the Yakuza turns Kamurocho into Jank Central.

The English dubbing is unintentionally fun, but

• yakuza 2005 was a breath of fresh air.

• The story was great then and it's still great now. The same cannot be said for basically everything else.

• Yakuza Kiwami It's a million times better, and it's not even one of the better games in the franchise.

Remakes often, but not always, render their predecessors obsolete because they offer essentially the same experience. yakuza This is probably the most obvious example. Yakuza Kiwami It exists. There's a reason the franchise didn't become a global sensation until then. PS3 and PS4 Era: The PS2 original went through a lot of growing pains.

Right from the beginning, yakuzaThere was fantastic character-centered writing that was a hallmark of .The focus is on relatively small but dense urban environments across the wide-open world. PS2 open world games were typically overpowering in their combat, so fighting melees were also very unique for the era. Even though there wasn't a much better version, the positives were powerful enough to overcome many of the negatives.

Why would anyone put up with that these days? Disorienting, static camera, constantly loading screens, nearly useless lockout, and unpolished gameplay.? Diehard fans might want to check it out. yakuza Just to see where it all started, but I can't imagine too many people will be tempted to play the full playthrough. Honestly, the western dub might be the only reason to revisit it. yakuzaJust by listening Majima, voiced by Mark Hamill.

Shadow of the Colossus is the best PS2 game you should never play again.

At least not the original version.

• An atmospheric, minimalist epic that pushes the PS2 to its limits.

• It is an artistic achievement that has few equals.

• sometimes, shadow of the colossus The execution is so bad it resembles a slideshow.

shadow of the colossus is one of the best games of the 2000s, but it's suffering the same fate as the 2000s. yakuza and just cause. If there's literally no other way to play it, I'd recommend Team Ico's PS2 masterpiece to some people, as long as they understand what they're doing. Fortunately, there are two other ways to experience this story. It's a better-executed PS3 remaster and a faithful PS4 remake.

Even though the world is intentionally lifeless, shadow of the colossus Basically, it lives up to its name with a jaw-dropping colossus. dark soulA level boss from the 2005 game. Their sheer scale was so breathtaking that it caused the PS2 to actively choke in a desperate battle to carry them. With frame rates struggling to reach drinking age, the precision-based platforming that makes up so much of Colossi's encounters feels frustrating, marring a unique experience.

DRIV3R is better than its reputation, but unplayable (in some ways)

Driving Rocks

• DRIV3R I rushed out and I can tell.

• Driving and free roaming is still a lot of fun.

• The walking and gunplay are so bad that the missions feel unplayable.

since GTA 3Every publisher was trying to jump on the hype train, and Atari figured it out. driver It will fit perfectly. as we saw san francisco and even parallel linesAtari is in no rush to make games GTA skin. DRIV3R It was an educational experience.

Now I will say this. DRIV3RThe 's driving is impressive for its age and much better than most of its contemporaries. Unfortunately, the campaign contains too many walking sections or gunfights, both of which suffer from terrible controls that kill the otherwise decent story. DRIV3R It's still playable as long as you ignore the actual missions and wander around the world.

Ultimately, how many people will boot up a PS2 open world game in 2026 and exist in that world for a bit?