ThePlaystation 2’s library remains legendary for its sheer number of classics. Gamers usually think of single-player hits when they reminisce about Sony’s epochal console. Yet a poke and a prod would uncover some exemplary local and online multiplayer games in the console’s extensive archive.
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SeveralPlaystation 2games have made their way to modern consoles as well.Steamin particular has a sizable collection of PS2 hits nostalgic and curious gamers can snatch up at any time. A good number of these are multiplayer hits that have good reputations among retro gamers. Almost every title also got a bit of polish to keep up with modern setups and run as intended onSteam.
10Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 1 & 2
TheDark Allianceseries differed from the mainBaldur’s Gateseries in several fronts. The main series hadDungeons & Dragonsrules and played more strategically than itsDark Alliancespin-off. But whatDark Alliancelacked in pause-and-plan it made up in pick-up-and-play action.
Dark Alliance’s trade-off allowed gamers who were not interested in the tedium and time investment of traditionalD&Dto get immersed in parts of its lore. Though it has earned the scorn of traditional fans,Dark Allianceaged well as a co-op discount pick-up for players who want afun 10-hour experience.
9ObsCure & ObsCure 2
ObsCurehas always been true to its name. Compared to other survival horror games, it never got its roses, despite having quintessential survival horror mechanics. However, one thing about the series that stood out wasits co-op mechanics, which were well ahead of its time.
Resident Evil: Outbreakmay have come out earlier, butObsCure’s schlocky teen high school horror setting allowed local co-op.ObsCure’scrafting system, shared inventory, and character-tied special abilities also made it a true collaborative experience.
8Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
The Ubisoft classic,Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, was highly regarded at the time for its futuristic graphics and immersive stealth mechanics. Nearly two decades later, many still believe itsstealth gameplay aged wellalong with its atmospheric level design and grounded plot.
Its fantastic co-op mode also prolonged the game’s staying power. Players had a new plot to play through and objectives to accomplish together. Each pair truly depended on their partner to carry out their roles, so they could clear levels and get past obstacles together.
7Gauntlet
Dark AlliancewasBaldur’s Gate’sanswer to this beloved local co-op and arcade staple. Inspired byDungeons & Dragons,Gauntletlets players pick between four classes to take down its unending hordes. Up to four players worked together, or even against each other, through sprawling dungeons full of enemies and randomized loot.
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Countless games sprung from its wildly fun top-down hack-and-slash playstyle.Marvel Ultimate Alliance, considered one of the best Marvel video games ever released, brought familiar characters to the formula.TorchlightandDiablo 4have also taken upits multiplayer mantle.
6Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (2005)
Battlefront 2was remade for modern systems in 2017. However, the original still holds water for fans who want the game’s experience without lootboxes and modern live service features.
Fans and new players still find things to enjoy about this FPS nearly 20 years later. New players in particular discover gameplay elements that manyconsider as basic functionsfor any modern FPS. Most also enjoy the fact that it’s a full experience out of the box, and has modes that are not available in the modernBattlefrontgames.
5Quake 3 Arena
Themother of arena shootersmade its way to the PS2 withQuake 3 Arena.Fast-paced movement and shooting, excellent weapon and item balance and placement, advanced tactics, and moment-to-moment decisions distinguished the FPS from competitors.
Quake 3 Arena’s multiplayer mode had a lower barrier to entry for complete newcomers. But those who took the game more seriously had a lot of mechanics and beefy team-oriented systems to master. Thus, id Software’s shooter became the crown jewel of many eSports tournaments, such as QuakeCon, DreamHack, and the now-rebranded ESports World Convention.
4SNK VS. CAPCOM
The PS2 actually hadSNK vs. Capcom: SVC ChaosandCapcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001as native ports. Both titles were popular at the time, owing to thesheer crossover appealbetweenSNKand Capcom’s beloved fighters.
What was interesting aboutCapcom vs. SNK 2in particular was its interesting control scheme. The Groove system presented six different schemes, with three grooves based onStreet Fightercontrols and three grooves based onSNKstyles. Any groove could be used with any character regardless of their alignment, which added to the game’s replayability.
3LEGO Batman: The Videogame
TheLegovideogame serieshas always been a multiplayer staple.Lego Batmanstepped up with its colorful rogues' gallery and return to gameplay and hero basics. It was not afraid to explore the goofy and silly nature of the Caped Crusader, his adoptive son, and their dopey adventures.
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As a co-op game, it was simple enough for players of all ages to get into. Non-gaming partners could hop on at any time, while kids had no problem keeping up with their parents, siblings, or friends.
2GUILTY GEAR XX ACCENT CORE
Guilty Gearis still a major fighting game in the eSports scene, and it’s easy to see why. Crazy plot aside, it has a cast with iconic character designs, great music and sound design, and a fighting system that withstood the test of time.
Accent Corein particular carried overGuilty Gear XX’s quick combat system. In fact, it removed its story mode to emphasize the stylish 2D action that defined the series. “Force Break” and “Slash Back” were introduced to soup up tech, beef up defense, and add diversity to its aggression-heavy action.
1Alien Hominid
Children of the internet rememberAlien Hominidbest as one of the flagship games on the internet entertainment site Newgrounds. Dan Paladin’s distinctive art and Tom Fulp’s Flash wizardry gave birth to afun but tough run-and-gunwith a ton of levels and emblematic early ’00s edgy humor.
The side-scrolling game was played over 20 million times on the site before it became The Behemoth’s first official game. The Behemoth is set to republish the game asAlien Hominid Invasionin 2023, with all-new gameplay, mechanics, and a four-player co-op mode reminiscent of the studio’s other offerings.
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