The PlayStation 2 titles have a timeless nature to them and are deserving of their legacy.

Among these titles, platformers had one of its greatest periods in the early 2000s. High-quality side-scrolling and 3D games were consistently being released on the PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube, with universal critical acclaim for several now-canonized titles. These platformers combined creativity, engaging narratives, and gameplay that could be enjoyed at any age. Ten of the best PS2 platformers of all time can be identified, which all experienced high levels of praise, have enduring legacies to this day, and are simply fun.

10 Jak 3 (2004)

A Dark Hero's Journey

Naughty Dog's final mainline game from the Jak and Daxter series was concluded with Jak 3. Like its predecessors, Jak 3 combined excellent platforming gameplay with vehicular and third-person combat along with open-world exploration, but this time it added a more mature story. Jak 3 sees the titular character and his part-otter, part-weasel companion Daxter navigating the harsh Wasteland that they have been banished to, a year from the events of Jak 2. Jak 3 expanded upon the core elements of its series but continued to deliver the goofy humor and charm that fans found endearing.

The addition of Light and Dark Jak powers to Jak 3 added needed depth, and the beloved level design of expansive environments continued to encourage exploration. The visuals were excellent for the time and still have a nostalgic charm to them today. Despite some fans feeling that the plot was rushed with a much easier difficulty than the series' predecessors, Jak 3 was a solid finale to a much-revered franchise that showcased the evolution of the character and the game's development. Jak 3 became part of the PS2's Greatest Hits collection in 2005 due to its critical and commercial success.

9 Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves (2005)

A Heist Masterpiece

Fans of the anthropomorphic raccoon, and his gang of thieves, continue to debate which of the Sly Cooper games is the best. A strong argument could be made for Sucker Punch's third iteration, as Sly 3 enhanced the strong foundations laid by its predecessors. Maintaining the stealth-action platforming gameplay of the other two titles, Sly 3 provided an abundance of refreshingly new minigames and mechanics. This includes four new playable characters to reflect the plot of Sly assembling a gang of the world's best thieves for one last heist.

Expanded roles for the ing cast, multiplayer modes, and vivid cel-shaded graphics all solidify Sly 3 as not just one of the best games in the series, but one of the best platformers on the PlayStation 2.

The conclusion to the original trilogy is profoundly engaging, with an emotionally driven plot that delves into themes of legacy and family. The multitude of new mechanics feels ambitious to the point of excess, but their overall entertainment value and charm guarantee a rich experience. Expanded roles for the ing cast, multiplayer modes, and vivid cel-shaded graphics all solidify Sly 3 as not just one of the best games in the series, but also one of the best platformers on the PlayStation 2 as a whole.

8 Psychonauts (2005)

A Quirky Mind Trip

Psychonauts deserves high levels of praise for its unique and imaginative approach to platforming gameplay, which is incomparable to its contemporaries. From the quirky minds of Double Fine productions and lead visionary Tim Schafer, Psychonauts follows Raz, a young psychic who infiltrates a summer camp for gifted individuals as they learn how to enter people's minds. The level design is outstanding due to this quirky premise, as each stage sees players enter different character's minds which have their own surreal landscapes. Each level uniquely represents different psyches in a distinctly bizarre manner.

From a twisted dentist’s office to a surreal milkman's delivery route, Psychonauts innovatively pushed the boundaries of what a platformer could be.

Its eccentric humor and creativity ensured it became a beloved cult classic, as it received underwhelming sales during its initial release on PlayStation 2 and other sixth-generation consoles. After successfully crowdfunding a sequel, Double-Fine released the sequel 16 years later in 2021, which received similar levels of praise. Both the sequel and its 2005 predecessor remain unmatched in originality.

7 Ratchet & Clank (2002)

A Galactic Adventure

The original Ratchet & Clank game laid the foundation for one of PlayStation's most beloved franchises, which currently has nine main titles, several spin-offs, and even an animated feature film. The first title introduced players to the iconic duo of the anthropomorphic Ratchet and his robot companion Clank. Ratchet & Clank combines platforming with gadget-based combat, as the protagonists travel the galaxy to acquire outrageous weaponry.

Iconic weapons like the Glove of Doom, R.Y.N.O, and the Morph-o-Ray allow for creative and eccentric ways to engage in combat against extraterrestrial enemies. Ratchet & Clank shines with its zany humor, varied interplanetary level design, and charming characters, becoming an instant classic upon release. Its numerous sequels have refined the formula, with the latest in the series, Rift Apart, emerging as one of the standout titles on the PS5, but Ratchet & Clank remains a nostalgic masterpiece.

6 Sly 2: Band of Thieves (2004)

A Thieving Spree

Although its follow-up received a high level of praise, Sly 2: Band of Thieves is the highlight of the Sly series due to its refinement of the stealth-action gameplay. Sly 2 follows the Cooper Gang as they travel the world to recover the parts of Clockwerk, the mechanical antagonist from the first entry in the Sly saga. The sequel refined many of the elements of Sly 1 and featured an open-world design, as players could explore hub areas at will. Secrets, enemies, and pickpocketing opportunities are present in these areas, encouraging exploration.

Sly, Bentley, and Murray each offer unique abilities and gameplay styles, as a thematic study on the importance of working together.

Sly 2 's story featured a greater emphasis on teamwork, as players could become other of the Cooper Gang for the first time. Sly, Bentley, and Murray each offer unique abilities and gameplay styles, as a thematic study on the importance of working together. Sly 2's refinement of its mechanics, as opposed to the overload of new ones in its sequel, has endeared platformer gamers and made it a fan-favorite PS2 title.

5 Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (2002)

A Commando's Challenge

The second installment in the Ratchet & Clank series, Going Commando expanded on the original's combination of platforming and outlandish weaponry, by introducing even more outlandish weaponry. It struck a similar balance of platforming, shooting, and exploration as the original. However, its introduction of RPG-style upgrades to health and gunplay evolved the series further. Excellent new planets to explore and improved mechanics solidified Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando as one of the best platformers of the PS2.

4 Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy (2001)

A Precursor's Legacy

The first of Naughty Dog's legendary platforming series quickly became one of the most acclaimed games of the PS2 generation. The Precursor Legacy featured a revolutionary lack of loading times despite being an open-world game. In addition to detailed graphics, the charming puzzles and tight platforming mechanics led to Jak's first outing being a commercial and critical success, earning Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy's appraisal by fans as one of the greatest PS2 games of all time.

3 Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil (2001)

A Dreamlike Odyssey

Similar to Psychonauts, Klonoa 2 is one of the most underrated games ever. Featuring traditional 2D side-scrolling platforming in a 3D environment, playing as the titular character is simple but addictively challenging. Despite lacking the commercial viability of its contemporaries, Klonoa 2's Guitar Hero and Metal Gear Solid 3, which demonstrates its superb reception.

The platforming puzzles, bosses, and challenges gradually become more difficult as the game progresses, meaning wit and reflexes are at the forefront of its 2.5D gameplay. Its cel-shaded graphics are lush and timeless, with a whimsical atmosphere. Klonoa 2 is a hidden gem of the PlayStation 2 and deserves to be praised as one of the finest platforming games ever.

2 Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (2004)

A Weapon Masterclass

Whilst the latest few games of its series are among its finest, Up Your Arsenal is the best Ratchet & Clank game and encapsulates the golden generation of PlayStation 2 mascot platformers. The RPG elements of Going Commando were expanded, meaning players had access to even bigger guns, with more extravagant action platforming. The story contains genuinely hilarious moments and the new planets are visually stunning.

Up Your Arsenal's relentless action gameplay even transferred successfully to online and offline multiplayer. This was groundbreaking, as it was ultimately a platforming game, an unusual choice to make into a competitive multiplayer mode. To this day, die-hard fans play the multiplayer on emulated systems, which highlights why Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal is one of the best platforming games of the PS2 era.

1 Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (2003)

A Timeless Classic

Despite the difficulty of doing so, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time redefined platforming in the 3D space with its innovative gameplay which is still being replicated by Ubisoft today in the Assassin's Creed series. Seamless parkour mechanics, time-rewinding, and a great narrative all led to Sands of Time's universal acclaim. Playing as the titular prince is fluid as he scales walls, dodges deadly traps, and engages in sword fights with vicious sand creatures.

News about Ubisoft's remake of the game is overdue, but upon reflection of the time period, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time is the best platforming game of the PlayStation 2 era. The Prince rightly deserves his claim to this crown.

Source: Metacritic