In 2000, the PlayStation 2 was first released, and within a few short years, it would establish itself as one of the most popular home consoles of all time. By today, it’s still a legendary device that sits on the shelves of many retro gaming fans around the world. It’s said that more than 4,000 titles debuted on the console, but today, we’re looking at what PlayStation 2 games deserve a sequel.
For some franchises that spawned on the PlayStation 2, the platform served as a foundation for the birth of something that could have become something great, but ultimately never did. There were plenty of one-shot games, developed and launched and then unfortunately (and seemingly) forgotten about, lost to the depths of time.
So, what PlayStation 2 games deserve a sequel, even by today’s standards? Let’s find out.
What PS2 Games Need a Sequel Today?
Here’s our breakdown of the PlayStation 2 games that desperately deserve a sequel after being apparently abandoned by developers.
Black (Criterion Games, 2006)
Black was toted as ‘gun porn’, boasting some of the best graphics the generation had to offer and bringing cutting-edge gameplay to a platform that was about to be phased out. It was a phenomenal game that featured live-action cutscenes, a gritty story, and more weapons than you could shake a stick at.
Unfortunately, aside from a spiritual successor in 2011’s Bodycount, Black has never been revisited, and plans for a sequel were scrapped. When asking what PlayStation 2 games deserve a sequel, Black is certainly at the top of the pile.
The Getaway: Black Monday (London Studio, 2004)
Black Monday was the sequel to the critically-acclaimed and deeply realistic debut title, The Getaway. Set in a true-to-life rendition of London, Black Monday saw the player assume control of characters on both sides of the law, playing out an emotional, intense story with some fantastic action and state-of-the-art graphics.
In 2005, The Getaway 3 was teased at E3, then again at E3 2006, and in 2008, it was suggested that the game was still in development, and potentially, a feature-length film set in the game’s universe was going to surface. Ultimately, none of this turned out to be anything tangible, and The Getaway faded into darkness.
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy (Midway Games, 2004)
Psi-Ops was an innovative and exciting title developed by Midway Games, a firm that closed its doors more than a decade ago. In The Mindgate Conspiracy, players take on the role of Nick Scryer, a super-soldier with powerful abilities including telekinesis, pyrokinesis, and mind control. It was a fun-to-play third-person shooter with some challenging boss fights and a relatively open-ended approach to missions.
Sadly, Psi-Ops died a grisly death after just one release, despite boasting an awesome soundtrack, great visuals, and some deeply entertaining side modes.
Bully (Rockstar Games, 2006)
Bully almost made its debut on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but owing to an awkward launch window, it instead appeared on the PlayStation 2 – but that didn’t hinder its performance. It would ultimately be re-released but by today, the ‘Grand Theft Auto for kids’ hasn’t received any kind of follow-up title. It was a monumental game that saw players assume the role of Jimmy Hopkins, a troubled student left to survive at Bullworth Academy, and it was an open-world adventure that players came to adore.
Bizarrely, Rockstar Games has never followed up on the game with a sequel, despite the universe being perfectly built to accommodate one. When we talk about what PlayStation 2 games deserve a sequel, there’s no question that Bully needs one.
TimeSplitters: Future Perfect (Free Radical, 2005)
Future Perfect offered up an expansive exploration of the franchise’s lore, and it was the first game in the series to feature online multiplayer, but that wasn’t enough to keep the TimeSplitters series alive. In 2007, claims surfaced that suggested a sequel was on the way, but ultimately, Future Perfect serves as the ending point to the franchise.
Free Radical was shuttered in 2009 before being revived in 2021. There was a claim that the studio would start working on a resurgence project for TimeSplitters, but by 2023, there’s no sign of such a game surfacing anytime soon.
Freedom Fighters (IO Interactive, 2003)
Freedom Fighters paved the way for games like Homefront, depicting a foreign invasion of the United States and offering the player the opportunity to assume the role of a resistance member, fighting back against oppression. It was a semi-open, award-winning adventure with an exciting story and some innovative combat features, as well as a multiplayer platform that was particularly enjoyable.
There was so much potential for a sequel, given that the fictional universe could have literally gone anywhere after the first game -but ultimately, it turned out to be a one-shot game that was abandoned after it was released.
The Simpsons: Hit and Run (Radical Entertainment, 2003)
The Simpsons: Hit and Run is one of the most legendary PS2 games. If we’re throwing out a discussion to determine what PlayStation 2 games deserve a sequel, there’s no doubt that Hit and Run should be a top contender for the trophy. As an open-world exploration of the Simpsons universe, Hit and Run offered up some extremely entertaining gameplay, allowing players to assume control of a wide range of characters in and around Springfield.
Despite efforts to recreate Hit and Run for modern platforms, the game has never received an official sequel. In fact, by 2023, there weren’t even any suggestions that the game would see a sequel, despite being one of the most popular games of the PS2 era.
There Could Be So Many More
In your opinion, what PlayStation 2 games deserve a sequel? With more than 4,000 games released on the platform over its lifecycle, there are plenty of standalone, one-shot games that need to be brought back on modern platforms.
Sadly, some of the games on this list will never see the light of day again.
