Summary
- PS2 nostalgia inspires indie games like Pumpkin Jack, with unique aesthetics and gameplay reminiscent of the early 2000s.
- Wavetale, Eternal Radiance, and Lunacid embody the spirit of PS2 RPGs with compelling visuals, combat, and themes.
- Indie games like Signalis bring back PS2-era survival horror and action vibes with their mechanics and aesthetics.
Sony made its entrance into the home console industry with the first PlayStation, but it was the PlayStation 2 that cemented the name of the brand in the industry and won the hearts of millions of people worldwide. Sitting comfortably at the top spot in the list of best-selling consoles of all time, the PlayStation 2 disrupted the market like no other console. But a console is nothing without the games on it, and PlayStation 2’s library is chock-full of era-defining titles.
People who grew up with this console have numerous fond memories of playing games on the PS2 that had a certain visual charm and aesthetic to them that cannot be found on any other console generation. Where more and more AAA games have been chasing hyperrealistic graphics in recent times, these modern indie games flip the script and opt for a more charming aesthetic that is much more reminiscent of titles from the early to mid-2000s on the PlayStation 2.
9 Pumpkin Jack
A Spooky Pumpkin With A Platforming Kick
Pumpkin Jack
- Released
- October 23, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Publisher(s)
- Headup Games
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Pumpkin Jack is a fast-paced 3D platformer that isn't too difficult and takes clear inspiration from the PS2 era, particularly from games like MediEvil and Jak and Daxter. The game’s exaggerated, cartoonishly eerie art direction, combined with snappy movement and combat, makes it feel like something straight out of a 2003 blockbuster lineup.
Running, jumping, and hacking through gothic landscapes filled with glowing pumpkins and haunted windmills is a nostalgic trip to a time when platformers weren’t afraid to be a little weird and dark. The game’s physics-driven puzzles, where Jack’s detachable pumpkin head is used to solve challenges, add a creative twist that echoes the era’s experimental spirit.
8 Wavetale
Surfing Through A Sun-Drenched Dream
The ocean stretches endlessly in front of the players, reflecting a golden sky as the protagonist, Sigrid, dashes across the water’s surface, her shadow-like companion gliding beneath her. Wavetale is a beautiful, melancholic journey that feels like a lost classic from the PS2 era, sharing visual similarities with games like Sly Cooper and Ape Escape in its soft-shaded, colorful aesthetic.
While the combat and traversal mechanics are simple, the game shines in its movements, which are fluid, weightless, and almost therapeutic. Surfing the waves, swinging across ruins, and soaking in the sun-soaked post-apocalyptic world feels like a blend of childhood wonder and bittersweet loneliness. It’s a game that visually and thematically captures the sense of discovery that made PS2 action-adventure games so special.
7 Eternal Radiance
A Modern Love Letter To Classic Action JRPGs
Eternal Radiance is an RPG with anime-style visuals and straightforward action RPG combat, which makes it feel like something that could be released between Dark Cloud and Radiata Stories on the PS2. Following Celeste, a young squire on a journey of self-discovery, the game delivers a mix of lighthearted banter, character-driven storytelling, and real-time combat reminiscent of the Tales series.
The environments, though simpler than modern RPGs, evoke the stylized charm of early 2000s JRPG worlds with lush forests, glowing ruins, and warm village backdrops that radiate nostalgia. Combat is snappy but not overly complex, making it a breezy experience for those who miss the days when JRPGs focused more on adventure and heart than grinding and mechanics-heavy battles.
6 Lunacid
A Fever Dream At The Bottom Of The Abyss
Lunacid
- Released
- March 15, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Lunacid is Shadow Tower reborn in an indie form, bringing back the grim, low-poly horror aesthetic that defined early FromSoftware dungeon crawler games. Every area feels oppressive, every enemy grotesque, and the world itself oozes mystery.
What makes Lunacid stand out isn’t just its PS1/PS2-inspired aesthetic but its complete commitment to old-school dungeon-crawling mechanics. There are no quest markers and no hand-holding, just an abyss of interconnected areas to explore at the player’s own peril. Like the classic King’s Field games, it rewards patience, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace the unknown.
5 Untitled Goose Game
A Game About Absolute Chaos, But It’s Beautiful
Untitled Goose Game
- Released
- September 20, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
Untitled Goose Game is proof that a simple concept, when executed well, can become an instant classic. It’s visually minimalistic, yet the soft, pastel-toned world feels like something pulled from the early 2000s era of PS2 games, particularly reminiscent of the calming aesthetic found in games like Chulip or Katamari Damacy.
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The game lets players embrace the role of an absolute menace, knocking over paint cans, stealing keys, and honking in a way that no NPC can ignore. It’s structured chaos at its best.
4 El Paso, Everywhere
A Supernatural Noir Shootout Through Reality
El Paso, Everywhere is a love letter to Max Payne with a supernatural twist. The grainy textures, stiff but satisfying gunplay, and eerie liminal spaces make it feel like a forgotten cult classic from the PS2 days, akin to Killer7 or Dead to Rights.
The game is all about diving through motel hallways in slow motion while fending off scary vampire enemies and werewolves. Unlike Max Payne, El Paso, Everywhere’s gameplay and narrative lean heavily into the surreal, turning every bullet-ridden room into a fragmented memory. The soundtrack, drenched in eerie synths and moody beats, completes the feeling of being stuck in a dream that players can’t wake up from.
3 Signalis
Survival Horror Rebuilt With Low-Poly Perfection
Signalis
- Released
- October 27, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X/S
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Indie Games, Adventure, Shooter
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Signalis is a game that understands the unsettling charm of early survival horror, drawing direct inspiration from Silent Hill 2 and Resident Evil: Code Veronica with its fixed-camera perspective, tank controls, and layered storytelling.
But what makes it even more PS2-like is its aesthetic, which is all about a lo-fi, cyberpunk nightmare where every pixel feels purposeful. The game’s unsettling atmosphere is further enhanced by cryptic notes, radio signals, and a narrative that expects players to piece together its fragmented horror. Signalis is a modern classic that feels like it was unearthed from a forgotten era.
2 Return Of The Obra Din
A Ghost Story That Paints A Mystery With Its Mechanics
Return of the Obra Dinn
- Released
- October 18, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Lucas Pope
- Publisher(s)
- 3909
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Return of the Obra Dinn is a detective game unlike any other, and while its 1-bit monochrome art style seems more Macintosh-inspired than PS2, its methodical gameplay and eerie, handcrafted world call back to investigative adventure games like Echo Night and Shadow of Destiny.
Instead of handholding, the game lets players piece together a deeply tragic story through time-stamped death scenes frozen in place. It’s a game where patience and deduction matter more than reflexes, creating an experience that feels like it belongs among the PS2’s cult classics.
1 Sifu
Every Punch Tells A Story
Sifu
- Released
- February 8, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Sloclap
- Publisher(s)
- Sloclap
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Beat 'Em Up
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
In Sifu, every battle is personal, and every hit carries weight. The game’s brutal yet precise combat system feels like an evolution of PS2 classics like God Hand and Rise to Honor, where skill and reaction time determine survival. It’s a game that doesn’t just replicate martial arts, it makes players feel every strike, every dodge, and every failure.
The aging mechanic, where the protagonist grows older after every death, adds a layer of tension rarely seen in brawlers. And the environments, which range from neon-lit nightclubs to rain-soaked back alleys, are drenched in a cinematic style that feels pulled from classic Hong Kong action films. It’s a game that demands mastery, much like the PS2 era’s best action titles.
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