The highest-selling console of all time, the PlayStation 2, strapped a rocket to the video gaming industry and shot it into mainstream media. The PlayStation 2's success was helped partly by its built-in DVD player and largely by its excellent game catalog. It featured action-adventure classics like Okami, Devil May Cry, and God of War, s tealth gems like Metal Gear Solid 2 & 3, Splinter Cell, and Hitman, and excellent sports games including the FIFA series, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3, and Gran Turismo 3, with many people still recognizing it as one of the most successful consoles of all time.
The Best PlayStation 2 RPGs, Ranked
According to the Metacritic rating system, these are the best ever role playing games to hit the PS2
Furthermore, the PlayStation 2 had significant hardware improvements from its predecessor, the PlayStation 1 . These improvements allowed developers to create more realistic titles, encouraging them to make more first-person shooters. This genre skyrocketed in popularity during this generation, and players need only check the state of gaming in modern times to realize just how strong a grip first-person shooters have on the market nowadays. Suffice it to say, there are many great PS2 FPS games that are worth a player's time, even in gaming's modern era.
Updated on October 5th, 2025, by Jack Pursey: This list of the best first-person shooters on the PlayStation 2 has been updated to improve the formatting and image quality.
30 Call Of Duty: World At War – Final Fronts
The PS2's Answer To The Next-Gen World At War
Call of Duty: World at War - Final Fronts
- Released
- November 11, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- mature 17+
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2
The PS3 came out in 2006. With this advancement in hardware, developers shifted their interests to making cutting-edge games on next-gen consoles instead of trying to accommodate outdated hardware. However, Call of Duty wanted to spread out in every direction, making sure that its 2008 title, World at War, could work on the PlayStation 2 as well.
This version of the game was notably inferior and featured poor AI, but most people would agree that it's a decent title once people look past its flaws. The shooting is decent, and the attempts to develop a cutting-edge Call of Duty game on a console that was clearly past its prime were admirable, if nothing else.
Unfortunately, this game does not feature a Zombies mode that was introduced in World at War.
29 Return To Castle Wolfenstein
The Classic FPS Series In True 3D
Return To Castle Wolfenstein
- Released
- November 20, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood, Language
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, Xbox (Original), PC
BJ Blazkowicz is one of the most iconic video game protagonists of all time, and fans were glad to see that this character would make an appearance after a pretty long hiatus in another Wolfenstein game. Return to Castle Wolfenstein is a tightly woven and engaging FPS that is a blast to play through, especially for long-time fans of the genre who loved playing the old games.
The multiplayer of this title was revolutionary at the time, with the single-player campaign also being quite engaging in its own right and building up on the lore of the series in its own way. It's a shame that many people don't talk about Return to Castle Wolfenstein nowadays, especially since the gameplay of this title has aged pretty well and can still be a ton of fun to this day.
28 Medal Of Honor: Rising Sun
Co-Op Comes To Medal Of Honor
Medal of Honor: Rising Sun
- Released
- November 11, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t // Violence
- Developer(s)
- EA
- Platform(s)
- GameCube, PS2, Xbox (Original)
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Electronic Arts' Medal of Honor series may not be too recognizable to audiences today, but back in 2003, it was one of the premier names in the first-person shooter genre.
Medal of Honor: Rising Sun didn't reach the heights of the classic PlayStation 1 games, but it still provided a fantastic eight-hour campaign and enjoyable split-screen multiplayer that should appeal to any FPS fan. It also featured co-op for the story.
Although it's not considered among the best Medal of Honor games, it had one of the biggest influences on the FPS genre as it offered online multiplayer, something that was uncommon on the PlayStation 2.
27 Killzone
A First-Party FPS
Killzone
- Released
- December 2, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Guerrilla Games, Supermassive Games
- Genre(s)
- FPS
The first entry into the PlayStation-exclusive Killzone series was developed by Guerrilla Games and hit stores in late 2004. The first-person shooter takes players to 2357, over 300 years after a nuclear war shattered planet Earth. It's one of the most beloved PlayStation franchises around that fans miss quite a bit.
Killzone attempted to stand out from the crowded FPS market by trying to create a more cinematic experience than other shooters offered. Guerrilla Games did a great job of this, as both the sound and art design were top-notch for the time of Killzone's release. However, the game wasn't without its issues, as the enemy A.I. And technical performance of Killzone left much to be desired.
26 007: Agent Under Fire
An Original James Bond Design In A Unique Adventure
007: Agent Under Fire
- Released
- November 13, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo GameCube, PS2, Xbox (Original)
- Genre(s)
- FPS
The first James Bond game on the PS2 made its own unique Bond design without using an actor's likeness. Though the game is a first-person shooter, the variety of gadgets at players' disposal constantly reminds them whose shoes they are in during the story.
The optional 007 Moments found in each mission offer great replay value as players strive for perfect runs. The multiplayer features a surprising range of customizable options, from enabling gadgets like a grappling hook and jetpack to controlling how fast players can move.
25 Urban Chaos: Riot Response
Rocksteady Before The Arkham Games
Urban Chaos: Riot Response
- Released
- June 15, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Rocksteady Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Eidos Interactive
- Platform(s)
- PS2, Xbox (Original)
- Genre(s)
- FPS
Rocksteady is now known for the Arkham games, but before that, they made a little shooter called Urban Chaos: Riot Response. The game takes players through different chaotic situations where they have to take down anarchic antagonists and rescue civilians trapped in the chaos.
Players are encouraged to replay missions to do different objectives and earn better gear, making later missions easier. The game revels in its violence, with some setpieces including creative ways to take down opponents. The game also features an earworm of a menu song - Modern Romance by The Metro Riots.
24 Cold Winter
A Brutal PS2 Exclusive Spy Thriller
Cold Winter
- Released
- May 11, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2
There's no denying that most first-person shooter games feature a ton of action and fun set pieces that make them a blast to engage with. However, not many of them put a lot of stock into the story side of things, which is what made Cold Winter such a special gem. The original narrative of this game was penned by none other than Warren Ellis, a legendary writer known for his work on the Netflix Castlevania series, Dead Space, and many popular comic books.
The gameplay itself may be nothing to write home about, but players who want their FPS titles to have great and thought-provoking stories will love what Cold Winter brings to the table. It's a shame that not many people talk about this gem nowadays, making it one of the most underrated action games on the PS2.
23 The Operative: No One Lives Forever
A 1960s Spy Thriller
The Operative: No One Lives Forever
- Released
- November 9, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
The Operative: No One Lives Forever takes a lot of its cues from James Bond. It is a 1960s spy romp playing on the Cold War fears of the decade. Appropriate to the aesthetic, the game features plenty of stealth and snarky humor.
To further shake up the FPS formula and contribute to the spy-thriller vibe, players are equipped with a variety of gadgets to help on the adventure.
The PS2 version of the game is not the ideal way to play it because of the tech, but it does feature exclusive missions taking place in the main character's past. No One Lives Forever received a sequel, but the series never ported another game to the PS2.
No One Lives Forever has never been re-released. The game is infamously stuck in a legal limbo that has so far prevented the IP from returning.
22 XIII
Stands Out From The Crowd With A Unique Art Style
XIII
- Released
- November 18, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Stealth
- Platform(s)
- GameCube, PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox (Original)
There aren't many FPS games based on a comic book, which already makes XIII way more engaging and unique than most of the other titles in this genre. On top of this, the game's cel-shaded art style and the focus on a comic-book design aesthetic made it a blast to play through in every way, even if the gameplay itself may have been the least engaging part of the experience.
The Hardest FPS Games Ever Made, Ranked
First-person shooters are a tough genre to get into if someone has never played them before. Some get so hard that they are nearly impossible.
Fans of this game were glad to hear that this game was getting a full-blown remake, which made it pretty disappointing when this release turned out to be broken and uninspired in every way. While another studio was contracted to release a better version of the remake to address fan and critic complaints, the damage had already been done — XIII has become another footnote of gaming history that people rarely bring up in conversation.
21 Darkwatch: Curse Of The West
A Dark Fantasy FPS
Darkwatch: Curse Of The West
- Released
- August 12, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- High Moon Studios
- Platform(s)
- PS2, Xbox (Original)
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Western, Survival Horror
Most FPS games have a bad reputation for having clichéd settings and being so grounded in reality that there's nothing imaginative about them. This couldn't be further from the truth, and a great example of how an inspired setting can elevate the quality of a video game can be seen in the case of Darkwatch: Curse of the West.
The combination of steampunk, horror, and Western elements made for a tantalizing combination, as players control an outlaw-turned-vampire who has to take out a wealth of enemies standing in his way. The morality system of this game lets players access a suite of interesting powers that differ from each other in meaningful ways, while the gameplay switches between day and night to add more variety to the proceedings.