The Best PlayStation 2 Action Role-Playing Games
If you owned a PS2 at any time during your life, then it's safe to say there were probably a few action role-playing games in your collection. With so many great options to choose from, there was never a shortage of games for action RPG fans. But since some games were much better than others, we've decided to rank the best PS2 action role-playing games of all time.
This list features the most popular and best-selling action role-playing games that were released for PS2. While many of these games were console exclusive, we're allowing non-exclusives to be a part of the list as well. This list contains classic action RPGs like Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance and Dark Cloud, as well as many others. Vote for your favorite video games below.
- 1
- Developer: Square Enix
In a densely woven narrative, Final Fantasy XII transports players to the world of Ivalice, caught in a bitter war between empires. The gameplay boasts a unique combat system, the "Active Dimension Battle", allowing seamless transition from exploration to fight and an immersive license system for customized character growth. Its strategic elements, grand world-building, and political intrigue left a strong imprint on the RPG genre, shaping future Final Fantasy installments.
- 2
- Developer: Square Enix
Set in a vibrant crossover universe, Kingdom Hearts II interweaves the destinies of beloved Disney and Final Fantasy characters as they continue their battle against the sinister Organization XIII. It combines action-packed combat with platforming and puzzle-solving, a gameplay that's both whimsical and engaging. Its emotional storytelling, solid character development, and novel combination of seemingly disparate worlds left a powerful electric jolt in the memory of many gamers and revolutionized the action RPG genre.
- 32000
- Developer: Level-5
As an evocative fusion of action-adventure RPG and city-building, Dark Cloud offers a journey through time to rebuild a shattered world while fighting off malicious forces. Its gameplay entails dungeon-crawling, real-time combat, and constructive simulation, offering a unique blend of strategy and action. With its intuitive building mechanics and a robust combat system, it sprouted a new leaf on the RPG tree, influencing successive hybrid genre games.
- 4
Dark Chronicle
2002- Developer: Level-5, SCE Japan Studio
This sequel to Dark Cloud showcases an epic tale of two friends on a quest through time to prevent a daunting future. The gameplay encompasses real-time combat, town-building, fishing, and golf minigames, ensnaring players in an addictive loop. The game left its mark on the industry with its georama system and multifaceted gameplay.
- 52002
- Developer: Square
Melding Disney magic with Final Fantasy's gravitas, Kingdom Hearts is a timeless tale about friendship, light versus darkness, and the strength of the heart. Mixing hack-and-slash combat with puzzle-solving, platform elements, and RPG progression, it paints a vivid gaming experience that's a cut above the rest. It stirred the pot in the gaming industry, demonstrating that the improbable fusion of otherwise independent entities can yield extraordinary results.
- Developer: Magic Pockets, Snowblind Studios
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance craftily traps players in a dangerous underworld, spinning a tale of treachery and dark magic within the Dungeons & Dragons universe. Its isometric view gameplay, incorporating hack-and-slash combat and intricate character development, is a refreshing deviation from traditional RPGs. With its extensive world-building and stout character arcs, it has etched an undeniable imprint on the face of action RPGs.
