Segamight not have been in the console business anymore by the time the PS2 era rolled around, but that didn’t stop it from delivering some absolute bangers. Whether it was arcade-perfect ports,fast-paced action, or deep fighting mechanics, Sega’s presence on Sony’s hardware made sure the Dreamcast’s spirit lived on.
These games weren’t just great for their time; they’re still worth playing today, so anyone with a PlayStation 2 should try and find these classics to discover the very best ofSega’s library during the PS2’s lifespan so that they can share in the thrill of adventure once more.
Long beforeSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatewas marketing itself as “Everyone is here,” Sega threw its own characters onto the court withSega Superstars Tennis. Sonic, AiAi, Ulala, Amigo, and even NiGHTS all traded in theirusual adventuresfor high-energy tennis matches, complete with signature moves and courts pulled straight from their respective games.
But this wasn’t just a tennis game with Sega skins slapped on. Each character had their own Superstar move, ranging from Sonic’s speed boost to AiAi summoning banana peels all over the court. The mini-games were just as fun as the main matches, with players bouncing tennis balls at Virtua Cop targets or surviving an onslaught of Puyo Puyos. It might not have been a serious tennis sim, but it was a celebration of Sega’s legacy with a healthy dose of arcade fun.
There’s a reason whyVirtua Tennis 2is still fondly remembered, even when tennis games are few and far between these days. It took everything great about the original—fluid controls, easy-to-pick-up gameplay, and addicting arcade action—and cranked it up with new players, better animations, and an improved career mode.
The World Tour mode was the real highlight, giving players full control over creating their own rising tennis star and training them through various drills. And those training mini-games? Some of the most bizarre and entertaining ways to improve a player’s skills. Whether it was knocking down bowling pins or rallying against giant volleyballs, Sega made sure tennis training was never boring.
By 2003, Sega was still figuring out what to do with Sonic in the post-Dreamcast era.Sonic Heroeswas their answer, ditching the solo Sonic gameplay for ateam-based approachthat let players control three characters at once.
The game had four different teams—Team Sonic, Team Dark, Team Rose, and Team Chaotix—each offering a unique mix of speed, power, and flight characters. Levels were designed to take advantage of all three abilities, whether it was Sonic boosting down highways, Knuckles smashing through obstacles, or Tails flying the team across massive gaps. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but the colorful visuals, catchy soundtrack, and creative level design madeSonic Heroesa standout Sonic title on PS2.
While most collections today are lucky to include ten games, theSega Genesis Collectionpacked in over 30, offering an instant history lesson on Sega’s 16-bit dominance.Streets of Rage,Golden Axe,Phantasy Star,Shinobi 3— this wasn’t just a greatest hits album; it was a deep dive into an era where Sega was at its peak.
The emulation was solid, the extras included fun interviews and trivia, and the sheer variety meant there was something for everyone. Whether players wanted to hack and slash through medieval fantasy, platform with a blue hedgehog, or dive into one of thebest RPG seriesof the 90s,Sega Genesis Collectionwas the perfect way to experience the classics without digging up old cartridges.
Sega was the undisputed king of arcade racers, andOutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coastwas proof of that. It took everything that madeOutRun 2great—gorgeous environments, tight drifting mechanics, and an infectious sense of speed—and expanded on it with new tracks, cars, and the ability to cruise through a sunset-lit highway with an absolute banger of a soundtrack playing in the background.
The handling was smooth, the drifting was addictive, and the branching paths made sure no two runs felt exactly the same. And with the Coast 2 Coast mode, players had even more challenges to tackle, keeping them glued to the road long after their first drive.
Virtua Fighter 4didn’t rely on flashy super moves or over-the-top combos to stand out. Instead, it focused on deep mechanics, rewarding precision, strategy, and skill. The result was one of the most technically satisfyingfighting gameson the PS2, a game where mastering a character took real dedication.
The AI in Quest Mode was no joke either. Unlike most fighters, where CPU opponents stick to basic patterns,Virtua Fighter 4had an evolving AI system that mimicked real players. It learned, adapted, and made sure no two matches felt identical. It was the closest thing to playing in an actual arcade without leaving home.
Few games capture pure arcade chaos likeCrazy Taxi. The moment The Offspring’s"All I Want"kicks in, players know they’re in for a ride—literally. The game’s premise was simple: pick up passengers and get them to their destination as fast as possible. But the real fun came from how players got there.
Drifting around corners, launching off ramps, narrowly avoiding traffic—it was all about speed and style. The more reckless the driving, the higher the score, and the sprawling city was designed to reward risk-taking. Even after years, few driving games capture the same high-energy, rule-breaking fun thatCrazy Taxidelivered.
BeforeYakuzabecame a beloved franchise with karaoke, cabaret clubs, and over-the-top brawls, it started with a single game on the PS2. A mix of open-world exploration, gripping storytelling, and bone-crunching combat,Yakuzaintroduced players to Kazuma Kiryu, a man trying to navigate the brutal world of the Japanese underworld.
Kamurocho was a living, breathing city, packed with side activities, random fights, and a storyline that wasn’t afraid to get emotional. The combat was weighty, letting Kiryu unleash devastating combos and brutal heat moves that made every fight feel personal. While later games would refine the formula, the originalYakuzalaid the groundwork for what would become one ofSega’s most iconic franchises.
