PS2 emulation on phones has come a long way. With ARMSX2 (or NetherSX2) a good phone runs a large part of the PS2 library well. Here are 20 of the best PS2 games to play on Android. Games marked Heavy need a high-end phone; the rest run on most mid-range phones from the last few years.
New to PS2 on Android? Set up the emulator in 10 minutes.
The 20 best PS2 games
1. God of War II
Action · 2007
Often called the best game on PS2. Demanding: plays well on high-end phones.
2. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
Fighting · 2007
Over 150 characters and destructible arenas. The most-played PS2 game on Android emulators.
3. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Open world · 2004
The original PS2 version, with its look and soundtrack intact.
4. Final Fantasy X
RPG · 2001
Tidus, Yuna and the Sphere Grid. One of the best RPGs ever, and turn-based so it plays great on a phone.
5. Pro Evolution Soccer 6
Football · 2006
The PES many fans still call the best. Light and smooth on most phones.
6. Tekken 5
Fighting · 2005
Includes the arcade versions of Tekken 1–3 as a bonus.
7. Kingdom Hearts II
Action RPG · 2005
Disney worlds and Final Fantasy characters in one of the best action RPGs on PS2.
8. Need for Speed: Most Wanted
Racing · 2005
Police chases and the blacklist. A classic that still feels great.
9. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
Stealth · 2004
Jungle survival, camouflage and one of the best stories in gaming. Demanding on emulators.
10. Shadow of the Colossus
Adventure · 2005
Sixteen giant bosses and a lonely, beautiful world. Very demanding: high-end phones only.
11. Bully
Open world · 2006
Rockstar’s school story. Funny, smaller than GTA, and runs well.
12. Persona 4
RPG · 2008
A murder mystery in a small Japanese town, mixed with dungeons and friendships.
13. Okami
Adventure · 2006
Play as a wolf goddess and paint on the world with a celestial brush.
14. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja 5
Fighting · 2007
Big roster, flashy fights and a long story mode. Runs well on mid-range phones.
15. Black
Shooter · 2006
Explosions and destruction everywhere. Pushed the PS2 to its limit, so it needs a strong phone.
16. Burnout 3: Takedown
Racing · 2004
The best arcade racer of its era. Crash your rivals into walls at full speed.
17. Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Action · 2004
Wild weapons, great humour and lots of planets.
18. Resident Evil 4
Horror · 2005
The PS2 version of the classic. Plays well with a controller.
19. Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks
Action · 2005
A co-op beat ’em up with Liu Kang and Kung Lao and plenty of fatalities.
20. Gran Turismo 4
Racing · 2004
Over 700 cars and the most complete racing sim on PS2. Demanding in races with many cars.
It depends mostly on your processor. As a rough guide: recent flagship chips (Snapdragon 8-series from the last few years, Dimensity 9000-series) run most games including Heavy ones; mid-range chips run lighter games well; budget phones will struggle with most PS2 games. Every game also behaves differently, so test before you give up.
Tips to run PS2 games better
- Use the Vulkan renderer and start at native (1x) resolution. Raise it only if the game stays at full speed.
- Store games as CHD: they’re smaller and load fine. See how to convert ISO to CHD.
- Keep the phone cool. PS2 emulation is heavy and phones throttle fast; read how to stop overheating.
- Use a controller for action games: connect a PS5, PS4 or Xbox controller.
- You need a PS2 BIOS. Dump it from your own console: here’s how.
FAQ
What is the best PS2 emulator for Android?
ARMSX2 and NetherSX2 are the main options. Both are based on the AetherSX2/PCSX2 code and run many PS2 games well on modern phones.
Can my phone run PS2 games?
Most mid-range and high-end phones from the last few years run lighter PS2 games well. Demanding games like Shadow of the Colossus or Black need a recent flagship phone.
Which PS2 game runs best on Android?
Lighter games like PES 6, Tekken 5, Bully, Final Fantasy X and Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 run well on many phones.
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