We already published the list of best PS2 games of all time, now it’s time to discover the best PS2 fighting games of all time.
With amazing titles available, the PS2 definitely has a great library of fighting games.
So, if you’re a fan of both the PS2 and fighting games, there’s a chance you’ll like this list.
And some of you may already know some of the games mentioned in this list.
#25. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
- Release Data: Spike/Atari SA, 2007
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is far from being a failure of a game.
When looking at the core gameplay, and ignoring the titles before it, Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is a fast, fun, and amazingly deep experience for fans of the award-winning anime.
#24. Super Dragon Ball Z
- Release Data: Crafts & Meister/Atari SA, 2006
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
The action has a real traditional feel to it, and if you’ve played a Tekken, a Street Fighter, or a Virtua Fighter, Super Dragon Ball Z will feel extremely familiar.
Unfortunately, this game doesn’t have the depth of the serious fighting games it patterns itself after, providing an experience that is hardly any more technical than certain past DBZ fighters.
#23. Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
- Release Data: Midway, 2006
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon may not be the definitive collection since it does leave some characters out, and some of the final endings may be weaker than others.
Throw in a fun Konquest mode, a mini-game, a new fatality system, and a character creation mode, and you have a great title that will keep Mortal Kombat fans busy for months.
#22. Naruto: Ultimate Ninja
- Release Data: CyberConnect2/Bandai, 2006
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
Ultimate Ninja packs more than enough style and quirky fight mechanics to keep things interesting.
Having said that, it lacks some of the depth that serious fans of the genre may want in a fighter.
Fans of the series and manga will definitely appreciate the amount of extras and hidden characters, too.
#21. Guilty Gear Isuka
- Release Data: Arc System Works/Sammy Studios, 2004
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 2D
While many fighting games this year have gone online, Guilty Gear Isuka takes a step back and to the side with its awkward multicharacter fighting system.
The system certainly works, and for serious Guilty Gear fans, it’ll make for some fun times as they square off with different combinations of characters.
#20. Marvel vs. Capcom 2
- Release Data: Capcom, 2002
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 2D
Fans of the off-kilter action found in the previous versus games will surely be pleased with Marvel vs. Capcom 2.
If you’re a hard-core fan of Marvel vs. Capcom 2, yet somehow missed the Dreamcast version when it was originally released, this game is a port that you will definitely enjoy.
#19. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3
- Release Data: Dimps Corporation/Atari SA, 2004
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
If you’re a Dragon Ball Z fan, you want this game because it re-creates the DBZ experience better than any other offering before it.
And while there’s definitely a lot of fan service here, the gameplay is also just plain fun, so anyone who’s up for a simple, high-impact fighting game should have a blast with this game.
#18. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
- Release Data: Spike/Namco Bandai Games, 2006
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
Budokai Tenkaichi 2 isn’t the most perfect fighter, but that doesn’t ruin its fun.
The game was built for DBZ enthusiasts, but anyone who loves a great fighter will get into this high-flying experience.
The two-player battles ensure a very long lifespan for this fighter, making it worth having even if you have no desire to play through another story mode.
#17. Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3
- Release Data: CyberConnect2/Bandai, 2008
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
Ultimate Ninja 3 is far from the perfect Naruto fighting game but it walks its own line and walks it well.
Interestingly enough, the game adds new and downright entertaining game modes making this one of the most complete Naruto games on the PS2.
#16. The King of Fighters ’98 Ultimate Match
- Release Data: SNK Playmore, 2009
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 2D
The King of Fighters is one of the greatest fighting game series of all time and The King of Fighters ’98 is one of the best games in the series.
And Ultimate Match is the definitive version of that classic.
Overall, the gameplay is intuitive, varied, fast-paced, and fun.
#15. War of the Monsters
- Release Data: Incognito Inc./SCEE, 2003
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
War of the Monsters has lots of charm and character, and it capably handles a subject that ought to be a lot more common in games.
Yet though the gameplay definitely has its moments, this one would just as well make for weekend sessions.
#14. Guilty Gear X
- Release Data: Arc System Works/Virgin Interactive, 2001
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 2D
Guilty Gear X does its job quite well—it’s a conventional 2D fighting game that offers a lineup of cool characters with countless crazy moves.
If you like a little more flair in your fighting games, and especially if you like the anime graphics style, you’ll find that Guilty Gear X plays just as good as it looks.
#13. Tekken 4
- Release Data: Namco, 2002
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
It’s not as technically impressive of a game as some of its predecessors, it doesn’t have as many extras or as many new moves.
But make no mistake: You’ll get what you pay for with Tekken 4—an extremely solid, long-lasting, accessible, and fun-to-play fighting game that comes from one of the world’s best developers of the genre.
#12. Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001
- Release Data: Capcom, 2001
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 2D
If by chance you missed out on the first game, you’ll find that Capcom vs. SNK 2 is one of the best 2D fighting games available, not just on the PS2, but on any system.
It’s cut from the same cloth as countless other Capcom fighting games, but it’s got more features, more characters, and more depth.
#11. Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance
- Release Data: Midway, 2002
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
Mortal Kombat is a 3D fighter that doesn’t fall into the same trap that some other games have fallen into when making the 2D-to-3D transition.
What you’re left with is an unusual fighting game that does a great job of balancing the classic Mortal Kombat style with enough new additions to draw in people who aren’t familiar with the series.
#10. Mortal Kombat: Deception
- Release Data: Midway, 2004
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
Like any great fighting game, this one carefully strikes the balance of delivering fast-paced, visceral thrills and rewarding lots of practice and complex tactics.
And despite not all of Deception‘s modes and features are flat-out great, the game’s absolutely got it where it counts.
#9. Def Jam: Fight for NY
- Release Data: Aki Corp./Electronic Arts, 2004
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
It would have been easy for the developers to just crank out an incremental upgrade, but Fight for NY is anything but incremental—it feels like a whole different brand of game altogether.
If you like wrestling games, fighting games, or even just the world of hip-hop, Def Jam: Fight for NY is a game well worth owning.
#8. Tekken Tag Tournament
- Release Data: Namco/SCEE, 2000
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
If you played so much Tekken 2 and 3 that you couldn’t possibly play another match, Tekken Tag doesn’t offer enough new features to draw you back in.
But if you’ve stayed away from the Tekken series for a long time, Tekken Tag is a very warm homecoming, delivering the same solid gameplay that Tekken fans crave in large doses.
#7. Guilty Gear X2
- Release Data: Arc System Works/Sammy Studios, 2003
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 2D
In the end, Guilty Gear X2 is a commendable sequel and a great 2D fighting game on its own strengths.
It’s easy to recommend to just about any fan of the genre, except maybe for those who expressly dislike the game’s anime-inspired character design.
#6. SoulCalibur III
- Release Data: Namco, 2005
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
Fans looking for more Soul Calibur will find just that in Soul Calibur III, a game that mostly just updates the look and some of the subtler aspects of play for this great series.
Nevertheless, this is still one of the fastest-paced, most technical fighting games around, even if it doesn’t necessarily rock the boat.
#5. DOA2: Hardcore
- Release Data: Team Ninja/SCEE, 2000
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore is a pretty good fighting game.
The fighting system is fast and fun, though not the deepest system in town.
Still, the pretty graphics make it a good showpiece, and the game has enough options to make it a worthwhile collection for PS2 fighter fans.
#4. Tekken 5
- Release Data: Namco, 2005
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
A big part of Tekken 5‘s appeal is due to the quality of its execution.
Toss in a fantastic soundtrack and some of the best-looking graphics, along with an insane number of different moves to master from a variety of interesting characters, and you’ve got a fighting game that’s even more addictive and exciting than the original Tekken.
#3. Virtua Fighter 4
- Release Data: Sega AM2/SCEE, 2002
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
You can’t tell right off the bat, but Virtua Fighter 4 is one of the best fighting games for the PS2.
The quicker pacing, the perfected controls, and the great-looking character designs, along with the outstanding AI and the unparalleled gameplay depth, make this a fighting game that just about everyone will agree on.
#2. SoulCalibur II
- Release Data: Namco, 2003
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
The simple fact of the matter is, Soul Calibur II is best weapons-based fighter for the PS2, period.
It’s also one of the best games in the fighting genre itself.
There’s a diverse selection of characters, a deep fighting system, a decent single-player mode, and the multiplayer is as fun as it ever was.
#1. Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution
- Release Data: Sega, 2003
- Genre: Action » Fighting » 3D
Previous year’s Virtua Fighter 4 bordered on perfection, and this new game is technically even better.
Both its training mode and its main single-player mode have been further enhanced.
The gameplay is as fast, well balanced, and exciting as ever, and hardcore fans should appreciate some of the new high-level tweaks and adjustments made to it.
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See also: Best PS1 Games & Best PSP Games
Are your favorite games on the list?
Deciding which PS2 fighting game is the best is no doubt a never ending topic, but it’s fun to do!
