We already published the list of best PS2 games of all time, now it’s time to discover the best PS2 individual sports games of all time.
With amazing titles available, the PS2 definitely has a great library of individual sports games.
So, if you’re a fan of both the PS2 and individual sports 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. World Championship Snooker 2004
- Release Data: Blade Interactive/Codemasters, 2004
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Billiards
What we have is a more highly polished and refined version of something that was a pretty fine snooker title in the first place.
All the little improvements mean that this one is well worth your money.
For snooker fans it is guaranteed to engage and be enjoyed like no other title on the market, highly recommended.
#24. Def Jam Vendetta
- Release Data: Aki Corp./EA Games, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Wrestling
As a wrestling game, Def Jam Vendetta manages to succeed on most every level, providing surprisingly deep gameplay, quality graphics and sound, and a distinctive atmosphere.
And it is still strong enough in its execution to make it a perfect alternative for fans who have grown weary of the standard WWE-style games.
#23. WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw
- Release Data: Yuke’s/THQ, 2004
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Wrestling
SmackDown! vs. Raw is a fun, full-featured wrestling game that brings some neat gameplay additions to the table and still plays wonderfully.
However, if you were hoping for a game as impressive as Here Comes the Pain was upon its release, SmackDown! vs. Raw may prove to be a bit of a letdown.
#22. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06
- Release Data: EA Sports, 2005
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Golf » Sim
You will find success early and often in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 06, and though that may not sound like such a bad thing, it isn’t necessarily true to the spirit of the sport, where triumphs need to be earned, not simply offered to you for the taking.
#21. Fire Pro Wrestling Returns
- Release Data: S-Neo/Spike, 2007
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Wrestling
Fire Pro remains a somewhat niche product: a deep, intense wrestling game for people who don’t care about real promotional licenses, 3D graphics, and simple-to-use gameplay designs.
While the actual number of those people might be on the lower side, this is a game that such an audience is guaranteed to love for its depth and level of challenge.
#20. Fight Night Round 3
- Release Data: EA Chicago/EA Sports, 2006
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Boxing / Martial Arts
Most of the improvements and updates found in Round 3 are merely incremental, but they’re still enough to warrant stepping into the ring for another bout.
As it is, Fight Night Round 3 brings the same solid gameplay the series is known for, which is more than enough to make it worth another trip to the ring for boxing fans.
#19. WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth
- Release Data: Yuke’s/THQ, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Wrestling
WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth offers just about everything that a wrestling fan could ever want.
The create-a-wrestler mode gives you plenty of freedom to create your own WWE superstar, and the season mode does an excellent job of conveying the sense that you’re a part of WWE programming.
Simply put, you can’t go wrong with SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth.
#18. WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006
- Release Data: Yuke’s/THQ, 2005
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Wrestling
Not every single thing that the game tries to do completely works, but the sheer amount of crazy new stuff in this game more than makes it worth the while of any wrestling fan.
The gameplay is great, the presentation is top-notch, and the plethora of available modes is more than enough to keep any WWE enthusiast busy for hours.
#17. Tony Hawk’s Underground 2
- Release Data: Neversoft Entertainment/Activision, 2004
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard
All in all, Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 is a strong skateboarding game, though if you’ve remained devoted to the series, you might not be so impressed with its changes.
Nevertheless, the gameplay remains fast, fluid, and exciting.
The visuals are, for the most part, pretty sharp, and the story mode is still fun to blast through.
#16. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2002
- Release Data: EA Sports/Electronic Arts, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Golf » Sim
The host of graphical and gameplay improvements featured in the 2002 edition make this one far superior to previous entries in the series.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2002 may have a few shortcomings, but in spite of those, it’s still one of the best golf simulations on the PS2.
#15. Sega Sports Tennis
- Release Data: Hitmaker/Acclaim, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Tennis
If you still haven’t stopped playing Tennis 2K2 for the Dreamcast, then you probably won’t have much use for Sega Sports Tennis.
But for the uninitiated, or those who have stopped playing, this is an easy to pick up game that really shines when you’re playing it with friends.
#14. Fight Night 2004
- Release Data: EA Sports, 2004
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Boxing / Martial Arts
Everything the game offers comes together to deliver one cohesive boxing experience and stands as a boxing simulation that it as fun to play as any arcade-styled boxing game before it.
This is one title that every boxing fan should own since it’s deeply rooted in skill-based gameplay that tests your defensive and offensive abilities equally.
#13. Hot Shots Golf 3
- Release Data: Clap Hanz/SCEI, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Golf » Arcade
This is a well-designed, slickly-produced golf game for the masses, with a reliable game system and visuals that deliver the goods.
In conclusion, it’s not the best PlayStation 2 golf game in any respect, but it’s absolutely playable.
Fans of the series, or anyone looking for a consistently goofy, lighthearted golf game, will surely be pleased.
#12. Aggressive Inline
- Release Data: Z-Axis, Ltd./Acclaim, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard
Aggressive Inline is a success on several levels.
It manages to take the gameplay and design concepts that have worked well in past games and give them enough of a face-lift to make the game feel new.
Fans of Tony Hawk or Dave Mirra will surely find a lot to like in Aggressive Inline.
#11. WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain
- Release Data: Yuke’s, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Wrestling
Here Comes the Pain is the best WWE game on the PS2, thanks to its well-executed season mode, great create-a-wrestler mode, and significantly deeper grappling system that is one of the best ones ever put into a wrestling game.
Any fan of previous entries in the SmackDown! series should absolutely not hesitate to give Here Comes the Pain a try.
#10. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005
- Release Data: EA Sports, 2004
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Golf » Sim
From strictly a bullet-point perspective, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005 is a more full-featured game than the previous, and it still stands as one of the best golf games for the PS2.
However, many of its improvements over PGA Tour 2004 feel kind of incremental, and owners of PGA Tour 2004 shouldn’t necessarily rush to get this one.
#9. Fight Night Round 2
- Release Data: EA Sports, 2005
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Combat » Boxing / Martial Arts
As a sequel to the well-received Fight Night 2004, the game improves on many aspects of its predecessor and ends up as one that will continually challenge your skills the longer you play it.
If you enjoy boxing, there’s a lot to love about this great boxing sequel.
#8. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003
- Release Data: EA Sports/Electronic Arts, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Golf » Sim
Previous installment in the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series reflected golf’s new attitude by including fictional golfers, a hip soundtrack, and a slick new visual style.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 further refines this presentation, along with virtually every other facet of the game.
The end result is a near-flawless golf game that somehow manages to appeal to everyone.
#7. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004
- Release Data: EA Sports/Electronic Arts, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Golf » Sim
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004 offers such a complete package, it almost seems like EA is painting itself into a corner.
With the sheer number of courses available, the variety of gameplay modes offered, and the overall polish of the presentation, there just doesn’t seem like a lot of room for improvement for the next game.
#6. Tony Hawk’s Underground
- Release Data: Neversoft Entertainment/Activision, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard
The core gameplay is still extremely entertaining, and some of the new additions, like being able to get off your board and execute wall plants, do make for some interesting, new possibilities.
All things considered, Tony Hawk’s Underground is another great installment in the franchise.
#5. SSX 3
- Release Data: EA Canada/EA Sports Big, 2003
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Ski / Snowboard
SSX 3 delivers a rush like few racing games or action sports games have ever achieved.
The game’s new, open-ended structure, excellent audio, enhanced trick system, and improved graphics combine to make this a superlative sequel.
Regardless of whether you’ve played SSX or care much about snowboarding, you’d be doing yourself a favor by checking this game out.
#4. SSX
- Release Data: EA Sports Big/Electronic Arts, 2000
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Ski / Snowboard
In the end, SSX is a terrific snowboarding game that has all the right stuff.
Every element comes together and makes for a game that is extremely fun and rewarding to play.
You’ll want to complete every trick and course with every single character just because the game is so fun to play.
#3. SSX Tricky
- Release Data: EA Canada/EA Sports Big, 2001
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Ski / Snowboard
More than just an upgrade of the original, SSX Tricky is the best snowboarding game ever made.
The trick system has been improved, the graphics have received an upgrade, the story elements have increased, and the sound is solid.
If you have yet to play SSX and are interested in this sort of game, buying SSX Tricky is highly recommended.
#2. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4
- Release Data: Neversoft Entertainment/Activision, 2002
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard
The deeper single-player and improved multiplayer modes make Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 a very tightly packed installment in the series, and the slightly refined gameplay is still unmatched in the action sports arena.
In short, anyone with even a remote interest in either the genre or the real-life sport should play this game as soon as possible.
#1. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3
- Release Data: Neversoft Entertainment/Activision, 2001
- Genre: Sports » Individual » Skate / Skateboard
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 brings it all together in one package that makes everything before it almost unplayable by comparison.
The game has a lower level of difficulty at the beginning and some basic tutoring to appeal to new players but has enough hidden items and harder goals later on to keep the hardcore fans interested as well.
Browse PS2 Games By Genre
See also: Best PS1 Games & Best PSP Games
Are your favorite games on the list?
Deciding which PS2 individual sports game is the best is no doubt a never ending topic, but it’s fun to do!
