Summary
ThePS2is where popular franchises debuted, likeKingdom HeartsandRatchet & Clank, while other long-running series died. There was a balance when it came to game releases, which proved that even though the platform was popular, not every title was going to be successful.
It’s sad to say that many storied franchises stopped making sequels after the PS2. They may have ports or remasters, but never full-blown remakes or console sequels. Not all hope is lost, though, because theOnimushaseries is making a comeback in 2026 after being dormant since the PS2 era. Maybe that spells good news for the rest of thesegame series that died on the PS2.
Bloody Roarsaw the light of day in arcades starting in 1997 before getting console ports in 1998with the PS1. What set it apart from other fighting games at the time was that fighters could turn into animals from bears to rabbits.
It was a strong series for a while, untilBloody Roar 4in 2003, which was released exclusively on the PS2. These games have rarely been updated or ported beyond their initial releases, leaving them among a pile of many fighting game franchises that started in the 90s.
Dark Cloudwas released in 2001 for the PS2 in North America, which was a year after its release in Japan. It was an original actionRPG by Level-5that featured dungeon crawling, swappable party members, and town-building mechanics. All of these features carried over into the sequel,Dark Cloud 2, which was a 2003 release for North America. It also added time mechanics to the story.
While Level-5 has created spiritual successors to theDark Cloudgames, and these games have been ported to the PS4 natively, no third game in the series has ever been released, despite a long-standing desire from fans.
Final Fightis a classic brawler that started in arcades in 1989 and received numerous ports and sequels in the 90s. There was an attempt at a resurgence in 2006 with the release ofFinal Fight: Streetwise.
Unfortunately, it was not well received and remains almost forgotten due to a lack of ports, despite the rest of the games being frequently added to collections. While the new standalone games ceased withFinal Fight: Streetwise, characters and locations continue to live on through games likeStreet Fighter 6.
Jak & Daxter: The Precursor LegacywasNaughty Dog’s first game on the PS2, which was launched in 2001. They worked on four games, with an additionalDaxterprequel and sequel being developed by other companies.Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontierwas a late release for the PS2 in 2009, along with a port to the PSP.
These games have received ports and HD collections, and characters have appeared in other games, such asPlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale,but there has not been a standalone game starring the duo, Jak, or Daxter since.
Rockstar often found itself in hot water in the early 2000s due to the controversy surrounding its game mechanics.Manhuntmight top the charts in terms of media backlash, focusing on a killer in a series of snuff film streams.
Despite these controversies, they managed to put out a sequel in 2007, which did hit various systems. Overall,Manhuntis one ofRockstar’s more forgotten franchisesthat seems almost impossible to bring back now.
Shadow Heartsis the first game to carry this series' name, as of 2001. However, technically, the PS1’sKoudelkais also tied to the series. IncludingKoudelka, there were four games in the series, which concluded in 2006 for North America withShadow Hearts: From the New World.
What set theseRPGs apart was their strange interpretations of world history. Unfortunately, they remain lost to the world due to a lack of ports, but fans at least have kept the series online through other means.
Xenosaga Episode 1: Der Wille Zur Machtis the first game in Monolith Soft’s epic saga, which began in 2003 in North America. There were plans to make this series into six episodes, but that was pared down to three main games to createa PS2 trilogy.
Xenosaga Episode 3: Also Sprach Zarathustrawas the final installment in the series, released in 2006. All three main games, the DS demake, and the mobile spinoff remain trapped on their original hardware. Monolith Soft still lives on through theirXenoblade Chroniclesseries, at least.
Zone of the Enderswas released in 2001, aHideo Kojima-produced projectfocusing on fast-moving mechs called Orbital Frames. What helped sell the game initially was a demo forMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Libertythat came packaged with the initial release.
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runnerwas the 2003 direct sequel, and a tactical RPG was released for the GBA in between, calledZone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars. There was an attempt to make a third game, but it was canceled, and yet the series still lives on thanks to some solid HD versions, with one even supporting VR.
