The Rarest PS2 Games (& How Much They’re Worth)

The PlayStation 2 remains the highest-selling video game console of all time, more than two decades after it was released in 2000. Plenty of elements contributed to the system’s success, but the PS2’s strongest selling point will always be its library. Frankly, the console might have the best selection of games ever, some of which are bona fide classics that are relatively accessible nowadays. However, certain PS2 games are so expensive that they might make you balk at their price tags.

The most valuable PlayStation 2 games of all time tend to be those that fell into obscurity or didn’t release in multiple markets. However, there are a few expensive PS2 games based on well-recognized IPs that, for whatever reason, have become rare collector’s pieces over time.

March 2026 Update

• Added Quick Summary
• Added “How To Spot A Fake” section
• Added Chulip
• Updated Prices

Quick Summary: Rarest PS2 Games & What They’re Worth Today

Before we get to the rankings, let’s quickly list a few of the rarest PS2 games and why they are so hard to come by.

How To Spot A Fake!

As something rises in value, so does the number of high-quality reproductions that try to pass for it. While not as common as, say, GBA cartridges, PS2 fakes have infiltrated the market, and customers should be careful before dropping significant cash on that copy of Rule of Rose you found in a retro gaming store.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind when trying to confirm a PS2 game’s authenticity. This checklist isn’t 100% foolproof, and the methods for creating a fake are constantly advancing, but these points should help minimize the risk.

• PlayStation Logo on Disc – This is probably the best way to confirm if a disc is authentic. Real PS2 games have a PlayStation logo imprinted on the back of the disc and near the hole (in the small ring around it). There will also be a mastering code that consists of a few letters (for instance, PDSS) followed by a series number. If a PS2 disc doesn’t have this information, it is fake.
• Disc Color – PS2 games can have three types of colored discs (on the data side): gold, silver, and blue. If a disc looks purple or maybe even green, it is almost certainly not real. Important: PS2 games do not have a black bottom.
• Quality of Packaging – Due to the age of PS2 games, the packaging is likely to be in relatively rough shape, and a broken case doesn’t say anything about the content’s authenticity. However, if you manage to find a factory-sealed PS2 game, double-check the quality of the ESRB logo, as that can be difficult to replicate. To be honest, you should be wary of sealed copies in general.

23

Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3 [Limited Edition]

Complete In Box Price: $235.80

Starting things off with a really cool limited edition, this version of DBZ Budokai 3 comes in a unique box and features a Broly chibi toy and a Dragon Ball toy.

Like most of the entries on this list, this package’s value has very little to do with the actual game, as Budokai 3 is relatively easy and cheap to obtain. It is all about that box and toys within, and this limited edition tends to show up in listings fairly frequently. You would need to keep an eye out for a CIB listing, as new versions are almost unheard of.

Complete In Box Price: $248.75

Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence is just an all-around great deal, as we are talking about the definitive version of arguably the best PS2 game. If you just want a standard copy of the game, Subsistence will not set you back too badly, provided you don’t try to find a new version. However, the limited edition is a different beast entirely, as it is far harder to find than the base iteration. Along with coming in a box, this version has an additional disc containing a 3.5-hour movie using the cinematics. That’s a nice addition to have, but the real selling point is the cool-as-all-hell box.

Even with the release of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, I would still recommend playing the original version if you can get your hands on it. Some of Subsistence‘s value has diminished due to Metal Gear Online no longer being available, but the game also comes with a few changes and new features.

21

Goosebumps HorrorLand (With Goosebumps Calling All Creeps Book)

Complete In Box Price: $249.18

A fairly forgotten game, Goosebumps HorrorLand lets fans of the books travel to the eponymous theme park, where they can engage in mini-games, meet identifiable characters from the books, and collect Monster Cards. Although unlikely to keep the interest of people who are not into the books, HorrorLand is a fun love letter to this part of the franchise, so it might be worth tracking down if you love Goosebumps.

That said, you might want to just try finding a standard copy of the game, which is cheap across all platforms. In comparison, this special edition costs an arm and a leg, solely due to its rarity rather than the quality of the content. Along with the game, this version came with a sleeve and Calling All Creeps!, a Goosebumps novel that came out in 1996 and is not all that difficult to find.

Goosebumps HorrorLand

Systems

Released

October 28, 2008

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Animated Blood, Crude Humor, Mild Fantasy Violence

Developer(s)

Elastic

20

Chulip

Complete In Box Price: $255.62

Want to know a trick for predicting whether a game is rare? Look at its name, and if your first thought is “what the heck is that?” then that might be a sign.

To be fair, Chulip isn’t that small of a game and might be familiar to some people, but it led a strange life that doomed it to relative obscurity. Punchline’s adventure sim debuted in 2002 in Japan, which would have been the perfect time for a Western release. Unfortunately, the North American version didn’t launch until February 2007, a whole 3 months after the PS3’s debut. At that point, it was basically sent out to die.

In 2012, Chulip was released as a PS2 classic, making it playable on the PS3 for anybody who can access the store via their console. It isn’t available for the PS4 and PS5.

Chulip

Released

October 3, 2002

ESRB

T For Teen // Crude Humor, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco

Developer(s)

Punchline

19

Star Wars Bounty Hunter [Limited Edition Action Pack]

Complete In Box Price: $299.99

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter is not the most expensive in isolation, and you can pick up a complete-in-box copy for roughly $50. However, this limited action pack was not your typical release, as the package came with a special box, the game, and an action figure of Jango Fett. Here is an eBay listing showing the box and figure (but no game).

Like so many of these special edition versions from this era, very few of them were actually released, most of which have been lost to time or reduced to just spare parts. Finding a complete box that is in good shape is extremely difficult, and even just finding a loose one is challenging. Honestly, if you are a collector, your best option is probably to wait for a listing that has the box and figure, and then just buy the game individually to complete the set.

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter is a decent game if you are into the franchise, and it is readily available on modern platforms like the PS5 and PC. If you are just looking to play it, there is no point in dropping the cash on one of the original versions.

18

Robot Alchemic Drive

Complete In Box Price: $283.58

A somewhat forgotten PS2 game, and one of Enix’s last solo publications before its merger with Square, Robot Alchemic Drive allows players to live their mecha dreams as they become pilots charged with protecting Earth from an alien invasion. While offering a 2v2 mode, the game has a pretty lengthy campaign that features multiple playable characters and mecha; however, the twist is that the pilots control their robot from the ground via a remote, a perspective that helps sell the fights as larger-than-life. While not game-changing or anything, Robot Alchemic Drive is a great love letter to old-school big robot anime, manga, and movies.

The Japanese version, Gigantic Drive, tends to go for about 1/5th the price of the Western release, the latter of which is quite rare nowadays. If you manage to find Robot Alchemic Drive for cheap somewhere, I recommend picking it up, even if you aren’t that into giant robots.

Robot Alchemic Drive

Systems

Released

November 5, 2002

ESRB

T For Teen // Blood, Violence

Developer(s)

Sandlot

17

Silent Hill 3

Complete In Box Price: $303.78

Except for some Greek-themed adventures, Silent Hill 3 is the most mainstream PS2 game featured in this article, as Konami’s release is rightfully hailed as one of the greatest horror games on the console. The genre, in general, has a habit of producing expensive PS2 games, but most of them are lesser-known cult classics and not huge entries in established franchises. Although perhaps not reaching the same heights as its acclaimed predecessor, Silent Hill 3 is nevertheless a masterclass in suspense, atmosphere, and tension. Heather Mason is also one of the most famous female leads in all gaming, not just horror.

So, why is this game so expensive nowadays? Well, copies are just not easy to come across nowadays, and even the PC version is considered abandonware. Silent Hill 3 was part of the disappointing Silent Hill HD Collection, but the only way to play the original version is to pick up a copy of the PS2 game.

16

Futurama

Complete In Box Price: $335.56

Of all the most expensive PS2 games, and of all the pop culture IPs represented on the PlayStation 2, none is arguably more recognizable than Futurama, Matt Groening’s adult-oriented classic cartoon. The game adaptation, simply called Futurama as well, was released on the PS2 in 2003 to mixed (but mostly negative) reviews.

The game wasn’t particularly awful or anything; it just wasn’t anything special, and a lot of the comedy value was lost in the series being adapted to fit this new medium. As a result, none other than Futurama is the ninth most expensive PS2 game currently available.

15

.hack/QUARANTINE

Complete In Box Price: $355.40

The .hack series covers games and anime, although the former are arguably more fondly remembered than the latter. The franchise is quite complicated, but the main series lasted for four entries, all of which came out on the PS2. .hack/QUARANTINE was the final entry of this run.

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In Japan, this game had the subtitle “Absolute Encirclement,” where it was also a more popular series. However, a North American version of this niche series’ conclusion is much harder to come by, which is why .hack/QUARANTINE is one of the rarest and most expensive PS2 games.

14

Scarface: The World Is Yours – Press Kit

Complete In Box Price: $355.72

A GTA clone that copied the formula surprisingly well, Scarface: The World Is Yours is one of the better open-world PS2 games, and it is certainly worth a playthrough if you are fond of Vice City and San Andreas.

If you just want to buy a copy for the PS2, the game will only set you back around $50, which is not that bad (and it is available on multiple platforms). However, the Press Kit version is way more expensive, as it comes in a really cool cigar box.