Mister mosquito

Shadow of the colossus

Robot Alchemic Drive

Dark cloud

Dragon quest 8

Super monkey ball

Twisted metal black

Soul Calibur 2

Not played by many because it's one of the last releases on PS2, but if you like horror games then check out Rule of Rose. Up there for some of the best graphics on the console too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_Rose

Others are suggesting Resident Evil Outbreak File 1 and 2. It's much better played online with other people than AI. There's fan server support: https://obsrv.org/ (you have to make an account to see the forum, sorry) and they have guides to set it up on PCSX2. I'd recommend learning how to install it to the virtual hard drive because the loading times are pretty awful otherwise and server hosts generally only make hard drive install only servers.

Their Discord community is a good way to find a group to play with, unless you have a few willing friends :)

R-Type Final -- more than 100 fighters to unlock across a branching campaign, including at least one secret stage.

I was a little disappointed with R-Type Final 2, but I might need to just play more.

The original Yakuza games! Yakuza and Yakuza 2. There is a patch out now to for the original Japanese dub for the first game

I love Magic Pengel and Graffiti Kingdom. First is a turn-based JRPG, second is an action platformer. Both share the same gimmick where you collect materials to make the characters you play with the clunky in-game 3D modeler.

Twisted Metal Black Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne (there are pc/steam remasters which are good, but this was my first Atlus game when it came out and it was fantastic to me). any/all of the Sly Cooper games Burnout 3 Robot Alchemic Drive Armored Core (any of the ps2 releases were good I think) Ace Combat Pro Evolution Soccer 5, 6 or 2014 Onimusha Tenchu I didn't play it originally but I've heard good things about Auto Modellista

Ratchet and Clank is the best, and the story is best experienced in order but the first game is a bit clunky so starting on the second game isn’t the worst idea. I personally started with Up Your Arsenal! then got hooked on the series and backfilled.

Metal gear solid 2: snake eater

Steambot Chronicles is my favorite game of all time. It's not well known, but absolutely incredible.

Final Fantasy isn't continuous. Aside from races, the occasional character name, and some thematic elements, the games are not connected at all. PS2 has two of the best: 10 and 12.

Of the two, 10 is a more traditional turn-based experience with notoriously awful-in-a-good-way voice acting and a very typical FF plot. It's not really a spoiler to say that you end up killing god. It features some of the most egregiously awful mini games to grace the franchise. And if you want some of the best gear in the game, you will be committing a not -insignificant amount of time to frustrating button mashing.

Square tried a whole bunch of new stuff with 12 including realtime, MMO-like combat and a much smaller and focused narrative that is mostly a side story occurring inside a larger narrative. The voice acting is infinitely better than 10's, and there are no obnoxious mini games.

They're both still worth playing. The PC ports don't add all that much to the games over what you can do with them emulated. In fact, I bet save states make some of the mini game awfulness of 10 better.

I did not intend to write an essay...

Some small niche games that I grew up with, that I am playing again with my Steam Deck:

God Hand - A third person beat em up that is funny, and really good. Full of flavor. Complete flop.

Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy - A third person shooter with psionic powers used as its main selling point. Good dumb fun on the PS2.

Spyhunter & Spyhunter 2 - A shockingly good reboot of Spyhunter by Midway games, where you have a car that transforms its mode depending on the mission. Part racing game, part spy game.

I-Ninja - A 3d action platformer that has Billy West as the lead, a ninja who accidentally killed his Master and now has to get him back and collect bullshit trinkets. Clearly more "just dumb fun" than anything serious.

~~007: Nightfire - The best James Bond game ever made. Better than Goldeneye. Plays like its an original movie, with solid gameplay, and I spent as many hours on the local multiplayer as I did with Halo.~~ I didn't see that, but I wanted to share that I love that game.

Evil Dead A Fistful of Bootstick - Still need to play more to see if it holds up, but its an original story featuring Bruce Campbell voice acting.

The Shadow Hearts series! I so badly wish it was remade so I could play it again.

Also, Magna Carta.

I'll recommend Kinetica. It's a one-of-a-kind racing game where you race through gravity-defying tracks as a person in a kind of iron-man negligee with wheels while listening to old-school techno.

Shadow of the Colossus is one of my favorite games ever, battling entities big enough that you run around on top of them, subtle storytelling, an enormous map for the time it was made, and fairly large even by modern standards.

The Tenchu games are also good: ninja stealth assassination.

Dark Cloud 2 is a kind of fun game. Smack your way through dungeons with a wrench and use the bits to build villages for your allies.

Bloody Roar is a favorite for fighting games. Fight to BIOS energy then transform into a wilder form, like a mole, a bear, etc. and you can kick people through the edges of the arenas into new areas to fight.

Devil May Cry is a classic.

Ratchet and Clank, classic.

Time Splitters is reminiscent of even older games.

Red Faction 2 wasn't a bad little shooter.

SSX Tricky, and any of the NBA or NFL Street games, they’re all gas, no brakes. If you can get someone else to play two player (don’t know how well that works on steam deck emulation), check out Cookies & Cream. It’s one of the more clever two player co-op puzzle games, and it’s one of the first games my wife and I played together when we were first dating.

Robot Alchemic Drive

I will ALWAYS suggest amplitude (sequel to frequency on PS1). Best rhythm music game ever.

I'm bias, but Sly Raccoon is such a great series. I thoroughly enjoyed it growing up. I see you have Sly2 in your image. I would suggest starting with the first game and move up from there.

The original Yakuza 1 and 2, though I'd recommend the Restored mods for each because the localizations (especially Y1's dub) were notoriously awful. Hilarious at first, but that wears off fast.

When I first played the series I played the remakes first, and after going back and playing the originals I understood why so many series vets weren't happy with the remakes. Y2 especially has some of the best feeling combat in the franchise.

Persona 4 and Clock Tower 3

Do PS2s even work anymore?

Dark Cloud 2 is a super unique dungeon crawler RPG. I absolutely love that game.

The EA Sports BIG titles are stupid fun. Highly recommend SSX Tricky, NBA Street Vol. 2, and NFL Street 2.

MX vs ATV Unleased is a classic. Great racing game.

ATV Offroad Fury 2 is fantastic, but hard to emulate.

I'm sure I'll think of more, but those are great off the top of my head.

I fing love this post. You're making me feel old but I'm glad younger peeps appreciate these games too. Igrew up on the PS2 and you've already got some amazing games there including some I missed and might have to try myself.

Anyway, here's my favourites. You have to try try the Ratchet and Clank games, at least the first one! They're still super unique and iconic today. I feel the most nostalgic about the 1st but the 3rd (going commando) probably has the best gameplay. The second is a longer, harder grind but still great. And the 4th (gladiator) is similar to the 3rd, but less story.

Other than that, Red Dead Revolver, Jak and Daxter, Medal of Honor Rising Sun and Battlefield 2 were all amazing. And Sly 3 if you liked Sly 2.

Burnout 3 is one of the best arcade racing games for this generation.

I see you have Kingdom Hearts II in there. There's also the original Kingdom Hearts as well.

The Simpsons: Hit & Run is like GTA but more "family-friendly".

There's also other Ratchet & Clank games on the PS2, including the original, Going Commando, and Deadlocked.

If you like racing games, Need for Speed: Underground 2 is one of the best games in the NFS series. IMO it's better than Underground 1.

Also, appreciate the guide for higher res textures.