Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne (PS2)

Shin Megami Tensei III is not a feel-good game by any means; the whole thing plays out a bit like how you’d expect the optional ‘bad ending’ of a typical JRPG to go. Your character – an everyman sort of guy who’s referred to as “The Demi-fiend” – has the privilege of watching the apocalypse happen in a terrifying cosmic event called The Conception and is subsequently transformed into a demon-human hybrid when Satan himself forces him to eat a worm. That’s just the first hour. However, this is one of the most fascinating RPGs on the PS2 and is well worth a look – even if it's perhaps easier to simply opt for the recently-released remaster on modern systems.

Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter (PS2)

Capcom's Breath of Fire series began life on the SNES before shifting to the PlayStation for Breath of Fire III and Breath of Fire IV. Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter was the first in the series to adopt a full-3D visual style and earned praise for being brave enough to go in new directions when compared to its predecessors. The game's battle system is massively expanded from previous games, and it boasts a sumptuous soundtrack that is perhaps the best in the series. If you want a prime example of how developers can defy expectations and present fans with something refreshingly new, this is a good place to start.

Rogue Galaxy (PS2)

Sony had big plans for Rogue Galaxy at the time of release. With Level-5 behind the wheel, the game was pitched as a rival to the established Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest franchises; it offered a universe to explore, real-time battles, system-best visuals and a vast game world which, amazingly, didn't have load times between exploration and combat. A technical masterpiece, Rogue Galaxy sadly didn't find the audience it deserved and is now considered one of the PS2's hidden gems. It's well worth a look if you're a fan of Level-5's Dragon Quest VIII.

Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria (PS2)

Set hundreds of years before the events of the first Valkyrie Profile outing on PlayStation, Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria's unique hook is that its two lead characters – Silmeria and Alicia – occupy the same physical body. They need to cooperate with each other to prevent a war from erupting between humanity and the Gods which rule them. While its UI is slightly irksome to navigate at times, Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria offers some truly mesmerising visuals and an engaging battle system.

Grandia III (PS2)

With Grandia and Grandia II both appearing on Sega consoles first, Grandia III marked a change for the series by being exclusive to PlayStation 2. Handled by some of the key creative forces behind the previous two games – including composer Noriyuki Iwadare – Grandia III's semi-real-time battle mechanics really add to proceedings, while the developers make the most of Sony's powerful hardware by offering up some breathtaking presentation. Sadly, it bypassed Europe entirely, and we haven't seen a new entry in the franchise since it was released.

Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 (PS2)

Another Shin Megami Tensei spin-off, Digital Devil Saga 2 and its direct predecessor are rightly hailed as two of the most underrated RPGs on PS2. As is the case with other entries in the franchise, the game deals with all kinds of monsters and demons, focusing on the struggle of the Embryon tribe as it battles the sinister Karma Society. You'll need to play the first game to make sense of it all, but this sequel is a much more polished affair than its forerunner, boasting a raft of improvements.

Growlanser Generations (PS2)

Not to be confused with Growlanser V: Generations (known in the West as Growlanser: Heritage of War), Growlanser Generations pulls together the excellent Growlanser II and Growlanser III in one collection. Developed by Career Soft, the team behind the superb Langrisser series of tactical RPGs, Growlancer benefits massively from lush character designs by Satoshi Urushihara, an artist most famous for his often lewd depictions of women. Like Langrisser, Growlanser is a Fire Emblem-style experience with players guiding their troops around a fantasy battlefield. This pack is notable for being the final localisation made by the legendary Working Designs before the company tragically folded in December 2005.

Shadow Hearts: Covenant (PS2)

Set shortly after the events of the first game, Shadow Hearts: Covenant is unique in that it takes place in a post-WW1 1915, rather than your typical fantasy setting. Despite the welcome change of scenery, Shadow Hearts: Covenant still plays like your traditional RPG, showcasing turn-based combat, a massive selection of enemies and an eclectic cast of supporting characters. Benefitting from a superb Western localisation led by Jeremy Blaustein (of Metal Gear Solid fame), Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a surprisingly dark example of the genre which is well worth a look – although playing the original game is something of a must if you want to make sense of the story.

Star Ocean: Till the End of Time (PS2)

Some awkward dialogue sections and rudimentary dungeon design aside, the fundamentals of this classic JRPG keep it more than relevant, with a progressive battle system, a series-best soundtrack, and a thought-provoking narrative. Star Ocean is a series which has often laboured in the shadow of more famous franchises, so if you want to see what the fuss is about, this is as good a place as any to begin.

Dark Cloud 2 (PS2)

Like the original Dark Cloud, this sequel mixes action RPG gameplay with a city-building mechanic which sees you rebuilding settlements outside of combat. Unlike its rather uneven predecessor, Dark Cloud 2 (known as Dark Chronicle in Japan and Europe) refines its approach brilliantly; everything from the weapon system to the world-building mechanics and NPC interactions is fine-tuned, making this one of the most riveting RPGs of its era. Level-5 does it again.

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (PS2)

Set in the campaign setting of Dungeons & Dragons' Forgotten Realms, Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance benefits massively from the power of the Snowblind game engine, presenting a rich and detailed 3D world to explore. Also notable is the difference between the three playable characters, each of which has their own unique combat style and personality. The game also controls brilliantly and is packed with content – including a dazzling range of foes to tackle. The Baldur's Gate series has endured, despite the 2012 closure of developer Snowblind Studios; 2023's Baldur's Gate III has gained widespread critical acclaim.