If you own any of these rare PlayStation 2 games, then you could be sitting on a mini goldmine.
On the flipside, like me, you owned some of these PlayStation 2 games and, for whatever reason, you sold them or traded them for a new game at the time, and now you’re looking on with absolute regret. If so, I feel your pain.
In truth, especially during the PS1 and PS2 era, it wasn’t always obvious what games would dramatically increase in value, unlike some collector’s editions or limited runs of today, where the announced quantity or pre-order end date would be part of the promotion.
Back then, we’d probably just buy the PlayStation 2 game with no other thought than rushing home, reading the manual from inside the case on the way. Then quickly scampering up the stairs, boot up the PS2 and hearing that blissful boot-up chime, insert the disc, and away we go. Good times indeed.
Some caveats about this list: rather than going for the more “obscure” games, we’ll focus on the ones that you may (hopefully) have in your collection today, and it’s for NTSC versions. Also, keep in mind that price estimates change all the time.
That being said, let’s take a look at some of the rarest PlayStation 2 games that might still be in your collection, and how much they might be worth.
Here are the rarest PlayStation 2 games that could be in your collection:
Kuon(2004) – $1,000 to $2,000+
The first, but absolutely not the last, survival horror entry on this list, Kuon, is developed by FromSoftware and is arguably the most obscure game from the famed developer. Kuonis soaked in a tense atmosphere and Japanese folklore.
Kuonmay have clunky controls, but it soon garnered a cult following over the years. While we’re used to the likes of Dark Souls, Elden Ring and Bloodbornefrom the developer, it would be great if FromSoftware returned to the survival horror genre one day.
Rule of Rose (2006) – $300 to $900+
This is one of the most sought-after PS2 exclusives of all time, the eerie psychological survival horror developed by Punchline. In it, you play as a young orphan, Jennifer, who lives at a creepy orphanage, ruled by creepy children collectively known as “Aristocracy of the Red Crayon”. Think Children of the Corn and Silent Hill, that pretty much sums up Rule of Rose in many ways. It’s also a fun game to boot.
Blood Will Tell (2004) – $200 to $1,000+
Developed by SEGA, this is one of the rarest of games from the creators of Sonic the Hedgehog. Blood Will Tell is a hack-and-slash action game inspired by the manga, Dororo. You play as Hyakkimaru, who was dismembered, and his body parts were sacrificed to demons before he was even born. Sounds like a regular day in the manga office. High-octane combat and epic boss battles, Blood Will Tell was a great alternative to Capcom’s Devil May Cry.
Michigan: Report from Hell (2004) – $300 to $750+
This is one of the most niche games on this list, from developer Grasshopper Manufacture, though it is yet another survival horror. It has an interesting premise of you playing a cameraman who’s part of a TV news crew sent to investigate and report on a nearby plane crash. Similar to Fatal Frame, your camera is key to survival. There aren’t many games like Michigan: Report from Hell, but not only does it have elements of Fatal Frame, but also John Carpenter’s classic horror movie, The Fog.
Haunting Ground (2005) – $350 to $650+
This is one of the most popular games on this list, and despite being so, it’s also a very rare item. Capcom’s Hunting Ground, and yes, you’ve guessed it, it’s another survival horror game, while not the first, it was doing the “hide and seek” formula before it became mainstream.
You play as Fionia Belli, a woman who wakes up in an eerie castle after being in a car crash, and is soon relentlessly stalked by disturbing creatures. It’s fair to say that Hunting Grounds went on to inspire the likes of the Amnesia series and Alien: Isolation. You also had a loyal white German Shepherd companion, which, as the player, would instinctively protect with your life. Oh, and Capcom, can we have a remake, please? Because more people deserve to experience this cult classic without having to emulate it.
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (2009) – $380 to $650+
The brilliant Silent Hill 2 remake of 2024 wasn’t the first game to be remade in Konami’s iconic survival horror series, and the upcoming remake of the original game isn’t the first time that’s been remade either. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is a remake/reimagining of the OG game that launched on the PS1 in 1999.
Due to its release towards the end of the PlayStation 2’s life cycle, many never got to play this quirky Silent Hill offering. While it still starred Harry Mason looking for his missing daughter, Cheryl, it completely removed all combat in the game, with players having to rely on their best running away and puzzle-solving skills.
Sure, this is probably the least scary game in the series, but it had an interesting mechanic where Harry would be analysed by a psychologist in sections of the game and depending on the choices you made, it would shape your version of Silent Hill, which stayed true to how each version of the town is a manifestation of the protagonist’s mind.
ObsCure(2004) – $380 to $600+
What a perfect name for a game on this list, ObsCure. This survival horror game (yes, I know) was like a blend of Resident Evil Outbreak with its multiplayer co-op and teen horror movies popular in the 90s to early 2000s, like Screamand The Faculty. This is probably the most underrated game on this list, at least for its time, but in recent years, ObsCurehas been getting some well-deserved love from the community.
ObsCuretakes place in the abandoned Leafmore High School, where you play as a group of teenagers that must work together to survive a sinister and nightmarish outbreak, to not only survive, but hopefully escape with your mind and body intact. ObsCureis a fun game to play with friends or on your lonesome with a very handy character swap mechanic.
