Game consoles don't last forever—it's sad, but it's true. Especially a game console that's as old as the PlayStation 2.
Even if your trusty old PlayStation 2 still works, the experience of playing the PS2 on a modern TV may leave you wanting. Weird resolution glitches and input lag problems can be frustrating.
But the more likely scenario? Your PlayStation 2 just doesn't work anymore. And who could blame it? As of this writing, the PlayStation 2 is over two decades old! If it still works, that's pretty much a miracle—and it's OK if it doesn't.
Fortunately, there are other ways to play your old PS2 games. Here's how you can play your PS2 games even without a working PlayStation 2 game console.
Play PS2 Games on PS3
The PlayStation 3 is Sony's last backwards-compatible gaming console, at least in the traditional sense.
That said, just because you have a PlayStation 3 doesn't mean you can necessarily play PS2 games on it. That's because different PS3 models have different levels of backwards compatibility.
You might be aware that backwards compatibility for PS2 games was dropped when Sony moved from the original "fat" PlayStation 3 to the PlayStation 3 Slim. But backwards compatibility was ALSO dropped from certain "fat" models as well.
How can you tell if your PS3 can play PS2 games? One way is to pop a PS2 game into the disc slot and hope for the best. Another way is to count the USB ports on your PS3.
If your PS3 only has two USB ports, we regret to inform you that it is NOT backwards compatible with PS2 games.
If your PS3 has four USB ports, it IS backwards compatible—but the degree to which it's backwards compatible depends on the specific model of your PS3.
The models with most backwards compatibility are:
- PS3 with 60GB storage + serial number starting with A
- PS3 with 20GB storage + serial number starting with B
If your PS3 has four USB ports and a serial number starting with C, D, or E, then you MAY be able to play some PS2 games. All you can do is insert a PS2 disc and see if it plays.
Play PS2 Games on PS4
If you don't have a functioning PS2 or a backwards-compatible PS3, then you only have one other legal option:
Play on a PlayStation 4.
And if you want to play PS2 games on a PS4, you're going to have to buy them again. Currently, Sony has made around 50 PS2 games available for purchase on the PS4 via PlayStation Store.
Some of these PS2 games are also available via PlayStation Now, meaning subscribers can play them without buying them outright.
If you have a shelf full of old PS2 game discs, this option might not seem so good. Who wants to re-buy old games they already own? But it's your only option if you want to stay within the law.
Play PS2 Games via Emulator
If you don't care about the law? There are several PlayStation 2 emulators available out there, and a few of them work quite well.
The most popular PS2 emulator is PCSX2.
Yes, there are plenty of legal issues around game emulation—if you already own the games, it's less of an "illegal" matter and more of a "morally gray" matter.
While the emulator itself is legal, ripping copies of your PS2 game discs and the PS2 BIOS technically aren't legal. Nobody has ever had SWAT kick down their door for doing this, but we must warn you that this method isn't explicitly permitted.
Console emulators are tricky to set up and you'll need a relatively powerful computer for it to work smoothly.
But there are many benefits to going the emulation route.
PCSX2 can upscale your games to video resolutions the PS2 couldn't handle, making them look better than ever. PCSX2 also supports save states, unlimited "memory cards," and lets you speed up or slow down games at will.
To be as close to legal as possible, you'll need to rip your own PS2 BIOS (PCSX2 provides tools to help you do this) and you'll need to play your own PS2 game discs rather than downloading ripped ISOs off of the internet.
Can the PS5 Play PS2 Games?
In the lead-up to the launch of the PlayStation 5, there was rampant speculation about backwards compatibility, including its ability to play games from every previous PlayStation console.
Unfortunately, the rumors weren't true.
Right now, your options for playing PS2 games on the PS5 is pretty much the same as playing them on the PS4. It's always possible this may change in the future, but we wouldn't count on it.
