Whether it's a title you played at the arcade or an RPG you explored on a handheld, everyone remembers their first video game console. If you grew up in the 2000s, the PS2 dominated the industry, and some of the console's most successful games ever debuted on that system. Today, the most valuable PS2 games are titles you'll probably remember skipping sleep to play, though right now they cost far more than the measly $30-$60 you paid for 'em back in the day.
Most Valuable PS2 Games Ever Sold
Of all the things to get territorial about in the 2000s, video game consoles topped the list. Everyone had their favorite console that they'd absolutely run back into a burning building to save, and for so many, the PlayStation 2 reigned supreme. And if the most valuable PS2 video games are anything to go by, you might want to check your TV cabinet for one of these classic titles.
| Most Valuable PS2 Games | Record Sales Prices |
| Call of Duty: Finest Hour | $22,800 |
| Grand Theft Auto III | $22,800 |
| God of War | $16,800 |
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | $10,200 |
| Futurama | $10,200 |
| Final Fantasy X | $9.600 |
Call of Duty: Finest Hour
First-person shooters have been a hit for decades, but Call of Duty was the series that perfected them. Just take a glance back in time to when Call of Duty: Black Ops was released and millions of teenagers around the world skipped class to speed run the storyline, fueled by energy drinks and exhaustion.
But, the most valuable PS2 game sold at auction so far is the first console-made game in the lineup — Call of Duty: Finest Hour. It's this game, with its multi-player capabilities and multiple storylines, that launched the series into stardom. If you remember playing the game in-between class or chores, then you'll be shocked by how much money a sealed copy sold for: $22,800.
Grand Theft Auto III
If you played console video games in the 2000s, then there wasn't anything edgier on the market than Grand Theft Auto. Looking back, there's a lot in GTA that doesn't hold up in our current climate, but that nostalgia factor is strong enough to make it tie for being the most valuable PS2 game sold at auction.
In early 2023, a sealed copy of GTA III sold for a whopping $22,800. Why GTA III and not the first or second? Because it was the first to take you into a fully 3D world that you could explore… or destroy.
God of War
Coming in at third on the list is God of War, a mid-2000s game where you got to live out your Spartan fantasies. Interestingly, it's not the best-remembered game from the decade, nor does it have the cult following of, say, something like Kingdom Hearts, but there's enough nostalgia for it that one collector was willing to spend $16,800 for a highly graded sealed copy.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto was such a titan of the 2000s video game industry that, of course, more than one of the games would make our list. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas completely blew open the GTA world, introducing new customization options and activities. It was another breakthrough in the role-playing mechanics of Rockstar Games (creator of the beloved Red Dead Redemption online world), and it's still some people's favorite game in the series.
The most expensive PS2 copy of GTA San Andreas is unsealed, and it sold for $10,200 in an online auction.
Futurama
Futurama was one of Fox's premiere cartoons in the 2000s, competing against stalwarts like The Simpsons and South Park for attention. Yet, this futuristic dramedy holds up for so many fans today that it's getting a reboot in the near future.
A tie-in video game was released in 2003, and high-quality copies are relatively hard to find. In particular, this nearly perfect sealed copy is one of two ever sold by Heritage Auctions. It's so special, in fact, that it sold for $10,200.
Final Fantasy X
For video games, there's no expiration date on being a fan. There's always the possibility of a re-release, extension, or new addition in your beloved series. And Final Fantasy fans are some of the most dedicated. Every person has their favorite game in the series, but Final Fantasy X — the one that launched everything — holds a special place in their hearts.
Final Fantasy X might not be the best game in the series, but it has a lot of buying power at auction. One sealed copy sold for $9,600 in 2023.
What Makes Old Video Games Worth So Much?
Now, don't get too excited. Your childhood discs that're so scratched up that no glass cleaner could save them aren't going to make you a thousand dollars at auction. But, there are a few characteristics that always up a game's price when it goes to sale.
- The game is sealed. Sealed video games are treasured because they're very hard to come by. Most people who buy a video game at least give it a play through once or twice.
- The game is a prototype. Not many prototype games come to auction because so few copies were made, but the ones that do tend to perform well.
- The game has a high grade. WATA is the leading video game grading service that tells you how rare and high-quality any video game copy is, and games with higher grades are worth more money.
Nobody's Ready to Forget the PS2
Sony's PS2 was a seminal console system for years in the gaming world. And while graphics, gameplay, and functionality have become unbelievably advanced, we can't stop looking back at one of the systems that made gaming cool. At the time, we'd never have thought our PS2 games could've been worth tens of thousands of dollars one day — but the future really is a magical place, isn't it?
