Category:Games released in 2002

2002 was notable for the continued rise of online gaming in consoles, with the PlayStation 2 going online in August, the GameCube going online in September (sort of), and Xbox Live launching in November. Microsoft purchased Rare, severing its ties with Nintendo (save for some handheld titles), and making all of its franchises exclusive to Xbox. Also, Mac OS X skyrockets in popularity, deserting the antiquated Mac OS Classic. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is released and becomes a smash hit, selling millions and cementing the popularity of the Grand Theft Auto series.

Other notable games included Resident Evil, the GameCube-exclusive remake of the original, Kingdom Hearts, showing that the union of Disney and Final Fantasy was actually pretty awesome, the jam-packed TimeSplitters 2, and the underrated but still enjoyable Super Mario Sunshine.

The Nintendo 64 bowed out with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 in North America. The Dreamcast also bowed out with NHL 2K2 in North America and Cannon Spike in Europe, though it would enjoy officially licensed games in Japan for a few more years and a passionate homebrew community that continues to flourish to this day.