Vita may mean life, but it’s clear that the PlayStation Vita is now dead and buried. That wasn’t for lack of trying, though. Even when pitted against the best 3DS games, the Vita’s impressive library was way ahead of its time. It took what made the PlayStation Portable so great and doubled down on it by making it more powerful, with a better screen and that all-important second analog stick.
There is a lot of crossover between the best PS3 games, best PS4 games, and Vita games since many were cross-platform titles. Still, the Vita had plenty of amazing exclusives to call its own. Even some multiplatform games felt more at home on the handheld. Despite an untimely death, the Vita had some of the best games of all time on it, so let’s celebrate the life of the Vita by looking at just some of those games.
Persona 4 Golden
95%
Platforms
PlayStation Vita
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Visual Novel
Developer
Atlus
Publisher
NIS America, Atlus USA, Atlus
Release
June 15, 2012
One of the best JRPGs of all time, Persona 4 originally launched on PlayStation 2, but it found new life on the Vita as Persona 4 Golden. The game includes more content than the original version, with a sprawling story that can take hundreds of hours to get through if players are being methodical. Its unique flair and style are pure Atlus, and its darker and mature plotline will feel more appropriate for players who think they’ve grown out of most JRPGs. Persona 4 Golden is also the perfect game to play before jumping into Persona 5, which is available on PS4 and has received similar acclaim.
Tearaway
83%
Platforms
PlayStation Vita
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Media Molecule
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
November 20, 2013
One of Media Molecule’s best and most creative games to date, Tearaway is a 3D platformer set in a papercraft world. As players progress through the environments, they’ll need to peel, cut, and rearrange paper objects to solve puzzles, and occasionally they’ll even make use of the rear touchpad to give themselves a boost onto a higher platform. White space in the game world is a sign of a collectible item, and once collected these can be printed out and turned into real-life papercraft. Tearaway isn’t action-packed and features little in the way of story, but it’s a whimsical and extremely unique game. The best part is that it utilizes all of the PS Vita’s features without feeling overly gimmicky.
Spelunky
87%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Mossmouth, BlitWorks
Publisher
Microsoft Studios, Mossmouth
Release
July 04, 2012
Available on practically every platform, Spelunky got immensely popular for a reason. The randomized exploration-based platforming makes every run feel different, with players looking for treasure and avoiding danger as they venture deeper into dark mines. It’s a simple concept that succeeds because of its brilliant spin on the roguelike genre, and players can choose from several different explorers for their run and play the game together in cooperative mode. For players looking for something they can enjoy as part of their daily routine without getting bored, Spelunky is absolutely perfect.
Hotline Miami
84%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Mac, Android, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre
Shooter, Indie, Arcade
Developer
Dennaton Games
Publisher
Devolver Digital
Release
October 23, 2012
An influential game for both the indie development scene and the industry at large, Hotline Miami helped prove that retro-inspired visuals and deep, meaningful storytelling were not mutually exclusive. Set in a neon-drenched 1980s with noir influences, the game’s intensely violent combat goes hand-in-hand with its mysterious narrative, which is a commentary on video game violence and the player’s role in it. Aside from its message, however, it’s a blast to play, with pinpoint accuracy as players make their way through buildings and blast and beat enemies they find. One shot is enough to die, making careful planning and reflexes are required. Even multiple mission failures aren’t enough to deter players from trying again because it just feels so perfect.
Rayman Legends
85%
Platforms
Wii U, PlayStation Vita
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Ubisoft Montpellier
Publisher
Nintendo
Release
August 29, 2013
The sequel to the excellent 2D platformer Rayman Origins, Ubisoft’s Rayman Legends is an even better take on the no-frills series. As the titular character, either solo or with friends, players make their way through each level collecting the game’s Lums, defeating enemies with powerful punches, and discovering secret areas. The floaty jumping and running feel remarkably different from Mario or Sonic, but where Rayman Legends really separates itself are its musical stages. They’re set to rudimentary covers of classic tunes like “Black Betty” and “Eye of the Tiger,” and passing obstacles to the beat puts a massive smile on anyone’s face.
Guacamelee!
79%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Mac, PlayStation Vita
Genre
Platform, Puzzle, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Drinkbox Studios
Publisher
Drinkbox Studios, Spike ChunSoft
Release
April 09, 2013
The best Metroidvania games put their emphasis on platforming and open-ended exploration rather than combat. Guacamelee! doesn’t compromise this way, with a rich and combo-based brawling system for its luchador protagonist. The game’s gorgeous colors feel like they were lifted from a Mexican folktale, and its mariachi-influenced soundtrack serves as the perfect companion. Special new attacks and abilities also keep things feeling fresh, and the progress players can make in a single sitting makes it ideal for the PlayStation Vita. A sequel was also released a few years later — it’s not available on Vita, but it is on the Switch for players who want a similar experience.
Resogun
84%
Platforms
PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4
Genre
Shooter, Arcade
Developer
Housemarque
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
November 15, 2013
It’s a shame developer Housemarque is no longer making arcade-style shooters because it certainly has a knack for them. Coming to the PlayStation Vita after initially launching on PlayStation 4, Resogun puts a spin on the standard horizontal shooter by moving in a carousel shape, forcing players to take out enemies in two directions as they save the little green humans scattered across the ground. It’s simple and addictive, like any arcade shooter worth playing for more than a few minutes, and it translates well to the Vita’s small screen despite a lower frame rate and resolution.
OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood
70%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Mac, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Platform, Sport, Indie
Developer
Roll7
Publisher
Roll7, Devolver Digital, Team17
Release
March 03, 2015
For those who loved and beat the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games, OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood is a great follow-up. As a 2D skateboarding game with an emphasis on traversing obstacles and pulling off difficult strings of moves, OlliOlli 2 is all about proper timing and practice. It’s entirely different from simulation-style skateboarding games, but its colorful and creative environments and surprising depth make it a great time-killer. Getting the highest possible ranking on a stage is much easier said than done.
Gravity Rush
80%
Platforms
PlayStation Vita
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer
SCE Japan Studio
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
February 09, 2012
Gravity’s Rush was a game built from the ground up for the Vita, which made its subsequent port and sequel on the PS4 peculiar. The action-adventure game stars Kat, a girl who is given gravity-switching powers that let her soar through the air and battle mysterious enemies by “falling” in a particular direction. This made exploring the gorgeous flying world a joy, and the game is filled with collectibles and secrets. It also has a bumping, jazzy soundtrack and anime-style visuals that give it a level of charm missing from more realistic-looking games.
Dragon's Crown
81%
Platforms
Wii, PlayStation 3, Dreamcast, PlayStation Vita
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
Developer
Vanillaware, Atlus
Publisher
Atlus, Nippon Ichi Software
Release
July 25, 2013
An underrated gem and one of Vanillaware’s best games, Dragon Crown takes the aesthetic and storytelling of a western role-playing game and mixes it with classic beat-’em-up action. The result is an endlessly replayable and very difficult game with multiple classes, each of which uses their own unique attacks, and several powerful bosses to defeat. Getting through the game the first time is just the start, as mastering each stage with the various heroes is the true test of skill. With satisfying combat and charming narration, it’s one of the best PlayStation Vita games and also has a PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 version.
Sine Mora
69%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Android, iOS, PlayStation Vita, Ouya
Genre
Shooter, Indie, Arcade
Developer
Digital Reality, Grasshopper Manufacture
Publisher
Digital Reality, Kalypso Media, Microsoft Studios
Release
March 21, 2012
A scrolling shooter unlike anything else on PlayStation Vita, Sine Mora is a post-apocalyptic and grim affair that sees a world overrun with pain, suffering, and decay. A seemingly never-ending war rages on, and players take the role of several different pilots against overwhelming odds. What makes the game so different from other contemporary shooters is its health system, which is tied to the total remaining game time rather than the ship itself. Time can be slowed, and when the player gets hit, it shaves seconds off the remaining total. Racing through areas and trying to get to the boss with enough time to spare makes every level exhilarating.
Uncharted: Golden Abyss
73%
Platforms
PlayStation Vita
Genre
Shooter, Platform, Adventure
Developer
SCE Bend Studio
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
December 17, 2011
What better game could there possibly be to launch a new PlayStation system than Uncharted? The prequel Uncharted: Golden Abyss doesn’t feel like a dumbed-down take on the series, with a full-length story and several huge set-pieces that would feel at home in the console versions. Nathan Drake is as chatty and charming as ever, and the game’s motion-assisted weapon aiming makes it incredibly easy to line up a headshot. Perhaps its only sin is relying too heavily on the Vita’s motion features for platforming sections, as moving the console from side to side to balance on a log gets older rather quickly.
Killzone: Mercenary
76%
Platforms
PlayStation Vita
Genre
Shooter
Developer
Guerrilla Cambridge
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
September 04, 2013
Resistance: Burning Skies failed to translate its series’ epic action to the Vita, but Killzone: Mercenary definitely did. Split into bite-sized missions perfect for on-the-go play, Mercenary puts players in control of a hired gun willing to work with both the Helghast and the ISA in their ongoing war. Its story is secondary to its action, which is better than any other handheld first-person shooter, and things get even better online. Killzone: Mercenary’s competitive mode features several game modes and even perk-style power-ups to take out several enemies, and it’s one of the only options for hardcore shooter fans.
Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward
88%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Point-and-click, Puzzle, Adventure, Visual Novel
Developer
Chunsoft
Publisher
Aksys Games, Rising Star Games, Spike ChunSoft, Chunsoft
Release
February 16, 2012
The PlayStation Vita is home to a surprising number of visual novels, and few are better than Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward. A successor to 999, the game’s blend of puzzle and mysterious intrigue is perfect for when players are ready to get under the covers in bed and game for hours. Choosing dialogue options and items to use as the kidnapping story becomes clearer, players can see just how dark and twisted it can get — there are even Battle Royale style on the main characters, ready to detonate if they fail.
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
79%
Platforms
PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Sanzaru Games
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
February 05, 2013
Sucker Punch left the Sly Cooper series after three games, but Sanzaru Games was there to take over with Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. It’s more Sly Cooper and doesn’t stray from the formula too drastically, but that’s not a problem when the template is such a classic. Mixing platforming with stealth, the games make players feel like master thieves, and in between missions there are plenty of jokes and goofy moments from the supporting cast. It’s a great fit for the Vita, and it’s a shame the franchise has been dormant since the game’s release.
LittleBigPlanet PS Vita
84%
Platforms
PlayStation Vita
Genre
Platform
Developer
Double Eleven
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
September 19, 2012
Media Molecule’s LittleBigPlanet series revolutionized how user-generated content would work for console games, and that player power is just as impressive on the Vita. Complete with its own puzzle-platforming campaign that is clever and charming, the real fun in LittleBigPlanet PS Vita comes when players started trying out each other’s creations. Rudimentary takes on other game series like Splinter Cell and Castlevania are available, complete with amateur voice acting, and seeing how far others’ imagination can take them is always a joy.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown Plus
Platforms
PlayStation Vita
Genre
Strategy
Publisher
2K Games
Release
March 01, 2016
It doesn’t run as well as it does on larger systems, but XCOM: Enemy Unknown is available on PlayStation Vita — and that’s pretty impressive. One of the best strategy games of the last decade, this is a reboot on the classic ’90s series, and its blend of tactics and overarching strategy is tense and satisfying. Choosing how to organize a small squad of troops to take on a much larger alien force is never easy, but figuring out a strategy and steamrolling the enemy makes it all worthwhile. This is especially true if players name their allies after personal friends, and it makes the permanent death mechanic sting more.
Soul Sacrifice
80%
Platforms
PlayStation Vita
Genre
Role-playing (RPG)
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
March 07, 2013
Soul Sacrifice is an exciting role-playing game that lets players trade physical aspects of their characters for strength and power. This concept might sound a little odd, but it offers brand-new possibilities for character study and forces players to think hard about their choices and sacrifices. Some players might find Soul Sacrifice too ethereal, but we believe it’s worth exploring, especially for those players who love action RPGs.
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
80%
Platforms
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Android, iOS, Wii U, PlayStation Vita
Genre
Racing, Sport
Developer
Sumo Digital
Publisher
Sega
Release
November 15, 2012
Sonic loves to run, but his kart-racing game is perhaps the best Sonic game out there. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is Sega’s answer to Mario Kart, but its gameplay emphasizes deep vehicle mechanics and skill over sheer luck. Casual players will still love the game, though, especially when they see all of Sega’s most famous characters racing each other.
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
65%
Platforms
PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
Genre
Fighting, Platform
Developer
SuperBot Entertainment, Bluepoint Games, SCE Santa Monica Studio
Publisher
Sony Computer Entertainment
Release
November 20, 2012
PlayStation Vita’s game Play Station All-Stars Battle Royale clearly took inspiration from Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros., but it has its own unique feel. For instance, players take out their enemies by executing super-powered actions instead of knocking them off a platform. You’ll see first-party heroes like Kratos and Nathan Drake, but you’ll also see characters from other companies, such as Dante from DmC: Devil May Cry and Raiden from Metal Gear Rising. It’s not quite as high up there as Smash Bros., but Royale is a fantastic addition to parties.
Metal Gear Solid HD Collection
85%
Platforms
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita
Genre
Strategy, Tactical, Adventure
Developer
Kojima Productions
Publisher
Konami
Release
November 08, 2011
Metal Gear Solid is one of the most prolific video game franchises ever. That’s why it’s so significant to be able to play two of the best Metal Gear games, the second and third entries — Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater — on the PS Vita as part of the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. These two games are iconic, giving us outstanding stealth gameplay, wild stories, and some meme-worthy sequences that are still mentioned to this day. Whether you want to infiltrate an enemy base as Raiden or explore a deadly jungle as Snake, this collection has you covered.
