The best PS Vita games of all time

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.