Top 10 Best PS Vita Games!

When Sony revealed the Vita, they promised console level quality of gaming on the go and Killzone: Mercenary is a shining example of a game that lives up to that expectation. Successfully providing an action packed, first person shooter experience on a handheld with little sacrifice or compromise, Mercenary controls beautifully and somehow maintains a steady framerate amongst all the on-screen carnage. To set itself apart from other games in the series, Mercenary has a ‘points’ system for every executed kill or accomplished challenge. These points could then be used to purchase new weapons and upgrades, providing an extra layer of addictive depth to the already fun shooting mechanics.

Bad day at work? Stressing out before an exam? Let off some steam by beating the living snot out of your opponents in bombastically bloody displays of violence that would be considered taboo if you took out your frustrations the same way in public. A port of the console game of the same name, the PS Vita version cuts no corners to deliver the same satisfying fighting game experience in the palm of your hands. The combat is just as fast and fluid as ever, with fatalities even easier to pull off now thanks to the touch screen functionality. Sweetening the deal is a ‘Challenge Tower’ mode not available in the original release. FIGHT!

Here we have a murder mystery visual novel with oddball attitude to spare. After a prestigious school that only enrolls the best and brightest in every subject is taken hostage by a sadistic bear named ‘Monokuma’, the students trapped inside must either obey his wishes or use all their wits to escape. The gameplay is broken up into two modes, one tasking you with attending your daily classes while the other has you solving twisted crime scenes. These crime scene deductions are the main meat of the game and provide palpable tension, keeping you on your toes as to who is responsible for what. Think of it as a cross between Battle Royale, Saw and Big Brother.

In this title, a group of strangers are gathered up by an eerily masked individual named ‘Zero’ who forces them to participate in his series of puzzle-traps that he labels the ‘nonary game’. As the story’s many twists and turns begin to unfold, you’ll need to make some careful decisions during the story sections of the game, because every choice made affects the outcome and who survives. You can make these decisions assuming you make it out alive from the pulse pounding ‘escape’ sequences, that task you with solving densely complex puzzles to advance. You can also betray or befriend the many characters in the game, delivering an edge of your seat thriller that is not to be missed.

Although this series attempted a jump to portable play on the PSP prior to this release, the Vita is a far more powerful device, providing the developers with the assets to create a truly authentic LittleBigPlanet experience for fans of the franchise to enjoy while out and about. The Vita version retains the same level creation tools you’ve come to expect and thanks to the system’s touch screen controls, it can make the experience of creating your own content all the more immersive. In fact, the touch screen (as well as the Vita’s other functionalities) are core to the game’s overall design making this the perfect game to own if you want an entire arts and crafts kit available to you anywhere, anytime. Well done, Sackboy.

Blink and you’ll miss it! This fast paced action game is perfect for portable play, as its speed and design truly lend to bite sized gaming. It is an absolutely dazzling display of colorful visuals and satisfying shooting, with the game’s supply of non-stop action ensuring that there is never a dull moment amid all the chaos, which is important for a handheld game, people want their quick fix in between work and classes and Velocity 2X delivers on that desire. The techno-style music also compliments the rapidity of the side scrolling mayhem, so it is really the full package of great gameplay, vibrant graphics and catchy music. What more could you ask for?

FuturLab, Sierra Entertainment

Craving an action game with a twist? Then Gravity Rush is about to turn your world, er, hand eye co-ordination upside down. By holding the right trigger button and then tilting the Vita itself, the player is able to aim their character in any direction they want, which breaks any typical gameplay barriers in relation to movement that are usually found in 3rd person action games. There are no restrictions as to how you tackle each obstacle or enemy, giving us a sense of freedom that we haven’t seen before in a game. Oh and those cel-shaded visuals are eye-poppingly pretty.

Just the fact that developer Sony Bend was able to pack down a full fledged Uncharted game, without dumbing down the experience for a handheld, is reason enough for a place on our list. Golden Abyss is much more than an impressive showcase of the Vita’s technical prowess however, as the amount of enjoyable adventuring to be had is quite the thrill ride indeed. Alongside a lengthy campaign featuring all the shooting, exploring and witty humor you’ve come to expect, Golden Abyss shows off great use of the Vita’s bells and whistles. Many gameplay elements implement use of the touch screen and motion sensor to very clever degrees, resulting in an Uncharted game that stands strong when compared to its console peers.

From the creators of LittleBigPlanet comes Tearaway, which stands out as possibly the most innovative and unique entry on our list. It has since been ported to the PS4, but we feel the absolute best way to experience this gem is on the Vita, due to how it utilizes every aspect of the console’s design. Over the course of the whimsical adventure, the player will make use of the Vita’s motion sensor, front and back touch controls and is even able to take real life pictures and incorporate them into the game’s world. It is this level of interactivity, alongside the already enjoyable platforming, that makes Tearaway in a class all of it’s own and a breath of fresh air for anyone looking for something different.

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions…

“Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation” (2012)

“Pixeljunk Shooter Ultimate” (2014)

“The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth” (2014)

We aren’t the first to say this and won’t be the last, but Persona 4: Golden is easily the best bang for your buck that you can get for your PS Vita. If this was the only game you bought for your Vita, you’d be all set as the game is practically exploding with content for you to play through. The main story mode is a beefy one, with hours upon hours of dungeon crawling, side missions and general shenanigans for you to engage in. Its gameplay is fast and frantic, the visuals are inspired by stunning manga aesthetic and the music contains some really catchy tunes. It is the perfect balance of style and substance, making it our choice for the ultimate Vita game.

Do you agree with our list? Which PS Vita game is your favorite? For more lively Top 10’s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.