There are plenty of excellent adventures to enjoy on Sony's second handheld, and among the best PS Vita games are both exclusives and third-party titles, ensuring there's something for everyone. Even all these years after its release, the PS Vita is worth having, with a stellar library that may fly under the radar of some gamers.
Don't believe us? This guide features entries for iconic franchises that you can't experience anywhere else. Uncharted, being one of them, with Golden Abyss being an excellent entry in the series, as you'll soon see. However, this guide also has fighting games, RPGs, shooters, and other genres - we're not lying when we say the Vita has a diverse and robust library. Plus, it's portable, you get to take PlayStation goodness with you on the go, and the console is small enough to fit in your pocket.
Here are the best PS Vita games:
1. Uncharted: Golden Abyss
Uncharted is one of the best PlayStation exclusive franchises, and Uncharted Golden Abyss is a great addition that many Nathan Drake fans missed out on, and there's no better time to rectify that. One of the best things about the Uncharted series is its narrative, and Golden Abyss boasts one of the best stories to feature the charismatic fortune hunter.
Beyond a compelling narrative, this full-blown Nathan Drake adventure features plenty of hilarious moments, mixed with thrilling combat, and locations that are a joy to work your way through. Plus, the game serves as a prequel to Drake's Fortune, offering you a look at Nate before the events of the trilogy.
As he takes inspiration from Lara Croft, you'd do well to add Uncharted: Golden Abyss to your PS Vita library if you enjoy the Tomb Raider games, especially as none of Lara's adventures on the portable handheld are half as good, in my opinion.
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2. The Amazing Spider-Man
Beenox's take on the webhead is better than you may think, taking on an alternative retelling of the titular movie's storyline. Marvel alums like Black Cat and Rhino turn up, while you zip past Oscorp and across the New York City skyline.
Swinging in this game is highly underrated, thanks to a tight, up-close camera that captures the feel of Andrew Garfield's frenetic swings. It isn't quite on the level of Insomniac Games, but it's still damn fun, and you take it on the go, which is always a bonus. Plus, the combat is as chaotic and as fun as you'd expect from any adventure with your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
As far as Spider-Man games go, The Amazing Spider-Man goes down in history as one of the best, at least when it comes to movie tie-ins.
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3. Killzone: Mercenary
Killzone: Mercenary puts the battle for galactic supremacy on PS Vita, with a solid entry that is arguably better than the series' last foray on PlayStation 4. It's a console-quality shooter through and through, with all the thrills, spills, and kills to expect from Guerilla Games' beloved FPS franchise.
Better still, it marks the first time in a Killzone campaign that you can fight alongside both Helghast and ISA forces - you also have a lot of options in how to equip yourself to complete your missions. The combat is exactly what you'd expect, and it honestly works an absolute treat on the PS Vita - it's certainly different from what you see Guerrilla Games tackle these days.
Killzone has failed to keep up with other FPS game series in recent years, but Killzone: Mercenary serves as a cool reminder of how dominant this franchise was, once upon a time.
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4. Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified
There have been some strange Call of Duty ports over the years, but Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified rises above the pile with ease, featuring an all-new campaign mode that's separate from its console counterpart. Honesty, it's so good that you'll overlook the fact that there's no Zombies mode to enjoy on the go here.
Plus, there's the Hostiles mode that resembles the one in Modern Warfare 3, throwing you into the ultimate game of survival, which serves as a nice change of pace from what you typically get in Call of Duty. If you're big on multiplayer, it'll please you to hear that all of the traditional game modes are present, and, better still, you can even find other players to this day, so you don't need to rely on bots to enjoy the maps.
However, if you want to guarantee you face other players, you can try the mobile game instead - we even have a CoD Mobile codes guide full of freebies for you.
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5. Persona 4 Golden
Persona fans worldwide agree on one thing. It's one of the best JRPG franchises of all time. However, there's also one key area in which they disagree, as some regard Persona 5 as the best entry in the series, while others give that honor to Persona 4. Or, more specifically, Persona 4 Golden, and while I can see the arguments for both sides, only P4G is on the PS Vita, so that's the one we're talking about here.
In my Persona 4 Golden Switch review, I gave the game a well-deserved 9/10, stating that it "is a must-play for any role-playing fan." In Persona 4, you find yourself in the town of Inaba, a place where a serial killer is running rampant. So naturally, you decide that instead of skipping town, it's your duty to be like Scooby Doo and solve the mystery.
You enter the TV world to investigate the murders in a thrilling story that's bound to keep you guessing. Match that with fun turn-based combat, enigmatic characters, and impressive environments, and you're onto a game that helped to define a generation. To discover even more fantastic entries in this franchise, make sure you check out our Persona games guide.
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6. Hotline Miami
How does that song go? I'm in Miami, biiiiiirch tree? Yeah, that sounds about right. Welcome to Hotline Miami, one of the best games you can play on the PS Vita, a fact that I'm sure many of you are aware of thanks to its availability on multiple platforms. There's a reason many regard it not just as one of the finest indie games of all time, but as one of the best videogames, period.
As a top-down shooter, you can expect a lot of violence in Hotline Miami. That's the main draw of it in all honesty, as the chaos and carnage that ensues is an absolute blast. The fact that said blast might result in viscera on the walls and ceilings is just the icing on the cake (damn, we sure would hate to be the cleaner).
Hopefully Hotline Miami serves as a good reminder of how fantastic games from smaller studios are - if it does, you can check out our guide to the best indie games for more great experiences.
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7. Mortal Kombat (2011)
Finish him! Well, if you insist, booming ominous voice that nobody questions. The only MK title on the PS Vita is Mortal Kombat 2011, and given that it happens to be one of the best in the series, it's a solid addition to the console's library. This game serves as a reboot, inviting you to join some of your favorite characters once more, such as Sub-Zero, Sonya, Scorpion, and Mileena.
The story on offer is fantastic, full of action, and allows you to play as many of the characters in their own chapters. Better still, if you enjoy MKX and MK11, this game is basically the prequel to those, explaining how some events came to be. The fact that it also features the famous fatalities is just a bonus - watching Sub-Zero slip in his own pee never gets old.
After you finish laughing at poor Sub-Zero, you can give him some dignity back by checking out his gruesome finishers in our Mortal Kombat fatalities guide.
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8. Gravity Rush
A PlayStation Vita original, Gravity Rush is a fantastic game that many likely know thanks to its PS4 remaster, but what about the 2012 version? This game is one of the best reasons to own the portable console. It has you defying gravity, so to speak (referencing a musical in a guide, trophy unlocked).
In Gravity Rush, you play as Kat, and, as the name of the game implies, you control gravity. Through her unique abilities, you can alter how gravity affects Kat and even use the PS Vita's gyroscope to aim where she goes, allowing her to move in that direction - perhaps 'fall' is the more accurate word.
Gravity Rush is also one of the best open-world games you can play, with its various locations not only being a joy to explore, but the manipulation of gravity makes it one of the more interesting ones on the PS Vita.
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9. Undertale
Undertale is fantastic from start to finish. Utilizing a top-down perspective, you take control of a human child who finds themself trapped in the underground, but that's okay, they make a nice friend known as Flowey - just kidding, this is one thorny plant, but it does teach you the basics of the game.
Ultimately, Undertale features one of the most intriguing stories you can experience in a videogame. When you combine that with fun combat, terrific boss fights, and fascinating lore, you know you're about to experience one of the best games in the PS Vita library.
We'd be lying if we didn't say that things can get a little confusing on this adventure, so make sure you check out our various character guides, including one for Undertale's Sans, to get a better understanding of what's going on.
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10. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
The most recent mainline entry in a truly iconic PlayStation franchise, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, takes place after the third installment, Honor Among Thieves, and it features the hilarious stealth-based action you've come to know and love from the Sly Cooper series, though it has more of an emphasis on combat. Luckily, it still has those wonderful cell-shaded visuals and the classic gang of Sly, Murray, and Bentley.
Plus, as ever, the story in this one is delightful. As the title suggests, this adventure takes Sly through different time periods, from the Ice Age to Feudal Japan, with a quick stop in Ancient Arabia in between. The only problem with this game is that it's the last in the series.
It's fair to say that action games these days aren't quite as charming as what Sucker Punch used to give us through Sly Cooper, but here's hoping we see more of that mischievous raccoon one day.
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11. Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth
Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth is exactly what it says on the tin, with the player character working as a private investigator who dips in and out of the digital world with ease. It's got all the classic monsters, such as Agumon, Tentomon, and Patamon, along with over 300 other iconic characters from the series.
Cyber Sleuth features a fairly extensive post-game experience, with hours of content after the credits roll, which is impressive considering the story content should keep you occupied for at least 20 hours before you reach the grand finale. Finally, if you can't get enough of Cyber Sleuth, there's a very similar sequel, which you can also pick up for your PS Vita.
Without question, Cyber Sleuth is one of the best Digimon games you can play, though the recent addition to the Story series, Time Stranger, is also a good time - check out our Digimon Story Time Stranger review if you want to learn more about that one.
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12. Rogue Legacy
Rogue Legacy is a must-play for fans of roguelikes. It's a proper challenge, even for seasoned gamers, but once you get the knack of it, this is a game you won't want to put down. It has fantastic Metroidvania platforming, brilliant bosses, and a nice bit of tongue-in-cheek storytelling throughout.
One of the more interesting elements of Rogue Legacy is that whenever you die, instead of respawning as the same character, you take control of one of three heirs. Each character has unique stats and abilities, so you need to try to find what works for you. While interesting, this mechanic can make things more difficult for you, as the characters you can choose from might not match your preferred playstyle.
While you can experience one of the best Roguelike games ever on your PS Vita, you're going to need something more modern to play the sequel.
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13. Guacamelee!
If you're looking for a Metroidvania with a difference, Guacamelee! has you covered. Combining the platforming genre with brawler mechanics, this is an engaging debut from a series that we wish we saw more of. Look at Juan, the luchador main character. How have we not seen that face in Smash yet?
It's not just great gameplay Guacamelee! has to offer, though, with a sprawling narrative featuring some hilarious dialogue, a cartoon world design that brings every level to life, and a banging Mexican-inspired soundtrack that keeps your toes tapping throughout your playthrough.
Guacamelee! is one of the best Metroidvanias you can play on the Vita, and it's one of the more charming entries to the genre as a whole.
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14. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Okay, so this option isn't for the faint-hearted. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is a visual novel with a killer twist - and we mean that quite literally. You play as a student at Hope's Peak Academy who finds themselves at the mercy of the murderous bear Monokuma. The only way to escape is to survive while investigating the various killings taking place at the school.
Yes, it's a bit of a convoluted plot, but we at Pocket Tactics love the wild approach to the visual novel genre Danganronpa is famous for, and this game might be the best example of that from the series. There's a reason it spurred an anime series, novels, manga, and a stage show. The story keeps you on your toes, and it's quite the thrill.
If you find yourself wanting more murder after completing this one, check out our guide to all the Danganronpa games.
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That concludes our picks for the best PS Vita games. If you're after more up-to-date adventures, make sure you check out our guides to the best Switch games and best mobile games, too. Better still, make sure you stop by the official Pocket Tactics Discord to let us know what else you'd include on this list; maybe we missed one of your favorites.