10 best PS Vita games of all time, ranked

RIP In honor of the platform’s demise on July 20, 2021. by Joseph Yaden Updated: Feb. 20, 2024 Originally Published: July 20, 2021 PSM3 Magazine/Future/Getty Images

Sean Dempsey - PA Images/PA Images/Getty Images The PS Vita was Sony’s last dedicated handheld device. It launched in 2011 in Japan and 2012 worldwide. Despite a fantastic lineup of games, the system never caught on .

PSM3 Magazine/Future/Getty Images The last batch of PS Vita games was released on July 20, 2021 . This marked the true end of an era for the little handheld — and that era included some superb games.

Oli Scarff/Getty Images News/Getty Images Here are the 10 best PS Vita games of all time

Starting the list is a grisly visual novel with a unique premise. In Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, you must be the last student standing at Hope’s Peak Academy.

Spike 10. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc

9. Resogun

Sony From the team that brought us Returnal , Resogun is an arcade side scrolling shooter with the goal of chasing a high score (and saving the humans from annihilation).

If you’re looking for a violent, fast-paced action game with a ton of style, look no further than Hotline Miami. It has a killer soundtrack and gorgeous pixel art.

Devolver Digital 8. Hotline Miami

Serving as a futuristic take on the Monster Hunter formula, Freedom Wars sends you to prison for a million years (literally). To reduce your sentence, you must defeat monster.

6. Rogue Legacy

Cellar Door Games Back before roguelikes were popular, there was Rogue Legacy . This game mashes up the genre with 2D Metroidvania elements, a ton of wit, and fantastic boss fights.

5. Tearaway

Sony The best thing about Tearaway is how it utilizes every one of the Vita’s mechanics from the camera to the backtouch, all in a way that never feels like a gimmick.

4. Uncharted: Golden Abyss

Sony We couldn’t believe it when a fully-fledged Uncharted game launched on a handheld. That’s what you get with Uncharted: Golden Abyss , a game that feels like it was made for console.

3. Killzone: Mercenary

Sony Hands down, the best FPS on the PS Vita is Killzone: Mercenary . It has a lengthy campaign and robust multiplayer suite to keep you occupied.

2. Gravity Rush

Sony Gravity Rush is one of the most unique games on this list, as its main mechanic allows you to alter gravity to traverse the world. Its comic book style, writing, and design all stand out in this fascinating adventure.

1. Persona 4 Golden

Atlus Our top choice has satisfying turn-based combat, a gripping story, unforgettable music, and quite simply has one of the best video game casts of all time.