RPG, action, platformer and racing: discover our selection of 20 essential PS Vita games, with tips for choosing your next pre-owned game.

What are the best PS Vita games to discover or add to a collection? With Nathan Drake's adventures, Japanese RPGs, platform games, and suspenseful narratives, Sony's handheld offers very different experiences.

To help you choose, here is our selection of 20 essential PlayStation Vita games, with what makes them appealing and the points to know before buying second-hand. The numbers serve as guides: this is not a universal ranking, but a selection designed for different tastes.

We prioritize titles that had a physical release on Vita. This does not mean they are all permanently available at Retromania: versions and stock vary depending on arrivals.

Discover our collection of PS Vita games

Which PS Vita game to choose according to your preferences?

1. Persona 4 Golden

The RPG to choose for its story and characters.

Persona 4 Golden alternates high school life, relationships with the residents of Inaba, and dungeon exploration with turn-based combat. Its investigation serves as the thread of an adventure in which the bonds formed between two encounters matter as much as the team's progress.

It is our first choice for fans of long RPGs who like taking the time to get to know their characters. Its start requires patience, and dialogues take up a large place. Note: the Western edition on PS Vita is in English, unlike some newer re-releases that offer French.

2. Gravity Rush

An adventure that changes the way you move.

With Kat, you can change the direction of gravity to move through the air, walk on facades, and pounce on enemies. Exploration thus becomes a pleasure in its own right, in the middle of a city with unique architecture.

Choose it if you are looking for an original action-adventure game rather than a succession of classic battles. Getting the hang of it takes a little time, but it is precisely this freedom of movement that makes the experience memorable.

3. Uncharted: Golden Abyss

Nathan Drake in an adventure designed for the Vita.

Treasure hunting, climbing, puzzles, and shootouts: Golden Abyss brings back the ingredients of Uncharted in an adventure distinct from the PS3 episodes. Some interactions use the console's touch functions, especially when handling objects.

A good choice for fans of cinematic adventures who want to follow a story without embarking on a multi-dozen-hour RPG. It is not a compilation or a simple port of the console adventures.

4. Tearaway

One of the games that best exploit the console.

Tearaway invites you into a world made of paper, folds, and cutouts. You accompany a little messenger and intervene in his environment using the Vita's features, including the rear touch pad and cameras.

We recommend it for its inventiveness and warm atmosphere. It is a beautiful gateway to discovering what sets this console apart from a simple port machine. Do not confuse it with Tearaway Unfolded, the reimagining released on PS4.

5. Rayman Legends

Platforming for rhythm and variety.

Rayman Legends chains together courses, obstacles, and musical sequences that require synchronizing your movements with the soundtrack. The Vita version also includes sections using touch with Murfy.

It is an excellent candidate for players who like to finish a level and then return to it to master it better. We recommend it especially for its campaign: do not automatically transfer the multiplayer features of the console versions to this edition.

6. Rayman Origins

Another great choice for 2D platforming fans.

Rayman Origins relies on the precision of jumps, reading obstacles, and searching for hidden passages. Its expressive drawing and animations give it a lot of personality on the Vita screen.

It deserves its place alongside Legends: the levels are different and the whole thing constitutes an adventure in its own right. On PS Vita, this version is played solo. Choose it if you like to progress through successive attempts and explore the levels beyond the main path.

7. LittleBigPlanet PS Vita

Platforming in a crafting universe.

Sackboy crosses sets made of fabrics, cardboard, and repurposed objects. This adaptation uses the touch controls to renew interactions, while retaining the series' unique physics and puzzles.

Its story mode remains a reason to discover it. However, the online services of this version are closed: do not buy the game thinking you will have access today to the old catalog of levels shared by the community.

8. Killzone: Mercenary

The FPS to discover for its solo campaign.

Killzone: Mercenary adapts the first-person shooter to the Vita's two sticks. You play a mercenary in missions where confrontations and equipment take center stage.

It is our recommendation for players looking for an ambitious FPS on the console. The multiplayer servers are closed: the appeal of this purchase now lies in the offline modes, especially the campaign and contract variants that encourage replaying.

9. WipEout 2048

Speed and futuristic driving.

WipEout 2048 replaces cars with anti-gravity ships launched on demanding tracks. You must learn to anticipate turns and keep your trajectory while dealing with weapons and bonuses.

Choose it for the sensations of speed and the satisfaction of progressing on a track. The solo campaign constitutes the core of our current recommendation: the old online features are no longer available.

10. Need for Speed: Most Wanted

Open-world car racing.

This adaptation of Criterion's Most Wanted lets you drive through Fairhaven, discover cars, and participate in races, with police chases to spice up the travel. The driving favors accessibility and arcade sensations.

It complements WipEout well if you prefer cars to ships and want to be able to drive freely between two events. It is the 2012 Most Wanted, not the game of the same name released in 2005.

11. Final Fantasy X HD Remaster

A great turn-based journey.

Tidus and Yuna's journey through Spira combines a developed story, turn-based battles, and a progression system that allows you to develop the team members. The portable format lends itself well to the stages of this long adventure.

Be careful with second-hand purchases: in the European physical edition of Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster, Final Fantasy X is on the game card, but X-2 was provided by download code. A box mentioning both games therefore does not guarantee access to the second. A code may have been used or no longer be valid.

12. Metal Gear Solid HD Collection

Two stealth classics to take with you.

The Vita compilation brings together the HD versions of Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3. Observation, stealth, and alert management matter more than frontal attacks, with stories rich in dialogue and twists.

Recommended for stealth fans who accept a more demanding start and long narrative sequences. This edition does not include Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker: do not confuse it with the content of the PS3 or Xbox 360 compilations.

13. Odin Sphere Leifthrasir

The action-RPG for fans of beautiful 2D animations.

Vanillaware revisits Odin Sphere with a reworked combat system and the intertwined stories of five protagonists. The battles mix combos, movement, and skills in a universe inspired by folklore and mythology.

We recommend it if you want an RPG more immediate than a turn-based game, without giving up a real story. Its art direction and the variety of characters give it a choice place in a Vita collection.

14. Dragon’s Crown

The pleasure of beat 'em ups and progression.

Dragon’s Crown combines horizontally scrolling battles, character classes, and equipment searching. Its dungeons invite you to return with a better-prepared hero and deepen a combat style.

A good choice for those who like fantasy adventures and repeating missions to progress their character. We also retain it for its solo appeal. Its very distinctive visual universe, sometimes suggestive, will not suit everyone.

15. Ys: Memories of Celceta

An exploration-focused action-RPG.

Adol sets out to explore the Celceta region while he has lost his memory. The battles take place in real-time and the progression encourages discovering new passages while completing the map.

Choose it if you prefer action and the feeling of exploration to long turn-based battles. It offers a good complement to Persona 4 Golden and Final Fantasy X in a selection of RPGs on PS Vita. Check the language of the edition before buying.

16. Soul Sacrifice

Monster battles in a dark universe.

Soul Sacrifice offers battles organized in missions and a power system based on offerings. The possibility of saving or sacrificing certain opponents gives its progression a unique identity.

We recommend it for fans of action and dark atmospheres who like preparing their abilities before a battle. The online services are closed: prioritize it for its solo content. This entry concerns Soul Sacrifice, to be distinguished from the enhanced version Soul Sacrifice Delta.

17. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc

An investigation where you have to dismantle contradictions.

Locked in a school, students find themselves at the heart of a macabre game orchestrated by Monokuma. You examine the premises, gather clues, then confront testimonies during class trials.

It is our recommendation to discover the mix between visual novel and investigation. Start with this episode before the sequels and avoid overly detailed summaries to preserve surprises. The themes are dark and a good understanding of the game's language is essential.

18. Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward

Puzzles and choices that change the story.

This game alternates dialogues, clue searches, and rooms where you must find the exit. The decisions made during the adventure open different narrative branches, with suspense that rests on the relationships between the participants.

It will suit patient readers who like solving puzzles. It is the second episode of Zero Escape: discovering Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors first, often called 999, allows you to better appreciate the links between the stories.

19. Steins;Gate

A science fiction story to savor.

Steins;Gate follows a group of characters whose experiments end up upsetting their daily lives. The appeal rests on dialogues, relationships, and the consequences of discoveries, much more than on action.

Choose it if you like reading and letting yourself be carried by a story that takes the time to settle in. This visual novel requires patience at the start. Carefully check the language of your copy: understanding the text is at the center of the experience.

20. Lumines: Electronic Symphony

The puzzle game that makes you want to restart a game.

Lumines drops two-colored blocks that you assemble to form groups of the same color. A line then sweeps the screen following the musical rhythm, which directly links placements, visual effects, and the soundtrack.

It is our choice to vary a collection dominated by action or RPGs. The rules are easy to understand, but improving your scores requires anticipation. A headset allows you to better enjoy the game's musical identity.

Which games to choose to start a PS Vita collection?

For a first varied selection, we would go with Gravity Rush, Tearaway, and Rayman Legends. These three games offer very different approaches and allow you to quickly discover several facets of the console.

Then add a title according to your preference: Persona 4 Golden for a long adventure, WipEout 2048 for speed, or Uncharted: Golden Abyss for cinematic action. You do not need to start with the most sought-after editions: choose first the games you really want to play.

Buying second-hand PS Vita games: useful checks

Check the version and language

Do not infer the language of the game from that of its box. For RPGs and visual novels, check the on-screen texts before ordering. A sheet dedicated to a PS4, Switch, or PC re-release does not necessarily describe the languages of the old Vita version.

Check the physical content and codes

Look if the listing includes the game card, the box, and any documents. On Vita, the absence of a paper manual does not automatically indicate an incomplete copy: many games use an electronic manual.

Download codes and bonuses must be examined separately. For a second-hand item, never assume that a provided code can still be used. The case of Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is particularly important: in the European edition, the two adventures are not both present on the game card.

Choose for the still accessible modes

Several games have lost their online services. Our selection takes into account their offline appeal; it does not promise access to the old community or multiplayer features. If a specific feature motivates your purchase, consult the publisher's information before ordering.

Frequently asked questions about the best PS Vita games

What is the best PS Vita game to start with?

We recommend Tearaway to discover the machine's features or Rayman Legends for an easy-to-pick-up platform game, whose difficulty progresses. Gravity Rush will suit those who want an original adventure and accept a time of adaptation to movement.

What are the best RPGs on PS Vita?

In this selection, Persona 4 Golden and Final Fantasy X HD Remaster are our choices for turn-based. Odin Sphere Leifthrasir and Ys: Memories of Celceta correspond better to players who prefer real-time combat.

Do all these games exist in physical version?

The twenty selected titles had a physical release on PS Vita. However, check the region, language, and exact content of the offered copy. A compilation can combine a game card and a download, like the European edition of Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster.

Are PS Vita games all in French?

No. The language depends on the title and the edition. Some very appreciated games on Vita require reading English or Japanese. Check this point as a priority if you choose an RPG or a narrative adventure.

Should you buy the games with their box?

The box mainly interests collectors and facilitates storage. To play, a card alone in good condition can be enough, provided you check the storage needs specific to the game and your Vita model.

Find your next PS Vita games at Retromania

Whether you want to discover an adventure, rediscover a classic, or complete your collection, consult our selection of second-hand PlayStation Vita games. Compare the versions, condition, and included elements on each sheet.

Any doubt about the language or content of a copy? Contact us before your order to choose the game that corresponds to your expectations.

See available PS Vita games

Useful references before buying

• PlayStation: status of online services and closed servers.
• Square Enix: content of the Vita edition of Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster.
• Atlus: presentation of Odin Sphere Leifthrasir.

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