People were harsh on the PS Vita's catalogue when it launched. In hindsight it's one of the finest in handheld gaming — and once the console is flashed, it widens further to the entire PSP and PS1 catalogues. Here are the ten games to start with.
1. Persona 4 Golden
THE game that justifies buying a Vita on its own. A generous, funny and deep RPG in its definitive version — dozens of hours of joy.
2. Gravity Rush
Born on Vita, designed for Vita: you bend gravity to fly through a floating city. Poetic and one of a kind.
3. Uncharted: Golden Abyss
A full-blown Uncharted in your pocket, technically stunning for a handheld.
4. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana
A snappy action-RPG with pacing perfectly suited to gaming on the move — one of the series' best entries.
5. Killzone: Mercenary
The most impressive shooter on the console, and the one that finally makes proper use of both sticks.
6. Tearaway
A papercraft adventure that uses everything: front touchscreen, rear touchpad, camera. Inventive from start to finish.
7. WipEout 2048
Anti-gravity racing at breakneck speed on the Vita Fat's OLED screen — an absolute visual treat.
8. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
A wild locked-room story split between trials and investigation, perfect in short sessions.
9. Soul Sacrifice Delta
Sony's dark answer to Monster Hunter, carried by a memorable sacrifice system.
10. Freedom Wars
Co-op hunting and grappling hooks in a prison future — a cult hit in Japan, well worth rediscovering.
Bonus: the entire PSP and PS1 catalogues
On a flashed Vita, add Crisis Core, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, Final Fantasy VII, Castlevania Symphony of the Night… Put simply: the Vita doubles as a PSP.
Our refurbished PS Vita consoles ship with a library already installed — including several games from this list — and the shops preinstalled so you can add the rest yourself.
