The best Vita exclusive games

Exclusive games have always played a big part in defining a console’s identity – the PS2 is remembered as much for the likes of Final Fantasy X, God of War and Gran Turismo 4 as its competitors were shaped by Halo, Mario and Sonic. Yet gaming is moving increasingly towards a multi-platform environment where single platform-only releases are fewer and farther between and nearly every title targets multiple consoles to maximise their potential audience. This is amplified when a machine fails to make an impact in the market, meaning publishers look elsewhere to turn a profit.

PlayStation Vita is no stranger to this with a number of system-defining titles like Gravity Rush, Persona 4 Golden and Tearaway being ported elsewhere (luckily it never seemed to suffer quite as harsh a fate as Nintendo’s Wii-U and its anaemic selection of remaining exclusives after the likes of Bayonetta, Mario and Zelda migrated to Switch). While a number of key Vita titles may have moved on, there are still games that are only available on the console (I’ve reviewed over 60 of them in total so far) and it’s these that I’m looking at here. I initially started with a top 10, but then expanded to the 25 best Vita-only games as I wanted to highlight as many titles as possible that are worth playing. Not every game here is beloved and I’m expecting comments telling me that some are rubbish and not worthy of inclusion, but in my opinion they’re all worth checking out.

Please note that for this list I am including games that you can only get on Vita (or are only available on Vita in English) – that means ports with extra content such as such as Muramasa Rebirth and Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition haven’t been included, I’ve written a separate article about them here. 

 

@field (review)

Kicking things off with a Japan-only import title might seem like a strange choice to some, but @field is a very easy import making it a great game to pick up for new console owners. A mix of Everybody’s Golf and Super Monkey Ball where you hit golf balls around elaborate courses while using the gyroscope to fine-tune the shots, collecting tokens along the way to the target at the end. It won’t be for everyone (particularly due to the forced motion controls), but it uses the Vita’s features in ways that felt natural to me and I personally really enjoyed its colourful graphics and unique gameplay.

 

Criminal Girls 2: Party Favors (review)

It wouldn’t be a list of Vita games without one smutty title included! Criminal Girls 2, like its predecessor before it, focuses on rehabilitating delinquent girls in the depths of hell which insolves some unsavoury touch screen mini-games that I really could have done without. Look beyond this though and what’s here is a touching story about real-life trauma leading down some dark roads, mixed in with enjoyable dungeon exploration and a fantastically unique combat system. It doesn’t innovate massively on Invite Only, but this Vita-exclusive sequel is still well worth your time.

 

DJMax Technika Tune (review)

Vita was home to dozens of rhythm games over the course of its life but few reach the heights of one that released within the very first year – DJMax. An adaptation of the popular arcade releases and sequel to the successful PSP entries, Technika Tune blends dozens of musical genres from acid house to hip-hop to indie rock (with an emphasis on kpop and jpop, which works stunningly well), but it’s the gameplay the truly cements it as a classic, mixing front and rear touch inputs in a way that feels completely natural on the handheld. There’s a sea of content here too meaning you can sink an inordinate amount of time into this one – a fantastic Vita classic right off the bat.

 

Freedom Wars (review)

When Monster Hunter left Sony’s nest, it opened the market up to imitators attempting to fill that gap – but few succeeded as well as Freedom Wars, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi action RPG with a fantastic sense of identity. Pitting you as an inmate with a million year sentence trapped within a prison-like panopticon, you fight for your freedom by battling gigantic monsters called abductors and freeing citizens. The brilliant combat (aided by the ‘thorn’ grappling hook system allowing free movement) and gorgeous graphics ensure you’ll very quickly get addicted to this one and the grind to get rid of your one million year sentence gives you cause to stick around.

 

Invizimals: The Resistance (review)

While many viewed it as Sony’s disappointing answer to Pokémon, developer Novarama created a very different beast with Invizimals that ended up being a smash hit in Europe and spawned a spree of sequels, culminating in this final Vita entry. Play augmented reality mini-games to catch invisible animals then battle them in brawler-style combat – it’s definitely aimed at a younger audience, but there’s an addictive element to the gameplay loop here with an added a campy yet entertaining story on top. The Resistance improves massively on The Alliance by removing the need for AR cards and tweaking the battles for the better.

 

Killzone Mercenary (review)

‘Console quality on the go’ was Vita’s mantra and Killzone Mercenary is arguably the game which exemplifies this best, Guerrilla Cambridge’s magnum opus that delivered an uncompromising handheld first-person shooter. The shooting mechanics are tight (thankfully weapons aren’t quite as weighty as its console brethren), the levels are playable in short bursts but filled with depth thanks to repayable objectives and it’s topped off by a fully-featured multiplayer that you can even play alone thanks to botzone DLC. It’s a shining example of what Vita is capable of and shouldn’t be missed.

 

LittleBigPlanet (review)

Ever since it burst onto the scene in 2008, the 2D platformer LittleBigPlanet series has attracted high critical acclaim thanks to its whimsical nature and brilliant gameplay, but the franchise has arguably never been more at home than it is on Vita. Natural additions like a touch screen level editor enhance the experience and this spills over to the gameplay that uses the handheld’s unique inputs in incredibly creative ways – it’s a joy to play from start to finish. The online servers sadly met an early demise, but I would argue that this one is worth playing for the joyous single player campaign alone (plus the DC DLC levels are brilliant too).

 

Lumines: Electronic Symphony (review)

Despite being developed on what is likely a fraction of the budget, Lumines: Electronic Symphony manages to stand toe-to-toe with Uncharted: Golden Abyss as not only one of the best Vita launch games, but one of the best exclusives on the platform. Break blocks in time with the beat while watching the gorgeous light shows on screen, then do it all over again to chase high scores – it’s a proven formula that works, aided by a killer soundtrack and smart integration of Vita’s features.

 

Macross Delta Scramble (review)

The second of three Japanese-only import titles on my list (which I’m expecting to receive some flak for), Macross Delta Scramble is just so much fun (and very easy to understand even for English-speaking gamers) that I feel it more than deserves a place here. A flight-action game where you pilot a mech that can transform into a fighter jet, you re-live key moments from the anime series that focuses on a war between two empires in spectacular fashion. Fast, flashy and addictive, it’s unlike anything else on the handheld and well worth your time.

 

Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs Force (review)

While this game wasn’t particularly loved by critics and Gundam fans slated it for being a departure from previous entries, Extreme Vs Force is a bit of a diamond in the rough that’s worth checking out whether you’re a fan of giant mechs or not. Dig a little under the surface and you’ll discover a deep combat system mixing the fighting mechanics from the Extreme Vs titles with the endless action of a Warriors game, while you’ve also got a strategic layer over the top thanks to the fantastic ‘force’ mode. It’s difficult to explain in words why it’s so great but it’s something every Vita owner should try.

 

Modnation Racers: Road Trip (review)

While LittleBigPlanet received all of the attention in Sony’s line-up of user-generated content games on PS3, Modnation Racers stood tall as a fantastic title that many fans overlooked. Road Trip is an entirely new entry built specifically for Vita and despite the fact that the online modes are now deactivated (not that they were that great to begin, with a lack of multiplayer race options), it’s still a fantastic kart racer that offers plenty of fast-paced action that’s boosted by probably the most expansive and enjoyable single-player mode in the series.

 

Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines (review)

A long-forgotten cult-classic PS1 JRPG franchise was given a second shot at life with Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines and I’m so glad it was, as this is one of the finest (and most unique) titles on the platform. Playing as a clan cursed with two-year lifespans, you mate with the gods and fight in turn-based battles to strengthen your warriors in order to find a way to lift the curse. The beautiful watercolour graphics and fascinating world add to the appeal, but it’s the bespoke and clever gameplay elements that make this one a real winner.

 

Phantasy Star Nova (review)

While this is a third and final Japan-only title and Vita is more than well served by hunting games available in English, you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not checking out Phantasy Star Nova. A new entry in SEGA’s long-running RPG series, the game spring-boards off Phantasy Star Online 2‘s systems but brings plenty of its own ideas into the mix, including a fantastic base-building system and enjoyable combat with humongous creatures called Gigantes. It’s fast-paced, hugely enjoyable and easy enough to play even if you don’t speak Japanese (although a brilliant internet guide definitely helps).

 

Resistance: Burning Skies (review)

While Killzone is undoubtedly the superior handheld FPS, there’s still a fun time to be had with Resistance, which sees you playing as New York firefighter Tom Riley as he battles to save his family during the Chimeran invasion of earth. Your journey will take you through the battle-torn city streets, crumbling bridges and alien-infested strongholds, all the while wielding your trusty fire axe and a variety of weaponry each with unique secondary fire modes that can really ramp up the carnage. It received criticism for being a bit short and bare-bones (which is absolutely true), but Burning Skies is still an experience worth checking out.

 

Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen (review)

Vita launched with a stack of over 25 games which led to many flying under the radar, none more so than Shinobido 2 from Acquire. A sandbox stealth-action title where you play as a ninja and take on missions for rival daimyo during an endless war, it has more than a few janky elements and a repetitive structure, but underneath all that there’s a truly enjoyable and clever game. Messing around with the mechanics here is just pure fun and it’s very repayable thanks to branching story paths.

 

Silent Hill: Book of Memories (review)

Konami managed to disappoint just about everyone when announcing Book of Memories – it wasn’t a new mainline entry (disappointing long-time fans), it was Vita-only (disappointing console fans) and it was a dungeon crawler (disappointing horror fans). Looking beyond this though, the actual product that was delivered here is a surprisingly fun combat-driven, randomly-generated exploration title that weaves in the Silent Hill IP in a unique way. It’s definitely not for everyone and I can see some tiring of its repetitive elements, but this is one where I would say it deserved far more of a chance than it got.

 

Soul Sacrifice Delta (review)

Although it was originally touted as the Vita’s answer to Monster Hunter (a year before Freedom Wars) and possibly even its killer app, Soul Sacrifice quickly became its own brilliant beast that was made even better with the expanded re-release Delta. Casting you as a prisoner who relives the adventures of a past sorcerer through a phantom book, it set itself apart thanks to a unique character growth system based on saving or sacrificing monsters and a focus on spell-based combat rather than the genre standard weapons. It’s filled with content and gorgeous artwork too, making it a true Vita essential.

 

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz (review)

In the early noughties, Super Monkey Ball was a breakout arcade hit that found its way to consoles where it obtained further success, although this was diluted over the years with numerous disappointing sequels. Banana Splitz was somewhat of a return to form by offering a core puzzle experience much more similar to the original entries with a few nice mini-games (including the return of Monkey Target) and while it can be punishingly difficult at times, it’s still a bright and lively good time.

 

Super Stardust Delta (review)

Ever since it was so brilliant revived on the PS3, Stardust has been a PlayStation staple, so it was only a matter of time until Vita received its own entry. Delta brings all the fast-paced twin-stick shooter mayhem that you’d expect alongside some gorgeous graphics, while adding many Vita-specific bells and whistles (some of which worked better than others). It’s the core gameplay that’s the real winner here though, feeling sublime with the handheld’s dual analogue sticks.

 

Surge Deluxe (review)

Sometimes, it’s the simplest ideas that end up being the most addictive. Surge Deluxe is a touchscreen match-three puzzler of sorts, where you draw lines on the screen to link coloured blocks together to destroy them, while chaining them together with various score multipliers, bomb blocks, link blocks and all sorts of other things to make it more complex than it first appears. With colourful graphics and a fantastic core gameplay loop, this is one that you’ll keep coming back to time and time again to chase high scores.

 

Tales of Hearts R (review)

It likely won’t go down as one of the most beloved entries in the storied Japanese franchise thanks to it flying under the radar in 2014, but Tales of Hearts R (a fully 3D remake of the Japan-only Nintendo DS original with additional content) is still very much worth your time. A traditional JRPG through and through, it retains the fast-paced arena combat the series is known for (made even better thanks to the brilliant chase link system) and throws in a surprisingly touching story about human emotion (translated into English for the first time for this release). Sure, the production values aren’t up to much, but it’s easy to look past that when everything else is so good.

 

Touch my Katamari (review)

While it suffers from the same issues as Namco’s other launch title Ridge Racer in that the base content is lacking and a lot extra is added through DLC, Touch my Katamari still retains the joyous, cheerful spirit and bonkers gameplay premise that has made the series such a beloved hit all these years. Roll a ball called a ‘katamari’ around and gather up any objects smaller than it to help it grow in size – it’s a simple idea but one that still works well, aided by some new gameplay ideas and touch screen mechanics as well as an addictive soundtrack, charming visuals and a crazy story.

 

TxK (review)

TxK is heavily inspired by (and basically a tweaked version of) Tempest 2000 and was eventually refined into Tempest 4000 a few years later, yet is still very much its own beast that remains exclusive to Vita to this day. A ‘tube shooter’ where you control a ship on the edge of various different shaped tunnels, you move and shoot at incoming enemies, picking up power-ups while killer electronic music plays and the psychedelic visuals dazzle you. It’s hellishly difficult at points, but don’t let that put you off one of the handheld’s most unique and endearingly fun games.

 

Uncharted: Golden Abyss (review)

The poster child of Vita’s launch, Uncharted managed to live up to the hype (professional critics were far too harsh) and deliver a true dose of ‘console quality on the go’. Featuring some breath-taking visuals and the same large-scale third-person shootouts the series is known for, Golden Abyss crafts its own identity by focusing more on the adventure aspects which worked incredibly well – Nate never felt like more of an explorer. A few unfortunate forced control gimmicks are included, but they’re easy to look past to admire the brilliant core underneath.

 

Unit 13 (review)

When the Vita was revealed, many gamers were keen to see titles that made the most of its dual analogue controls. While Uncharted ultimately beat it to the punch, Unit 13 offers a thrilling portable third-person shooter experience where you take a team of operatives through covert missions dismantling terrorist regimes. Impressive graphics, tight gameplay and tailored-for-portable-play design (randomly generated daily quests could be completed in 10-15 minute sittings) mean that this one stands tall as one of the better exclusives on the platform, despite the occasional wonky mission design.

 

(I would also like to give a mention to the below titles, which may make the list one day in the future if any of the above titles are ported to other platforms):

Ashphalt Injection
Dynasty Warriors Next
Hideboh: Tap Dance Hero
Luminous Arc Infinity
MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death
Miracle Girls Festival
Mobile Suit Gundam: SEED Battle Destiny
NekoBuro – Cats Block
Orgarhythm
PlayStation Vita Pets
Ukiyo no Roushi
Uncharted: Fight for Fortune
World Trigger: Borderless Mission