TOP 20 Best PS Vita Games for the Vita3K Emulator in 2024

Once expected to lead the handheld gaming market, the PlayStation Vita was a complete failure. As of today, the PS Vita is a dead system after Sony announced that it would discontinue the handheld back in 2019. Yes, the death of the PS Vita was due to poor support from its creators. However, this might surprise you, but now is probably the best time for you to re-enjoy PS Vita games on a new system thanks to emulators. I’m talking about Vita3K – the best emulator available for you to bring the system’s entire library to PC or Mobile without needing the original system.

If you’ve been adding PlayStation Plus games to your library over the years, you might be surprised at the number of Vita games awaiting you. Besides those titles, the Vita certainly has no shortage of quality games you can’t find anywhere else. If you are ever curious about Sony’s forgotten child or just want to freshen up your emulation library, here are the best PlayStation Vita games you should check out. We have a perfect list from classic indie titles to some JRPGs that will likely have you sinking hundreds of hours into them.

#20. 2064: Read Only Memories.

2064 is a great example of the kind of games that were well-suited to the Vita, a point-and-click title with a steady cult following. It puts you in the role of a journalist trying to do their job in a world seemingly divided about technology, those for it and against it. Sound familiar? All of this is conveyed through the game’s witty humor and gorgeous pixel visuals, though it does have a few shortcomings on Vita. While those looking for a grand, sweeping challenge will be left wanting, 2064 excels in its smaller stories about the game’s many endearing characters. It’s an eclectic bunch, brought to life wonderfully with some big-name voice-acting talent. Combine that with a kind heart and some very catchy tunes, and you have a strange but worthwhile game waiting for you on your Vita.

#19. Axiom Verge.

Absolutely not shying away from its Metroid inspirations, Axiom Verge has become a beloved indie darling in recent years, not only because it was the only thing close to a traditional Metroid experience before Dread came along, but also because it builds and modernizes the experience, and brings plenty of its own unique mechanics and twists to the table, created perhaps during a heavy psychedelic trip. Axiom Verge puts you in the role of a scientist who wakes up in a completely alien place. By unlocking new abilities and even glitching out the world around you, you’ll get completely lost in this LSD nightmare, an absolute dream to play on your Vita. Now, here’s a question: Are fans of this game called ‘Virgins’? No, but they should be.

#18: Downwell.

If you don’t already own Downwell on at least one platform, you really should rectify that, as it’s one of the most polished action platformers around. It might actually be saving yourself, though it’s so addictive, despite the visuals being so simplistic, that you’ll be cursing frogs and gravity before long, completely unable to get past the first few levels. Although Downwell is quite difficult, it retains that easy-to-play, hard-to-master appeal. You literally fall down through levels and take out enemies with your trusty gunboots to eventually reach the bottom with plenty of power-ups along the way. Its levels are procedurally generated and the replayability is endless, so it’s well worth the money. Technically, Downwell is also literally very cheap.

#17: Iconoclasts.

A game many years in the making, due to how difficult it is to create a game when you’re mostly working on your own. Iconoclasts feel surprisingly fresh and modern despite being in the oven for so long and tips its hat to classic platformers. Where Iconoclasts really starts to set itself apart is in their mechanics. Your main character Robin can utilize a wrench, which can be used to attack enemies, but also to solve puzzles, as well as various other goodies later on. With an intriguing and subtly dystopian storyline, as well as some welcome lighthearted moments, Iconoclasts might be one of the last great games ever released on the Vita until they inevitably release Reality Fighters 2.

#16: Shovel Knight.

Being one of the first games to embrace the retro revolution on modern platforms truly, Shovel Knight looks and plays exactly like a classic Nintendo game, just with a bit more welcome silliness in that your main character has a big shovel. At least no one can say its name is misleading as you pogo down and bury your foes to an early grave. With tons of extra content and somehow still benefiting players long after release, Shovel Knight feels perfectly comfortable on Vita. It is a tough time, though, you should expect that from basically any retro-styled platformer, so why not dig this one up on your PlayStation Store library and sink hours into it?

#15: Super Meat Boy

Super Meat Boy is undoubtedly one of the most influential indie games of all time. It’s platforming that’s extremely tight, the perfect antidote to your constipation when you’re sitting on the toilet. The “just one more go” appeal has turned it into a classic and it comes with a cross-save feature so you can continue your misery on the go. So why is it so low down when we’re talking about the best Vita games? It’s really not the best way to experience the game as the Vita’s analog sticks aren’t quite good enough to pull off the pixel-perfect jumps you’d find on a controller smoothly. However, it’s something you have to get used to and overcome in your quest to beat Meat Boy in one of the simplest yet most addictive games ever made. Now can you imagine how angry Peter would be playing this game? No video would be safe.

#14: Severed.

You might be more familiar with Drinkbox Studios’ Severed as a Nintendo title after seeing it appear on 3DS, Wii U and then Switch, but it actually started life as a Vita exclusive. However, like so many games initially only available on the handheld, it had to find a new home to reach the audience it deserves. Severed is beautiful and has an undeniable heart. It puts you in the role of a warrior lost in an unusual world. You have to use the touchscreen to attack your enemies and sever their limbs, which gives the game a strange but completely enjoyable Fruit Ninja meets Dead Space vibe, a truly underrated dungeon crawler from a studio that consistently delivers quality. Now go play Nobody Saves the World, it’s also very underrated, I swear no one is playing the game about Nobody ironically, but check it out, it’s pretty good.

#13: Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

The ability to have Deadpool face off against Beautiful Joe from the palm of your hand should be enough to convince you to pick up Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 for the Vita. That’s without even considering that many people consider it to be the best Marvel vs. Capcom game out there. Well, it’s certainly better than Infinite, but that’s a pretty low bar. We have gameplay that translates superbly to the Vita, cel-shaded visuals that make everything pop on the small screen just as much as they do on the big screen. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 also makes good use of the Vita’s touchscreen, although nothing can compare to the regular controls. Whether you’re a casual player or a fighting game fanatic, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is going to be your go-to on the Vita. It’s one of the best superhero games that fans can’t miss.

#12: Guacamelee!

This classic Metroidvania punched and kicked its way onto the Vita and then straight into our hearts. While the sequel’s core mechanics might be a better game, there’s nothing to complain about with the original Guacamelee!. It succeeds thanks to its silly humor and gorgeous visuals. Guacamelee! is the perfect game for a train journey, hitting that sweet spot between being long enough to last but not too short to be over too soon. Basically, it’s a perfect game to keep you entertained. There’s also a lot of replayability with Guacamelee! thanks to it being incredibly endearing to play. Our main character is a Luchador wrestler who has an awesome physique. He’s lovable but we’ll have a lot of the game’s joy comes from the interactions with the hilarious bad guys and even chickens. Overflowing with secrets and neat combat, Guacamelee! is dirt cheap and worth every penny because you can now play it for free on Vita3K!

#11: LittleBigPlanet PS Vita.

Poor LittleBigPlanet! After initially lighting up the imaginations of gamers young and old when it first launched on the PlayStation 3, it eventually faded into relative obscurity by the time LittleBigPlanet 3 came around. It’s a shame because the experience that felt like a dose of joy shot straight into the heart seemed perfectly suited to its Vita version. LittleBigPlanet PS Vita to give it its proper official name. The developer made this series charming and shrunk it down for a handheld. Near-infinite creativity awaits you with touch controls adding some spice to the formula, as well as the fact that it’s a trove of content and potential endless possibilities. Now then, where’s LittleBigPlanet 4 Sony? Hurry up, it’s been years.

#10: Hotline Miami.

Tell us, do you like hurting other people? Then let us introduce you to Hotline Miami, a top-down shooter. This game demands patience because it’s extremely difficult. It all comes from the one-hit kill mechanic and breakneck speed. Like many indie games in this list of the best PS Vita games, Hotline Miami is irresistible because it’s not only easy to play but also impossible to put down once you’ve started. It’s aided by a legendary synth-wave soundtrack and a vibrant 80s aesthetic. It’s certainly a killer puzzler – literally – that you should check out.

#9: Killzone: Mercenary

Unfairly overlooked by critics upon release for not changing much, Killzone: Mercenary might lack the bombast of the PlayStation 3 versions, but it’s easily the best FPS game on the Vita. The controls translate well to the small screen and it creatively utilizes the handheld’s features to create something that’s as fun as playing a shooter on your TV. The story is a curious one in the Killzone timeline, putting you in the role of a mercenary during key moments of the conflict with the Helghast. Killzone: Mercenary also has a fantastic multiplayer mode and you’ll be surprised that you can still find some matches, albeit pretty sparsely populated, to this day. The sound of a confirmed headshot is also worth every penny, that weird little tune is as rewarding as opening a chest in Zelda. Yeah, it’s that good.

#8: Gravity Rush.

Gravity Rush is another worthwhile game on the Vita that didn’t find the audience it deserved. This game is so good that the sequel actually became a PS4 exclusive. It’s a shame because Gravity Rush really just suits the Vita more than its bigger and more successful sibling. This excellent game lets you mess with gravity and kick butt from the palm of your hand. A completely quirky time, Gravity Rush puts you in the role of a young girl aided by a cat made of the galaxy to stop the destruction of a mysterious world. Thanks to gorgeous cel-shading and unique gravity-shifting mechanics, Gravity Rush really deserved to sell way more than it did. It’s a game that’s tied to the underrated nature of the Vita in general. If you don’t want to pay over the odds for a physical copy of this game on Vita, it was also remastered on PS4 alongside its sequel. However, you can totally download it for free at ROMsfun to play on an emulator.

#7: Tearaway.

Tearaway is another creative game that had to leave home to find the players the Vita couldn’t provide. It’s a charming platformer from the pioneers of the LittleBigPlanet franchise, Media Molecule. You’ll certainly know how to make gorgeous and cute games with undeniable charm, and Tearaway certainly fits that bill. Just like their main franchise, Media Molecule rewards players for experimentation and creativity in Tearaway, making the game feel like a toy box just begging to be played with. Tearaway even makes the touchscreen more useful than just a gimmick, which it often was on the Vita. The Unfolded version on PS4 is also a fine way to experience the game, although Tearaway is simply at home on the Vita.

#6: Spelunky.

An undeniable indie classic, Spelunky is a lo-fi good time that was tailor-made for the Vita. Many modern games owe a debt to Spelunky, the work of essentially one man, for reviving and redefining the platformer genre by introducing old-school elements to a new-school experience, including randomly generated levels and… an eggplant. Spelunky just keeps on giving, throwing new challenges and oddities you didn’t know existed before, the deeper you get into it. That’s quite apt as you spend your time in the game going deep underground to hunt for treasure and cry tears of shameful regret as you attack a shopkeeper and find that the rest of your playthrough is completely ruined. Seriously, don’t mess with them, small business is tough, alright? You can also check out its sequel, the hilariously named Spelunky 2, on PS4.

#5: Darkest Dungeon.

Have you ever found RPGs stressful? They’re not strong enough to be a boss or you don’t have the necessary items. Perhaps you should approach Darkest Dungeon cautiously, as it puts an end to friendships alarmingly, making you lose favorite party members time and time again. Anyone who’s played XCOM will recognize the upsetting permadeath in Darkest Dungeon, but when combined with the game’s punishing sanity mechanics, the quest becomes even more difficult. Allow one of your party members to sink too deep into the darkness and they’ll become unhinged, which makes every difficult action and decision in Darkest Dungeon carry more weight. Is glory really worth dying for? Better yet, is it worth leaving your best soldier at the brothel to relieve his trauma? Truly one of life’s greatest dilemmas.

#4: Uncharted: Golden Abyss.

While it’s true that Golden Abyss might try to utilize a few too many of the Vita’s unique features at once, the fact remains that it’s the perfect pocket-sized adventure for Nathan Drake. It minimally scales down the scale of Uncharted’s console adventures to create something that feels technically marvelous. A lot of simple fun can be had from drawing Drake’s destination as he’s climbing or swiping to jump across a gap. The controls are also tight and combat is just as enjoyable as its big brothers. The story is pretty good too, even if it takes a while to really get going and the characters look a little bit dimmer than they used to. Those minor points aside, don’t miss this underrated golden nugget in the series.

#3: Velocity 2X.

Velocity 2X is a critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful genre-bending title that blends ship-based gameplay with side-scrolling. This game first appeared on the Vita. It’s a game that you’re constantly entering and exiting, an experience that’s constantly being refreshed thanks to its inventive mechanics, never letting you dwell on one aspect of it for too long. Velocity 2X actually has quite deep roots in the PlayStation brand, with a PlayStation mini game – remember those? – called Velocity. Since then, FuturLab has been updating and refining the experience until they reached 2X, one of the slickest and most visually impressive games you’ll ever play on a handheld. Check your PlayStation Store purchases on Vita, it might have crept in there at some point, like it did with us.

#2: Rogue Legacy.

Rogue Legacy is the epitome of a pick-up-and-play game, an incredibly addictive roguelike that’s as hard to put down as it is infuriating. You play as a knight who storms a mysterious castle, which is filled with nasty things for you to kill, and then you die. On the next run, you play as the descendant of the previous character, who has their own strengths and weaknesses. It’s one of the best video games that makes you both love and hate it – in a good way, of course. This constantly keeps Rogue Legacy feeling fresh, so even when you enter the castle for the 500th time – and you probably will – the wonders awaiting you are never any less compelling. It’s an underrated gem and will have you completely hooked even when everything is stacked against you.

#1: Persona 4 Golden

And at number one, it’s Persona 4 Golden, of course. The aforementioned JRPG Vita game will completely take over your being. Persona 4 Golden isn’t something you can play, you have to open it up and crawl inside. When a dead body turns up in a quiet town, you have to uncover the truth by diving into the TV and battling enemies alongside your high school friends. Weird? Hell yes, and it’s all the better for it. Persona is a series all about the slow burn. You’ll go from vaguely interested in the story and characters, to suddenly hooked and unable to pull yourself away. Games like Persona 4 were made for those days off. There are at least a hundred hours of content here, in a game that just keeps on growing as you play it. So be patient with its methodical pace at the start of the game and you’ll be trying to crawl into your 4K TV before you know what’s happening. Just make sure you unplug your PlayStation TV first. Remember those? We do. Always.

Conclusion

These are the top 20 best PS Vita games that we think you shouldn’t miss. However, the PS Vita game library still has many other hidden gems waiting for you to discover. At ROMsfun, we have uploaded the entire PS Vita game ROMs and you can download them for free. Why not fill your emulation library with great games to keep yourself entertained on the weekend?