20. Shovel Knight (PS Vita)

In an era of microtransactions and online open worlds, Shovel Knight dug into a past oft forgotten with its 8-bit aesthetic and challenging platforming gameplay. This tight, retro adventure turned back time to simpler days, and effortlessly captured the spirit of an old-school NES campaign. But there was more to this Yacht Club Games hit than nostalgia: this was a thrilling adventure in its own right, perfectly suited to portable play, and it served as a reminder that sometimes looking backwards for inspiration can be just as thrilling as focusing on the future.

19. Killzone: Mercenary (PS Vita)

All the way back in 2013, Killzone Mercenary was the game that Sony used to prove it was making console-like investments in the PS Vita. Developed by Guerrilla Games – albeit its since shuttered Cambridge-based satellite office – this was a AAA first-person shooter with staggering production values. Despite offering a full-length campaign, missions were smartly segmented to make them more digestible during portable play. The plot also introduced some interesting elements, as you worked as a gun-for-hire with little regard for the wider morality of the bloody Helghan war. With a popular online multiplayer mode and tons of replayability, this was a true shooter on the go.

18. Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward (PS Vita)

Insane twists and turns define Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward, an oppressive visual novel that sees a cast of odd characters become trapped within a futuristic facility. Intriguing puzzles break up the dialogue alongside heavily weighted player choice, which determines who lives and who dies as you hurtle towards various story endings. An engrossing experience.

17. Tearaway (PS Vita)

A lot of the PS Vita’s best games, particularly in the portable’s later years, overlooked its unique features – but Media Molecule’s charming platformer Tearaway was built with every input in mind. The release takes advantage of everything, from the front and back cameras to the rear touchpad, to create a tactile papercraft environment that genuinely feels like it exists within the palm of your hands. The sheer boundless imagination of this outing is not to be overlooked, with the title constantly reinventing itself rather than recycling its ideas over and over.

16. Final Fantasy X|X-2 HD Remaster (PS Vita)

Final Fantasy X is an essential PS2 RPG, and the Vita remaster is a fantastic way to experience Tidus' wonderous journey across Spira. Heart-wrenching twists, brilliant boss battles, and great characters make for an adventure that lasts long in the memory. Throw in an all-time classic soundtrack layered upon magical environments, and RPG enthusiasts simply can't go wrong. Oh, and Final Fantasy X-2? Weird game — even weirder sequel — but it's still pretty good.

15. The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series (PS Vita)

A game which introduced an entire genre, The Walking Dead: A Telltale Game Series was a Game of the Year winner in some prestigious circles. Originally released episodically, but compiled onto one cartridge here, it was seen as the evolution of point-and-click titles, focusing heavily on narrative and player choice. The poignant story involving convict Lee and orphan Clementine captured hearts, and while this PS Vita port struggled with performance issues, it still delivered an engrossing narrative featuring a band of survivors against impossible odds.

14. Super Stardust Delta (PS Vita)

It's not often that we see a console title end up being a better fit on a portable system, but Super Stardust Delta fits the PS Vita like a glove. With its huge number of game modes and quick bursts of intense shooting action, it's the perfect type of game for those times when you only have a few minutes to play. It's an absolute blast to play; those short bursts of gaming could very easily turn into far lengthier affairs if you're not careful.

13. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (PS Vita)

Visual novels are one of the standout genres that truly excel on PS Vita, but few come with a recommendation as strong as Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc. This brilliant detective game combines crime with courtroom drama, as you object to false evidence based on your own personal observations.

12. Hotline Miami (PS Vita)

Hotline Miami’s dance of death was a huge hit for Swedish studio Dennaton Games. The game had built-up buzz at various consumer conventions as an indie PC game with a scorching soundtrack and an 80s aesthetic, but the release exploded in popularity on PS Vita due to its short-form gameplay sessions and ridiculously responsive controls. With puzzle-like combat encounters, this masochistic murder-‘em-up was darkly addictive, forcing you to approach each gauntlet with bloodthirsty precision, and it’s still just as absorbing today as it was when it first released.

11. Uncharted: Golden Abyss (PS Vita)

At the time, Uncharted: Golden Abyss was a mind-boggling technical achievement. By scaling the buccaneering antics of protagonist Nathan Drake down to the PS Vita’s vibrant OLED screen, developer Sony Bend dropped its fair share of jaws. While the title wasn’t able to live up to the scorching highs of Naughty Dog’s console counterparts, this was a serviceable spin-off that plundered every single one of the portable’s flagship features, for better or worse. While we’ve blocked out its abysmal touchscreen boss battle, we were particularly fond of its gyro aiming, which felt great in the palm of your hands.