30. Velocity 2X (PS Vita)

FuturLab expanded on the original PS Mini Velocity by honing its expert eye for slick arcade gameplay. This rhythmic shmup replicates the balletic battles of its predecessor, allowing you to dance in and out of combat using your craft’s teleportation augment. However, it builds on the entire idea by adding slick side-scrolling platforming segments, significantly adding to the variety. With a vibrant visual style and a scorching soundtrack, Velocity 2X is a pulsating experience that’s impossible to put down.

29. Child of Light (PS Vita)

It’s rare you get a game so earnest in its execution as Child of Light. This gorgeous UbiArt RPG is clearly inspired by the titans of the genre, like Final Fantasy, and achieves its aims so effortlessly that it’s easy to recommend. While its story and gameplay systems could be accused of being rote, this is an easy-going experience that pops beautifully on the PS Vita’s dazzling display.

28. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (PS Vita)

Despite being a brand-new, natively developed adventure in the Sly Cooper series, Sanzaru Games’ stealth platformer felt a lot like a long-lost PS2 game. So closely did the studio stick to Sucker Punch’s blueprint that this game could be criticised for being overly familiar, but its mix of clandestine action, brisk buccaneering, and madcap minigames (including belly dancing!) made for an entertaining romp all the same. While Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time was also available for the PS3, it felt much more at home on Sony’s handheld, and is worth seeking out if you’re in the market for an old-school adventure.

27. God of War Collection (PS Vita)

Unlike the PSP, the PS Vita was never treated to a brand new, natively developed God of War game. Sony, instead, ported the original two PS2 releases to the handheld in the form of the God of War Collection. Fortunately, these are two of the greatest character action games ever made, and seeing the opening salvo of God of War 2 rendered natively on the PS Vita’s five-inch screen was a sight to behold. While Kratos has since moved on to an entirely different mythology, his original Greek adventures still come highly recommended.

26. The Ratchet & Clank Trilogy (PS Vita)

Between the Sly Collection, Jak & Daxter Collection, and the Ratchet & Clank Trilogy, there’s an argument to be made that the PS Vita is the best place to play Sony’s classic PS2 era platformers. All three of the original Ratchet & Clank titles share the same penchant for sprawling sci-fi vistas and over-the-top artillery, but you can see the series progress over the course of a single cartridge here, as developer Insomniac Games layers in RPG mechanics and more exciting gadgets. This is a brilliant compilation featuring a trio of rock-solid titles.

25. Muramasa Rebirth (PS Vita)

As expected of developer Vanillaware, Muramasa Rebirth is absolutely dripping with style and flavour. A side-scrolling action RPG set against a mythical Japanese backdrop, it's simply a joy to behold — and it feels pretty darn good to play, as well. Combat is frantic but rewarding, with loads of different blades offering new moves and abilities. What's more, the overarching story is split across two protagonists, making Rebirth a highly replayable jaunt.

24. LittleBigPlanet PS Vita (PS Vita)

A fully-fledged entry in Media Molecule’s whimsical DIY platforming property, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita bounded with just as much creativity as its console counterparts. With long-time partner Tarsier Studios taking the reins, the Swedish team crammed this portable adaptation with as much creative potential as possible, once again allowing players to build out Sackboy’s world with levels and minigames of their own design. It’s here that the handheld’s unique features like its touch interface truly thrive, allowing for tactile new gameplay opportunities that allow you to reach into the release’s colourful, makeshift world and interact with it directly.

23. Axiom Verge (PS Vita)

Metroidvanias have, frankly, become ten a penny in this modern era of digital storefronts and indie developers. Even on the PS Vita, there are dozens upon dozens of tightly designed sidescrollers to choose from. Few are quite as realised as Axiom Verge, however – a one-man effort which perfectly encapsulates its NES namesakes. There’s not a lot that surprises about the design of this game, but its execution is second-to-none, and it’s perfectly suited to portable play sessions.

22. The Sly Collection (PS Vita)

Is Sly Cooper the most underrated PlayStation mascot of the PS2 era? Sucker Punch’s light-pawed raccoon never quite got the same acclaim as its sixth-gen siblings, with Ratchet & Clank and Jak & Daxter taking all the plaudits. But with its mixture of stealth, platforming, and micro-games, this series is secretly one of Sony’s greatest achievements. And playing all three titles from the original PS2 trilogy on the potty felt fantastic when The Sly Collection launched in 2014.

21. Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir (PS Vita)

Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir is a top notch action RPG. It's bursting at the seams with character, and its wonderfully told story is pulled straight from a bedtime book — except most books have never looked this good. Slick controls, some brilliant boss fights, and a luscious world ensure that this overlooked remake sits near the top of the pile when it comes to Vita RPGs. What's more, the console's sharp screen really lets Leifthrasir's gorgeous visuals pop.