10 Best PS Vita Games to Get Before the PSN Store Shuts Down

You might've seen me point out with my recent list that Sony's shutting down the PSN Stores for the PS3 and PS Vita consoles next year. To make matters worse, some regions only have a month. That's exactly why it's high time to strike while the iron's hot and purchase any of the sought-after games for the console.

And for this list, it's all about the PlayStation Vita, Sony's handheld console built on the PSP's foundation, with a vast catalog of underrated or otherwise hidden gems, as well as classics from the PSP itself and even the PlayStation 1.

But this list focuses primarily on the Vita titles you need to add to your library before they completely vanish into thin air. Some are completely digital, yet others have those sweet physical cartridge releases, but you won't be able to find them easily on the market due to their scarcity or high prices.

10 TxK

Psychedelic Bullet Galore

Thought we'd start off with TxK, one of the PS Vita's finest arcade-styled games, because it captures everything that made classic score-chasing shooters addictive while modernizing the formula with simple, satisfying gameplay and a visual presentation that fully embraces Neon Vector effects. In fact, it is also considered a spiritual successor to the classic arcade tube shooter, Tempest.

Unlike many ports or cross-platform releases that the Vita now has with the PS4, TxK isn't one of them, which is unfortunate. However, I'd also go so far as to say its hypnotic gameplay visuals and energetic soundtrack make it feel tailor-made for the Vita's OLED/LCD screens alike. It is exactly the kind of game worth securing while it's still easily available through legal means, at least.

9 Tales of Hearts R

The Underdog of the Tales Franchise

While the original 2008 version that launched on the Nintendo DS never left Japan, Tales of Heart R would later be released as a soft remake for the PlayStation Vita. It's almost ironic becauseBandai Namco has remastered games like Tales of Graces F and is now re-releasing titles like Tales of Eternia Remastered​​​​​​, yetHearts R has never received the same treatment, making the Vita version the only practical way to experience its official English release.

The game itself is also one of the Vita's strongest traditional JRPG titles, featuring the series' signature Linear Motion Battle System (LMBS), delivering fast-paced, real-time combat that rewards combo mastery and character switching rather than simply button-mashing.

And the fact that physical English copies of Hearts R have already become sought after by collectors means that losing easy access to the digital version on the PSN Store would remove one of the last affordable ways to experience this overlooked entry in the Tales franchise.

8 Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines

Where Family Planning Meets Dungeon Crawling

Although Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines may not have received the same attention as Persona 4 Golden or Freedom Wars, you can't help but think it's exactly the kind of game collectors and JRPG fans will regret overlooking if the PS Vita's digital storefront ever closes.

Unlike a typical JRPG that follows a single group of heroes, you guide an entire cursed clan whose members live only two years. As each generation passes away, you must raise new descendants by pairing your warriors with Japanese deities, creating stronger successors with inherited traits and abilities.

And let me tell you, while the dungeon exploration and turn-based combat are enjoyable, much of the game's appeal comes from the clan management mechanics. Moreover, outside Japan, the game was released only digitally on the Vita, so there isn't a physical Western version to hunt down later.

7 Super Stardust Delta

Pocket-Sized Planetary Defense

As a Vita-exclusive entry in Housemarque's acclaimed twin-stick shooter series, Super Stardust Delta takes the addictive arcade gameplay of its predecessors and tailors it to the handheld system with excellent style. Couple that with gorgeous visuals and quick-fire gameplay sessions, and you get a recipe for the perfect portable asteroid-smashing chaos.

One of the most validating reasons for owning and playing a game like this is how well it embraces the Vita's hardware without feeling gimmicky; touch controls, motion aiming, and rear touchpad inputs are all optional additions rather than mandatory mechanics, allowing you to customize the experience however you prefer. I know Housemarque's moved on to create some truly next-gen experiences with the likes of Returnal and Saros, but if you wanted to know their roots on the Vita, along with Resogun, this is it.

6 Soul Sacrifice Delta

A Grimdark Classic Trapped on the Vita

Aside from both games having "Delta" in their names, Soul Sacrifice Delta is completely unrelated to the aforementioned game on this list. Instead, this is one of the handheld's best action RPGs, offering a dark and grim take on the monster-hunting genre. Furthermore, the Delta version, in particular, expands significantly on the original Soul Sacrifice by introducing new factions, monsters, story content, and spells, and by refining the overall gameplay mechanics.

While it did have a limited physical run with its English-translated Asian copies, trust me when I say it is not worth sacrificing your kidney for that version; instead, try securing the game digitally via the PSN Store to keep it in your library. Or unless you despise Sony's recent announcement to abolish physical disc games, then yeah, you can argue against me on that point.

5 Murasaki Baby

Tim Burton Meets the PS Vita

One of the most peculiar-looking games I had the pleasure of experiencing on my own personal Vita is Murasaki Baby. While it isn't a lengthy adventure, it's the kind of game that fully embraces the Vita's hardware in ways few developers have attempted. Basically, it was built around the Vita's touchscreen controls: you literally hold Baby's hand on the front touchscreen to guide her through a surreal nightmare, while the rear touch panel is used to manipulate the environment and solve puzzles.

And the cherry on top of this short, sweet yet unsettling adventure is that the game's hand-drawn visuals resemble the pages of a twisted children's storybook, almost as if Tim Burton had hand-drawn it all.

Most importantly, of course, Murasaki Baby has never been remastered, ported, or released on modern platforms. The Vita remains the only official way to play it, making it one of those exclusives that is genuinely worth adding to your digital library while you still can.

4 Adventures of Mana

The Game Boy Classic Reimagined

Originally released as Final Fantasy Adventure on the Game Boy, Adventures of Mana is a remake that modernizes the experience with colorful 3D visuals, remastered OST, and smoother combat while preserving the charm that made the original such a classic. Adventures of Mana is also a relatively compact JRPG, but its shorter length works in its favor, as the game offers rewarding exploration and straightforward progression without demanding a huge time investment.

Most importantly, AoM has never received a physical Vita release outside specific regions, leaving the PSN Store as the only legal way to own it on this bygone handheld. And if you ask me honestly, for collectors, RPG fans, and anyone looking to preserve an important piece of gaming history, it's one of the smartest Vita purchases to make while it's still easily available.

3 Killzone: Mercenary

The Handheld FPS King in the Palm of Your Hands

Killzone: Mercenary is one of the PlayStation Vita's defining exclusives and arguably the closest the handheld ever came to delivering a true console-quality first-person shooter. See, rather than feeling like a watered-down spin-off, Guerrilla Cambridge truly built a game that captured the satisfying gunplay and visual spectacle of the mainline Killzone series while being designed specifically for portable play. Even today, I'd argue that Mercenary is still one of the most technically impressive games ever released on the Vita.

With the Vita's PSN Store destined to disappear into thin air by next year, Killzone: Mercenary is exactly the kind of exclusive worth preserving for the system if you have one. It represents the platform's greatest technical achievements and also offers a surprisingly robust single-player campaign.

2 Tearaway

Pop-Up Book Magic Brought to Life

While an expanded version eventually arrived on the PS4, the OG Tearaway is still one of those rare games that could only have existed on the Vita because, rather than treating the handheld's touch features and motion controls as gimmicks, it builds its entire adventure around them that still feels creative even to this day.

Beyond its clever mechanics, Tearaway is simply a charming platformer that any age group can enjoy, especially when you consider its handcrafted paper aesthetic, which gives every location plenty of personality and the great balance between it's light-hearted platforming and Collect-a-thon elements. Anyone you ask will rightfully tell you that this game is an essential addition to your Vita library for these reasons and possibly more.

1 Uncharted: Golden Abyss

When Nathan Drake Went Handheld (And Actually Nailed It?)

Uncharted: Golden Abyss is one of the most important PlayStation Vita exclusives to own because it's the closest the system ever came to delivering a full-fledged console-quality adventure.

While I understand that it may not have reached the same heights as Naughty Dog's mainline entries, Bend Studio still managed to do an impressive job translating the Uncharted formula to a portable device without sacrificing the cinematic feel that made the series famous. The entire gameplay presentation and structure feel remarkably similar to Drake's Fortune, which is understandable, lore-wise, because this is a prequel set three years before that first installment.

For anyone building a Vita library before digital purchases for the console disappear, Golden Abyss is a no-brainer recommendation, not only because of its obvious exclusivity to Sony but also because of how it remains locked to the PS Vita. Yeah, PlayStation didn't even bother to modernize this game to this day or bundle it with the Nathan Drake Collection, which is low-key baffling, to be honest.