The PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita were released as direct competitors to the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS. They were marketed as being able to put the power of a home console in the player's hands. While they weren't quite as powerful as their PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 equivalents they definitely had the edge of the DS systems in terms of power if not speed.
Unfortunately for Sony, the handheld market has been an area of expertise for Nintendo since GameBoy in the 1990s which outsold similarly more powerful handhelds like the Sega Game Gear, the Atari Lynx, and the Neo Geo Pocket Color.
The PSP and Vita met a similar fate mostly because it didn’t quite have the support that Nintendo’s machines had and that it was constantly playing catch up in its attempts at preventing piracy. However, that doesn’t mean that Sony's handhelds didn’t have some great releases and even some true hidden gems that players should still take a look at.
10 Field Commander (PSP)
Field Commander on the PSP was one of the earliest games on the system and it received a lot of praise from critics which included awards from best strategy in 2006. Being a turn-based strategy game it was very much overlooked by a lot of fans as an Advance Wars clone.
However, taking inspiration from and successfully adapting the mechanics of one of the most addictive handheld strategy games of all time is no small feat. Field Commander boasts a lengthy 30 mission campaign, destructible terrain, the ability to level cities, and an enjoyable narrative.
9 Ar Nosurge Plus (Vita)
Ar Nosurge Plus is an enhanced version of the PlayStation 3 original. It is the third entry in the Ar Tonelico series originally on the PlayStation 2. Like the first two games, it is an RPG with a heavy focus on relationships.
There’s a heavier focus on the visual novel mechanic but this works perfectly with the handheld format and the addition of touch screen functionality. Furthermore, the PS Vita port included more costumes, three new characters, and all of the PS3’s post-launch DLC.
8 Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R (Vita)
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R is a rebalanced and updated port of Guilty Gear X2. It was developed by Arc System Works the same team behind Dragonball FighterZ, Persona 4: Arena, and the BlazBlue series.
It was initially criticized for its lack of online play. However, it’s a perfect port of one of the most technically sound 2D fighters of all time even retaining the 4:3 screen ratio. Additionally, the enjoyable single-player campaign and stunning visuals make Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R a worthy package on that basis alone.
7 Tales of Hearts R (Vita)
Tales of Hearts R was released on the PlayStation Vita in 2013 and was a remake of the Nintendo DS original that was never released in western territories. The Tales series is a fairly traditional JRPG except it uses a beat-em-up style combat system as opposed to turn-based seen on many of its rivals.
The combat system uses an evolved version of the series’ Linear Motion Battle System which works well on the Vita and is just as responsive as the main console entries. Gamers that played the darker in tone Tales of Berseria may find the story in Hearts R a bit corny and whimsical by comparison but the narrative and character development is still the game’s strong point.
6 Jeanne d’Arc (PSP)
Jeanene d’Arc is a tactical RPG released on the PSP in 2006. It was a fantasy story based on the story of Joan of Arc using real-life characters from history in the game’s narrative. It was an unusual approach to a fantasy RPG and developers Level-5 better known for Dragon Quest and Ni No Kuni but it was also an effective one.
Jeanne d’Arc is both challenging and easy to pick up for the most novice tactical RPG player. The production values were great with beautiful cutscenes and good in-game graphics.
5 Growlanser: Wayfarer Of Time (PSP)
Growlanser: Wayfarer Of Time on the PSP was an enhanced port of the original that was never released outside of Japan in 2003. It’s a game that combines traditional JRPG mechanics like town exploration, a world map, and classic storytelling with a tactical RPG system that’s unique to the series.
In addition, the game has a Fire Emblem-like relationship system allowing the player character to form close friendships or pursue romances with party members. Character interaction is deeper than the average dating sim though, as the player’s decisions can lead to character deaths and betrayals. As a result, there are 40 different endings and can last the average gamer over 50 hours.
4 Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse (Vita)
Broken Sword 5: The Serpents Curse was a return to form for the series after it was successfully funded through Kickstarter. It was originally released as a two-part episode on PC, PS Vita, and mobile devices before getting released in one package on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
The Broken Sword series is one of the greatest point-and-click adventure games of all time and The Serpent’s Curse continues that legacy. It also once again proves that the genre has a place on all formats outside of the PC. Furthermore, it features a great story that’s easy to understand yet it builds on the already established lore of the series.
3 The Zero Escape Series (Vita)
The Zero Escape Series began with its first entry Nine Hours, Nine Doors, Nine Doors in 2009 and was later followed by Virtue’s Last Reward in 2012 and finally Zero Time Dilemma in 2015. They are a collection of adventure games that put players in escape-the-room puzzle-based scenarios.
The first two games in the series used a visual novel style presentation for its story sequence but Zero Time Dilemma used 3D cinematics inspired by Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead series. The series also takes cues from the Saw film franchise and forces the player to make uncomfortable moral decisions.
2 The Ys Series (PSP and Vita)
Falcom’s Ys JRPG series began in 1987 and has spawned eight mainline titles, a prequel, an MMO, and a real-time strategy spin-off game. Many of its mainline entries found their way on the PSP and the Vita in the form of enhanced ports, remakes and remasters.
Ys I & II, Ys III: Oath In Felghana, Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim and Ys Seven were first released on the PSP. Then, Ys Origin, Ys IV: Memories of Celeceta, and finally Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana were released on the Vita. Despite the large library of games across two platforms – all of which can now be downloaded and played on the Vita – the series has gone under the radar in the west. Fans of action RPGs and old-school Legend of Zelda games should absolutely give this series a try.
1 The Trails Series (PSP and Vita)
Another Falcom series that deserves a bigger audience is The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky series and The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel series. The first two chapters of Trails in the Sky were released on the PSP as were the first two chapters of the Cold Steel story arc on the Vita all available to download.
In terms of its huge narrative and a dazzling amount of dialogue, the Trails series are some of the most detailed and ambitious JRPGs ever released. The fact that Falcom is able to tie up so many narrative threads from each game without ever feeling convoluted is a testament to their skills as writers as well as being great game developers.