Platformer games have captivated gamers since the early days of video games. By emphasizing jumping, dodging enemies, and navigating tricky environments, platformers test players‘ reflexes, precision, and problem-solving abilities. Over the years, iconic franchise mascots like Mario, Sonic, and Rayman have starred in some of gaming‘s most beloved platforming adventures.
When the PlayStation Vita launched in 2011, its combination of a large vibrant touchscreen, dual analog sticks, front and rear touch controls, and powerful specs made Sony‘s new handheld an ideal device for platformers. Developers brought enhanced ports of classic platforming series to Vita along with exciting new IP that took advantage of the system‘s unique capabilities.
In this list, we will countdown the 10 undisputed best platforming games ever released on PlayStation Vita. From animated adventures to pixel-perfect challenges, these Vita platformers represent the pinnacle of the genre. Let‘s jump in!
#10. Gravity Rush
Gravity Rush is a platformer with a supernatural twist. Developed by Project Siren and published in 2012 by Sony Computer Entertainment, players take control of Kat, a woman gifted with the power to manipulate gravity. With the press of a button, Kat can float, glide through the air, walk up walls, and land superhero-style from incredible heights.
As Kat explores the floating city of Hekseville, she must use her gravity-defying moves to help people in need, battle hostile creatures called Nevi, and uncover the mysteries behind her strange abilities. Gravity Rush stands out through its powerful sense of motion and freedom. Redirecting gravity to zip across the skies or plummet safely down to the ground feels thrilling and deeply satisfying.
Beyond the meticulously tuned gravity mechanics, Gravity Rush enchants players with its whimsical cel-shaded graphics, expansive open world levels, intriguing storyline, and abundance of rewarding side quests. For Vita owners craving an awe-inspiring platforming adventure, Gravity Rush is a must-play.
#9. Terraria
While many platformers focus strictly on jumping challenges, Terraria infuses the genre with crafting, combat, and sandbox gameplay for an immensely deep 2D adventure. Initially launching on PC in 2011 before later coming to consoles like Vita, Terraria drops players into elaborately randomized worlds filled with secrets to uncover, monsters to battle, and materials to mine for building intricate structures.
On Vita, Terraria‘s side-scrolling platforming gameplay truly shines thanks to intuitive touchscreen controls and persistent portable play for chipping away at your in-game goals wherever you go. As you delve into Terraria‘s massive procedurally generated maps stretching across diverse biomes below and above the surface, the amount of content and gameplay variety is staggering. With so many playstyles supported between open-ended crafting, magic spells, ranged weapons, and melee arms, Terraria offers almost limitless replayability on Vita for those hooked by its creative action-adventure charm.
#8 Rogue Legacy
For platforming fans seeking a supremely challenging adventure accented by a dash of roguelike randomness, Rogue Legacy is a must-play. Developed by Cellar Door Games, Rogue Legacy tasks players with battling through a demon-infested Gothic castle that morphs into new unpredictable layouts each time your character perishes.
To give you a fighting chance, each of your successor‘s in this family line of courageous heroes receives unique attributes and classes like barbarians, assassins, and mages. But tread carefully, as health conditions like dyslexia or vertigo can hamper your progress while adding a layer of strategic complexity. By mastering each quirky character‘s strengths while compensating for their weaknesses, you must collect gold to incrementally upgrade gear and stats to reach the castle‘s deepest depths during future runs.
Thanks to clever generational mechanics mixed with demanding combat and platforming challenges, Rogue Legacy offers endless hours of addictive progression. The excellent PlayStation Vita port even adds touchscreen functionality and Cross-Save with PS3 and PS4 allowing you to take your legacy anywhere.
#7. Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack
A delightful tribute to classic B-movies and platformers alike, Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack has players controlling an ever-growing gelatinous mutant blob intent on escaping the evil scientists that created it. By absorbing objects and people throughout each level, your blobMess continually expands allowing you to smash through walls, knock out enemies, activate buttons, and fit through large gaps needed to solve clever environmental puzzles.
With controls uniquely customized to take advantage of Vita‘s inputs, you can tilt the system to shift your blob‘s weight, tap the touchscreen to latch onto objects and peel them away, or puff air into the microphone to inflate your mass even larger to access new areas. Packed with wickedly humorous references to old sci-fi and horror films, Mutant Blobs Attack will leave you smiling from ear to ear as you bounce and ooze your way to freedom.
#6. Guacamelee!
Blurring the lines between contemporary action games and long-lost classics, Guacamelee! is an unforgettable genre mashup celebrating Mexican culture and gaming‘s past. After humble agave farmer Juan Aguacate gets slain by an undead skeleton and transported to the World of the Dead, he is resurrected as a muscular luchador wrestler capable of incredibly powerful melee combat moves.
As Juan explores a gorgeous Metroidvania-style map unlocking new abilities like grappling hooks, wall jumps, and special attack combos, he eventually shifts between dimensional planes to solve complex environmental puzzles. Combat and exploration intertwine beautifully thanks to intricate level designs and responsive controls perfectly tuned for PlayStation Vita.
From sombrero-wearing goat men to assemblies of undead townspeople, Guacamelee!’s eccentric cast of characters and vibrant visual presentation wholly embodies Mexico’s festive Dia de los Muertos traditions. For platforming fans seeking a distinctly modern yet nostalgic adventure, Guacamelee! delivers a first-class fiesta.
#5. LittleBigPlanet
LittleBigPlanet revolutionized user-generated content on consoles allowing players to build and share their own imaginative platforming stages. Developed by Media Molecule, the series exploded in popularity for encouraging boundless creativity. By providing pre-made assets like materials, decorations, stickers, and interactive logic pieces, amateur creators could develop professional-looking 2D and 3D platformers far beyond expectations.
When LittleBigPlanet arrived on Vita in 2012, the portable powerhouse allowed gamers to craft meticulously detailed sidescrollers rivaling top-tier Mario games. While building complex constructions using Vita’s touchscreen takes practice, playing through the millions of player-made levels offers infinite replay value. Combined with an adorable art style, physics-based puzzles, and local co-op multiplayer, LBP is easily one of the most range PS Vita platformers ever made.
#4. Rayman Origins
After years without a proper new release, the limbless legend Rayman made an extraordinary return to form with 2011’s Rayman Origins. As a prequel depicting Rayman’s early adventures with his quirky creature pals, Origins explodes with stunning 2D art and animation alongside some of the slickest platforming stages ever designed. By tapping into the spirit of Rayman‘s origins on early ‘90s systems, players run, jump, punch and float their way through over 60 wickedly challenging levels of increasing complexity.
When Origins arrived on Vita in 2012, the stellar port retained all the momentum-based thrills and charming personality as other versions. Completing time trials and chasing down 10 hidden Electoon creatures in each brilliantly realized stage becomes addictive. The touchscreen even allows you to take control away from your friend for assisting moves during local wireless co-op play. For one of the fastest-paced and gorgeous platformers available, Rayman Origins stands tall.
#3. Spelunky
Like a pit filled with spikes, Spelunky will punish you severely. But its deadliness only makes each new discovery and successful run tremendously rewarding. Integrating procedural generation with preciously designed environments, Spelunky challenges players to venture deeper into a treacherous cave system filled with enemies, traps, and loot. With the odds stacked overwhelmingly against you, mastering Spelunky means learning to improve your odds percentage point-by-percentage point.
By collecting gold and gear during runs, you slowly unlock new tools and shortcuts for incremental progression across deaths numbering in the hundreds. Spelunky demands patience and acute skill. But hidden deep within the darkness lies boundless fun is you allow yourself to be molded by Spelunky’s lessons in careful movement, environmental assessments, special item usages, and prioritizing risks. Having this gem of a roguelike platformer portable on PS Vita makes each new attempt exciting to take on the go.
#2. Limbo
Releasing originally on Xbox Live Arcade in 2010 before hitting Vita in 2014, eerie monochromatic adventure Limbo pioneered the popular horror platformer genre. Set in a haunting forest environment silhouetted against dynamic lighting and shadow, players guide a young boy searching for his lost sister. Devoid of narration and dialogue, Limbo’s ominous atmosphere tells a story through its interactive puzzles and chilling set pieces.
Having only the ability to walk, run, jump, push/pull objects, and interact with switches, players must infer solutions while avoiding deadly mechanical contraptions and preying creatures. Like all great horror games, nervous anticipation simmers until suddenly releasing during terrifying encounters. The minimalist visual storytelling paired with striking sound design makes Limbo an artistically impactful experience that platforming fans and newcomers alike need to play.
#1. Fez
The brilliant and perspective-warping Fez reigns supreme as the PS Vita’s best platformer. Acting as an interactive optical illusion, players navigate blocky retro dreamscapes that hide secrets visible only when rotating the world. By switching between four distinct planar perspectives, hidden passages, collectibles, and puzzles become reachable. Mastering navigation and spatial awareness in Fez delivers an unmatched eureka high.
Setting it apart further, Fez abandons combat and penalties for a purely zen exploration experience at your own pace. Peaceful chiptune music accompanies you on a mysterious adventure to restore order to the universe one magical golden cube at a time. Overflowing with optical illusions, secrets, non-sequiturs, and subtle references, every corner of Fez begs to be inspected as brilliant game design respected your time and intelligence equally. For an ingenious platformer rewarding curiosity, critical thinking, and discovery, Fez is the absolute best on PlayStation Vita.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes platformers fun to play on PS Vita?
Platformers shine on PS Vita thanks to dual analog sticks for great control, a sharp high-def display to see details, and portable play for quick gaming sessions. Vita‘s unique inputs like touch also allow developers to add fresh platforming ideas.
Does PS Vita have modern platformer franchises like Mario and Sonic?
While Nintendo and Sega platformers aren‘t available, PS Vita does have excellent exclusive titles like Tearaway and Gravity Rush that rival first-party Nintendo charm along with enhanced ports of Rayman Legends, Sly Cooper and Ratchet & Clank to scratch that platforming itch.
Are there still new Vita platformers releasing in 2023?
Unfortunately new Vita game development ended a couple years ago as the system aged past its prime. However, there are still hundreds of great platformers in its existing library worth discovering if you get a PS Vita in 2023. The indie selection is especially strong.
How do PS Vita platformers compare to Nintendo Switch games?
Vita platformers like Tearaway and Gravity Rush can compete with first-party Nintendo Switch titles in gameplay quality and visuals. However the Switch offers a bigger overall platformer library thanks to support from major third-parties missing from Vita.
