Platformer games have existed for over thirty years and continue to command a sizeable fan base. During their heyday in the 1990s and early 2000s, several iconic platform video games were developed for a variety of consoles that were available at the time. In recent years, the majority of platform games have been ported to multiple systems, expanding their presence in the gaming community.
In this article, we will examine the best PlayStation Vita platform games of all time. Let’s jump in!
What are Playstation Vita Platformer Games?
Platformers are a type of video game in which the player controls their character around the game area, fending off enemies and collecting precious items while crossing different terrains. These games emphasize the development of specialized skills in order to navigate difficult terrains, engage in combat with enemies in obscure locations, and complete other objectives.
Is Playstation Vita Known for Platformer Games?
Sony Electronics announced the Playstation Vita in late 2011 as a handheld gaming console. The console was designed to be a mobile video game system that was compatible with all game genres. Sony Computer Entertainment ported a variety of titles, including classic platformers, to the platform shortly after its introduction. Since its release, the Playstation Vita has been adored for its excellent platform games, and its portability has made it one of the best devices for playing platform games.
Now, we will look at the ten absolute best Playstation Vita Platformer games that were ever released.
#10. emGravity Rush/em
emGravity Rush/em is a platform video game that was developed by Team Gravity and published by Sony Computer Entertainment.
It was released for the Playstation Vita on June 12, 2012, for North America and on June 15, 2012, for Europe. emGravity Rush/em, also known as Gravity Daze, mainly involves defying gravity while exploring and fighting enemies.
emGravity Rush/em is a single-player game that allows players to control Kat, the game’s main character. The character can manipulate gravity’s effect on her, enabling her to fly and walk in impossible places such as through walls. Using these powers, you can explore Hekseville, the game’s world. Kat‘s abilities are shown in an energy meter, and the more you use her powers, the more the level of the meter drops.
The game allows you to engage in aerial and ground battles using Kat’s abilities. You can take advantage of your enemies weak points in ground fights. In a fight involving Kat’s powers, you can do more damage to your enemies effectively by attacking them from a further distance. You can also get new abilities after completing some game levels.
emGravity Rush/em comes with new collectibles that you can pick up as you explore Hekseville, each of which uniquely affects your character. They are blue cubes, green crystals, and pink crystals. You can use these crystals and cubes to buy and enhance Kat’s powers. The game also features several missions, including fighting enemies, making a delivery, and being an escort to NPCs.
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#9. emTerraria/em
- Brand New in box. The product ships with all relevant accessories
emTerraria/em is a platform video game that was developed by Re-Logic and published by 505 Games.
The game was made available on Playstation Vita on December 17, 2013, for Europe and on December 11, 2013, for North America. Terraria is an action-adventure game that involves exploring new areas while combating enemies.
You begin playing emTerraria/em with a few essential tools and a non-player character (NPC) in a landscape that changes gradually. This NPC will guide you through the game and help you concentrate on advancing through the levels.
The game has several resources, primarily located in caves, and your health and mana increase when you find these resources and craft an item out of them. The type of resource required to make different items differs, and each item has its own crafting station. You are allowed to create a new character or customize your current one. During gameplay, you may encounter enemies who appear randomly. Battling these enemies grants you some rare and valuable resources.
emTerraria/em has more advanced difficulty modes, including Expert, Journey, and Master. Expert and Master modes will earn you rare objects in exchange for a more tough gaming experience. The Journey Mode allows for customization by making duplicate items and changing the weather and time. Other additional features include bosses, which players can fight for exclusive items, Biomes which are the locations where enemies are located, and The Stylist NPC who is in charge of changing character appearance.
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©Casimiro PT/Shutterstock.com
#8. Rogue Legacy
Rogue Legacy is a platform video game that was developed and published by Cellar Door Games. It was ported to the Playstation Vita on July 29, 2014, for North America, and the game involves fighting enemy bosses and collecting precious coins upon their defeat.
In this game, you are tasked with exploring a randomly generated dungeon. Your other objectives are to triumph over each of the game’s four sector bosses before facing off against the game’s ultimate monster. You can attack your enemies using a sword or mana-powered magic. Using your sword, you can extend some areas in the game. In the event of your character’s death, you will be able to select one of three randomly created heirs, each of whom will have their own unique set of skills.
Rogue Legacy features upgraded Knight, Mage, Barbarian, Knave, Shinobi, Miner, Lich, Spellthief, and Dragon classes. As mentioned above, you can take control of your characters’ descendants, who bear unique traits such as color blindness, ADHD, and dwarfism. The game’s gold can be used to purchase character attributes and equipment and unlock the special characters, Blacksmith and Architect. The blacksmith creates armor, whereas the Architect remembers the layout of all explored castles.
#7. emTales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack/em
emTales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack/em is a platform video game that was developed and published by DrinkBox Studios.
It was released for the Playstation Vita on February 21, 2012, for North America and on February 22, 2012, for Europe. This game is the sequel to Tales From Space: About a Blob, and it involves Blob, who eats everything and mutates after every meal.
In this single-player game, the player assumes control of a Mutant Blob. Your Blob increases in size as it consumes objects scattered throughout the game’s landscape. There are obstacles throughout the levels, and to pass them, it is necessary for the player to expand in size. This game’s main control mechanism is a thumbstick, which grants you control over your special skills as you progress through the challenges presented by this game.
emMutant Blobs Attack/em features new locations, each with its own set of levels. Some of these locations include College, Town, Moon, Badlands, Army Base, and Metropolis. The total number of levels in the game is 24. There is a bonus level called Tilt-a-bob, whose controls are gyroscopic.
The game also features two other control types, which players can choose from. Depending on your preference, you can use Normal controls or Touch Controls. Other game features include the ability to move your character in a variety of ways. Mutant Blob allows you to jump, slam, fly using a rocket, telepathically move objects and even grind your weight on metal.
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#6. Guacamelee!
Guacamelee! is a platform video game that was developed and published by DrinkBox Studios.
On April 9, 2013, the game was released for the Playstation Vita in North America, and one day later, on April 10, 2013, it was made available in Europe. Guacamelee! is a bowler game centered on collecting upgrades while battling enemies along the way.
As you play Guacamelee!, you take control of the main character, Juan, and guide him through the game’s open world while also completing various objectives. The second main character in the game is Tostada, also known as the Guardian of the Mask. There are several different collectible upgrades that can be applied to your character.
You will have to engage in combat with various foes throughout the game, and each successful battle will reward you with coins. These coins can be used to make in-game purchases at the game’s shop, giving the player access to new abilities. These shops are used as checkpoints in the game. Some game stages require special skills to conquer, making purchasing skills from the shop essential.
When playing Guacamelee!, you have a wide array of characters to choose from, including Juan Aguacate, Tostada, Carlos Galaca, Flame Face, Jaguar Javier, Lupita, and Uay Chivo. There are also several levels in the game, and each comes with different objectives. Some of these levels are Forest del Chivo, Santa Luchita, Temple of Rain, Desierto Caliente, and Temple of War. Other features include Chozo statues, which, when broken open in the game, can give Juan new abilities essential for advancing through the levels.
#5. emLittleBigPlanet/em
- The creative Platforming fun of the LittleBigPlanet franchise comes to the PlayStation Vita handheld gaming system
- Introducing new ways to play, including front and rear touch control, tilt functonality and much more
- Multiplayer fun with pass 'n' play, multi-touch, and online play modes
- Access thousands of games online, created by fans (like you) and enjoy new gaming experiences everyday
- Create with new touch tools and all the familiar pop-it' tools and costumes from LBP2 (PS3) to develop simple or complex games for everyone to enjoy
emLittleBigPlanet/em is a platform video game that was developed by Tarsier Studios, XDev Studios Europe, and Double Eleven.
The game was published by Sony Computer Entertainment on September 19, 2012, for the EU and on September 25, 2012, for North America. emLittleBigPlanet/em PS Vita is the fourth installment of the emLittleBigPlanet/em series and is a great puzzle game that is mostly focused on user-generated content.
The player’s mission in this game is to direct Sackboy through several different stages while using some of his abilities to navigate obstacles and collect objects. In addition, the game includes various minigames and allows for multiplayer gameplay. In the online version of the game, a maximum of four players can participate at the same time. You can also compete against your friends locally by playing the Pass-n-Play mode.
emLittleBigPlanet/em PS Vita is highly customizable, allowing players to design their own levels. These levels can be uploaded online on the PlayStation Network for others to see. Additionally, you can purchase costumes for your player on the PlayStation Network. In the game, several packs are available, including the Knights of Old pack, which can transform your character into a Knight, Princess, or Dragon.
emLittleBigPlanet/em also features a diverse cast of playable characters, including Colonel Flounder, Sean Brawn, Mrs. Sunshine, Marianne Noisette, and The Unbelievable Otis. Each of the game’s many levels is of varying difficulty. Some primary levels include A Ray Of Sunshine, Sunshine and Shadows, High-Pressure Cellar, Re-Animation Station, and A Recipe For Unpleasantness.
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#4. emRayman Origins/em
- Brand New in box. The product ships with all relevant accessories
emRayman Origins/em is a platform video game that was developed and published by Ubisoft and is the fifth edition in the Rayman series.
It was ported to the Playstation Vita in 2012, one year after its initial release on November 15, 2011. emRayman Origins/em is centered on Rayman and his friends fighting evil creatures who have infected their Glade of Dreams.
This game supports up to four concurrent players. The player explores the levels and frees some Electoons inmates. You can use your newly acquired abilities to overcome obstacles and unlock new levels. In certain levels, you can shoot, burn, or even inhale your enemies while riding on the back of a mosquito. If an enemy attacks you, you will bubble up, and the only way to stop it is by asking for help from your colleagues, who will either slap or jump on you. You can protect yourself from damage by collecting the available hearts. If your character gets repeatedly bubbled to death, you will respawn at the previous checkpoint.
emRayman Origins/em features a wide range of collectibles, and each one has its own unique value. Yellow Lums can be collected and are essential for Electoons. You can also collect Red Lums, each of which is worth the same as two Yellow Lums. The last type of collectible is Skull Coin, and its value is equal to that of 25 Lums. However, finding these Skull coins might be challenging because they are concealed in hazardous areas.
Other features include a Medallion that shows the number of Electoons challenges that you have successfully completed, treasure chest levels, and a bonus level called The Land of the Living Dead.
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#3. emSpelunky/em
- Spelunky on physical cartridge for the PlayStation Vita. Limited to 3,000 copies available worldwide. Region free.
emSpelunky/em is a platform video game that was developed and published by Mossmouth LLC.
Designer Derek Yu and Programmer Andy Hull were the prominent figures behind this game that was released for the Playstation Vita on August 27, 2013. emSpelunky/em mainly involves cave exploration and the search for hidden riches and gems.
As you play this game, you assume control of Spelucky, an adventuring character. Your main objective is to explore the tunnels available and collect treasure. The tunnels have monsters and traps which might harm you. The Spelucky‘s primary defense against these enemies is whipping and jumping upon them. You can also launch objects toward the enemies, and you can set up traps and bombs too. The game’s stages are randomized and divided into four categories, with the complexity of each growing steadily. If your character dies, you have to restart the level again.
emSpelunky/em features a wide range of opponents, most of which are animals of various sizes, such as bats, spiders, and snakes. Other enemies include monster plants and ghosts. In the game, players can acquire gold, bombs, firearms, antiques, and gear for hill climbing. The gold acquired will boost your score during gameplay. A few characters, such as the axe-wielding Tunnel Man, are available to be unlocked as you progress through the game.
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#2. Limbo
Limbo is a platform video game that was developed by Playdead and published by Microsoft Games Studios for its Xbox Series on July 21, 2010.
On June 13, Playdead and UK-based Double Eleven Studio ported the game to Playstation Vita. Limbo is a 2D side-scroller puzzle game that involves a boy who desperately goes through a dangerous path in the hope of finding his sister.
When playing Limbo, you control a boy who possesses several powers typical of platformer games, like the ability to move sideways, jump or go over obstacles, and even climb ladders and ropes. The landscape of Limbo is dark and creepy, which prevents the player from spotting the available traps and monsters. Some of these monsters consist of glowing worms that attach to the character’s head, forcing him to walk in a particular direction and eventually killing him. You can resume the game from the last checkpoint upon his death, and there is no limit to the number of times you can die. You can also use some traps to your advantage after avoiding them.
Limbo comes with a leaderboard that tracks your progress throughout the game. It also consists of two sections, the first of which takes place in a forest, and the second half takes place in a deserted industry. However, the first part has several living creatures and monsters, while the second section contains none. The game also comes with some eerie sound designs, which help create that fearful feeling as you progress through the levels, giving you goosebumps.
#1. Fez
Fez is a platform video game that was developed by Polytron Corporation and published by Trapdoor.
This puzzle game was released on PlayStation Vita on March 25, 2014. The player will spend the majority of their time in the game rotating around the different environments in order to solve puzzles and gather cubes.
In this puzzle game, the player is tasked with restoring the order of the universe by collecting cubes and cube pieces. The main character, Gomez, has to travel through the game’s stages by ascending the ledges. As you progress through the game, you can rotate the cube-shaped globe to open up previously inaccessible areas and create new routes. There are no maps in Fez, so players must rely on themselves and the various puzzles to go through the game. If you die in a level, you will respawn.
Fez features several unique characters, including Owls, Gomez, Geezer, Hexahedron, and Mayor McMayor. There also is a more advanced world map with several zones. These zones include Pink, which represents a village, Dark Green, which represents an industrial zone, Green, which represents a cemetery, and Blue, which represents a waterfall. There is also the new advanced game mode, Game Plus, which enables you to revisit previously conquered regions and collect anti-cubes that are necessary for completing more difficult levels.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Hasif Collection/Shutterstock.com.
