Opening our list of Top 10 PS Vita Games of 2016 is Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth
Fans of the beloved Digimon franchise get to finally enjoy this adorable entry by Bandai
Namco, a direct counterpart to the other ‘Monster’ franchise.
Be a detective and find out what’s causing the strange phenomenon happening in both the
real and digital worlds.
And.. of course…
raise and train your own Digimon to battle with in your mission.
The joy of turn-based battles can easily turn the tide of battle for or against you.
It may be limited, at first, the game lets you nurture and evolve your companions.
Perhaps the most rewarding mechanic is its Digivolution.
It signifies the depth of the customization of your pet monsters.
The game has heart, and it’s one of the best Digimon games to date.
It has a PlayScore of 8.51
In the ninth place is Steins;Gate 0.
Visual Novel games have this way of re-calibrating the way we play.
They take the button mashing out of the equation and push you towards solving a more narrative-driven
and immersive puzzles.
This is how Steins; Gate 0 delivers its charm.
Zero is a direct follow-up to the 2009 game and it comes with some improvements… especially
in how the narrative unfolds.
It requires no little effort to interact with.
However, players will have to read through texts and understand the concepts of its story.
The game excels at its complex storytelling without letting players feel bored.
It’s one of the finest visual novel games, showing that substance is usually better than
presentation.
It has a PlayScore of 8.54
Eighth in the ranking is Oddworld: Abe’s Odyssee - New N’ Tasty
This is more than just a remake.
For a name that has spanned for more than a decade, New ‘N Tasty reminds us of the
reasons why it was so successful on the original PlayStation.
Follow Abe in an adventure to save his fellow Mudokons from being turned into tasty treats
by an evil corporation.
Similar to previous installments, the game is a side-scrolling platformer with puzzles.
Players will be thinking and planning ahead in order to save as many Mudokons as they
can.
The number of creatures you save gradually impacts the game’s ending.
Critics have praised the game for keeping its strong platforming mechanics and the more
cinematic visual upgrade..
It has a PlayScore of 8.62
Ranked number 7 is Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma
If you love cold-blooded games that require you to make decisions based on who your favorite
character is…
Or simply put your moral pedestal to a confusing degree, then this game is for you.
Zero Time Dilemma is the third entry of the Zero Escape series.
Think of it as survival-puzzle.
The game takes place within the narrative of nine people being played at by a crazy
man.
They are trapped in a labyrinthine world forced to engage in morally difficult choices.
Players will encounter escape-the-room conundrums and intense decision-making scenarios.
The game is widely praised for its narrative and its non-linear approach to the story.
It has a PlayScore of 8.77.
In sixth place is SteamWorld Heist
This game is a direct follow-up to SteamWorld Dig though it presents a very different gameplay
style.
Follow a ragtag group of robotic pirates in an effort to steal valuable loots and treasures
from the far reaches of space.
It’s an enjoyable turn-based adventure for players who wanted to seek the fulfillment
of looting procedurally generated spaceships.
But the punishment for death is severe.
Each of the robots you recruit comes with unique abilities that will help change the
tide of the battle.
Critics have applauded its fun weapon-based gunfights and its deep customization features.
Aside from the gameplay, it’s also lauded for the narrative.
SteamWorld Heist is a crazy game, filled with humour for a crew of robots.
It has a PlayScore of 8.79
Ranked number 5 is Severed
From the name of the game itself, expect more cutting and cutting using your PS Vita’s
touch functionality.
Play as a one-armed girl named Sasha in a quest to find her family.
Travel in a nightmarish world filled with monsters and deadly creatures.
Players will be introduced with a unique touch-based combat.
As mentioned earlier, the core function of the game is its ability to slice enemies to
a pulp.
Using various weapons and upgrades, your hero will gradually increase in power and dominate
its dungeon-based quest.
It’s one of PlayStation Vita’s finest games and it’s out on multiple platforms.
Critics have praised its hand-drawn art style, innovative combat and music.
It has a PlayScore of 8.83
Fourth is Darkest Dungeon
This game is not for the faint-hearted.
Darkest Dungeon is a brutal creation of Indie Developer Red Hook Studios, created from an
amalgamation of terror and sheer stress.
You and a group of heroes will be fighting evil.
But the greater challenge is maintaining your physical strength and mental fortitude.
The game’s highlight feature is its Affliction System.
It’s not about fun and games in its turn-based combat.
As you progress even deeper into its Gothic-fueled world, stress will overcome your heroes.
Some will break.
Some will die.
Some will wither away.
And some will attack your other heroes.
Fans of the series will be delighted to know the DLC Crimson Court has been announced to
release in 2017.
It has a PlayScore of 8.86
In third place is Dragon Quest: Builders
The team from Square Enix is taking a break from its story-based adventure in the Dragon
Quest series.
Instead they try to create a game so lighthearted it will give you hours of endless fun.
The game takes heavy inspiration from famous building games Minecraft and Terraria.
Enjoy its rich voxel-based world with some light RPG elements.
It serves as an alternative world in lieu of the original Dragon Quest’s ending.
You are given the power to rule another part of the world and help it grow from scratch.
Critics have praised the game’s engaging adventure, from building and crafting.
It feels like a completely different game….
Yet doesn’t fail to remind us that it’s still Dragon Quest.
It has a PlayScore of 8.87
Second is Axiom Verge
This game blurs the line between intense platforming and the fundamental nature of the game’s
reality.
Take the role of a scientist as he witnesses his own death in a surprising turn of events.
He wakes up in a different world filled with ugly creatures and super-powered weapons.
The goal of the game is simple, survive and uncover the mystery behind the strange world
you have been transported to.
Is it real?
The afterlife?
A virtual world?
You find out!
It’s being praised for its memorable boss battles, character customization and a wide
range of powerful weapons.
It’s such a love letter for the players familiar with Metroidvania and nostalgia.
It has a PlayScore of 8.97
And here are the runners-up before we reveal the Number 1.
Volume.
After delays, it finally arrives on the Vita!
Commit your crime through stealth.
Sneak, avoid and distract!
A PlayScore of 8.51
Day of the Tentacle Remastered.
This remaster of a classic game brings all the nostalgia along with all the fun.
A PlayScore of 8.50.
Downwell.
This is an adventure down a deep well populated with nasty creatures and secrets in search
of untold treasures.
A PlayScore of 8.48
XCOM: Enemy Unknown Plus.
It may not be the perfect port of the PC and console strategy masterpiece, but it retains
all the necessities.
A PlayScore of 8.47.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II.
The tale continues with all the improvements in gameplay and in story.
It has a PlayScore of 8.45.
Grand Kingdom.
This tactical role-playing game invites you to uncover the mystery behind the collapse
of the Uldein Empire.
A PlayScore of 8.41
Attack on Titan.
Despite the technical limitations, this Vita version has all the marks of a good game.
Engaging story, characters and combat.
A PlayScore of 8.32.
World of Final Fantasy.
This is a must-have to fans of the series, bringing with it almost 30 years of Final
Fantasy.
A PlayScore of 8.36
Senran Kagura: Estival Versus.
The girls of Senran Kagura are transported to a parallel dimension to battle their rivals!
A PlayScore of 8.32.
Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA X.
The 10th entry to the Hatsune Miku franchise comes with a new approach to play style.
A PlayScore of 8.31
And the award for the best PS Vita game of 2016 goes to….
Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir (Leaf tra seer)
Vanillaware did exactly what they really need to do.
They made a remarkable remake of the original Odin Sphere.
A game that spawned numerous critical acclaims during its 2007 release.
Take an epic adventure around its Norse Myth setting and take control of five different
protagonists with different stories and perspective.
Experience the thrill of Ragnarok with its new and enhanced gameplay mechanics.
It’s still the side-scrolling adventure you knew and love.
The simplified inventory and skill systems helps new players adapt to the fast-paced
playstyle.
Critics have praised this remake for its vibrant art style, expressive music, deep combat,
diverse suite of characters and the amount of content from the narrative to the multiple
endings.
It has a PlayScore of 9.06 and it’s the best PS Vita Game of 2016.
How about you guys?
What’s your pick for the best PS Vita games of 2016?
Leave a comment below and let’s talk about it.