18 Best PlayStation Vita Indie Games

While the PlayStation Vita was a major commercial failure for Sony, hardcore fans didn’t want to let it go pumping up countless homebrew and indie games. This devotion transformed the Vita into an indie beast, with a massive library of indie games spanning many artistic styles and genres. Small game devs offered some great and fresh ideas away from the typical AAA experience, offering great games of all genres with affordable prices, and a chance to play them on the go.

Today, we’re bringing you a list of the finest independent games on the system, including mainstream titles, hidden gems, and even underrated titles that may have slipped under the radar of many players. So without any further delay, dust off your PS Vita, buckle up, and let’s dive in!

Velocity 2X 2014

About
	Release Date September 02, 2014
	Developer FuturLab
	Publisher FuturLab
	Genre Shoot 'Em Up
	Concepts Sci-Fi, Space
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United Kingdom

PS Vita Releases
2014-09-02
2014-09-03

Velocity 2X is an outstanding shoot’em up game that combines several genre elements into an awesome mix, you take control of Tana a young cyborg woman who is looking to find a way back to her home planet.

The gameplay consists of two parts, in ship gameplay where the game plays just like a shmup with a few additional elements such as warp through solid objects and more, the second part is one foot where it plays just like a 2d Metroidvania game. The game is very challenging and can test your patience but the flow and speed run feel make every try worth it.

Super Meat Boy 2010

About
	Release Date November 30, 2010
	Developer Team Meat
	Publisher Team Meat
	Genre 2D Platformer
	Graphics 2D
	Perspective Side Scroller
	Interaction Real-Time
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

PS Vita Releases
2015-10-06

Super Meat Boy is a simple platforming game with savage difficulty that will keep you on the edge of your seat for hours. The player takes control of Meat Boy, a small cubic creature tasked with rescuing his girlfriend from the villainous Dr.Fetus. The gameplay principle is straightforward: you control Meat Boy in a linear level where you must land your jumps correctly to dodge traps and eventually reach the other side.

While the formula appears simple at first, the complexity gradually increases, providing a tough test that will force the player to perfect his actions and jumps. Visually the game is equally simple with a basic look, very simple animation, and blended backgrounds. While the game doesn’t offer much in terms of visuals it still delivers a super addicting experience, that will keep you playing for days if not months.

Terraria 2011

About
	Release Date May 16, 2011
	Developer Re-Logic
	Publisher 505 Games
	Genre Survival
	Graphics 2D
	Perspective Side Scroller
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

PS Vita Releases
2014-02-06
2015-05-22
2015-06-09

You can think of Terraria as a unique blend of Minecraft and classic RPGs, seen from a side-scrolling perspective you get to explore a randomly generated world where you can build, mine, fight enemies, brew potions and so many more. The game is hugely complex with a ton of stuff to do, and countless secrets to unveil. While the Playstation vita unfortunately doesn’t get the later updates that the main game has, it still offers a fun way to explore the game on the go.

Spelunky 2008

About
	Release Date December 21, 2008
	Developer Mossmouth
	Publisher Mossmouth
	Genre 2D Platformer
	Players Multiplayer, Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

PS Vita Releases
2013-08-27
2013-08-28

Spelunky was a critically acclaimed indie game that had huge success both in and outside the Vita. The main idea of the gameplay is to hike your way through randomly generated levels, the player can use a whip and bombs to slay enemies and continue his way through the level collecting treasures and gaining more powerful objects.

The game is inspired by classic 16-bit games, with a 2D style, crisp graphics, and stunningly detailed stages. Furthermore, the game presents various tough challenges with perma death, which means that the player must learn from his mistakes and restart the game each time he dies. As a whole, Spelunky is an amazing rogue-like game that the player can pick up and play for both short and long time of periods without feeling bored or frustrated, if you’re in for some rogue-like goodness I hugely recommend checking it out.

Deadbolt 2016

About
	Release Date March 14, 2016
	Developer Hopoo Games
	Publisher Hopoo Games
	Genre Stealth
	Concepts Dark Fantasy, Fantasy Creatures, Vampire
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

PS Vita Releases
2018-02-20

Deadbolt is a 2D side-scrolling action stealth game. You play as a mysterious individual known as the reaper, he takes on various missions to break out on several gang’s headquarters.  The objective varies from one mission to the other, sometimes the reaper just has to kill the gang leader, and in others, he is ordered to leave no survivors.

The game mixes between stealth and action, you make your way either by killing your enemies the stealth way or forcing your way up. Deadbolt can be very unforgivable, as one small mistake can cost you your whole progress on the level. The game is challenging but in a good way offering a very fun trial-and-error experience.

Bastion 2011

About
	Release Date July 20, 2011
	Developer Supergiant Games
	Publisher Warner Bros Games
	Genre Action RPG
	Concept Fantasy
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

PS Vita Releases
2015-12-05

Bastion might seem like a typical Action Rpg, but the game can offer so much more presenting fresh ideas and a stunning hand-drawn visual art direction. You take control of The Kid a mysterious silent protagonist, as he takes on a journey in a fractured and mysterious apocalyptic world.

The gameplay consists of several levels seen in an isometric view. You take control of The Kid as he overcomes various enemies and challenges, after each stage, you get an object called Shards, as a result, the level starts to fall apart forcing you to retreat. What makes this game so different is the additional narrator that narrates every action you make on the game which gives the game a very different feel.

Undertale 2015

About
	Release Date September 15, 2015
	Developer Toby Fox
	Publisher Toby Fox
	Genre Action RPG
	Concepts Fantasy, Fantasy Creatures
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

PS Vita Releases
2017-08-15

Undertale is a classic 2d RPG with its own style and some crazy new idea. The game was a surprise for me and surely it was for many. You play as a mysterious human child who falls into a pit leading him to a mysterious world inhabited by monsters, your goal is to search for a way to get back to the human world. This adventure will lead you into meeting different characters and friends,  these encounters will force you to make choices that will surely affect the story of the game.

What makes this game so different is that you have the choice to play it completely as you like, you can kill the monsters or spare them, you can even avoid killing main bosses, and as i said every choice you make impacts the ending you will get. Also, the game has very fun and different combat mechanics that vary from monsters to others.

Axiom Verge 2015

About
	Release Date March 31, 2015
	Developer Thomas Happ Games
	Publisher Thomas Happ Games
	Genre Metroidvania
	Concept Sci-Fi
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

PS Vita Releases
2016-04
2016-04-19

Axiom Verge is a 2d Metroidvania game mixed with some crazy and complex story elements. You play as Trace a scientist who awakens in a mysterious world. After getting in a lab explosion, a mysterious voice reaches to him guiding him to this new mysterious alien world filled with mutants.

Your goal is to uncover the truth of this new mysterious world through exploring new locations and challenging various bosses, each of these locations has many powerups to discover, varying from health upgrades to weapon modification and many more.

Shovel Knight 2014

About
	Release Date June 26, 2014
	Developer Yacht Club Games
	Publisher Yacht Club Games
	Genre 2D Platformer
	Concepts Dragon, Fantasy, Fantasy Creatures
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

PS Vita Releases
2015-04-21

Shovel Knight is an 8-bit like 2d action platformer game that will take you back to the classic NES era. You play as a Shovel Knight who fights his way with a shovel defeating monsters and collecting treasures, the knight’s goal is to find his long lost companion Shield Knight.

The game consists of several levels, as you make your way through them you get to collect various treasures which can be used later to buy different relics, these objects will help you on your adventure making it a little bit easier. Shovel Knight is a very fun and challenging game bringing the old 8-bit era to life on modern handheld and consoles.

Stardew Valley 2016

About
	Release Date February 26, 2016
	Developer ConcernedApe
	Publisher ConcernedApe
	Concept Realistic
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

PS Vita Releases
2018-05-22

Stardew Valley is a farm simulation game with some RPGs elements, you get to create your own character and start in Pelican Town, you take over your grandfather’s old forgotten farm as you aim to get the farm back to business just like the old days.

As you start the game, your farm is mainly overrun by boulders and weeds, you need to take your time to clean the land and make it possible to farm. The game has a season system that allows you to grow specific seeds in each season. You have an energy bar that can be decreased after each task is done, these tasks consist of several activities such as using your tools or fishing, further in the game the player can eat food to replenish his energy bar allowing him to take on more tasks during the day. This is definitely worth a try for fans of Harvest Moon or farming games in general.

Hotline Miami 2012

About
	Release Date October 23, 2012
	Developer Dennaton Games
	Publisher Devolver Digital
	Genre Action Adventure
	Concept Modern
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Sweden

PS Vita Releases
2013-06-25

Hotline Miami is an extremely violent and challenging top-down 2d shooter. You take control of a mysterious silent protagonist, after receiving coded messages on his answer machine ordering him to annihilate several local Russian mafia headquarters, he decides to answer the call and massacre them.

Your goal on each stage is to kill every member you find on your way, this is done by using several guns or even using melee weapons. The game blends stealth and fast-paced action shooting in a very smooth and fun way, but just bear in mind that the game’s difficulty is brutal, making finishing every game’s stage a very fulfilling and rewarding experience.

Papers, Please 2013

About
	Release Date August 08, 2013
	Developer 3909 LLC
	Publisher 3909 LLC
	Genre Puzzle
	Concept Dystopian
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

PS Vita Releases
2017-12-12

Paper Please is a puzzle simulation game, but the game is more of a story-driven experience in my opinion. You play as a border immigration officer, where you spend your work time checking and investing several individuals crossing the borders. The game takes place in a dystopian city where people are suffering from the regime’s oppression.

Your goal is checking their papers and allowing only the people with the proper papers to cross the borders, but that’s not all of it, you have the freedom to do it your way but bear in mind that there are consequences of your choices. You can take bribes, overlook paper flaws such as forgery or stolen documents, making these choices will lead to some interesting events that will surely affect your game’s ending. This is a brilliant game with simple mechanics yet very fun gameplay and awesome storytelling.

Don't Starve 2013

About
	Release Date April 23, 2013
	Developer Klei Entertainment
	Publisher Klei Entertainment
	Genre Survival
	Concept Steampunk
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Canada

Don’t Starve is a 2d top-down sandbox survival game. You have the choice at the beginning of every game to choose between several selections of characters, each one of them with its own abilities. For example, Wilson can grow a beard with time it can protect him from the cold winter, Willow has a unique lighter that she can use at any time to light object or even light it up when night comes.

The game offers a mix of survival and roguelike games offering a fresh and new experience. Your goal is to survive for the longest time as a day counter is appearing on your screen, you can survive by collecting items and crafting several tools, further up you can even build shelters, machines, and many more. Don’t Starve might be very difficult if you’re willing to approach it solo, food can spoil, nights are brutal especially if you are not in a safe and warm place, dehydration and hunger is no joke either, but if you’re into a challenge this is definitely worth it.

Fez 2012

About
	Release Date April 13, 2012
	Developer Polytron
	Publisher Trapdoor
	Genre 2D Platformer
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Canada

PS Vita Releases
2014-03-25

Fez is a brilliant puzzle platformer that blends both fun gameplay with eye-catching visuals that show what the PS Vita is capable of. The game puts you in the shoes of Gomez, a small creature who can use his hat to shift between dimensions. The game revolves around using this ability to rotate the level to reveal new paths, solve puzzles, and find secret locations on each level.

The outstanding visuals add more to the game, offering crisp 2D sprites, amazingly detailed levels, and beautiful hand-drawn backgrounds. All in all, Fez is a 10/10 gamer that delivers a perfect score both in terms of gameplay and visuals.

Thomas Was Alone 2014

About
	Release Date July 24, 2014
	Developer Bithell
	Publisher Bithell
	Genre 2D Platformer
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United Kingdom

PS Vita Releases
2014-04-23

Thomas Was Alone employs a simple design to convey a rich story and addictive gameplay. A narrator narrates your activities in the game, in which you control geometric shapes in a sequence of puzzles. As the narrator relates their story in detail, these shapes develop their personalities, quirks, and perspectives.

As you get a handle on the gameplay, the puzzle becomes increasingly difficult, forcing the player to use his brain to solve it and become more and more attached to the game and its characters. While the graphic design of Thomas Was Alone is minimal, it nonetheless gives a wonderful story experience, engaging gameplay, and a unique challenge for dedicated players.

LIMBO 2010

About
	Release Date July 21, 2010
	Developer Playdead
	Publisher Xbox Game Studios
	Genre 2D Platformer
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

PS Vita Releases
2013-06-04

Limbo is a one-of-a-kind puzzle platformer that combines challenge and darkness into a neat package. Limbo follows the story of an unnamed youngster and has you controlling him through a dark realm full of harsh traps and frightening creatures. Each section asks the player to think his way through various creatures to get to the next one. For example, the youngster may be able to manipulate objects in a precise way to reach the other side, or he may even be able to utilize the surroundings to his advantage to prevent an enemy from pursuing him.

With a dark mood, black and white colors, and distinctive motion, the visuals add to the game offering a unique experience for players who are looking for an artistic game. Overall, Limbo is a must-play for the Vita, since it offers one of the best indie experiences on the system.

The Swapper 2013

About
	Release Date May 30, 2013
	Developer Facepalm Games
	Publisher Facepalm Games
	Genre Puzzle
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin Finland

PS Vita Releases
2014-08-05

The Swapper is yet another one-of-a-kind puzzle platformer on the system. The story follows an unnamed spaceman as he investigates an abandoned space station. The game’s design adds to the narrative by immersing the player in a dark and cruel world.

The core novelty of the game is the ability to make your clones, which can be utilized to solve puzzles creatively by swapping consciousness between them and controlling each one as you see fit. Later in the game, the player is introduced to various lights, distinct clones, and increasingly complex puzzles to solve. If you’re in for a dark puzzle platformer game with a fascinating idea, The Swapper is what you have been looking for.

Bit.Trip Presents... Runner2 Future Legend of Rhythm Alien 2013

About
	Release Date February 26, 2013
	Developer Choice Provisions
	Publisher Choice Provisions
	Genre 2D Platformer
	Players Single Player
	Monetization Buy to Play
	Country of Origin United States

PS Vita Releases
2013-12-17

Runner2 builds on the legacy of its predecessor by providing an incredible endless runner game that is both enjoyable and challenging. The game is essentially a rhythm game in which you control CommanderVideo, the protagonist, as he sprints, slides, and jumps his way through numerous stages. The key to success is to match your moves to the beat, polish your jump landings, and slide through every barrier. The visuals are inspired by retro games, fusing old and new designs to create a distinct style with a steady performance.