It is truly a head of its time, the PlayStation Vita that is. For the first time, a handheld can handle an open-world game without much struggle. Here are seven of the most miraculous open world game on last PlayStation dedicated gaming handheld that is local and not for streaming only.
Best PS vita open world games
7. Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas
Oceanhorn is a charming open-world game that offers a delightful experience, reminiscent of classic titles like Zelda: Link to the Past and Wind Waker. This game is brimming with endless adventures, which really makes an open-world worth playing.
The story begins with an unnamed hero waking up on a small island, discovering a world fragmented into many islands. The quest to reunite the world and find the hero’s father unfolds through thoughtful dialogues and diary-like narrations. The game world might be fractured but it is still vibrant. The entire ordeal is engaging due to constant discovery of new islands.The animation is also fantastic, and the hero is one of the most adorable characters in any RPG.
Exploring the game’s dungeons and solving puzzles evokes old-skool gaming, as everything is reminiscent of Dragon Quest and other classic RPGs. The puzzles are well-designed, offering a mid-level challenge that requires strategic use of available tools. The soundtrack is calming. Oceanhorn is a solid indie adventure game that pays homage to the classics and provides around 10 to 15 hours of enjoyable gameplay.
6. Gravity Rush
We have previously covered Gravity Rush as one of the better action games on the PlayStation Vita. It is also one of the best open world games on the platform.This game offers a unique and exhilarating experience that appeals to many players as it combines amazing gameplay, stunning visuals, and an intriguing story.
In Gravity Rush, players take on the role of Kat, a girl with the extraordinary ability to manipulate gravity, thanks to her mysterious feline companion, Dusty. This gravity manipulation mechanic is the core of the gameplay, allowing Kat to fly around the city, stick to walls, and walk upside down.
The controls may take some getting used to, but once mastered, they offer an incredibly fun and freeing experience. Players can control Kat’s movements using the R trigger and aim using either the right control stick or the Vita’s internal gyroscope for more precise adjustments. Kat’s primary attack is a powerful gravity kick, which can be used both on the ground and in the air, homing in on enemies with precision. The game also features a stasis field that lets Kat pick up and throw objects at enemies.
The narrative of Gravity Rush centers on Kat, an amnesiac girl who awakens in the floating city of Hekseville. Despite the overused trope of an amnesiac protagonist, Kat stands out as a cheerful and optimistic character who quickly adapts to her new life. She sets up her home in a sewer pipe and takes on the role of a superhero, helping the citizens of Hekseville without obsessing over her lost memories.
Gravity Rush is a masterpiece that showcases the capabilities of the PS Vita and offers hours of entertainment. Whether you’re a fan of action-adventure games or simply looking for an open-world game, then Gravity Rush is not a bad pick at all.
5. Dragon Quest Builders
Dragon Quest Builders is exactly as the mainline series: bright colors, expressive characters, familiar monsters, and nostalgic music. Players are quickly drawn into the game’s charming village-building tasks and its myriad of engaging details. The game is crazy good in its world design, seamlessly transitioning from 2D aesthetics to a fully realized 3D environment. The game’s distinctive look, inspired by the retro RPG charm of the Dragon Quest series, is complemented by smooth animations and a delightful interaction system where NPCs celebrate player achievements.
The game is a blend of exploration and crafting, with a focus on building various structures in a designated safe area. Players start by constructing basic rooms and gradually progress to more complex buildings, attracting NPCs who contribute to the village’s defense during enemy attacks. These waves of enemies turn the game into a frantic hack-and-slash experience, where players must fend off attacks and repair damaged structures.
Exploration in Dragon Quest Builders is rewarding despite the protagonist’s limited movement abilities. Players must venture out to gather materials, defeat enemies, and rescue NPCs, with the game’s cycle of exploration and base-building keeping the gameplay loop satisfying. Quests, which range from construction tasks to monster slaying, push players to explore new areas, each with unique materials and challenges. While the game’s simplicity can occasionally feel rudimentary, its core mechanics are well-designed, offering a fun, colorful, and somewhat addictive experience that encourages continuous engagement and discovery.
4. Minecraft: PS Vita Edition
Microsoft’s acquisition of Mojang was followed up by bringing Minecraft: PS Vita Edition to Sony’s handheld of all places. The game’s portable nature with minimal compromise makes it significant, providing a better experience compared to the Pocket Edition on smartphones and tablets. The controls are well-adapted to the Vita, utilizing the twin analog sticks for movement and camera direction, shoulder buttons for interacting with blocks, and the touchscreen for navigating the hot bar and menus.
Minecraft: PS Vita Edition retains the charm and leisurely gameplay of the original, encouraging exploration and creativity. The game’s tutorial helps newcomers get started, while trial and error aids in discovering the deeper mechanics. The day-night cycle adds a layer of challenge, with players needing to build shelters to protect against nighttime dangers. This sense of danger provides focus and makes the crafting system shine, leading from simple beginnings to grand constructions. For a long time, the Vita Edition was the best version of this modern classic title of a game.
3. Akiba’s Trip: Undead and Undressed
This is a game where the portability of the Vita is not its strongest feature. It is not right to play Akiba’s Trip: Undead and Uncensored on anyone’s line of sight. Kidding aside, this open world game offers ridiculous entertainment while having superb gameplay.
Combat revolves around attacking three body parts to wear down enemies’ clothing, leading to a final stripping attack. While the concept of stripping might seem suspect, the game handles it in a non-gratuitous way, treating it as a gameplay mechanic rather than something for pleasure. This aspect, combined with various stripping techniques is a whole new experience that maybe will never be repeated again.
The story is relatively short with multiple endings. Each playthrough doesn’t take much time, making it easier to experience all the different outcomes and choices. The game’s short story length is a boon for replay value, allowing players to explore different paths without feeling burdened by a lengthy narrative. Additionally, the vast collection of weapons provides motivation to replay and try out new combat styles.
2. Toukiden 2
Toukiden 2, the follow-up to Toukiden: The Age of Demons and its re-release, Toukiden: Kiwami, introduces a vast open world divided into six distinct ages. The story picks up after the events of Toukiden: Kiwami, where a catastrophic event called the Awakening has ravaged the world, unleashing monstrous Oni. The narrative begins with a slayer who, after being sucked into the Oni Gate during a massive attack, reappears ten years later in a western village called Mahoroba with amnesia, a familiar trope once again.
In Toukiden 2, a large open world where both main story missions and side quests take place is for the player to take. The introduction of the demon hand, a new gameplay mechanic, enhances the action by enabling players to attack Oni, destroy obstacles, and reach different areas. The game also features various weapons, each affecting the slayer’s agility and attack speed differently. New equipment can be purchased or crafted.
The game’s beautiful art style and character designs are still incredible, and this is despite some graphical downgrades on the PS Vita due to the open-world format. The gameplay remains fluid with a stable frame rate, and the few cinematic cutscenes are well-executed. The soundtrack and Japanese voice acting are strong. Toukiden 2’s exploration, demon hand feature, and ample content make it a worthwhile experience, especially for fans of the series, despite its relatively easy difficulty level.
1. Need for Speed: Most Wanted
It is almost scandalous to have a racing game on the top of the list of open world games. This should not come as a surprise given that Burnout Paradise did it first. The Criterion version of Most Wanted is a strong follow-up to the 2005 original, standing out with its engaging gameplay and impressive visuals. It’s considered better than Hot Pursuit (2010) and The Run.
The game offers an immediate start without a main menu, allowing players to jump right into the action. With most cars and locations unlocked from the beginning, players must find the vehicles in the open world. Features like EasyDrive for car customization, smashing billboards, and evading cops add depth to the gameplay. While cop chases can be too easy, the races are well-designed and varied.
Graphics-wise, this game looks spectacular, specially for a handheld device, offering detailed damage effects, dynamic lighting, and realistic dirt accumulation. The sound design complements the visuals with excellent engine sounds and crash effects. The replayability is high, with numerous side activities like smashing billboards, speed cameras, and finding Jackspots, along with a robust online multiplayer mode–with the latter probably so dead right now.
Need for Speed: Most Wanted excels in providing an engaging racing experience with plenty of content and activities to keep players invested due to its open-worldness.