There are only a few games on the PlayStation Vita, but it has a significant number of terrible games. This is such a reverse Dreamcast situation. Anyway, here are worst PS Vita games enter the hall of shame.
Worst PS vita games ever
7. Top Trumps Turbo
Top Trumps Turbo brings the classic 40-year-old statistics-based card game to the PlayStation Vita. This game, traditionally a social affair involving comparing statistics on themed cards, has been adapted into an electronic single-player experience. In Top Trumps, players choose a statistic from their top card, and the player with the higher value wins both cards, continuing until one player has all the cards. The simplicity and competitive nature of the original game have kept it popular for decades.
Top Trumps Turbo attempts to translate this classic gameplay by introducing a series of mini-games instead of the straightforward card comparison gameplay. Players compete against the CPU, filling a "Turbo" meter to eventually face off in a final traditional Top Trumps match. The amount of cards each player starts with in the final round depends on their performance in the mini-games. Although the concept aims to add variety, the execution is terrible, as the mini-games lack depth and fail to engage players for extended periods. The absence of multiplayer strips away the core social aspect of Top Trumps.
Top Trumps Turbo disappoints with its bland and rushed graphics. The cards lack detail, making it difficult to read them, even on the Vita’s OLED screen. The game’s limited content, offering only six decks,is bizarre.
6. Vegas Party
Vegas Party is another mini-game collection on the handheld. The game takes inspiration from the vibrant and chaotic nature of the Las Vegas Strip. Featuring characters that fit typical Vegas stereotypes, the game still lacks any coherent story, which is especially noticeable in its main 'Strip' mode where players are abruptly kicked out by a mobster-looking casino boss without much context or narrative. The absence of a story and the missed opportunity to delve into the unique storytelling potential of Las Vegas because that is the only thing that makes this game interesting at the very least.
Vegas Party struggles in the gameplay department due to its repetitive nature and poor controls. The game features three modes: practicing mini-games for high scores, a competition mode, and 'The Strip,' a Mario Party-esque board game. Unfortunately, the game is designed for pointer controls, which don't translate well to the Vita's analog stick and gyro controls, making it difficult to interact with the game accurately. This was originally a Wii game, and it is still a Wii game!
The opponent AI swings between being either too easy or frustratingly lucky (more of cheating, actually), removing any real challenge or enjoyment. The mini games themselves vary in quality, with some like blackjack being mildly enjoyable, while others like darts and greyhounds fail to function properly on the Vita.
4. Mind Zero
Mind Zero is a dungeon crawler RPG brought to America from Japan and honestly it should have stayed there. At first glance, it appeared to be a Persona knock-off, which many should find intriguing. The game is heavy on storyline, primarily delivered through spoken dialogue and character portraits. While extensive dialogue isn't inherently bad, in Mind Zero, it disrupts gameplay without contributing significantly to the story. The narrative ends on a cliffhanger, providing no resolutions to the plot's questions, making it frustratingly incomplete.
Characters also lack depth and development, although competent voice acting, and occasional amusing moments offer some respite. The game's similarity to Persona is superficial, sharing only the concept of persona-like creatures and turn-based battles, but lacking the depth and cohesion of the Persona series.
Mind Zero’s gameplay cannot even compensate for the weak story. The battle system is unremarkable and repetitive, and the graphics and music are largely forgettable. The dungeon design is uninspired, leading to monotonous exploration and frequent, dull battles. Long load times are laborious. Playing on expert mode offered little challenge beyond frequent auto-battling, and the disappointing ending after all that is whatever.
3. Valhalla Knights 3
Valhalla Knights 3 is a mediocre RPG but why does this game belong in this list? It has an embarrassing storyline and unnecessary sultry game mechanics. There are a lot of games on the Vita that have this sexual content, but Valhalla Knights 3 is serious about it. It is super rapey.
The combat system has some redeeming qualities with action-oriented mechanics, combo moves, and the ability to switch between party members during battles. This system provides a dynamic experience, especially with the added feature of reviving fallen characters within a limited time. Additionally, the game includes an online PvP mode, allowing players to test their combat skills against others. Despite these positive aspects, the overall gameplay is marred by a lack of autosave, poor navigation aids, and buried quest objectives, making it frustrating to progress, particularly for a portable game meant to be played in shorter sessions.
Most importantly, Valhalla Knights 3 introduces bizarre and uncomfortable mechanics, such as the "Sexy Time" feature, where players must buy gifts for female characters to recruit them into their party. This, along with the lack of a cohesive story and meaningful character development, makes the entire game insufferable.
2. Chronovolt
Chronovolt is one of the worst among the worst reviewed Vita titles, showcasing an exceptional level of failure. The game's plot, revolving around a girl inside a silver metal ball chasing an evil scientist may have potential but that’s it. Well, this is more of an arcade game, who needs a story? That was the point, the story could have been the only positive thing about this game, but even that is ugh.
As for the gameplay, it was initially promising with its Super Monkey Ball-like mechanics, but it quickly becomes evident that it ain’t nothing like it. The levels are poorly designed, often requiring players to collect keys to progress, which disrupts the flow and makes the game tedious. The camera controls are particularly frustrating, split between the right analog stick and the D-pad, making it nearly impossible to maneuver effectively. The game's graphics are also subpar.
Moreover, Chronovolt's time manipulation mechanics, intended to add depth, end up being a hindrance. The rewind function is slow and disrupts the gameplay, while the ability to freeze objects and instantly kill enemies makes the game too easy. The leaderboard, another potential redeeming feature, is dysfunctional, failing to update times accurately and rendering the competitive aspect meaningless. Coupled with performance-based microtransactions, Chronovolt’s design choices reflect greed and incompetence, solidifying its place as one of the Vita's worst games..
1. Ridge Racer
The latest iteration of Ridge Racer on the PlayStation Vita has strayed from its roots. Instead of the straightforward arcade thrills of its predecessors, this version integrates a convoluted social gaming framework that detracts from the experience. Players are forced to align with one of four sponsors, and their in-game successes contribute to a global leaderboard. Unfortunately, this meta-game offers little in the way of tangible rewards or engaging objectives, resulting in a lackluster and uninspiring gameplay loop that fails to capture the charm of the original arcade racer.
Further compounding the issue is the game's flawed progression system. Upgrades and improvements are gated behind a grind-heavy mechanic, requiring repeated races on the limited tracks available. The addition of RPG-like leveling and car modifications shifts the focus from skill to persistence, undermining the intrinsic rewards of mastering the game. Multiplayer modes suffer from imbalance due to these upgrades, and offline play is severely restricted, making the overall experience feel disjointed and unsatisfying. Despite retaining its classic handling, the game's structure and design choices have rendered it a significant disappointment. You know you are in a bad place when Asphalt Injection, a racing game of mobile origins which plays like a Flash-based browser game, is a a much much better game.