The PS Vita, which was first released back in 2011, was way ahead of its time and accrued a massive library of excellent games during its lifecycle. Following on from Sony’s hugely successful PSP console, the Vita’s second analog stick makes shooter games perfect for the handheld device. Throughout the console’s lifetime, PS Vita gamers were treated to exclusive shooters from the likes of Killzone and Call of Duty, and many of these titles can still only be enjoyed on the Vita.
From indie games to AAA shooters, there is something for everyone on Sony’s beloved handheld device. The Vita’s stunning OLED screen on the original model and decent battery life make playing shooter games a real joy, even by today's standards. Sony may have moved on from the Vita quite some time ago, with production ending in 2019, but there are several games on the console worth revisiting, especially shooters.
6 Unit 13
Unit 13 is a PS Vita exclusive, which came out very early on in the PS Vita’s life. The game developed by Zipper Interactive is a third-person shooter, with a basic cover system and solid shooting mechanics. It may not sound all that appealing, but Unit 13's gameplay is smooth, and the graphics were solid at the time. It also turned out to be one of the very few military-style shooters to be released on the handheld device.
The studio closed shortly after the game’s release, so there was never a sequel. That’s a real shame as the gameplay still holds up today, and it would have been interesting to see how far the franchise could have gone. Nonetheless, there is still plenty to do in Unit 13, and this shooter should definitely be revisited on the PS Vita.
5 Killzone: Mercenary
Not only is Killzone: Mercenary one of the best games on the PS Vita, but it’s also highly regarded as one of the best Killzone games of all time. When this shooter was first released, the game developed by Guerrilla Cambridge was praised for its stellar gameplay and stunning graphics.
The controls are excellent and easy to master, making this a great choice for on-the-go gaming. It also has a perfect blend of touch-screen gimmicks - which show off the Vita’s capabilities - and traditional controller gameplay. The story is a bit strange, and the campaign could be two or three hours longer, but Killzone: Mercenary remains a must-play for PS Vita fans and can still provide hours of shooting fun on the go.
4 Call Of Duty: Black Ops Declassified
Fans of this popular franchise only have one Call of Duty game to play on Sony’s handheld Vita device. Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified might not be the best Call of Duty game of all time, but seeing the core gameplay on a small, handheld device was a joy to behold when it first hit stores back in 2012.
This particular game takes place between Black Ops and Black Ops II’s timeline and was released within the first year of the console’s lifespan. It certainly received its fair share of criticism early on but Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified has picked up somewhat of a cult following over the years. Online multiplayer has kept the game alive and kicking and fans of the franchise should give this one another go.
3 Resistance: Burning Skies
Resistance: Burning Skies remains the only game of the Resistance franchise brought to the PS Vita. Fans of Resistance will have to pick up a Vita to play this one, as this Sony-published shooter remains an exclusive for the handheld device.
Although not the best in the series, Burning Skies is still worth revisiting on the PS Vita. Players take control of firefighter Tom Riley, who has more to worry about than just putting out fires. It’s certainly a unique shooter and should not be missed on Sony’s most recent handheld.
2 Borderlands 2
Borderlands 2 is available on pretty much every previous-gen platform one can think of, including PS4 and Xbox One. However, until the Nintendo Switch version was released as part of the Borderlands Legendary Collection in May 2020, the PS Vita was the best and only way to enjoy Borderlands 2 on the go.
It has been plagued by well-documented frame rate issues since launch, but this is still a solid Borderlands title on the PS Vita, with memorable characters and solid gameplay. The story is simple, making Borderlands 2 perfect for newcomers, too.
1 Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition
In 2015, Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition was released via PlayStation Network for the PS3 and PS Vita. Players were first introduced to Duke Nukem back in 1991, and Duke Nukem 3D was initially released on PC in 1996.
This differs from everything else on the list, but the gameplay is as thrilling as 90s gamers will remember and the voice-acting remains as incredible as it did back then. For a game so old, Duke Nukem 3D received positive reviews when it was released on the PS Vita back in 2015, and this edition of Duke Nukem chaos should not be missed on Sony's handheld.