Best PSP Vita Platinums – Trophies on the Go

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Callum Marshall

Callum has been around the block within the gaming industry, working as an Editor-in-chief for a number of well-respected gaming outlets, he has worked as a games tester, he has gaming podcast experience, has worked in gaming PR. Basically, you name it, and Callum was probably there or somewhere on the periphery. Outside of gaming, Callum loves skateboarding despite his immediate family telling him to grow up and he is also known to watch the British sitcom Peep Show on repeat and will go toe-to-toe with anyone on Peep Show trivia.

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Ah, the PS Vita. Why did Sony treat this incredible piece of hardware so poorly? I was one of the poor saps that decided to get one of these handheld devices upon release, and I had to watch helplessly as Sony very rapidly phased this console out of existence.

Things started promisingly, with a lineup of fun classic and new titles, which made picking one of these consoles up upon release a no-brainer. However, after a short while, in every gaming event where trailers would showcase the newest games on the Horizon, the PS Vita would seldom feature.

As time passed, Sony turned their attention to the PSVR and various other projects, leaving the PS Vita out in the cold, and it soon became clear that they had abandoned the project. Complete radio silence.

It was devastating to see such a competent and versatile piece of kit get left out in the cold, but as they say, it is better to have loved than to have never loved at all.

I still regularly boot up my Vita, and while it is a lot harder to build a library of titles on the console due to the limitations of the marketplace, it is still a great option for trophy hunters to pick up some unique platinum trophies, and do so on the move.

The PSP Vita gave players access to standalone PS Vita titles, and ports of incredible classic games. It was the only way up until very recently to play JRPG goliaths like Persona 4 Golden, and the console also played host to a number of PS1 Classics too!

Sony may be trying to sweep this under the rug and pretend it never happened, but we certainly aren’t. If there is a way to pick up more trophies while commuting or when visiting your grandma out in the arse-end of the countryside, then we are all for shining a spotlight on it.

So with that in mind, we have put together a list of the best PSP Vita platinum trophies that players can still access in 2023. So if you have one of these gaming relics, and want to squeeze some more enjoyment out of them, then this is your chance. This is Avid Achiever’s Best PSP Vita Platinums Guide!

Selection Criteria

Okay, so before we jump into the action, I’m fully aware of how hard it is to get physical copies of most PSP Vita games. Plus, I know how much of a mess the online store on the console is.

So I have some criteria in mind that will help make this list a relevant one in 2023, and also ensure that the games we list are worth their weight in gold in terms of quality too. Check it out below:

• All games listed will have a realistic means of purchasing in 2023
• All games listed will have full trophy support on PS VITA.
• All games listed will have a Metacritic score of 65% and over.
• PS Classics and ports (Non-PS Vita originals) will be considered for this list, provided they have a unique PS Vita platinum.
• All games listed must offer a full gaming experience. So no throwaway titles like My Name is Mayo.
• All games will have no online trophies to ensure you can obtain platinum in 2023
• Only one entry per franchise.
• We will try and stick to PSP Vita exclusives as much as possible.

Okay, folks, let’s stick it to the corporate suits at Sony and do the thing that they inexplicably don’t want us to do. Enjoy playing the PS Vita. Here we go!

PS Vita Platinums You Need to Pop

#1 – Uncharted: Golden Abyss

• Developer: Bend Studio
• Metacritic Score: 80%

Let’s kick things off with one of the most recognizable modern Playstation entities, Uncharted. The Uncharted series may be all wrapped up as far as Naughty Dog is concerned, but there are still some fun outings that some players may have missed that popped up on the PS Vita. There were actually two of these.

One was a forgettable card game called Fight for Fortune, and the other was a very competent title called Golden Abyss.

If you have played through the older Uncharted adventures, then let me be the first to tell you, Golden Abyss plays very similarly to the first Uncharted title. As this is undoubtedly the weakest in the series, this might not be what you want to hear.

However, when considering that this is a game that runs incredibly well on a handheld device made in 2012, you have to give it props.

This game will have to play through a relatively short Uncharted adventure on the highest difficulty setting to earn the platinum here, and while the hardest difficulty is far from a walk in the park, this is a very attainable platinum. So Nathan Drake fans, here is your chance to jump back into the series!

#2 – The Jak and Daxter Trilogy

• Developer: Naughty Dog/ Mass Media Games
• Metacritic Score: 67%

If you were born in the same era as me, then you will know that PS2 mascots were a dime a dozen back then. Crash, Spyro, Klonoa, Sly, Ratchet & Clank. The list goes on. However, of all these mascot titles, one series stands out as the most fun and accessible to play on the PS Vita, and that is the Jak and Daxter series.

From the cute and cozy days of The Precursor’s Legacy, to the more dark and sinister themes present in Renegade onwards. The Jak and Daxter Trilogy on PS Vita offers a one-stop shop where you can play all three major entries in the series with ease.

While I will admit that the ports are a little shaky in places, they do a good job of offering a handheld version of these titles, and retain all the magic of the original releases. So, full disclosure, you won’t see any more PS mascot bundles like this on the list, mainly because it felt a little too close to the ‘one per franchise’ rule.

However, you can also get PS Vita bundles for the Sly Cooper Collection and all PS2 mainline Ratchet and Clank games. So you might want to check those out too.

#3 – Tearaway

• Developer: Media Molecule
• Metacritic Score: 87%

You might know Media Molecule best for their LittleBigPlanet series, or, more recently, Dreams. However, sandwiched between those projects, they made this charming PS Vita exclusive, (which is also now available on PS4/5) Tearaway.

While it is available on non-handheld devices, the game was built with the PS Vita’s hardware in mind, and as such, the experience is much richer when playing on the go.

The game makes use of the PS Vita camera, as well as the integrated touch back-panels, to offer an immersive and interactive experience, with more than a splash of imagination.

The game is intrinsically linked to LittleBigPlanet both in terms of aesthetics and gameplay. It has a cute and cozy origami theme, the platforming feels tight, the narrative is bursting with whimsy and intrigue, and overall, it showcases exactly what the PS Vita was capable of at launch, much like Astro’s Playroom did for the PS5.

If you play this one on PS4, you are doing the game a disservice, so dust off your Vita and play this game as the developers intended.

#4 – Persona 4 Golden

• Developer: Atlus
• Metacritic Score: 93%

Perhaps this recommendation comes at a strange time, as Persona 3 and Persona 4 recently got new ports for current-gen consoles, making these titles much more accessible. However, up until very recently, the only realistic method of playing Persona 4 Golden was by playing on PS Vita.

The fourth installment in the Persona series was released as a launch title for the system and invited players into this topsy-turvy world of demons, murder, and school assignments.

Persona 4 Golden was regularly referred to as the best entry in the series until Persona 5 came along and blew it out of the water, making Persona a mainstream AAA JRPG series for the masses. However, even though it’s not quite as polished as the newest title, it’s well worth a look.

Especially if you are dying to jump back into Persona’s unique life-sim meets dungeon crawler format. The platinum process will feel like a bit of a chore due to the need for multiple playthroughs and the need to exhaust a lot of branching dialogue options.

However, the game is so brilliant, that a few additional playthroughs feel almost necessary to truly get the most out of this title.

#5 – Severed

• Developer: Drinkbox Studios
• Metacritic Score: 82%

Now for a PS Vita launch title that went very much under the radar, but deserves praise for its unique approach to gameplay and storytelling. This game is a fun twist on the typical dungeon crawler format, offering a first-person perspective like the old Elder Scrolls titles like Arena and Daggerfall.

The game asks the player to wander these narrow corridors and battle the monsters that lurk within. How, you ask? With the use of a touch screen to swipe at your foes, of course.

This game makes great use of the hardware and makes the player feel like they are truly standing before enemies, cutting them down to size. Not to mention, the game also has a zany art style, and a killer soundtrack.

It’s a short but sweet adventure, with a very straightforward platinum. So aside from a few frustrating boss encounters, you should be able to add this to your 100% collection with little to no fuss.

#6 – Sound Shapes

• Developer: SCEA
• Metacritic Score: 84%

Being the cynic that I am. You know? The kind that hates fun. I tend to really loathe most musical rhythm games, and unless they do something truly unique with the medium, then I steer well clear. You won’t catch me on a bloody Dance, Dance, Revolution machine! However, there are some exceptions to the rule.

Games like Guitar Hero, Parappa the Rappa, and most recently, Hi-Fi Rush. Amongst those, I would slip in Sound Shapes, a quaint little platformer that sees you clear levels, building a soundscape as you go.

You’ll start off with a simple beat, and as you collect more pieces of the composition, you’ll eventually build up the backing track until it’s a thumping electro masterpiece.

As a platinum, this is a joy to play through to 100%. There is something very cathartic about building these symphonies with no need for any musical ability or aptitude. You just sleepily work your way through each stage, creating melodies as you go. If you liked games like Rez, The Artful Escape, or LocoRoco, you’d love this.

#7 – Killzone: Mercenary

• Developer: Guerilla Cambridge
• Metacritic Score: 78%

When I speak about Killzone, I also immediately speak of Resistance in the same breath. I have love and respect for both, but I always thought that Resistance was the better of the two. Yet Sony has always favored Killzone for some reason, hence why this series served as a launch title for the PS Vita, as it does with so many PlayStation launches.

That being said, I have to say that this handheld iteration of the series is a very strong one, and does go some way to showing why Sony has put so much trust in the long-running FPS property.

This title offers a great solo campaign, surprisingly competent multiplayer functionality, and enemy AI that puts some mainline console FPS shooters to shame.

Now, I know I promised no online trophies on this list, but I’m making an exception for this one because servers are still up and running, and it’s only one, very accessible trophy.

In short, this is, pound-for-pound, one of the strongest FPS titles of the era, regardless of the hardware it featured on, and once again, showcases just how much the PS Vita had to offer from a technical standpoint.

#8 – Velocity 2X

• Developer: Futurlab
• Metacritic Score: 90%

It’s mad to think that Futurlab would pivot from this high-octane game to creating something as slow-paced and tranquil as Powerwash Simulator, but that’s the gaming industry for you, I guess.

This game is a little hard to describe. It’s somewhat like a 2D platformer, but also like a twin-stick bullet hell shooter, and then it also is a little like a Metroidvania title. What I’m saying is that this game has range.

There are moments where this game plays like Resogun as you move rapidly, with blasters shooting at will. Then in others, you feel like Samus Aran burning your way through enemies as you explore new areas.

Most games that try to marry so many complex design concepts like this end up doing none of them as well as they could have been had they been the main focus, but this game bucks that trend, offering a holistically stunning experience in all departments.

As a platinum, this game will keep you on your toes and make you work for 100% completion, much like one of our 2022 Hardest Platinums, The Knight Witch, does. However, if you work hard to master the mechanics, this platinum is as good as yours.

#9 – Gravity Rush

• Developer: Bluepoint Games
• Metacritic Score: 83%

There is a sub-section of gaming titles I would refer to as cult classics. Games that have garnered huge respect from fans and critics alike, but never quite had their fifteen minutes of fame. Games like Psychonauts, Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil, and Sunset Overdrive. Well, I would put the Gravity Rush series in that camp too.

This game, at its core, is your typical JRPG story, with a familiar progression system and larger-than-life characters. However, what makes this game stand out is the focus on the zero-gravity mechanics that make this world tick, and how the PS Vita accommodates said mechanics.

Through the medium of swiping, tapping, and tilting your Vita, you feel like you are completely in control as you manipulate the laws of physics to do your bidding. This, in turn, makes exploration and combat an absolute blast, and the game looks incredible into the bargain.

Bundle that in with the fact that the platinum is relatively straightforward too, and you have what we trophy hunters call a perfect storm. If you missed this one, be sure to check it out.

#10 – Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation

• Developer: Ubisoft
• Metacritic Score: 70%

What happens when Ubisoft is tasked with making an Assassin’s Creed title on hardware that can’t accommodate 50+ hours of open-world bloating? Well, it just so happens that it leads to a very competent companion title to a mainline AC entry, which, while much more streamlined, still somehow feels a little bloated.

Weirdly impressive that they managed that, but I digress. Liberation was a PS Vita title that launched in tandem with Assassin’s Creed III, using the same engine, and offering a story that enriches the content in the mainline title.

What’s impressive here is that this doesn’t feel like a downgrade from AC titles of the era. It provides smooth platforming, dynamic combat, and an interesting setting to explore. The Assassin’s Creed staples.

Like I said, though, this game still feels a little bloated despite the approximate 8hr runtime, and players will have to spend double if not triple that amount of time gathering collectibles and wrapping up all the loose ends.

Sadly, the game loses its appeal after the main story ends, but for a veteran trophy hunter, some grinding after the party’s over is nothing new. If you happen to be an AC fan who missed this one, this is a game worth picking up.

#11 – Stardew Valley

• Developer: ConcernedApe
• Metacritic Score: 89% (Based on console releases)

This isn’t something that a lot of Stardew Valley fans know, but this game is actually available on PS Vita, a fact that filled me with joy because back then, there was no Android/IOS version to play on the go.

Obviously, this game is on every platform under the sun, and so it should be, so it begs the question. Why suggest playing on the PS Vita? Well, my trophy-loving compadres. It just so happens to be a much easier game to Platinum on the PS Vita.

You see, the game stopped getting updates after version 1.3, meaning that some glitches, such as the Artifacts Glitch, still work, there are fewer fish to collect, and fewer items that need to be crafted.

This is a tough platinum to pop, but with the help of your trusty PS Vita, you can take care of the more time-consuming collection-based trophies much faster, allowing you to focus on Journey of the Prairie King. God, that like arcade game still gives me nightmares.

#12 – Soul Sacrifice

• Developer: SCE Japan
• Metacritic Score: 77%

Are there any Monster Hunter fans out there? Well, if you also happen to be a PS Vita owner, then I might have just helped you uncover a hidden gem.

Soul Sacrifice is a wonderful action RPG that has the player explore lush open areas, battle gruesome monsters, and use a range of weapons and unique abilities to cause serious mayhem.

It takes the open terrain and format of Monster Hunter and Dynasty Warriors, then bundles that together with fast-paced hack-and-slash titles like old-school God of War and God Eater to provide a sublime and satisfying bloodbath.

That being said, when the player isn’t tearing beasts limb from limb, the game also offers an intriguing narrative that offers a series of emotional gut punches and varied endings that are dependent on the player’s choices throughout.

I would say that the implementation of the PS Vita touchscreen and other assets is a little askew at times, as it seems like it was an afterthought. However, it never ruins the experience. In short, this is a lesser-known JRPG that you need to get to know.

#13 – Touch My Katamari

• Developer: Bandai Namco
• Metacritic Score: 69%

Then what better way to wrap things up than with a chance to dive into the surreal and whimsical world of Katamari Damacy? Touch My Katamari is the PS Vita’s own Katamari adventure, and in this game, as you might have guessed. You will help the king of the cosmos roll huge cityscapes up into huge balls of detritus with your Katamari.

This iteration in the franchise is just as weird and wonderful as those that have come before and after, offering lots of replayability and game modes to keep things fun and interesting, and a core gameplay loop that is as simple as it gets, yet it feels impossible to set this game down when you get going.

Due to the simplicity of the gameplay format, which isn’t too far removed from something like the Super Monkey Ball series, it’s a platinum that always feels within reach, but surprisingly, due to the gameplay variety and the ever-increasing level of challenge, only Katamari masters will be claiming 100% in this title.

However, we reckon you can weather the Japanese game show peculiarity and come out the other end with another platinum to your name.

Honorable Mentions

The PS Vita really doesn’t get the respect it deserves. It has a library of incredible games, so much so that I couldn’t give all the standout titles the allocated slot they deserve. However, what I can do is give them a quick mention down below:

• Call of Duty Black Ops: Declassified
• Silent Hill: Book of Memories
• Borderlands 2
• Hotline Miami
• Guacamelee
• Thomas Was Alone
• Unit 13
• The Walking Dead Season 1
• I Miss You

As you can see, even though the PS Vita was taken down in its prime, the console has a very impressive library considering its short life span and the general neglect of Sony.

I have found that with so many AAA releases getting added to our trophy backlog, and the vast amount of indies out there not arriving on Playstation until about a year after most other platforms, there just aren’t enough medium-sized games to play. Not quite a 50+ hour AAA open world, but equally, not a 30-minute trashinum.

The PS Vita is a great way to fill this void and get a stack of Platinums to pad your numbers, and have a great time doing so. I hope that this list motivates all of you guys to dig in your closet and blow the dust off your Vitas. As always, thanks for reading Avid Achievers!

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