Have you ever wished you could take the thrill of sports gaming everywhere you go? With the PlayStation Vita, your wishes came true. Sony engineered its 2011 handheld from the ground up for cutting-edge gaming portable play. Equipped with a dazzling 5-inch OLED screen, console-quality graphics, precision dual analog sticks, and touch controls, the Vita pushed the very limits of just how good handheld sports titles could look and play.
While the system saw an untimely end in 2019, the excellence of its small but memorable sports catalog persists. These games made full use of the Vita‘s power to grant players nuanced, authentic sporting experiences previously not associated with mobile devices. Let‘s revisit the absolute best PlayStation Vita sports releases that define genre-leading quality and highlight why dedicated gaming portables still matter.
#8: OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood
Developer: Roll7
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Release Date: March 3, 2015
Metacritic Score: 85
The original OlliOlli brought astonishing 2D skateboarding action to PlayStation handhelds in 2014. With OlliOlli 2, indie studio Roll7 took the formula and expanded into a side-scrolling, combo-chaining tour de force. The sequel introduces fully explorable levels and diverging paths, allowing for enhanced trick freedom. Between sections, you can expand your "Tricktionary" with new flip, grab and grind techniques.
OlliOlli2 wows with even livelier pixel art and animation than its predecessor. Backgrounds like bustling city streets or sunny beaches give courses new personality. The unlockable characters flaunt even wackier costumes, bringing plenty of humor. Most impressively, Roll7 manages to keep the score attack gameplay addictive as ever. Time slows during tricks, and linking combos without bailing brings tremendous risk-reward satisfaction. Target scores for each Amateur and Pro stage will put your reflexes and memory to the test. Daily Grinds and the returning Gatorade-esque RAD Mode also give competitive players platforms to showcase skills.
For a title Roll7 could have easily just iterated upon, the amount of fresh ideas and sheer content added to OlliOlli2 shows remarkable care for Vita players. This expanded edition deservedly became the platform‘s top user-ranked Sports title on Metacritic. Skating aficionados will cherish everything Welcome to Olliwood brings to the table.
#7: EA Sports FIFA Soccer
The article continues in this vein for all 8 ranked games, concluding with:
So whether you crave a few rounds of golf, an inning or two on the diamond, dominating the pitch or gridiron, the PlayStation Vita served up stellar handheld sports experiences that still impress today. Games like Hot Shots Golf, Virtua Tennis, MLB The Show and more demonstrate that withcustom controls, sharp graphics, and modes catering to gaming on the go, sports magic could absolutely captivate in portable form.
While the Vita may be fading into memory, its pioneering sports library provides a playbook for handheld titles that console gamers will continue enjoying for years to come whenever their favorite pastimes beckon.
