Launched in 2011 as the successor to Sony‘s popular PlayStation Portable, the PlayStation Vita quickly built a reputation as a powerful mobile gaming system. With cutting-edge graphics powered by a quad-core processor, a beautiful 5-inch OLED display, dual analog sticks for enhanced controls and rich multiplayer features, the PS Vita seemed primed to deliver immersive AAA gaming experiences on the go.
It was also perfectly suited for the burgeoning survival game genre. As opposed to action games focused on defeating enemies or platformers centered around navigating obstacles, survival games transported players to unforgiving environments and challenged them to find essential resources, evade or battle threats, endure harsh conditions and ultimately escape alive. Instead of quick gameplay bursts, they offered engrossing, stressful adventures demanding complex decision-making.
The PS Vita‘s impressive specs allowed developers to craft stunningly atmospheric survival settings for players to immerse themselves in. The combination of anxiety-inducing scenarios and high production values made for terrifying yet addicting gameplay that appealed strongly to maturing gaming palates.
While the PS Vita‘s truncated lifespan meant its survival library wasn‘t extensive, the console still hosted some all-time greats that should not be overlooked. For survival connoisseurs, these games capture the genre at its best – vicious enemies, sparse resources and minimal guidance combined to create unbelievably tense, utterly absorbing challenges tailor-made for PS Vita.
Let‘s rediscover 7 survival masterpieces that represent the pinnacle of PlayStation Vita‘s offerings:
#7: Corpse Party: Blood Drive
- Metascore: 60
- User Score: 7.8
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Horror
- Rating: Mature
- Multiplayer: No
- Release Date: October 2015
The Corpse Party franchise has built a cult following for its twisted take on Japanese horror tropes. As the third and final chapter, Blood Drive continues the haunted school saga with deeper investigation sim elements.
You again take control of high school students trapped in the surreal, cursed grounds of Heavenly Host Elementary. This time however, the setting shifts to explore previously unseen areas of the deteriorating school grounds in full 3D.
Along with avoiding grotesque ghostly enemies, Blood Drive also has players searching cadavers, disarming traps and solving environmental puzzles to trigger cutscenes that advance the disturbing story. While combat and chases still occur, these point-and-click style forensic investigation portions create rising tension given limited resources. Supporting characters can perish based on poorly considered choices, lending weight to every decision.
Reviewers praised Blood Drive‘s unnerving atmosphere and story conclusion, while noting the expanded gameplay elements helped offset middling graphics and frustrating backtracking across the aging port. Survival purists will relish the amplified sense of danger and dread permeating every unsettling school corridor.
#6: Resident Evil Revelations 2
- Metascore: 65
- User Score: 8.2
- Genres: Action, Horror
- Rating: Mature
- Multiplayer: 2 Player (Ad Hoc)
- Release Date: August 2015
It‘s impossible to discuss survival horror history without including flagship zombie series Resident Evil. Despite eroding sales for the main series, this franchise spinoff provided a strong effort blending action and atmosphere on PS Vita.
The story follows Claire Redfield of Resident Evil 2 and newcomer Moira Burton, daughter of weapons expert Barry Burton. Both work for an NGO aiding biohazard outbreak victims when they are kidnapped and transported to a deserted island prison facility overrun with afflicted corpses.
You control both women in split plot lines as they cautiously explore restricted areas, scavenge for weapons and tools, solve environmental puzzles to unlock pathways, and fend off attackers including hulking mutants. Ammo must be conserved while health items are scarce, forcing difficult choices at every turn.
Reviewers felt Revelations 2 made smart graphical compromises enabling fast-paced combat without excessive drops. The expanded arsenal and partner-driven mechanics also enhanced engagement across shorter, score-driven Raid mode missions. While PlayStation Vita wasn‘t the optimal platform, this entry captured franchise highlights admirably.
#5: Dead Nation
- Metascore: 68
- User Score: 7.8
- Genres: Action, Shooter
- Rating: Mature
- Multiplayer: 2 Player (Ad Hoc)
- Release Date: April 2014
For those seeking raw action over slow-burn horror, Dead Nation delivered furious top-down twin stick mayhem. As one of the earliest PlayStation Vita releases, it set a benchmark for polish and content.
You begin the outbreak already underway, thrust straight into devastated city streets and sewers teeming with the infected. Intuitive dual stick shooting controls keep the pressure high as swarms of zombies charge from all sides. Levels mix open arenas with winding pathways, while environmental hazards like explosive barrels and electricity keep players on edge.
As stages progress, new mutation types and intimidating boss enemies provide fresh challenges. Fortunately, weapons also upgrade significantly – sledgehammers and plasma rifles ultimately rain destruction upon the encroaching hordes. Limited use secondary weapons like grenades help escape overwhelming situations, while discovered XPs boost health, damage and more.
Critics universally praised Dead Nation‘s responsive controls and impressive graphical fidelity that brought zombie chaos to life. The sheer diversity of locations, enemies, weapons kept the campaign feeling fresh far longer than competitors. Addictive gameplay trumped shallow characterization – this was arcade adrenaline at its finest.
#4: Yomawari: Night Alone
- Metascore: 75
- User Score: 8.1
- Genres: Action, Horror
- Rating: Teen
- Multiplayer: No
- Release Date: October 2016
While many survival titles emphasized combat, Yomawari took an entirely different approach. There are no weapons against the nightmarish creatures – only wits and reflexes.
You play a young girl searching for her missing sister and pet dog in her now desolate hometown. The previously idyllic streets have become shrouded in darkness and stalked by menacing spirits drawn from Japanese myth. With only a flashlight‘s glow piercing the gloom, you must sneak past improvised traps and remain unseen. If spotted, relying on speed and obscuring terrain are your only hopes of escape.
With minimal combat options, careful observation and recalling enemy behaviors is crucial to determine safe routes. Flickering lights, unnatural noises and disturbing scenery unsettle without overtly attacking. Each environment tells an unnerving story both visually and through chilling collectible descriptions. Death comes swiftly by underestimating any threat – or overconfidence regarding short-cuts.
Reviewers applauded the eerie atmosphere and sense of childlike wonder and dread permeating the subtly supernatural setting. The art style enhanced darker themes without fully abandoning youthful charm – a balancing act many found engrossing. Slower players were rewarded discovering additional narrative threads.
#3: Lone Survivor: The Director‘s Cut
- Metascore: 81
- User Score: 8.0
- Genres: Action, Horror
- Rating: Mature
- Multiplayer: No
- Release Date: November 2013
Another standout survival title, Lone Survivor took inspiration from early Silent Hill entries with its psychological tension. Strictly limiting supplies forces difficult personal judgement calls.
You control the unnamed protagonist seemingly alone amidst chaos in an apartment complex. Monstrous creatures roam corridors and rooms searching for their next meal. Combat is ill-advised with severely limited ammunition. Light sources like flares are equally rare. Finding keys to unlock new areas becomes primary goal.
However, scouring every location is impossible – players must determine what constitutes progress versus unnecessary risks. Double back or descend to more dangerous floors? Will that stranger‘s plea for help provide aid or Improvised health items stave off infection while draining morale and mental health further? Unreliable memories make discerning reality from hallucination impossible.
Reviewers applauded the lo-fi visuals and sound design for enhancing immersion tremendously. The sense of isolation and questionable sanity while navigating environments distinguishes this as one of PlayStation Vita‘s best psychological thrillers. Players longing for the early days of survival horror will be richly rewarded.
#2: The Walking Dead: Season One
- Metascore: 82
- User Score: 8.0
- Genres: Adventure, Horror
- Rating: Mature
- Multiplayer: No
- Release Date: August 2014
While adapting the comic and show directly, Telltale‘s episodic adventure captured emotional survival themes beautifully by focusing on personal relationships strained by unimaginable crisis.
You control Lee Everett, a man granted a second chance in the midst of society‘s collapse. He soon becomes guardian to orphaned Clementine, with difficult conversations shaping how she develops amidst horrors no child should witness. Other survivors present new opportunities or threats – choosing trust often backfires, but self-interest dooms everyone eventually.
Sequences feature more environmental problem-solving than combat versus zombies. Most intense moments instead involve high-stakes conversations – hearing different perspectives is valuable, but challenge can fracture alliances at pivotal times. As resources dwindle and the undead spread, keeping spirits up proves essential long-term.
Powerful writing and performances were rightly praised for creating an interactive drama critics called a benchmark for video game storytelling. The player‘s bond with Clementine anchored every heart-wrenching development and choice. Emotional survival was as impactful as escaping undead – a remarkable achievement.
#1: Minecraft
- Metascore: 84
- User Score: 7.4
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Simulation
- Rating: Everyone 10+
- Multiplayer: 4 Player (Ad Hoc)
- Release Date: October 2014
Despite blocky visuals belying depth, Minecraft distilled survival mechanics to sheer essence. Thrust into an intimidating open world, gathering essential resources allows players freedom to ultimately thrive through their own creativity.
Shelter must be constructed while vital materials are harvested from the environment. Crafting tools and stronger armor unlocks additional building capabilities in turn. Wilderness hazards include lethal lava, explosive Creepers and Skeletons attacking on sight. Once a sustainable food source and bed are obtained, players can explore further biomes by day while resting to recover at night.
The defining Creative and Survival modes offer contrasting appeals. Pure creation delivers unlimited building materials and no health restrictions, facilitating grand designs without penalty for experimentation. Survival forces careful planning around dangers and supply limitations in order to assemble functional sanctuaries piece by piece.
Both critics and players praised the liberating gameplay loop granting nearly unlimited options once basics are secured. Creative mode established Minecraft as a video game community allowing collaborative construction fueling imagination. Survival earned acclaim for distilling the need to work within severe environmental constraints in order to ultimately leave one‘s mark on the virtual landscape.
Comparative Overview
The PlayStation Vita‘s hardware strengths and launch timing coincided perfectly with survival horror gaming‘s rising prominence following the success of 2009 releases Demon‘s Souls and Amnesia: The Dark Descent. As these tables illustrate, the handheld hosted a diverse library of acclaimed survival titles across significantly overlapping genres:
Themes & Subject Matter
| Game | Theme | Setting |
|---|---|---|
| Corpse Party: Blood Drive | Japanese supernatural horror | Abandoned school |
| Resident Evil Revelations 2 | Action-oriented zombie outbreak | Island prison |
| Dead Nation | Fast-paced zombie shooter | City streets & sewers |
| Yomawari: Night Alone | Story-driven Japanese horror | Small town |
| Lone Survivor | Psychological tension | Apartment complex |
| The Walking Dead | Relationship-focused zombie drama | Rural Georgia |
| Minecraft | Open world crafting & creation | Procedural forests, deserts etc. |
Core Gameplay Elements
| Game | Combat | Exploration | Resource Management | Environmental Storytelling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corpse Party: Blood Drive | Limited | Extensive | High | High |
| Resident Evil Revelations 2 | Frequent | Moderate | High | Moderate |
| Dead Nation | Constant | Minimal | Minimal | Minimal |
| Yomawari: Night Alone | Avoidance | Extensive | Moderate | High |
| Lone Survivor | Limited | Extensive | High | High |
| The Walking Dead | Minimal | Moderate | Moderate | High |
| Minecraft | Situational | Open World | Severe Limits | Personal Creativity |
Critical Reception
| Game | Metascore | User Score |
|---|---|---|
| Corpse Party: Blood Drive | 60 | 7.8 |
| Resident Evil Revelations 2 | 65 | 8.2 |
| Dead Nation | 68 | 7.8 |
| Yomawari: Night Alone | 75 | 8.1 |
| Lone Survivor: Director‘s Cut | 81 | 8.0 |
| The Walking Dead: Season One | 82 | 8.0 |
| Minecraft | 84 | 7.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best PlayStation Vita survival game ever?
According to cumulative critical reception based on Metascore and user reviews, Minecraft is the definitive PlayStation Vita survival experience. Its open world freedom anchored to tense resource gathering and navigating lethal enemies captures the genre perfectly.
Does PS Vita still support Minecraft updates?
Unfortunately further Minecraft updates ended alongside official new game submissions for PS Vita in July 2021. Owners can still enjoy the full original version‘s features including mod support, but will be unable to access newer content released on other platforms subsequently.
How did PS Vita‘s unique features and limitations affect survival game development?
The PS Vita‘s advanced yet capped specifications enabled strong portrayals of isolation vital for survival horror, while restricting sprawling open worlds. Motion sensors heightened certain stealth and shooting mechanics. Minimal multiplayer outside ad hoc modes focused efforts strongly on solo campaign quality. Short battery life discouraged overly long play sessions better spent on home consoles.
Which genres commonly blended with Survival games on PS Vita?
Developers frequently incorporated Horror and Action elements into PS Vita survival experiences leading to intense atmospheres. Adventure aspects expanded environmental storytelling and world-building between resource management or combat encounters. The handheld‘s controls also made First-Person Shooter mechanics viable in moderation.
With Sony halting new releases, what does PS Vita‘s survival catalog legacy look like going forward?
Lacking new titles, nostalgic gamers are revisiting PlayStation Vita‘s library and finding its best survival entries hugely influential on modern indie releases. Limited ammunition, punishing combat and distrustful characterization are directly inspired by PS Vita era designs. Support continues through fans developing ports, spiritual successors and homebrew hacks expanding beloved franchises‘ presence.
