What Kind of Games Can I Download for the PS Vita? GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Gaming > Game Play
What Kind of Games Can I Download for the PS Vita?
By Niko Silvester Niko Silvester Writer Nova Scotia College of Art and Design Niko Silvester is a former freelance contributor for Lifewire and a video game junkie who draws her own comics when she's not playing games on her PSP. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on April 2, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Game Play Consoles & PCs Gaming Services Game Play & Streaming Mobile Gaming If you're looking for digital video games for your PlayStation Vita, the only place you're going to find them is the PlayStation Store. The PlayStation Store has several categories of downloadable games, and not all of them are compatible with the Vita. Below are the different kinds of games you'll find there and whether or not you can play them on Sony's handheld. Sony discontinued the PlayStation Vita in 2019, halting all hardware and physical game production. Digital games are still available via the PlayStation Store. Kiyoshi Ota /Getty Images PS Vita Retail Games
Any retail game marked as a PS Vita game, whether it's a boxed cartridge from a retail shop, a retail card with download code, or a download purchased directly from the PlayStation Store, is playable on any PS Vita. And the PS Vita has region-free games, just like the PSP did, meaning you can import games from other regions (or download them, if you set up a PlayStation network account in another region). PSP Retail Games
All PlayStation Portable retail games are also playable on the PS Vita, but only if they're downloaded from the PlayStation Store. UMDs won't work in the PS Vita, so don't expect to buy a packaged game at a store and play in on your PS Vita. PS3 Retail Games
You can't download and play PlayStation 3 titles on a Vita, although some PS3 games do have Vita ports. But, you can play some PS3 games remotely via Sony's Remote Play feature, which streams the game from your console to your handheld. Demos
Currently, PSP demos won't run on a PS Vita, though the actual games will. PSOne Classics
PSOne Classics is a line of games originally published for the PlayStation (aka PSOne). These games are ports and are not re-tooled in any way except to make them playable with PSP controls. Some older titles, like the first two Final Fantasy games, were released with graphics and gameplay updates, but are not part of the PSOne Classics line. Only a select few PSOne Classics work on a PS Vita. Neo Geo PC Engine Games
These games are ports of classic Neo Geo and PC Engine games, similar to the PSOne Classics line. They're supported by the current PS Vita firmware and should run just fine. Japan Imports
The Japan Imports line may or may not work on a Vita. Even if they do work, they don't feature English localization. PS2 Classics
The PS2 Classics line is a follow-up to the popular PSOne Classics and presents PS2 games minimally re-tooled to run on a PS3. Some of them are playable on the Vita. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire PS4 backwards compatibility: Can You Play PS1, PS2, and PS3 Games on PS4? How to Set Up Remote Play for Your PSP and PS3 Complete Guide to the PS Vita What Is PlayStation Plus? PSP and PS Vita Side by Side The 7 Best PS Vita Apps to Download in 2022 PS Vita Compatible Media and Memory Cards The 8 Best PlayStation Emulators for Desktop PCs in 2022 How to Play PSP Games on Your TV How to Play PS4 Games on a PC Playstation Portable (PSP) Model Specifications PlayStation 6: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors How to Play Music on a PS Vita Game Console Is the PS5 Backward Compatible with PS3 Games and Accessories? PlayStation Mobile Controller: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; & More Rumors The Strengths and Weaknesses of the PSP Models Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies