Incoming! The most exciting 3DS and PS Vita games for May

The sun is peeping out from behind the clouds, and the rain has beaten a hasty retreat. Thankfully.

Yup, May is well and truly here.

Forget about the UK weather, though: there's a whole host of exciting Nintendo 3DS and PS Vita games heading your way over the next month.

So, get ready for some AAA big-shot releases, indie RPGs, classic Nintendo characters, long-awaited adventure games, and much more. If you're a handheld gamer, then May might just become your all-time favourite month.

Note that this isn't a comprehensive list of games coming out in May on 3DS and Vita. There are plenty of download-only games set to surprise us all each and every week on the eShop and PSN Stores.

The Denpa Men 2: Beyond the Waves
By Genius Sonority - coming to 3DS on May 2nd

In spite of its ridiculous name, The Denpa Men: They Came By Wave was a wonderful downloadable RPG. Cute and silly visuals were backed up by deep, demanding gameplay.

It's fair to say, then, that we're looking forward to seeing if The Denpa Men 2: Beyond the Waves follows in the footsteps of They Came By Wave.

Our only real criticism of the original game was that it became a little too samey after a while. Hopefully, Genius Sonority took heed.

Mario & Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move
By Nintendo - coming to 3DS on May 9th

The Mario & Donkey Kong: Minis series is one of those underrated franchises. You know, the games always earn rave reviews, yet they're rarely brought up in video game conversations.

Revealed just two weeks ago during the latest Nintendo Direct broadcast, the latest instalment in the series looks like a Mini Mario-infused version of Pipe Mania.

Okay, so there's considerably more to Minis on the Move than that, including all sorts of weird and wacky ideas, but the point still stands. Sort of.

Fast & Furious: Showdown
By Firebrand Games - coming to 3DS on May 21st

As a rule of thumb, be wary of video game film tie-ins. A lot of the time they are hugely average, due in part to the strict deadlines on development.

Fast & Furious: Showdown is a tie-in for upcoming nitrous-filled action movie Fast & Furious 6. PG production editor Rich tells me The Rock's in it. Which is nice.

The events of this game lead up to the sixth - yes, sixth! - instalment in this long-running movie franchise, which accelerates into UK cinemas on May 17th.

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
By Monster Games - coming to 3DS on May 24th

Donkey Kong Country Returns on Nintendo Wii was difficult. Actually, it was 'take this controller and throw it through every window in this house' difficult.

It's clear that Ninty is aware of this, for this 3DS port has been watered down to such a degree that it's possible to, you know, beat the damn thing.

With this in mind, I can't wait to get my hands on this, for hidden between the painfully tricky sections of the Wii version was a genuinely great platformer.

Machinarium
By Amanita Design - coming to PS Vita on May 1st

European PS Vita owners are finally getting this classic 2009 adventure game about the little robot (Josef) who could. Oh, and it's totally been worth the wait.

As you guide Josef out of the scrapheap and into the city, you'll uncover an underground gang that is planning some devious acts. Subsequently, you'll have to save your love interest.

It's all rather delightful, with gorgeous animations and wonderfully informative picture bubbles. If you haven't played this game before, download it the second it comes out on Vita.

Zombie Tycoon 2
By Frima Studio - coming to PS Vita on May 1st

We thoroughly enjoyed the original Zombie Tycoon, a real-time strategy game in which you control the zombie hordes, rather than fend them off.

This upcoming sequel is, in truth, more of the same, as you take the hordes onto the battlefield once again.

Saying that, Frima Studio does appear to be focusing even more on the comedy angle this time around.

Hopefully, we'll get a tad more variety this time around, too. There are only so many zombie games we can take before the genre eats its own brains.

Velocity Ultra
By FuturLab - coming to PS Vita on May 15th

The original Velocity on PS minis was essential download material. This is a fact.

Given that incontrovertible truth, the prospect of Velocity Ultra - an enhanced super-port of the minis version - is a ruddy exciting one.

With new art; a refined control system; and lots of little alterations to the original here and there, Velocity Ultra could well turn out to be the definitive Vita game. Let's hope so, eh.

Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery
By Lucid Games - coming to PS Vita in May

Although Lucid Games hasn't given us a set date for the maiden instalment in this episodic puzzler, we do know that the first episode will be available sometime in May.

Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery is a more casual title than the average PS Vita gamer will no doubt be used to. Here, you see, the focus is on building a gorgeous cartoony world.

But will it be much cop? We're hoping 'yes'. And we presume you are, too.