Top 10 best PS Vita games of 2012 (so far)

Sony's great handheld hope has only been out for seven months, yet it's already amassed an impressive library of software.

I mean, there might not be hundreds of titles available for the system, but the sheer quality of the releases more than makes up for that.

If developers can continue producing titles of the same calibre as the ones in our top ten selection below, the future's looking very bright for Sony's young portable.

Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection
By Konami

Admittedly, Peace Walker's absence was a missed opportunity by Konami to give the best portable Metal Gear game a new lease of life. But, even without it, Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection is a bountiful compilation.

Updated with improved visuals, Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3 have never looked better. And thanks to some intelligent tweaks to the controls, the titles feel just as at home on Vita as they did on the PlayStation 2.

Rayman Origins
By Ubisoft

'The best 2D platformer of the last five years'? Quite possibly. And the transition to Vita from home consoles is almost flawless. Multiplayer may have got the chop, but in comes the sharing of time trials and a touchscreen-based Relic hunt.

Rayman Origins is visually arresting, contains a wealth of content, and is a joy to play. Plus, it features one of the catchiest soundtracks in years - we're still humming the Tricky Treasure tune over here at PG Towers.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss
By Bend Studio

Bend Studio's third-person action-platformer is the perfect showcase for the Vita's sheer technological grunt. Seeing Uncharted: Golden Abyss running for the first time is simply shocking. Yes, it looks that good.

But, it's not just about the visual splendour. Golden Abyss offers up a curious peek into protagonist Nathan Drake's exploits before the original (home console) title in the series. This is unquestionably a full-sized adventure on a pocket-sized portable.

Escape Plan
By Fun Bits Interactive

Though the silent-movie era aesthetic in Escape Plan is beautiful, though its Oddworld-esque puzzling is engrossing, and though almost every one of the Vita's inputs is used to great effect in Fun Bits Interactive's title, it's the game's heroes Lil and Laarg that steal the show here.

These inky black misfits are brimming with personality and humour, and by the end of the game you'll want them to escape incarceration as much as they do.

WipEout 2048
By Studio Liverpool

This is far and away the best racer on Vita - even putting its excellent expansion pack to one side for a mo - and quite possibly one of the best portable racers ever. There was never any doubt whatosever that WipEout 2048 would make it onto this list.

Studio Liverpool's sublime speedster has all the key elements of a great futuristic racer: bold design, gravity-defying tracks, vicious rivalries, and solid online play. Most importantly, mind, it's fast. Real fast.

Frobisher Says
By Honeyslug

While many of the Vita's top-tier titles can be described as somewhat po-faced, that's not the kind of accusation that can be levelled at Frobisher Says. Far from it, in fact.

Fanning passengers on a bus to keep them cool, guiding ships into the mouths of monsters, and jumping into plates of jelly are just three of the delightfully wacky activities this game has to offer. This WarioWare-esque mini-game collection is a wonderful slice of ingenious leftfield madness.

MotorStorm RC
By Evolution Studios

MotorStorm RC represents a tantalising glimpse into the future of the Vita's software library. While your initial outlay may be low, you can build up a more engaging experience via additional DLC.

But, spiffy new pricing models do not necessarily a good game make. No, it's this brilliant top-down racing game's comprehensive asynchronous multiplayer suite that guarantees it a place on this particular starting grid.

Gravity Rush
By Sony Europe

Gravity Rush's greatest asset is its intuitive in-air control scheme, which lets you dictate the direction of gravity and zoom through the world.

The game allows for grand movements, as well as tiny gestures, so that zipping about this highly stylised universe is an absolute blast from beginning to end.

Velocity
By FuturLab

Velocity is one of the most inventive shmups in years, and its strength - unlike in most scrolling shooters - lies in its quieter and more thoughtful moments.

The title's key mechanic is teleportation: this facilitates trips back to previous sections of levels. The game even verges on a memory-based action-puzzler at times, asking you to memorise locations of switches while defending yourself against enemies.

Everybody's Golf
By Clap Hanz

Clap Hanz's links-based sports game is the most comprehensive game of golf available on mobiles or handhelds. Don't be fooled by appearances, though: Everybody's Golf's bright and cutesy visuals mask a deep and - at times - brutally difficult representation of Tiger Woods's second-favourite pastime.

There are plenty of customisation options available, loads of tournaments to enter, and a full multiplayer mode to get stuck into here. All of that neatly complements the base gameplay, which - though relatively unchanged from previous outings - is a delight.