Top 3 RPG PS Vita Games of 2013

1. Ys: Memories of Celceta

If you’re familiar with the previous entries in the Ys series, then Ys: Memories of Celceta should make you feel right at home with its gameplay. The core is preserved, with various new additions that make the overall experience more diverse and interesting. For those of you who’re unfamiliar with the titles, the game is a party-based action RPG, where you can not only upgrade the statistics of your characters, but also of the equipment they’re using, by crafting it together with various special ingredients.

The quality of writing is superb, as you are likely expecting if you’re coming from a previous title, and this is one of the games that have the potential to keep you practically glued to your Vita from start to finish. You’ll find it hard to let go of your console after the action really gets going, and that’s not even an exaggeration!

2. Atelier Totori Plus: The Adventurer of Arland

While some are claiming that the Atelier series is nearing its end, the truth is quite the opposite of that – it’s still going quite strong, and the latest installment – Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland – is a shining example of that. The game expands on the established storyline, and continues a few years after the last one left off.

Combat is turn-based, with some interesting twists to the standard formula, and it manages to feel fresh even today, in a time when this genre is considered borderline depleted. In addition, it retains a very peculiar feeling that you won’t find in many other contemporary RPGs. While most other games in this genre are trying to create large, vast worlds that make you feel like you’re part of something grand, the latest Atelier feels more modest, closer to home – and this is by no means a bad thing. It’s the kind of game that you can truly immerse yourself into, and feel like you’re really living through a unique adventure yourself.

3. Muramasa Rebirth

A game for fans of darker stories, Muramasa Rebirth can easily send shivers down your spine after less than an hour spent with the game. It’s hard to describe the plot in a few sentences, as it’s quite complex and involves multiple intertwining stories, but rest assured that it’s good enough to satisfy even the most pretentious appetite for a good story.

The art style overall feels very tight and consistent, something which has been a problem with RPGs on the Vita lately for some reason. The sounds and music complement everything beautifully, and it’s all topped off by gameplay that brings several new elements to the table, making the whole experience feel really fresh and unique. It’s worth noting that despite the fact that the game relies on multiple unique gameplay features that you’ve never seen before, it manages to keep the whole experience very smooth and straightforward. Everything is explained clearly, and you won’t feel overwhelmed with new information at any point. Quite on the contrary, it often only takes one example to understand how everything works and remember it for good.