2015 has started off strong for handheld games. This week Code Name S.T.E.A.M. and Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters hit the 3DS and Vita respectively, and earlier in February the New 3DS launched alongside Majora’s Mask 3D and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. What’s really exciting is that the year is just getting started because there are a ton of fantastic handheld games on the horizon and many of them will likely be some of the best games of the year.
Here are 15 3DS and Vita games to look forward to in 2015 that highlight the variety and quality of this year’s releases.
Axiom Verge
Platforms: Cross Buy PS4/Vita, PC
Release Date: PS4 version March 31, Vita and PC versions to follow
If you are a fan of Metroid-inspired titles, you need to have Axiom Verge on your radar as it looks like it could compete with the best of the genre. I got the chance to play the game myself at The PlayStation Experience and came away impressed by the slick aesthetics, strong level design, and empowering controls. A large arsenal of weapons offers a satisfying amount of variety and the best part is it’s easy to swap between them in real time.
If you’re curious to learn more about Axiom Verge take a look at our feature delving into the history of its development here.
Box Boy!
Platforms: 3DS eShop
Release Date: Spring
If you have any nostalgia for the TI-86 Calculator classic Box Guy, you may be instantly smitten with Box Boy! by Hal Laboratories, the creators of Kirby. Box Boy! is a puzzle game where you control a sentient box and must navigate perilous monochrome environments to reach the exit. Box Boy expands, sort’ve like a snake, to create boxes he can either throw to use as platforms, use as a shield to evade lasers, or as a bridge to navigate tight, winding corridors.
BlazBlue Chronophantasma Extend
Platforms: Vita, PS3, PS4, Xbox One
Release Date: Summer
The BlazBlue releases on Vita are some of the best fighting games on the platform and Chronphantasma Extend should be no different. Chronophantasma Extend boasts 28 unique characters, excellent fighting mechanics, and tons of story scenarios new and old for fans to dig into. BlazBlue controls well with the d-pad and four face buttons, and the graphics look especially sharp on the OLED screen which allows an uncompromised BlazBlue experienceon the Vita.
Cosmic Star Heroine
Platforms: Vita, PS4, PC, Mac
Release Date: 2015
Zeboyd Games, best known for RPGs like Cthulhu Saves The World and the third and fourth episodes of the Penny Arcade Adventures, is tackling science fiction in their next RPG. Not only does it look like Chrono Trigger, the controls are almost exactly like the classic RPG right down to the diagonal strafing. While I appreciated that familiarity when I played a demo, the unique battle system based on managing and restoring many single-use moves, as well as the sharp writing, should be the real highlights.
Danganronpa Another Episode
Platforms: Vita
Release Date: Fall
Danganronpa Another Episode tells a dark story of children leading a revolution against adults. Despite being a side story, you will want to have finished both of the main Danganronpa games to avoid being spoiled when characters from those two games weave in and out of the story. Another Episode controls like a third-person shooter and the emphasis is on conquering different puzzle rooms, but text that you would expect from a core entry is present.
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