1. Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (PS VIta) ; Ahhhh this game. I have not experienced anything like it since Virtue's Last Reward. A simple premise gets twisted and turned on its head; even mentioning any of it here would be sacrilege. This is my top GOTY for the story, the characters, the music, everything. It is
sublime from start to finish. Sub. Lime. If you have not played it,
do not look it up.
Do NOT Google it. Just buy it. Play it. Be BLOWN THE FUCK AWAY by it.
2. Danganronpa 2: Goodbye, Despair (PS Vita) ; Naturally, the runner up for my GOTY is the sequel of my GOTY. Usually, sequels of games don't do well. This is an exception to that. DR2 is full of just as many twists and turns, and the story packed just as much of a punch as the first one. It had a minor weakness in its characters, but overall, still excellent. Still worth your money and time. Again,
do not Google this game. The internet is not a safe place for despair.
3. Shovel Knight (3DS) ; Shovel Knight is the love letter to all the 80s games I didn't get to play because I was born in 1985. And it's wonderful. The soundtrack is boss, the world is beautiful, the gameplay is challenging, yet tight, the controls fluid. It's everything a retro indie game should be, and every indie developer needs to take notes from Yacht Club Games. A fun ride from start to finish. All hail the Troupple King.
4. Fantasy Life (3DS) ; Just when I didn't need another time sink, this game came along. Animal Crossing meets Final Fantasy, and it will suck your time away like no other game. There is SO much to do; you can even feel overwhelmed by quests sometimes. But that just means you're never idling about, bored. Stores never close, unlike SOME games. (Looking at you, New Leaf.) If you want a game with diverse jobs, memorable characters, and a a massive way to kill time, snag this.
5. Love Live! School Idol Festival (Mobile) ; I never thought I would put a mobile game on this list. For the most part, mobile games are free-but-expensive timesinks with terrible micro-transactions and little substance. And I thought the same thing with this game, just some company trying to feed off of anime fans' desire for idol waifus. Well, the joke's on me, because this game is great. A nice little rhythm gem that, despite some of its technical flaws, proved to be one of the most fun, most addicting games of 2014. I don't even want to think about how much time I spent playing, only to despair because I ran out of LP and didn't want to waste a Loveca. Seriously, if you are a fan of anime/Japanese idols/rhythm games and have a tablet, download this off the play store and have a ball.
6. Bravely Default (3DS) ; This game took me by surprise. It's not perfect by any means, but it has charm, a decent story, characters I like to play as and interact with, inventive combat, and cute graphics. It was a mix of old and new, and it was a refreshing game that I want to go back and play again, just to see if I missed anything. A throwback to classic Final Fantasy with a twist.
7. Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F 2nd (PS Vita) ; My significant other introduced me to this game when the very first one came out for the PSP in Japan, and I've been faithfully following the series since. I never expected Sega NA to localize PDF, or for PDF to do so well that the sequel got a localization green light, but to my shock, it did, and I couldn't be happier. PDF 2nd is one of the best rhythm games on the Vita, and definitely the best in the series as far as the portable versions go (at least till the next one). The graphics are gorgeous, the songs are catchy, and the gameplay is both simple, yet challenging.
8. Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus (PS Vita) ; When Senran Kagura Burst came out on 3DS, I didn't touch it for a few weeks, not sure it was for me. Then I bought it on sale, and after playing it, I immediately mentally smacked myself for not getting it sooner. When the sequel was announced, I was immediately sold, and not disappointed. 22 characters, all with different quirks and fighting styles, all shinobi, all fighting for their own beliefs and desires. It's a solid musou game, and yes, there is plenty of fanservice, but it also has depth. An action-packed game where the best girl has green hair.
9. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call (3DS) ; The first Theatrhythm game was great, a musical love letter to Final Fantasy fans. Then this one came out and blew the first game out of the water. All the DLC from the first game, an online battle mode, an RPG-like mode, button controls... This game has value in absolute spades, and if you love rhtyhm games and/or Final Fantasy, this game is a must.
10. Child of Light (PS Vita) ; I didn't NEED another game to smack me right in the feels, but Child of Light came around and pretty much took care of that. This is one of the most beautiful games on the Vita. The environments are gorgeous, the story touching, the characters unique. The fairy companion in this game is nowhere near as annoying as Navi, and the titular Child of Light is a character you WANT to succeed; you will find yourself rooting for her constantly. Like I said, prepare to go on a feels trip.
Honorable Mentions:
x. Freedom Wars (PS Vita) ; I don't usually play games with guns, because I am terrible at aiming. However, Freedom Wars came out amid much hype, and once I managed to snag a copy, I was hooked into the character customizing and the story. I really got into the game, making a comment along the lines of 'oh, that is bullshit' whenever I got penalized and years got added to my sentence. The combat is intense, the gameplay tricky, and if you don't pay attention, you will be penalized dearly.
x. Kirby: Triple Deluxe (3DS) ; The Kirby series has always been a playful, whimsical romp, and Triple Deluxe is no exception. This is probably the most colorful game on the 3DS, and everything is adorable. There's minigames beyond the story mode, and the keychain collecting is an addictive little addition that made me actually want physical versions of the pixellated accessories. A wonderful game, and I daresay an essential addition to anyone's 3DS collection.