New month, new year, and I'm back with a rundown of upcoming and recently announced games for the PlayStation Vita. As usual, it is focused on the North American market, with Europe and Japan exclusive titles in their own sections below.

As with last year there are no retail releases this month, though Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z is a full retail coming out download only. Else, no confirmed releases, but classic adventure game revival Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse, space combat sim Starlight Inception, indie platformer Dustforce, and Backgammon Blitz are all targeting January releases. As always there's likely to be more PSN releases announced during the month, and I'll add them to this post as they happen.

December proved a decent month for new game announcements in North America, with Tecmo Koei once again sticking by the Vita by bringing over Dynasty Warriors 8: Complete Edition (which includes the Xtreme Legends expansion) as well as several indies like platformer Teslagrad, the Spider-Man 2 inspired swing-a-thon Energy Hook, J-horror inspired Kodoku, and AR game AfterZoom.

As usual though, Japan got a lot more, with both big new entires recognizable franchises like Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, Super Robot Wars Z 3, a new Legend of Heroes game in the Trails series, as well as new properties like Compile Heart's RPG Moero Chronicle and a game based on Gainax's new anime Magica Wars. Beyond that there were several new visual novels announced, while Gust confirmed that they are continuing to port the Atelier games to the Vita with Atelier Ayesha Plus.

And we're back on track for another month. Next month promises to be a lot more packed, with over the top murder mystery adventure Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc and action game Toukiden: The Age of Demons. If XSEED's PlayStation Blog teases were anything to go by, there might also be news of localization of Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus and maybe even Akiba's Trip 2 too.

See you in February!

January

Downloads

• Age of Zombies - Native Vita version of the minis title
• Doodle Devil - Puzzle game
• Olliolli - 2D Tony Hawk. Vita exclusive.
• Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z - Action brawler. 4 player co-op.

Early 2014?

Retail

• Ragnarok Odyssey Ace - Expanded version of the boss hunting game (Winter)
• Final Fantasy X HD
• Final Fantasy X-2 HD
• Toukiden: The Age of Demons - Omega Force does Monster Hunter (Tecmo Koei, February)
• Invizimals: The Alliance - The Invizimals return for the Vita (2014)
• Demon Gaze - 1st person party based dungeon crawler RPG (April, NISA)
• Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc - Enhanced port of the PSP murder mystery game (February, NISA)
• The LEGO Movie Videogame - What it says (February)
• Deception IV: Blood Ties - New game in Tecmo Koei's trap focused Deception series (March)
• MLB 14: The Show - Another installment in Sony's acclaimed baseball series (March)
• Conception II - Make your kids do the fighting for you in this RPG from Spike Chunsoft (Atlus, April)
• Dynasty Warriors 8: Complete Edition - Full game with Xtreme Legends
• Mind Zero - Dungeon crawler RPG with a high school setting (Aksys, Spring)

Downloads

• Luftrausers - Vlambeer does (Nazi) planes?
• Dustforce - Indie platformer about ninja janitors...? (February)
• Snapshot - Platform puzzler
• Supermagical - Bust-a-Move with RPG stuff in it
• Starlight Inception - Kickstarter funded space combat sim
• Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse - Fifth installment in the classic point and click adventure series
• Backgammon Blitz - It's backgammon
• Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee - HD remaster of the Xbox game
• Putty Squad - Remake of the Amiga platformer
• Cloudberry Kingdom - Hard as nails plaformer
• Fieldrunners 2 - The tower defense favorite returns to PlayStation platforms
• ZRun - Zombie apocalypse endless runner
• Forgotten Memories - Survival horror set in an abandoned psych hospital
• James Pond 2: Robocod - Remake by System 3
• Gunslugs - Retro 2D action game (February)
• TxK - New Vita exclusive Tempest game from Llamasoft (February)
• Hatsune Miku: Project Diva f - The Vita version of the vocaloid rythm game is on its way (March)
• The Wolf Among Us - Telltale's latest adventure game
• King Oddball - Physics based puzzle game

Rest of the year

Retail releases

• God of War Collection - Port of the two first games
• PlayStation Vita Pets - Befriend a virtual dog and go on adventures with him/her
• Borderlands 2 - Portable version of the loot driven FPS
• Hyperdimension Neptunia PP - Neptunia idol management spin-off (NISA)
• LEGO The Hobbit - What it says (Q2)

Downloads

• Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee New N' Tasty - HD remake of the PS1 game
• Orc Attack - 4 player co-op character action game
• Two Brothers - Action adventure game with a Game Boy aesthetic
• The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth - I don't care what anyone says, it's a Zelda clone not a roguelike :P
• Deathmatch Village - 3v3 free to play MOBA with PS3 cross-play
• Frozen Synapse: Tactics - Console remake of the indie turn-based strategy title
• Hungry Giraffe - Native Vita version of the Minis title
• Metrico - Vita exclusive from indie studio Digital Dreams
• 1001 Spikes - Retro platformer
• Counterspy - Stylish cold war side-scroller inspired by Flashback
• Hohokum - 2D sandbox snake thing
• C-Wars - Retro RTS thing
• A.N.N.E. - Retro metroidvania thing
• DYING: Sinner Escape - Horror/puzzle game from the creators of Saw
• The Next Death Ray Manta - New version of the indie dual stick shooter
• Destiny of Spirits - Free to play spirit battle game
• Dead Nation - Port of the dual stick shooter
• Soul Saga - JRPG-inspired Kickstarter funded game
• Liege - Kickstarter funded turn-based, tactical RPG.
• Rainbow Skies - Successor to the SRPG Rainbow Moon
• Duke Nukem 3D - Port of the classic FPS
• VVVVVV - Port of the indie platformer
• Hotline Miami 2 - Sequel to the psychedelic murder spree simulator
• Heroes of Loot - Randomly generated Gauntlet thing
• The Chaos Engine - Port of the Amiga classic
• Fez - Perspective shifting indie platfomer/cryptography sim
• Velocity 2X - Sequel to the fast paced shoot 'em up
• Murasaki Baby - Creepy platforming adventure
• Big Fest - Raise your own band?
• Rogue Legacy - Randomized indie platformer with comprehensive upgrade system
• Volume - Stealth game from Tomas Was Alone creator
• Nuclear Throne - Procedurally generated action game from Vlambeer
• Helldivers - Co-op scifi twin stick shooter from the Magicka devs
• Starbound - Scifi 2D sandbox with optional plot
• Legend of Raven - 2D fighting game from former King of Fighters devs
• Minecraft - You may have heard of it
• Assault Android Cactus - Indie twin-stick arena shooter
• Joe Danger - Joe goes portable
• Joe Danger 2: The Movie - Joe continues being portable
• Samurai Gunn - 2D deathmatch thing
• Kick & Fennick - Charming platforming adventure about a boy, a robot, and giant gun
• Switch Galaxy Ultra - Expanded version of the mobile scifi racer
• Gravity Crash Ultra - Just Add Water's 2D shooter returns
• Avoid Droid - Mobile 2D action game. Avoid the droid.
• Frutorious - Mobile slingshot platformer
• Final Horizon - RTS/tower defense hybrid
• Flame Over - Fast paced fire fighting game with random levels
• Table Top Racing - Minature kart racer
• Lemmings Touch - New game in the Lemmings franchise
• Road Not Taken - Procedurally generated puzzle game
• Shantae: 1/2 Genie Hero - New game in Wayforward's series of platformers
• Pavilion - Surreal "4th person" adventure
• Hyper Light Drifter - 2D action RPG
• Super Exploding Zoo - Action puzzle game from Honeyslug
• Mighty No. 9 - Completly not Mega Man game from Keiji Inafune
• Surge Deluxe - Enhanced version of Futurlab's block matching game (February)
• Cosmic Star Heroine - Scifi retro RPG from Zeboyd
• Kodoku - Japanese inspired horror game
• Energy Hook - Game inspired by Spider-Man 2's swinging mechanic
• Teslagrad - Steampunk platformer
• AfterZoom - Upgraded version of the DSi AR game
• Bodycheck - Medival Speedball. Vita exclusive. (Q3)
• Monster Monpiece - Card battle game with boobs.

Unconfirmed/Vaporware

• Zero Escape 3 - Development has started, but patforms have yet to be annouced
• Sly Cooper HD Collection - ESRB rating
• Still Time - Minimalist indie puzzle platformer
• New Ys game

Europe

(Titles out in Europe with no American release announced.)

• Travel Bug - Social pet raising sim
• t@g - Augmented reality game for 3G Vitas
• Jonah Lomu Rugby Challenge
• International Snooker 2012 - Well, it's Snooker
• MotoGP13 - Motorcycle racing
• WRC 4 - Rallycross from Milestone
• Football Manager 2014 Classic - You can't even escape the craze on the toilet now!
• Tadeo Jones - Sidescrolling action-adventure
• MXGP - Motocross Grand Prix
• Fort Defense - Tower defense
• Mahjong World Contest - Mahjong solitaire

Japan

(Incomplete list of Japanese titles that have yet to be announced for western release)

Upcoming

• Over My Dead Body 2 - Dungeon crawler set in ancient Japan (Summer)
• Eiyuu*Senki - Turn based strategy game - conquer the world, one anime girl at a time
• J-Stars Victory Vs - Shonen Jump crossover game (March)
• Chou Megami Shinkou Noire Gekishin Black Heart - Neptunia spin-off staring Noire (May)
• Corpse Party: Blood Drive - Sequel to CP: Book of Shadows
• Freedom Wars - Multiplayer action game from Japan Studio
• Super Heroine Chronicle - Turn-based anime heroine cross-over extravaganza (February)
• Love Live! School Idol Paradise - Rhythm game based on the franchise (May)
• Rozen Maiden: Wechseln Sie Welt ab - Visual novel based on the manga/anime (January)
• Chronos Materia - New RPG from Gust
• Rewrite - Visual novel by Key
• Chou no Doku Hana no Kusari - Otome visual novel by Aromarie (February)
• Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA F 2nd - Another rhythm game staring the popular vocaloid (March)
• Eiyuu Densetsu: Ao no Kiseki Evolution - Enhanced port of The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Blue (June)
• Disgaea 4: Return - Port of Disgaea 4 (January)
• Uta Kumi 575 - Rhythm game from Sega (January)
• Robotics;Notes - Visual novel from Nitroplus
• Infinite Stratos 2: Ignition Hearts - Game based on the Infinite Stratos franchise (February)
• Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds - Side-scrolling beat 'em up from 5pb. (February)
• Ro-Kyu-Bu! Naisho no Shutter Chance - Game based on the novels/anime (March)
• To Heart 2: Dungeon Travelers - Vita version of the fanservice heavy dungeon crawler RPG
• Wonder Flick - Free to play RPG from Level 5
• Mato Kurenai Yugekitai - "Romance adventure" RPG from Toybox
• Phantasy Star Nova - New action RPG from tri-Ace
• Soul Sacrifice Delta - Expansion of the original game (March)
• Samurai Warriors 4 - More Tecmo Koei hack and slash (February)
• Natural Doctrine - SRPG from Kadokawa (March)
• Dangan Ronpa: Another Episode - Third person action spin-off. Looks survival horror-ish.
• Dangan Ronpa 3 - Proper sequel it would seem
• KanColle Kai - WWII warships as anime girls
• Hakuoki SSL: Sweet School Life - Reimagines Hakuoki in a modern high school setting (March)
• Amnesia World - Sequel to Amnesia
• Puyo Puyo Tetris - What it says (February)
• Fantasy Hero: Unsigned Legacy - Action RPG
• Sengoku Hime 4 - Yet another strategy game with anime girls
• Monster Hunter Frontier G - Subscription MMO based on Monster Hunter
• Gravity Rush 2 - Kat is back!
• La-Mulana - Either a port or the new game or both?
• Airship Q - Terraria inspired Japanese indie
• Neptunia Re;Birth 2 - Remake of Neptunia mk2 (March)
• Tokyo Shin Seiroku: Operation Abyss - Dungeon crawler RPG related to Labyrinth Cross Blood
• Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment - Fulfilling all your fake MMO needs (April)
• Golden Time: Vivid Memories - Based on the novels/anime (March)
• Amagami - Dating sim (January)
• Valhalla Knights 3 Gold - Improved version of the Vita exclusive action RPG (February)
• Oretachi ni Tsubasa wa Nai - Aka. We Without Wings. Visual novel by Navel (March)
• Girls und Panzer: Senshadou, Kiwamemasu! - Girls and tanks (June)
• Persona 4: Dancing All Night - Persona 4 rhythm/dancing game
• Winning Post 8 - More horse racing from Tecmo Koei (March)
• To Love-Ru Darkness: Battle Ecstasy - Game based on the manga/anime (May)
• Magica Wars - Game based on the upcoming Gainax anime (March)
• Ano Ko wa Ore kara Hanarenai - Visual novel by GIGA (March)
• Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Digimon returns (2015)
• Atelier Ayesha Plus - More alchemy RPGing from Gust (March)
• Super Robot Wars Z 3rd - More Super Robot Wars (April)
• Moero Chronicle - Dungeon crawler RPG from Compile Heart (April)
• Lovely Quest - Visual novel by Hook Soft (March)
• Ima Sugu Onii-chan ni Imouto da tte Iitai! - Visual novels by fairys (April)
• Motto Nee, Chanto Shiyou yo! - Visual novel by Candy Soft (May)
• Deka Mori Senran Kagura - Rhythm-cooking game in the Boobie Ninja franchise
• Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2014 - Even more Japanese baseball (March)
• IA/VT Colorful - Rhythm game staring vocaloid IA (July)
  
• Planet G F2P title
• The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Flash II - More RPGing with the Trails series
• Fate/hollow ataraxia - Sequel to the acclaimed visual novel
• BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma - More anime fighting

Retail (released)

• Time Travelers - ...Level 5 does Heavy Rain?
• Little Battlers eXperience W - Minature mech battle action RPG thing from Level 5
• Lord of Apocalypse - Multiplayer focused action RPG
• Tales of Innocence R - Remake of the DS game.
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny - 3rd person action game
• Moe Moe Daisensou - SRPG with weaponized anime girls.
• Ciel no Surge - Visual novel/dating sim/DLC machine from Gust
• Little Busters! - Visual novel
• The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki Evolution - Enhanced port of the PSP RPG
• Nobunaga's Ambition: Tendou - Port of the PS3 strategy game.
• Fate/stay night Realta Nua - Visual novel.
• Special Reporting Division - Adventure / Visual novel from NIS
• Shin Kamaitachi no Yoru: 11ninme no Suspect - Murder mystery visual novel from Chunsoft
• Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2012 - Japanese baseball
• Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2012 - Cutesy Japanese baseball
• Sengoku Hime 3 - Historical strategy game with anime girls
• Romance of the Three Kingdoms 12 - Historical strategy game
• Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus - Dynasty Warriors + boobs + destructible clothes.
• Phantasy Star Online 2
• Sakura-so no Pet na Kanojo - Visual novel
• Tales of Hearts R - Remake of the DS game.
• One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 - Musou game based on the popular franchise
• Tales of Hearts R Infinte Evolve - Dowloadable 2D companion to Tales of Hearts R
• Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2013 - More Japanese baseball
• Steins;Gate - Visual Novel
• PhotoKano Kiss - Dating sim with photography
• Labyrinth Cross Blood Infinity - Port of the PC/360 scifi dungeon crawler RPG
• Kajiri Kamui Kagura Akebono no Hikari - Visual novel from light
• Sangoku Rensenki: Otome no Heihou! - The Vita's first otome game
• Haiyore! Nyaruko-san - Feel your sanity slip away as 5pb brings Vitas the most moé incarnation of the Cthulhu Mythos yet!
• Memories Off 6 Complete - Compilation of the two Memories Off 6 visual novels
• Memories Off: Yubikiri no Kioku - Visual novel
• Winning Post 7 2013 - Horse racing simulator
• Sangoku Hime 2 - Strategy game with anime girls
• XBlaze Code: Embryo - Visual novel
• Grisaia no Kajitsu - Visual novel from Front Wing
• Super Robot Taisen: Masou Kishin Pride of Justice - More Super Robot Wars
• Hotch Kiss - Visual novel by GIGA
• The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Flash - Latest game in the Legend of Heroes series
• Yahari Game Demo Ore no Seishun Rabu Kome wa Machigatteiru. - Light novel based game.
• Furuiro Meikyuu Rondo - Visual novel by Yatagarasu
• Rui wa Tomo o Yobu - Visual novel by Akatsuki Works
• Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate - Even more enhanced version of the musou crossover game
• Gundam Breaker - 3rd person action game based on the Gundam franchise
• Choji Jigen Game Neptune Re;Birth1 - Remake of the first Neptunia game
• Sakatsuku: Pro Soccer Club o Tsukurou! - New entry in SEGA's soccer management series
• Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2013 - More cutesy Japanese baseball
• Getsuei Gakuen Kou - Visual novel from Arc System Works
• Slotter Mania V: Gakuen Mokushiroku Highschool of the Dead - Anime themed pachislot game
• God Eater 2 - Fast paced scifi take on Monster Hunter.
• Exstetra - Fantasy RPG from FuRyu
• Criminal Girls Invitation - Whip a set of female delinquents into capable RPG warriors. Literally.
• Steins;Gate: Linear Bounded Phenogram - Side stories to the popular visual novel
• New Atelier Rorona - Full remake of Gust's first game in the Arland trilogy.
• White Album 2 - Visual novel from Leaf
• Akiba's Trip 2 - Explore Akibahara and tear random people's clothes off in case they're demons
• Bitter Smile - Visual novel by GIGA
• Shin Gundam Musou - Dynasty Warriors Gundam returns
• Hakuoki - Port of the classic tale of girl meets imperial death squad
• Amnesia - Otome game
• Diabolik Lovers - More otome
• Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Battle Pentagram - Action game based on the anime
• Kud Wafter - Visual novel by Key
• '&': Sora no Mukou de Sakimasu you ni - Visual novel

Download (released)

• Samurai & Dragons - F2P fantasy MMORPG with Sega tie-ins
• Guardian Hearts Online - 2D F2P MMORPG
• Assault Gunners - Simple mech shooter
• Spelunker Collection - Compilation of the classic arcade games
• Kaku-San-Sei Million Arthur - F2P card battle game from Square-Enix
• Pawapuro Stadium - F2P cutesy baseball card game
• Miku Miku Hockey - Play AR air hockey with Hatsune Miku
• Samurai Warriors 2 HD Version - Includes Xtreme Legends and/or Empires.
• Dragon's Dogma Quest - F2P 2D spin-off from Capcom's action RPG
• Damascus Gear: Tokyo Shisen - Mech combat game
• Magical Beat - Block matching rhythm game
• Yu-Nama: The Puzzle G - Free to play version of What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord?