The PlayStation Vita's launch lineup sported an impressive number of AAA, high-quality releases. But the good times didn't end at launch: In the months following the system's release, its game library expanded from a strong-but-paltry selection to an increasingly robust roster of titles.

We've sorted through and picked out the ones we'd call the best, in order to help you make the wisest decisions if you're in the market for a new Vita release. We'll also keep this updated, so be sure to check back from time to time to see what games have climbed their way to the top.

The latest in a casual golf dynasty that dates all the way back to the original PlayStation, Hot Shots Golf World Invitational doesn’t do much to revolutionize the series, but it gets by just fine by doing what it does best: Presenting some of the best golfing action around.

With tried-and-true, user-friendly golfing action, robust multiplayer, and a smart smattering of Vita-specific gimmicks and upgrades, Wold Invitational deserves a home in your Vita, especially if you've been a fan of the series in the past. We especially enjoyed the neat camera trick that let you look around the course by moving the Vita itself--sometimes it's the little things.

“Mind if I watch you play that for a minute?” More than once, strangers would stop, do a double-take, then ask a variation of that question when we were playing Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition. It simply looks that good, showcasing a court that feels alive.

It's not just an (extremely) pretty face, though. The gameplay is strong, too--Virtua Tennis is easily the best of any current tennis franchise, and World Tour Edition executes the adaptation flawlessly on Vita.

Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack is a perfect example of what digital games can do on the Vita. It’s quirky and subversive, toying with styles of play that you’ve spent years honing.

Better yet, it’s actually really funny, with sharp inside jokes on video games and popular culture. And even better, it’s a steal at under $10. Check out the heavy hitters like Uncharted and Lumines first if you want, but this may be the tiny game that steals your heart.

Going back to the days of the original PlayStation, Wipeout has been the game that gets made when Sony wants to show off. That ambition has never been more apparent than in Wipeout 2048, which is clearly meant to highlight the new Vita at its best.

It's essentially the same version as is available on PS3, too. Actually, it is the same version, so if you’re interested in trying cross-play, the feature that enables you to compete on the handheld and a PS3 simultaneously, this is the best way to do so.

The popular space-faring shoot 'em up franchise Super Stardust makes a beautiful leap to Sony’s new system, bringing all of the explosive, colorful action fans have come to expect from the series.

The formula works exceptionally well on Vita, while adding several new, touch-sensitive wrinkles. It’s also highly conducive to playing for 15 or 20 minute bursts, and as a cheaper downloadable offering, it definitely belongs in your collection.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss proves what we all hoped: The Vita is almost as powerful as the PS3. That alone makes it worth taking a look at. It's remarkable how little had to be cut in order to get it all working on the handheld.

You're still exploring lush jungles with wonderful views, you’re still fighting dozens of enemies at once, and you’re still chatting with likable, well-designed characters. This really is Uncharted, with all its action-packed adventures taking place in the palm of your hand.

A virtually unchanged port of the PS3 / 360 release, Rayman Origins Vita looks gorgeous on the small screen, with vibrant 2D animation that leaps off the LED in a way that most modern 3D games don’t. Seriously, it's a sight to behold.

And though the game may not showcase Vita’s bells and whistles, it succeeds at highlighting another aspect of the diminutive powerhouse: It can deliver a true console experience in the palm of your hands. That's more important than some silly rear touchpad shenanigans, if you ask us.

Lumines has seen several iterations in the years between PSP’s launch and Vita’s debut, almost to the point of fatigue--yet the charm of its core mechanics always shines through. With Electronic Symphony, the series grows in ways that render prior games as more spin-offs than true sequels. It reinvents itself for a new medium and showcases Sony’s new handheld just as wonderfully its predecessor managed in 2005.

From beautiful visuals to stellar integration with the PlayStation Network, Lumines: Electronic Symphony was everything we wanted from a Lumines sequel and more, and is already responsible for draining the system's battery dry more times than we're comfortable admitting.

It looks like Sackboy was destined to call the PlayStation Vita home. LittleBigPlanet PS Vita is the definitive version in the lovable series, with gorgeous visuals and tighter controls, as we discussed in our review. Platforming still feels the teensiest bit floaty, but levels are designed in such a way where you naturally find yourself on the right plane, and never feel like you’re wrestling with the controller. With that out of the way, you can enjoy each wacky world to its fullest, collecting bubbles, items, and new outfits to decorate your little Sackperson with.

The touch functionality makes creating levels more intuitive than ever, allowing you to smear new materials on-screen with your finger. It’s still not easy to just jump right in and build an entire level, but at least Stephen Fry’s narration is comforting, and makes you want to learn--just a little.

Gravity Rush is an open-world adventure unlike any you’ve played before--that’s because plucky superheroine Kat has the power to shift gravity at will. Changing which way is down at a moment’s notice takes some getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be joyously running up walls or soaring through the air above the game’s gorgeous vistas.

Past the topsy-turvy traversing, there’s a wealth of charm to the chipper cast of characters. The episodic mission structure will constantly keep you guessing as to what happens next – and battling the jelly-monster Nevi escalates from hand-to-hand combat to kicking building-sized bosses. With some great gyro sensor functionality and stylish cutscenes, Gravity Rush is easily the first Vita-only IP to truly blow us away.

We've no doubt in our minds that as time goes on, the Vita library will fill to the brim with increasingly-impressive games. That's why we've made it our duty to update this list whenever new greats hit the Vita scene, so you'll know what's worth spending money on and what to skip.

Want to know what other games we favor? Check out our lists for the 100 best games of all time, or expand your handheld horizons with our list of the best 3DS games.