Seeing his first adventure in early 1939, Batman has since been in thousands of comics, hundreds of books and many video games and movies. Each iteration offers their own perspective of the Batman and what makes him so unique and interesting. With every new game that bore the Batman name, we discover more and more about how the world views the Caped Crusader. Looking at the gargantuan numbers of Batman games, it is fair to say that Batman is here to stay for the long haul.
Within the last 20 years, Batman has been propelled from the obscurity of Batman Vengeance and directly into the public conscience with the seminal Batman: Arkham Asylum. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at all modern batman games (ranked)…
9. LEGO Batman: The Videogame (2008)
Releasing long-before the veritable shower of LEGO games which go on to include titles like Indiana Jones and Harry Potter, Lego Batman: The Videogame was the canary-down-the-coalmine. A Batman game which is level-based and presents with the – now – iconic LEGO style.
The Lego Batman’s first outing encompasses everything we have come to know and love from the LEGO series. The humour and charm which runs through the LEGO series’ many multimedia products saw it’s first real outing in this game.
LEGO Batman: The Videogame is an exceptionally fun play-through. While it may lack the voice acting of the LEGO games going forwards, this entry uses the physical comedy aspect to offset this loss, while also presenting a well-delivered campaign which never gets bogged down in it’s own existence. Definitely a must play for any Dark Knight fan.
8. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (2012)
Many of the core elements that define these games – such as expansive hub worlds, humorous voice acting, and playable characters with unique abilities – can all be traced back to this 2012 title.
While the last decade saw games that refined many ideas, LEGO Batman 2 might not seem particularly ground-breaking today. However, it remains a landmark release in the LEGO franchise.
Unlike in the first game, LEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroes allows you to freely explore Gotham City and is stuffed to the brim with call-backs to the history of DC in it’s entirety.
LEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroes combines everything we love about the LEGO Batman games and delivers one of the most fun games in the LEGO series – especially with a second player.
7. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (2014)
As stipulated in the title, the third entry into the LEGO Batman family, takes us out of the confines of Gotham as enemies become allies to take down the extraterrestrial villain, Brainiac as he embarks on a journey to shrink the Earth to add to his existing and growing collection of miniaturised planets.
Largely being the same as the previous games, the gameplay allows you to control and of the – more than – 150 characters in-game as you punch, batarang and shoot your way across a 20-30 hour campaign.
The levels in-game are all inspired by real-life locations within the DCU and unlock as you progress, and as with previous instalments you can return to them in ‘free-play’ in order to collect anything you missed the first-time around and complete any outstanding missions.
While arguably not really attempting to re-invent the wheel in terms of gameplay, LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham takes the risky choice to include a more complex narrative, focus on inter-personal relationships between characters and build (no pun intended) on all of the groundwork previously laid in the series.
One of the best LEGO games ever made, and a true homage to all of the DCU’s creations, but of course taking centre stage is Bob Kane’s pride and joy, Batman.
6. Batman: Arkham Origins (2013)
Set in Gotham city during the festive period, Arkham Origins is the first Arkham game to not to be developed by RockSteady. It takes place before the events of Arkham Asylum. The whole game is set over one Xmas night that introduces players to the Joker character.
Played this time by veteran voice actor Troy Baker, the story follows Batman’s earlier days with him being hunted various villains as a bounty is placed on him by Gotham’s crime lord, Black Mask.
Arkham Origins utilises the third-person perspective which we have come to expect from the series with a strong focus on The Dark Knight’s combat and stealth abilities. Introduced in Arkham Asylum, we also get to use the detective skills and gadgets as we try to defeat all those who are hunting us, including The Joker.
The game introduces multiplayer for the first time, sparking mixed reactions.
Arkham Origins often gets labelled the black sheep of the Arkham family, never included in any Arkham compilations to date. This label feels a bit unfair—while it may not be ground-breaking, its unique setting, different voice cast, and focus on being the hunted rather than the hunter create an increasingly challenging and engaging experience. Not to mention, the chilling rendition of ‘Cold Cold Heart’ adds an unforgettable touch.
If you can look past some of the technical glitches and re-used locale of Gotham city, you may just find one of the best Batman games you’ve played yet.
5. Batman: The Telltale Season 1 & 2 (2016)
Remember Telltale? The ill-fated developer hit something of a goldmine with their basic business strategy of taking well-known intellectual properties and creating narrative games set within their world, and with a history of over 80 years behind. It stands to reason that they would develop a Batman story in their unique style.
The game places you into the oversized boots of Batman as he grapples with his moral code, his friends lives and his well-established moral code.
The Telltale series revolves around the development of the mysterious and misunderstood journey of the naïve John Doe. While it is blatantly obvious WHO exactly John Doe is supposed to be, watching – and taking part – in his decline into mania and meaningless misanthropy really is the perfect back-drop to a Batman narrative-focused game.
While not exactly a foregone conclusion, convincing John to not become the character which he is framed around is no easy feat, and definitely not a an easy-ride. If you feel up to the challenge, Batman: The Telltale Series may just be for you…
4. Batman: Arkham VR (2016)
In an era of tech demos, and proof-of-concept products, it is exceptionally rare to find something that actually qualifies as a game and a decent showcase of the tech. Arkham VR famously manages to do both. The last proper Arkham Game before the phenomenal conclusion, Arkham Knight, releasing originally in 2016, Arkham VR sees you punching bad guys, grappling your way around the environment and experiencing hallucinatory visions courtesy of everyone’s favourite murderous maniacal clown prince.
Arkham VR contains a number of villains and a whole range of difficult challenges to over-come. It is limited in it’s application – in some ways – but in others, it is the most Batman game that has ever released. From donning the cowl, to flinging a batarang and manoeuvring around the environment, this game is worth a look for any and every self-respecting Batman fan.
3. Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)
Innovating a combat system that would inspire future Warner Bros. games, Arkham Asylum revolutionizes game design. The story, drenched in Gothic gloom, captivates from the moment the Joker escapes to the titan-fueled conclusion.
Arkham Asylum features some of the best of the Dark Knight’s rogues gallery.
Featuring every category of villain from iconic big-hitters like Harley Quinn, all the way through to oft-forgotten stalwarts like Scarface and Calendar Man.
While the campaign may not be as vast, it is more streamlined than every entry that came afterwards. Capitalising on the claustrophobic locale of the iconic Arkham Asylum For The Criminally Insane, Batman: Arkham Asylum is a gloriously gothic gamble which pays out in every scene, and still stands to be, one of the best games ever made.
2. Batman: Arkham City (2011)
Taking the DNA from Arkham Asylum and inflating it by 1000%, Arkham City is an almost flawless escapade into one of the darker moments in Batman’s life. The combat is more refined and punchy than we have seen previously, the story is strong enough to be able to stand alone and the traversal throughout the city is a joy-to-behold.
The level design in Arkham City is an improvement from the previous game, and feels much smoother and more refined.
The game(s) that followed attempted to innovate further past the Arkham City instalment, but mostly fall flat as they never quite managed to nail the experience of playing Arkham City.
Combining all of the gameplay aspects, narrative and level-design with the fact that Arkham City has some of the best DLC and side-missions available in any previous or following Batman game.
1. Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)
Arkham Knight follows the Dark Knight as he attempts to uncover the motivations and identity behind the titular Arkham Knight. The Arkham Knight is a heavily militarised villain with a similar aesthetic to that of the Dark Knight himself. The Arkham Knight appears to have a personal vendetta against Batman, and he must use all of his skills up-to-date to survive long enough to find out who exactly the Arkham Knight is and, ultimately, to stop him.
Unlike in previous games, combat, exploration and puzzling also apply to the new implementation of the driveable Batmobile. Taking more inspiration from the Dark Knight movies than the comic-book-faithful Batmobile. It’s armed to the teeth with ‘non-lethal’ gadgets designed to defeat and apprehend the game’s many villains—though firing rockets at people might be stretching that ‘non-lethal’ part a bit!
The inclusion of the Batmobile breathes new life into a series dying to end, and the narrative delivers one of the most satisfying climaxes of any game from the last 20 years.
Rocksteady knocked it out of the park with Arkham Knight and delivered a faithful story, with the best combat and an interesting way to include a functionality which could have come across as nothing more than a gimmick.
Special mention(s): Batman Begins:
One of the best movie tie-ins ever made. It follows the story of the Nolan Masterpiece, and allows you to become Batman as he progresses his way through the on-screen narrative while being able to employ all of the gadgets and gizmos which we have come to know Batman for. Batman Begins is an amazing showcase of what a developer can do when they understand the source material and a perfect example of a fun movie tie-in that deserves to be in the same conversation(s) of the iconic Spiderman 2.
