Batman: All 4 Arkham games ranked from worst to best

2. Batman: Arkham City

It’s no surprise that Batman: Arkham City is a regular on lists comprised of the best video game sequels. It deserves its placement there, because it could very well be the greatest video game sequel ever made. It’s that good. No, it’s better.

There aren’t enough words to describe how high the anticipation for Arkham City was after the success of Arkham Asylum. You just had to be there to experience it, because living through that chapter really was a great time to be alive. The only fear was that it might not live up to expectations. Thankfully, that was a fear that was expunged quickly as the game didn’t meet expectations, it exceeded them.

I don’t know whether it’s the expert narrative, which sees a large portion of Gotham City walled off for Hugo Strange’s Arkham City experiment, or the way that it handles the poignant final chapter in the rivalry between Batman and The Joker, but it’s just a masterclass in everything it tackles. It’s all spun out of its predecessor so well, and yet it stands alone as its own monster at the same time – one that yours truly thought was even better than Asylum whenever it was first released, so it’s easy to see why so many people still consider it the best of the franchise.

Arkham City is the best kind of sequel – one that builds upon the foundations of the previous installment while also flourishing as a standalone entry within it. That, and the exceptional gameplay, stunning visuals, and immersive storyline, makes it a thrilling experience from beginning to end.