Batman: All 4 Arkham games ranked from worst to best

1. Batman: Arkham Asylum

If there was ever a video game that personified the old “less is more” saying, it’s Batman: Arkham Asylum. This is a franchise that does very well with “more” – something that all of its successors have proven incredibly well – but there is just something about the more straightforward narrative of Batman: Arkham Asylum that sets it apart.

The Arkham Asylum setting plays a large part in that. It’s the perfect backdrop for The Joker’s escapades, and his subsequent takeover of the island creates an incredible claustrophobic atmosphere that just complements the game so well. Yes, you long to see this Batman flying from building to building against the beautiful Gotham City cityscape, but you can’t get off the island because there is work to do and criminals to stop. It’s all very effective in crafting an environment perfect for the Arkham franchise’s maiden voyage. And for the record, there are some pretty epic visuals on the Arkham Island setting.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is a triumph in every capacity. We had been longing for a Batman game like this for years, and it delivered, producing a compelling narrative that would have been at home in the comics or the movies and strong gameplay that didn’t make you want to pull your hair out (like some previous Batman games). The fact that we had the legendary duo of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill voicing Batman and The Joker was just the icing on the cake.

Batman: Arkham Asylum easily won the title of the best Batman video game whenever it was first released. A decade and a half later, and it still holds that crown.

Which of the Batman Arkham video games saga is your favorite?