The Batman Arkham game series is considered among the all-time greatest video game franchises, but how do each of the games compare to each other?
Batman may be the world’s most famous superhero, so it’s no surprise that he has spent this past century making his presence felt in comic books, movies, and TV shows. He’s amassed an impressive legacy in media (live-action and animation), the likes of which isn’t often seen, and with new movies in the works, that legacy isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
One place in which he has also been incredibly successful is video games. Yes, there are countless Batman video games out there, as The Dark Knight has evolved with the gaming medium, popping up in his own video games throughout the years. However, that legacy grew exponentially when Batman: Arkham Asylum came along in 2009.
The critically-acclaimed outing was the perfect example of how to do a superhero video game right, and it has since become the benchmark for the genre. Its success also saw it kickstart its own franchise, with two sequels Batman: Arkham City and Batman: Arkham Knight and a spinoff prequel Batman: Arkham Origins all coming after it.
We know how beloved the Batman Arkham franchise is, but which of its installments are its best?
Honorable mention: Batman: Assault on Arkham
Before we dive into our ranking of the Batman Arkham games, we did want to take a moment to appreciate the one installment in the Arkham franchise that often gets overlooked. That is Batman: Assault on Arkham.
One of the many DC Universe Animated Original Movies, it is a standalone film set in the world of the Arkham games. Some of the voice casts from both the original trilogy and Arkham Origins reprise their roles and the character designs, especially that of Batman’s, closely match the video game iterations.
It’s pretty great to see another adventure from this world in a different format as it allows us to get the chance to learn more about these particular versions of the characters and see what they look like in animation format. It’s also nice to spend some time with other characters from this world too, as the majority of the plot revolves around the Suicide Squad, who must break into Arkham Asylum to get some information from The Riddler for Amanda Waller.
Assault on Arkham adds more context to the overarching story, too, as it bridges the gap between Origins and the main trilogy. It’s also just a very fun addition to this universe, giving us a chance to see both Batman and the Suicide Squad in action.
4. Batman: Arkham Knight
Placing Batman: Arkham Knight as fourth on this list was not an easy decision. Heck, it’s one that I’m still second-guessing as I write its entry. That goes to show you just how impeccable the entirety of the Batman: Arkham video game saga truly is, because honestly an argument could be made for why they all deserve the top spot – and why none of them deserve the last spot.
There was a lot of pressure on Batman: Arkham Knight to succeed as it was the final chapter in the critically-acclaimed video game saga, but it doesn’t crumble under that pressure, as the game manages to produce a satisfying and poignant ending that left fans feeling all of the emotions whenever they played it. The gameplay is also at its best here, highlighting some of the best that previous games had to offer while also refining some of the things that didn’t quite work.
It only falls slightly short because the Batmobile missions felt unnecessarily repetitive and difficult and that was disappointing as the inclusion of the Batmobile was an exciting moment for the franchise. It wasn’t enough to take away from the experience, but it did drag the pacing of the game to a halt one too many times.
While there was a divisive response to the identity of the Arkham Knight (particularly because it was an easy one to predict), the game ultimately pulled the twists off, providing an epic conclusion to one of the greatest video game series ever made.
3. Batman: Arkham Origins
Batman: Arkham Origins isn’t explicitly tied to the Arkham trilogy as its a prequel produced by WB Games Montreal instead of Rocksteady) but it came along at a time when we needed it, bridging the three-year gap between Arkham City and Arkham Knight. It also provided us with one heck of an origin story for The Joker, the Gotham City that we have come to know from this franchise, and Batman himself, adding some welcome background to the saga, and Batman’s feud with The Joker.
The game received something of a mixed response when it came out, with some feeling that it didn’t offer anything new to the franchise, but it’s hard to look back on that criticism as anything other than harsh. Origins never received the credit that it deserved for being an excellent beginning to the iconic story. Those origins might not have been as necessary to the story as the other chapters, but they still made for one heck of an adventure – an adventure that was every bit as immersive as its Arkham Trilogy counterparts.
From its stunning cityscape visuals to the novelty of seeing all of the villains target Batman in an attempt to bring him out of the shadows, Arkham Origins is a welcome addition to the franchise, providing some great context to the wider story and offering up some great gameplay in the process. It’s time we give it the flowers it deserves.
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.
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?