Ranking the best Batman games is no small task. There are tons of amazing games about the Caped Crusader, taking the best Batman comics and turning them into unforgettable gritty playgrounds for aspiring crimefighters. In fact, some titles starring Bruce Wayne have become iconic must-plays for all gamers, especially the ones made by Rocksteady, who influenced the modern superhero genre from the moment it released the first game in the Arkham series.
But what are the best Batman games to play right now? How do they rank? Since the upcoming TV show (The Penguin) is coming out on HBO Max, and we have the new game Batman: Arkham Shadow to look forward to, it's a good time to revisit our favorite Batman games. So, before following the iconic baddie's spin-off series, let's see how the best Bruce Wayne romps stack up.
Here are the best Batman games, ranked from worst to best.
7. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate
Developer: Armature Games
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita, PC, PS3, Xbox 360, WiiU
You may not remember this spin-off, and that’s probably for the best. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate transported the caped crusader to the small screen - specifically the Nintendo 3DS and the PlayStation Vita. It’s a 2.5D side-scroller that picks up right where Arkham Origins left off, as Batman deals with an explosion at Blackgate prison, which allows Joker, Penguin, and Black Mask to run rampant.
While the plot is framed around one of the less interesting Arkham narratives, it did have several ambitious ideas - it tried to graft as much of the console experience as possible to portable devices, with stealth gameplay and even explosive gel making the cut. The inventive use of the camera must also be applauded - zooming in at various flashpoints and putting Batman in the literal crosshairs as part of the Deadshot fight.
Combat is still crunchy, but the level design is all over the place, and the downgrade in graphics is extremely noticeable. It was an attempt at a Metroid Batman game that fell very short of the mark. The game was eventually ported to consoles and PC, and while it looks much better than its portable predecessor, a fresh coat of paint can’t fix the poor design behind the scenes.
For more information, read our Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate review.
6. Batman: Arkham Origins
Developer: WB Games Montreal
Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS3, PS4, PS5, WiiU, PC
Oh, Batman: Arkham Origins. An intermediary game handled by a different developer in WB Montreal - the team took a bold step by creating a prequel, setting the game five years before the events of Arkham Asylum. It’s a much more contained narrative than the rest of the Arkham games, with a plot that sadly doesn’t amount to much beyond introducing Batman’s relationship with Troy Baker’s Joker.
Unfortunately, outside of some clever character-to-character quipping, the rest of the plot is shot full of holes and often undermines its own most interesting twists by plugging them up. The gargantuan open world is nice to look at, but awfully hollow, and detective mode was somehow turned tedious. Despite the excellent boss battles, the game feels bloated with overpowered gadgets that dumb down the combat into monotonous punching.
The game often chucks legions of enemies at Batman without rhyme or reason instead of being careful with its encounter design, a tactic that quickly gets old. It also had a very odd multiplayer mode, which felt tacked on to the main game.
While it’s definitely worthwhile if you’re an Arkham loremaster, Origins doesn’t reinvent itself like the other games. For more details, check out our Batman: Arkham Origins review.
5. Batman Arkham VR
Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Platforms: PS4, PC
Despite being near the bottom of this particular list, Batman Arkham VR is actually very good. It’s just that the barometer for Arkham games is set very high. This virtual reality experience came out in 2016 and is technically the last proper Arkham game we’ve had following Arkham Knight. As far as short VR games go, Arkham VR is incredibly successful in everything it sets out to do, which is a rare feat!
You’ll grapple, fight bad guys, and even experience hallucinations courtesy of the crown prince of crime, but it all serves a consistently exciting narrative separate from the rest of the games. From the underpants-ruining segment in the sewers to the intricate application of detective mode - you’d have to be a fool to skip Arkham VR if you’re a self-respecting Arkham fan with a pair of goggles lying around.
There are plenty of villains to contend with and even a suite of difficult challenges that give the game some genuine replay value. Many may pass it off due to its limited scope compared to the more gargantuan console games you’re used to, but if you’ve ever wanted to don the cowl yourself and watch batarangs curve through the air - this is about as close as you’re going to get.
If you are ready to enter the virtual world, read our Batman Arkham VR review for more information.
4. Batman: The Telltale Series (Seasons 1 & 2)
Developer: Telltale Games
Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS3, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Swich, PC
Gone but not forgotten, Telltale Games went out on a high with its release of the second season of its take on Batman - a revolutionary look into The Dark Knight’s relationship with one of the best Batman villains of all time, The Joker. While the first season was classic Batman, it still had enough twists and fun (but clunky) combat sequences to keep you interested. The Enemy Within, though, may well be the most unique modern Joker story we’ve had.
Anthony Ingruber’s John Doe is absolutely magnificent, simply one of the finest performances of the past decade in games. In The Enemy Within, you court the initially innocent Doe as he falls in with a rough crowd and deals with his emotions concerning an electrifying Harley Quinn, who is clearly up to no good. To say much more would spoil the magic - but the story carefully unravels into cathartic magic as difficult decisions force you to mold your worst enemy.
The game forces you to choose between Batman’s moral code, his secret identity, and the livelihood of his friends; all the while, the naive and endearing John Doe is a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off. Can you stop The Joker from becoming The Joker? If that question excites you, you must play Batman: The Telltale Series.
3. Batman: Arkham Knight
Developer: Rocksteady
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch
The fourth Arkham game dropped in 2015 and was another revolutionary AAA title within its console generation. A magnificent game to look at, Arkham Knight’s slick streets and particle effects felt very next-generation, even if some of the new features implemented did not stick the landing.
The story of Batman: Arkham Knight is fantastic and brings back the best Arkham villains - both Scarecrow and The Joker reappear, as well as some exciting foes from wider Batman lore like Man-Bat and Deathstroke. The ‘Arkham Knight’ that gives the game its namesake is a totally original character too - providing intrigue and mystery as you navigate the narrative. Sure - the twist is fairly predictable if you’ve peeked behind the Arkham curtain at some of Batman’s comic outings, but it still provided a lot of tension.
At least they didn’t just tread the same ground or play it safe like Origins. While the story puzzles could be genuine headscratchers that made you feel like a super sleuth, the Riddler challenges weren’t up to scratch, especially compared to Arkham Asylum, which was doubly disappointing given that the tedious puzzles were required for the game’s very cool true ending.
Read our Batman: Arkham Knight review to learn more about this unmissable conclusion to the Arkham story.
2. Batman: Arkham City
Developer: Rocksteady
Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS3, PS4, PS5, WiiU, PC, Nintendo Switch
How do you follow up a revolutionary superhero game like Arkham Asylum? Well, simply put, you make Batman: Arkham City. Unlike Asylum, Rocksteady’s sequel was a more calculated success. It took the marvelous foundation of their masterpiece and removed the stabilizers. City allowed players to explore a detailed open world chock full of content as an even more powerful caped crusader.
The freeflow combat was refined into a dance of death, turning every encounter into an engaging puzzle where the player must decide when and how to use their new gadgets to unravel the enemy A.I. The bountiful side missions and easter eggs oozed tantalizing lore into every nook of its gritty world, complemented by Batman’s most dastardly villains. Yet - it’s the more unusual picks that shine, like Clayface, Hugo Strange, and Ra’s al Ghul. Of course, Mark Hamill’s Joker returns, delivering an astounding performance.
Even the DLC packs were fantastic. Again, the Riddler challenges in Arkham City were changed for the worse, much like Arkham Knight, involving more annoying tedium and the ‘one-and-done’ boss battles, which lacked the gusto of Asylum’s more surprising and meaningful cameos. Arkham City was the perfect, refined follow-up to Arkham Asylum, even if it couldn’t reach the revolutionary heights of its forebear.
If you want to know more about one of the best action games, read our Batman: Arkham City review.
1. Batman: Arkham Asylum
Developer: Rocksteady
Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS3, PS4, PS5, WiiU, PC
Batman: Arkham Asylum had the element of surprise. In August 2009, Rocksteady’s magnum opus appeared on store shelves, a game of incredible ambition from a relatively new studio that had never tried anything like this before. What Rocksteady delivered is still widely considered one of the best superhero games ever made, a cohesive reinvention of the genre's hallmarks that has since paved the way for many similarly revolutionary titles that have drawn inspiration from its systems.
As they say, less is more - and by focusing the game within the decrepit confines of Arkham Asylum, Rocksteady created an atmosphere you could truly lose yourself. Instead of letting Batman easily prey on whatever cannon fodder he fancies, Asylum captured the fear and claustrophobia of being locked in with your worst enemies running riot, making each encounter count. It also encouraged exploration, what with the Riddler challenges asking you to catalog comic artifacts, unraveling curious lore about lesser-known villains.
Yet, you don’t even need to be a comics fan to enjoy Arkham Asylum. It is one of the best stories ever told in a video game, with adrenaline-pumping combat and stealth sequences layered between each magnificently voice-acted cinematic flashpoint. There was nothing like it when Arkham Asylum came out all those years ago - and to an extent, there still isn’t.
To learn more about our top pick for the best Batman games of all time, check out our Batman: Arkham Asylum review.
Why don't you check out the best Fallout games while you're here? Or, if you want more Gotham action, read our guide on how to watch all the DC movies in order.
