Summary
Batmanhas been one of the biggest pop culture icons for over 85 years, and one of the forms of media to bolster Batman’s popularity wasn’t just comics and movies, but video games.Batmanhas had some incredible games over the years, and whether it’s fun or immersive, there are those titles that seem infinitely replayable, or definitely worth a second playthrough.
Capturing the gritty feel ofBatman and Gotham Cityor by providing gameplay that compliments his hard-hitting fighting style, these games are the ones that are worth revisiting. The tight, concise writing of theArkhamfranchise makes them worth multiple playthroughs, while older games likeBatman: Vengeanceand theLegogames are fun to revisit for their unique contributions to the overall media presence of The Dark Knight and the nostalgia they can provide.
TheLegobrand has expanded deep into video games and seen collaborations with massive pop culture icons likeThe Lord of the RingsandStar Wars. In 2008, Traveller’s Tales took what they learned fromLego Star Warsand applied it to Batman and his entire cast of characters to run riot in Gotham City.
Lego Batman: The Videogameis nearly two decades old, but is still a game worth revisiting today. The level design is outstanding, and the way it combines the dark, grimy feel of Gotham City with amore lighthearted take on Batmanand his roster of insidious villains is wonderful. It is filled with collectibles and unlockable characters that run the gamut of Batman’s expansive universe and is one of the most replayable titles in the long-running franchise of mash-ups betweenLegoand pop culture icons.
Based on the hit animated seriesThe New Batman Adventures,Rise of Sin Tzufeatures several of the voice talents from the iconic series, including the late Kevin Conroy as Batman.This beat ‘em up gameleans heavily into the combat aspect of the DC Comics hero, as Batman and other members of the Bat-Family engage in fist-to-fist battles through 12 total levels. The roster of Batman, Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl really makes it feel like a collection of lost episodes of the classic series.
It wasn’t exactly the sequel toBatman: Vengeancethat fans might have wanted,but it is still a game worth replaying.Batman: Rise of Sin Tzufeatures some punchy combat that echoes the flashy moves seen in the cartoon, with an arcade-like feel and some spectacular boss battles. Mastering the game’s increasing levels of difficulty, as well as acquiring high point totals and defeating the challenge maps, makesRise of Sin Tzuan infinitely replayable experience.
After the runaway success of their episodic titles based onThe Walking DeadandGame of Thrones,Telltale Games was tasked withusing their unique talents to bring a graphic adventure based on Batman to market. Using their flair for dramatic storytelling and choice-based game design, Telltale created a compelling new version of Batman that was not connected to any previous iteration.
With a compelling story spread across five episodes,Batman: The Telltale Seriesfeatures multiple choices and dialogue branches to explore. Like all of Telltale’s games, it is built around choice and seeing the ramifications of those choices, improving its replayability in some really natural and organic ways.Batman: The Telltale Seriesis a fantastic new take on The Dark Knight, one that is readily available on all modern platforms.
The sequel to Rocksteady’s grittyArkhamUniverse takes place in Old Gotham, which has been restructured into a maximum security prison known as Arkham City. Veering from the tight, contained walls of Gotham’s infamous prison,Batman: Arkham Cityis an expansive, wide-open playground that was built on ambition and an attempt to further make players feel like they’ve stepped into the boots of The Dark Knight.
Over ten years later,Arkham Cityis still a game worth replaying for its scope and remarkably dense environments. Featuring a vast array of collectibles, side quests, and a host of terrific challenge maps that feature stealth and combat tasks,Arkham Cityis a game loaded with content.Arkham Cityeven includes playable sections with Catwoman that help spice up the experience. In addition,Arkham Citybegan the series’ tradition of multiple suits for Batman and his supporting cast, andunlocking these classic costumesis a treat.
Due to its massive popularity,Batman: The Animated Serieswent on to create an entirely unique shared universe consisting of several cartoons and spin-offs. One of the best things to come out of that wasBatman: Vengeance, a third-person action-adventure game that sought to emulate the episodic nature of the TV show. In many ways,Batman: Vengeancewalked so thatArkhamcould run, as it featured many elements that would later become paramount to the success of Rocksteady’s franchise.
Backed by some slick hand-to-hand combat,Vengeancealso features some excellentgadgets and even has Batmobile sections that are still quite fun.Batman: Vengeancewas an important game for the DC hero, and is easily worth replaying for its engaging story and strong comic-book feel.
Asa Holiday-themed prequelset during Batman’s first encounter with his arch-nemesis The Joker,Arkham Originstells a complex tale of deception with a unique spin while still remaining true to the established identity and gameplay from Rocksteady’sArkhamseries.
WhileArkham AsylumandArkhamCitylaid the groundwork for the franchise,Originsfeatures the most refined combat and world design the series had seen to that point. The stealth systems and compelling narrative work together masterfully, as its writing propels the player constantly. With its focus on Batman’s early days, at a time when the character is only starting to evolve into his final form,Arkham Origins is a wonderful title to revisit and a deserving title to experience among Rocksteady’s finest work.
WithArkham Knight, developers Rocksteady sought to create their most wide-open, fully immersive version of Batman’s world and did so in spectacular fashion. This sprawling vision of Gotham City is one of the most amazing open worlds ever created, and thanks to the Batmobile, exploring it is still an absolute blast nearly a decade later. The free-flowing combat is the best it’s ever been, and driving the Batmobile around Gotham still feels excellent.
With a large amount of content, including some furious Batmobile races and suits to unlock,Arkham Knightis a game that is easy to jump into and replay.The story is deepened and seriouswhile mixing it up with the most evolved combat yet. New additions to the combat, including cinematic team-up moves between the Bat-Family, continue to keep it fresh and the long list of challenge maps are expertly designed tests of the player and their skills.
Calling onBatman: The Animated Seriesscribe Paul Dini, the team at Rocksteady sought to make a game that fully embraced the best aspects of the DC Comics icon,resulting inArkham Asylum. Released in 2009,Batman: Arkham Asylumtakes place in a wholly original universe and is not connected to any previous iterations, which allowed them to run wild and create a version of The Dark Knight that was all their own.
While future Batman games would attempt to up the scale and scope of the world, the self-contained nature ofArkham Asylumwas what made it so special. The eponymous asylum is an absolute joy to explore, as coming to understand the intricate layout and design is fantastic for the Metroidvanian genre. With its outstanding combat system, engaging script, and a series of challenge maps and loads of collectibles,Arkham Asylumis still Batman’s most replayable and enjoyable video game to date. Thankfully, it is readily available on all modern platforms, making it easier than ever to experience this classic.
