Spoilers ahead for the Arkham series.
Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham Asylum was the first Batman game I ever played, and while I thought I was a huge fan at the time, this game kicked my love for the caped crusader into overdrive. I was 13 when Batman: Arkham Asylum launched, and firing up that game on my PS3 for the first time remains one of my fondest gaming memories. Little did I know, three other amazing follow-ups would be part of my future.
Since I was little, I have always been a massive comic book fan. Comic books are actually how my dad helped me learn to read, and one superhero he owned plenty of comics of was Batman. Beyond comic books, I gravitated toward all things superhero, especially in the DC universe. Batman: The Animated Series and Cartoon Network’s animated Justice League series are still staples in my home. There was no need to convince me that Batman was awesome, but Arkham Asylum actually made me feel like him for the first time. I’ve played the main four games over the years, but had never marathoned them until recently. I finally had a block in my schedule that allowed me to inject vigilante justice straight into my veins, and after several days of ridding Gotham of villains, I finally have my official ranking.
This list excludes Arkhamverse spin-offs like Shadow and Blackgate as well as expansions.
4
Arkham Origins
I know this got flack when it first came out because of bugs, but that’s not why it’s the last on the list for me. I’m looking at this with a fresh outlook, and when comparing this to the rest of the series, it just doesn’t break the mold like the others in the series did. In general, I’m usually not a fan of prequels anyway, but Arkham Origins still has a solid story that kept me interested. The progression of the characters was handled quite well, but when it comes to the overall gameplay and exploration, that’s where everything fell flat for me. There’s just not enough newness to keep me invested for too long, and after playing its predecessors, Origins unfortunately started to feel more like a chore. It’s far from a bad game, though. If I was giving out letter grades right now, it would still be a solid B, but it just doesn’t stack up to the rest of the Arkhamverse games.
I will say, Arkham Origins has some awesome boss fights that I thought were incredibly satisfying, especially Deathstroke.
3
Arkham Knight
Although it’s the most recent entry in the main series, I feel like Arkham Knight tries to do too much. This Batman: Arkham game’s world is too open, which keeps its narrative from being as focused, and the over-reliance on the Batmobile really gives me a headache. Not to mention, there’s the obvious reveal of Jason Todd as the titular Arkham Knight, something that everyone had correctly predicted before the game even launched. It’s still a good time, but it’s not quite as gripping in the ways that Arkham City and Arkham Asylum are.
Sometimes going bigger doesn’t necessarily translate to being better, and Arkham Knight is a solid example of that. However, while I find the story lacking and the exploration slightly overwhelming, Arkham Knight shines with its cinematic moments that are filled to the brim with action. A lot is going on in this game, but its high points thankfully still make a big impact. Overall, I had a really fun time with this game, even if it didn’t impact me the same way Arkham City and Arkham Asylum did.
Even though the Batmobile overstays its welcome, the mechanics are really well done.
2
Arkham Asylum
Arkham Asylum’s tone in the Arkhamverse reigns supreme, especially when it comes to the feeling of Gotham. Honestly, I’m usually way more of a linear narrative fan, so it would make sense for Arkham Asylum to be my number one, but when considering all the other entries, I feel like the closed-off setting hinders the experience a bit.
The big benefit of Arkham Asylum‘s tight linear narrative, though, is that it keeps the pacing solid and focused, which makes it far easier to bring together a strong story. However, when it came to the game’s final showdown with The Joker, I was left more disappointed than I expected. It had been years since I booted up the first chapter, and I guess my preferences have really changed since then because I’m not a fan of Titan Joker at all. What makes The Joker such an effective villain to me is that he’s a lanky menace who celebrates chaos and doesn’t need a case of roid rage to get things done. Despite its small flaws, Arkham Asylum is still a fantastic way to kick off a larger series.
1
Arkham City
After playing the four main Arkham entries, it’s clear to me that Arkham City is the most well-rounded chapter out of the lot. Between the introduction of a mostly open-world Gotham, the missions, mechanics, and characters, and a story that has a truly fantastic ending, Arkham City checks all the boxes for me. Its open environment doesn’t get too overwhelming, and the story and missions never once had me bored. I consider Arkham City to actually be one of the best Batman-focused stories in general, and not just in gaming. The image of Batman carrying Joker’s lifeless body still hits me right in the heart. It’s a moment that takes everything full circle to the painting of Cain and Abel shown at the very beginning of the story, and despite now expecting it, I still get chills.
Even though the first two games in the series were better than the latter half for me, I’m still craving more stories within the Arkham universe (that aren’t like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League). Arkham Shadow was a wonderful return to form, but I don’t care much for VR. Thankfully, a good friend of mine let me play on his Meta Quest 3, but it’s definitely far from my preferred way to play a game. Every now and then, rumors about the next Arkham game pop up, but only time will tell if they’re accurate. Until then, I’m just grateful that there are four amazing Batman games to revel in.
- Released
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October 18, 2011
- ESRB
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T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 3
