DC's caped crusader aka The Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne, Batman is one of the world's most beloved comic book characters. The character has spawned several franchises in other mediums, film, television, novels, and of course, a vast selection of video games.
The Arkham series, Injustice, Batman: The Telltale Series, Batman: Return Of The Joker are excellent video games, but which ten video games are truly the best Batman games out there?
The Adventures Of Batman & Robin (1994)
Released on the Nintendo NES system, The Adventures Of Batman & Robin is easily one of the most addictive and nostalgic Batman video game ever released. The game puts the player in the bat's shoes as he battles his way through goons and some of the most infamous DC villains at the end of each level. The game has been praised for its art style, and for a game that was released back in 1994, it still stands apart as one of the most gorgeous Batman games of all time. Not to mention, the game is notably challenging, and the developers even added a special ending for those hardcore completionists who enjoy playing through games on hard modes.
Batman Returns (1992)
If you're on the hunt for one of the most impressive Batman video games of the 90s, then Batman Returns is for you. Based on the Tim Burton film of the same name, the game pits players against seven levels based on seven scenes in the film.
For its time Batman Returns had notably impressive graphics, as well as stellar sound, gameplay, and controls. Today, the game still feels as if a lot of time, effort, and love of the character and the film was poured into it, as opposed to it being rushed and released to hit the deadline around the release of the film.
Batman: Return Of The Joker (1991)
Batman: Return Of The Joker is an entirely self-contained game, and perhaps one of the most compelling original stories in of Batman video games. It's not based on any movie property, and it's perhaps this fact that makes it such an original and exciting video game.
The game puts players in the shoes of Batman as he has to deal with the Joker's usual tricks, which include busting out of Arkham Asylum and doing the best he can in true Joker fashion to wreak havoc on Gotham City. As Batman, players have a number of cool gadgets to make use of in order to discover hidden areas and objects, making the replay value of this OG Batman all the more awesome to play repeatedly.
Batman: The Video Game (1989)
Very loosely based on the 1989 Tim Burton film of the same name, Batman: The Video Game is perhaps one of the most iconic titles released on the NES and was a gem for its time. While the game only boasts five levels, the game is delightfully challenging and addictive. As Batman, you get to battle against several iconic Batman villains before the final boss battle with the Joker.
Batman: Vengeance (2001)
Batman: Vengeance was released in 2001 on the GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, PC, and Xbox, and was based on the TV series The New Batman Adventures. As the Cape Crusader players have to go up against some of the bat's most infamous villains, including The Joker, Poison Ivy, and Mr Freeze.
The game features a captivating storyline with many twists and turns to keep even the most hardcore gamer entertained. Batman: Vengeance was also released during an era when video games based on Batman and other superheroes were particularly lackluster, but the game definitely was the exception to the rule as it was extremely playable, despite some minor glitches.
Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)
Batman: Arkham Knight was met with polarized reviews when it was released back in 2015, with many gamers citing that they were disappointed in the final result. Despite the divide of the love of the game, it was a stellar ending to the Arkham video game franchise. The game was criticized for many reasons, mainly due to so much of it taking place inside the Batmobile. The developer's decision to make using the Batmobile for several puzzles throughout the game was a notably bold move, but it also fell flat for many who played the game. The game did however almost-perfectly blend together several beloved Batman story arcs, including "Under The Hood" and "A Death In The Family," however many felt that this wasn't enough to detract from the repetition found within the gameplay. All that being said, for fans of the Bat and the Arkham series, this title was a decent send-off to a great video game franchise.
Batman: Arkham Origins (2013)
Batman: Arkham Origins extended Gotham City in this franchise and also offered a fresh prequel story. The game was a spin-off of the stories told in Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. Batman: Arkham Origins basically bridged the gap between the second and third entries within the linear Arkham storyline.
The game feature a fast-travel system for the first time, which allowed the Bat to utilize his Batwing to travel to various points on the map. However, many players have cited that they opted to take the time to explore the open-world map, however, this wasn't a great choice for many gamers who found much of the open world to be dull and devoid of life. All that said, Batman: Arkham Origins' strongest point was its engaging story and, powerful gameplay style.
Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)
Batman: Arkham Asylum was THE Batman game to end all others, and with its remastered and re-release on next-generation consoles, this classic Batman video game is still a must-play for all gamers.
Batman: The Telltale Series (2016)
Batman: The Telltale Series is quite easily one of the best releases of 2016 and one of the most exciting Batman video games in history. What made the game special was the fact that it allowed players to step into the shoes of both Batman and Bruce Wayne, which made for a rare and interesting gaming experience. The game itself is based on Bob Kane and Bill Finger's iconic comic series and boasted a branching storyline, which has become the norm with Telltale Games.
The game was split into five episodes, released at different times. Perhaps one of the reasons this game had such an engrossing storyline was the act that a myriad of writers collaborated in bringing a fresh tale for fans of the Bat. That being said, the portrayal of Batman in Batman: The Telltale Series, earned many a bravo from critics, but the game also featured a palpable atmosphere, gorgeous backdrops, and artwork.
Batman: Arkham City (2011)
Batman: Arkham City was the perfect sequel to Batman: Arkham Asylum. It fixed every little thing about Batman: Arkham Asylum that hardcore games had an issue with, and basically took the core gameplay and mechanics that worked with the first game, and refined it. To add to this polishing of something that wasn't broken, the developers at Rocksteady also upped the variety found in battles and added several options to how the Bat engaged with his enemies, making for an even more addictive level of gameplay. The gameplay wasn't the only strong suit here, as the sequel's story was even more engaging and compelling than the first. Batman: Arkham Asylum is a definite title that fans of the Bat should replay before Gotham Knights drops.
