Once upon a time, DC’sBatmanseemed to get a new game every other year. The Dark Knight was the talk of the town, and his run under Rocksteady’s banner arguably helped usher in a new era of superhero games that is still going strong today.
However, in recent years,Batmanhas taken a backseat in the video game department. The Caped Crusader has not received a proper standalone outing since 2017’sThe Enemy Within, and no news has come out to suggest that will be changing anytime soon. While comic fans have plenty of upcoming superhero titles to look forward to, if someone wants to wear Bruce Wayne’s cowl, they will need to look to the past to find thebest Batman games.
Updated August 09, 2025 by Mark Sammut:While new Batman games have been scarce in recent times, 2024 proved to be a pretty big year for the Caped Crusader. He made an appearance in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, although Rocksteady’s release cannot exactly be described as a Batman title. However, the Arkhamverse received another entry, this time presented in VR. The section dedicated to that game has been expanded. Furthermore, galleries have been added for a few of thebest Batman games.
Generally, only games starring Batman will be included. Some borderline cases will be included, like theInjusticeseries since The Dark Knight plays a central role in the stories andGotham Knightssince the Bat Family is an extension of Batman.
Similar toArkham Underworld,Arkham City Lockdownis no longer available for purchase on mobile devices. Consequently, the game cannot be ranked highly since it is difficult to check if the gameplay holds up.
During the height ofArkhamfever, Warner Bros published a couple of spinoffs that were bit-sized adventures that added color to the universe without really offering much substance.Arkham City Lockdownwas one such project that was released solely on Android and iOS, which unfortunately put a timer on its availability. Arguably one of the most obscureBatmangamesof all time, this title exists as a distant and hazy memory, one primarily consisting of a suit-swapping Batman punching through an array of henchmen en route to familiar bosses.
Arkham City Lockdownlargely played like a beat ‘em up fighting game, with the combat being slightly similar to the mainline console entries. While featuring no exploration, customization was offered courtesy of tech and batsuits, both of which altered the gameplay quite a bit. Ultimately, this mobile game was nothing special, but it was a decent side project that could keep fans interested while waiting for the proper sequels.
Batman: Rise of Sin Tzuoccupies a unique place inBatmangaming history. Although it uses the designs and overall continuity of theNew Batman AdventuresTV show, it stars an original villain named Sin Tzu who seeks out the toughest opponents to defeat them in combat. Naturally, this draws him into the cross-hairs of Batman.
At its core, this game is a surprisingly difficult beat-em-up where Batman fights through legions of henchmen before ending each stage with a boss who has been broken out by Sin Tzu. you’re able to level up and buy new combos but most importantly, you and up to four friends can play as Batman, Robin (Tim Drake), Nightwing, or Batgirl.Rise of Sin Tzuis at its best with four players, and while it will likely never top abest Batman gameslist, it is fun enough to play once.
TheBatman Arkhambrand is synonymous with quality. Even the weakest console release (Origins) is an above-average action-adventure game. Unfortunately, the franchise’s single attempt to transfer over to the handheld market resulted in a significant decline in quality.
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgateis aside-scrolling Metroidvaniaset within the titular prison after it has been taken over by a myriad of DC villains. Not the most original of stories, but it gets the job done. The game adjustsArkham’s influential combat system to complement the limitations of portable consoles, but the transition could have been a lot smoother. Ultimately, this is a mediocre game in a subseries known for excellence.
While not one of the easiest titles to revisit in the modern age, the Caped Crusader’s debut game was ambitious for its era. Before closing shop in 1998, Ocean Software was a prolific development team that produced some great titles, including 1987’sHead over Heelsand 1992’sThe Addams Family, andBatmanranks among the company’s better projects. An isometric platformer, the game guides players from one impressive room to the next, challenging them to find Batman’s equipment, avoid traps and enemies, and make the occasional decision.
Although dated,Batman’s visuals hold up reasonably well, provided someone goes in expecting 8-bit graphics. The map is essentially a labyrinth that regularly forces players to make choices that could lead to dead ends, which could be literal considering the game’s overall difficulty. To combat the gameplay’s potentially frustrating nature, Ocean incorporated a save system, which was an innovative move in 1986.
Rocksteady Studios is synonymous with the Caped Crusader, but this association does not stem fromBatman: Arkham VR’s brilliance. This project is undoubtedly the developer’s least impressive foray into DC’s universe, even if it is still fairly decent. Prior to jumping into this virtual reality package, fans should temper expectations as this is a rather restricted experience.
The thought of viewing the world through Batman’s eyes is enticing, andArkham VRscratches that itch to a certain extent. As Bruce Wayne, players step into his alter-ego’s shoes as they head out to investigate a murder mystery. Featuring appearances by many figures found in Rocksteady’s mainlineArkhamgames, this project tells an effective storyline that would not seem out of place on the pages of a comic. Batman’s detective skills are put front and center, and this aspect of the campaign is reasonably immersive.
Otherwise,Batman: Arkham VRlacks content. The game has no combat, which is arguably the most beloved part of Rocksteady’sArkhamtrilogy, and the controls can be clumsy at times. While die-hard Dark Knight fans will probably get a kick out of this project,Arkham VRis not a must-play release.
Arkham Shadowhas retroactively diminished the value ofArkham VR, which barely feels like a game when compared to the 2024 release. Rocksteady’s project is still kind of charming, but it is little more than a tech demo.
Based on Christopher Nolan’s movie,Batman Beginshas slipped through the cracks due to coming out just a few years beforeArkham Asylum, a game that is superior in nearly every way. However, Eurocom’s 2005 release was a better-than-average licensed game for its era, and it was impressive in some regards. For one, the visuals were great, and they are still decent today. The voice acting was also top-notch, with many actors from the film reprising their roles.
Batman Beginsfalters slightly in the gameplay department, albeit not to the point of becoming unplayable. The game is just a bit unfocused in this area, combining a few different ideas to create a serviceable but ultimately shallow whole. Nevertheless, this was a fine late addition to the PS2, Game Cube, and Xbox libraries.
Technically,Gotham Knightsis not a Batman game, at least in terms of playable characters. That said, the Dark Knight’s shadow looms heavily over this version of Gotham. The main storyline centers around the Caped Crusader, while the four playable heroes – Batgirl, Nightwing, Robin, and Red Hood – are all intrinsically linked to Batman. In the last 20 years, DC has emphasized the Bat Family quite a bit in the comics, and this association serves as the beating heart of WB Games Montreal’s action-adventure title. Despite giving off heavy “lone wolf” energy, Bruce Wayne has repeatedly searched for a successor capable of picking up the mantle of protecting Gotham once he is no longer around.Gotham Knightsbrings that ambition to fruition.
Gotham Knightsshines the brightest in its characters and story. All four leads are likable and bounce off each other well, and cutscenes change depending on which character players are using at the time. Each hero essentially serves as a separate class, and they all have unique skill trees and individualized progression systems. The narrative assembles a wide selection of Gotham’s most dangerous villains, ranging from the lesser-known but fascinating Court of Owls to heavyweights like Mr. Freeze and Harley Quinn.
IfGotham Knightsconsisted of nothing but story missions, it would rank higher on this list. However, the game bogs itself down with open-world busy work that only serves to pad out the campaign’s runtime. Gotham has a few impressive locations, but they are spread thin across a rather empty and often uninspired map. The combat also leaves something to be desired, and it is made worse by the fact that enemies are damage sponges.
For better or worse,Batman: Return of the Jokeris a bog-standard NES action-platformer. It controls well enough to be playable but features plenty of “Nintendo Hard” sections that threaten to be frustrating rather than fun. Unsurprisingly, Batman’s moveset is limited and mostly consists of ranged attacks along with a typical jump.
There is not too much to say about this project due to just how basic it is; however, that does not mean it is bad.Batman: Return of the Jokeris a perfectly serviceable representative of this type of project, and it benefits from a stylish presentation that fits the IP and seems to take inspiration fromCastlevania, at least in its color palette.
Released shortly afterArkham’s rise,Batman: The Brave And The Bold – The Videogameshowcases a different side of DC’s legendary hero. Based on the eponymous animated series,The Brave And The Boldoffers a comedic take on the Dark Knight’s adventures, one that involves a colorful cast of allies and villains. Split into four episodes, the game features multiple playable characters, with players being allowed to pick their poison or engage in local co-op.
Blending platforming and beat ‘em up combat,Batman: The Brave And The Bold – The Videogameis a cute licensed game that does not stand out too much from the crowd. Rather than a recommendation for general DC or Batman fans, this title is primarily for people who love this specific show.
Back in the 16-bit console era, it would have been quite impossible for Batman games to have heavily detailed stealth or detective mechanics. Thus, fans received mostly linear side-scrollers, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t fun. Case in point, Konami’s classicBatman Returnson the Super Nintendo.
Aside from a single Batmobile driving level, the game follows the events of the movie as Batman fights Catwoman, The Penguin, and endless legions of thugs from a beat-em-up perspective. While the game is hardly revolutionary, the graphics have aged quite well and the controls are solid, making its combat highly satisfying. Its cheap bosses knock it down a peg compared toother beat-em-ups on the SNES, but it’s still fun to throw criminals into glass windows after stunning them with a Batarang.
