TheBatman: Arkhamseries is one of the best superhero franchises in gaming, but what order should these games be played in? Superhero games and Batman games have existed for decades, but the quality of them has always varied. While there were plenty of good superhero games in the early 2000s likeSpider-Man 2, Batman always struggled. Even theBatman Beginsvideo game was rough despite being based on a universally acclaimed film. It’s hard to imagine a bad Batman game after seeing how Rocksteady perfected the formula for such a thing in 2009.
In 2009, Rocksteady would kick off one of the most beloved video game franchises of all-time with theBatman: Arkhamseries. While it’s mostly seen as a trilogy, there are a few canonical prequels and spin-offs. So, with that said,it may seem a bit daunting to jump in to theBatman: Arkhamseries 15 years after its inceptionand figure out how to navigate it. However, there’s no need to fear as this article will guide any newcomers through theBatman: Arkhamseries game by game.
The Mainline Batman: Arkham Series Is Best Experienced In Release Order
The Main Batman: Arkham Saga Has Four Games
Right off the bat (no pun intended),anyone looking to get into this series should start at the beginning withBatman: Arkham Asylum. While this isn’tchronologically the first canonical game in the series, it is the first one to release and sets the stage for the rest of the franchise. The game introduces players to the violent, almost rhythmic style of combat that made theArkhamgames famous. It also managed to create a feeling of mild horror thanks to its creepy atmosphere, Scarecrow’s nightmare sequences, and more.
Batman: Arkham Asylumkicks off by having Batman bringing Joker to the iconic asylum before realizing this is all part of a larger scheme. Joker gets loose and, in turn, releases every inmate, including some of Batman’s most formidable foes, such as Bane and Poison Ivy. It’s up to Batman to figure out what Joker’s grand plan is and put an end to it before the sun rises. Ultimately, it results in one of Batman’s most memorable adventures across all mediums.
Rocksteady’s Rumored New Batman Game Definitely Won’t Be The Game I Want
The Batman: Arkham series has already proven the scale that it’s capable of, but I’d prefer a new entry to focus on something different.
From there,it’sbest to jump straight into the direct sequel:Batman: Arkham City, which also happens to be popularly regarded as thebestBatman: Arkhamgame. After the Joker caused chaos in Arkham Asylum, Mayor Quincy Sharp (former Arkham Asylum warden) deemed the institution no longer suitable for its inmates and opted to wall off a section of Gotham City’s slums for a new prison. Arkham patients and Blackgate inmates were put in Arkham City and allowed to run freely under the supervision of Hugo Strange, a psychiatrist with his own nefarious plans.
During a press conference where he’s speaking out against Arkham City, Bruce Wayne is kidnapped and locked up with the inmates. Naturally, he manages to suit up as Batman and must figure out what Strange is up to. Of course, the Joker is also lurking in Arkham City as well, so fans can expect all kinds of hijinks from the Clown Prince of Crime throughout the game.
As for the gameplay, Batman gets a variety of new gadgets and there are all kinds of advancements made to the hand-to-hand combat, which allows the Caped Crusader to use things like baseball bats and pipes against his enemies.Batman: Arkham Cityalso has a secondary story where players get to play as Catwoman, allowing fans the opportunity to take a walk on the wild side and beat down on enemies with a bit more flair.
After players have rolled credits onBatman: Arkham City,it’s time to travel back in time a bit and go back toBatman: Arkham Origins. This is the firstArkhamgame not made by Rocksteady, but WB Games Montréal, and features an all-new cast of actors playing Batman, Joker, and other familiar characters. Part of the reason for this is thatArkham Originstakes place almost a decade beforeArkham Asylumand focuses on a year-two Batman. Most notably, Roger Craig Smith replaces Kevin Conroy as Batman and Troy Baker replaces Mark Hamill as the Joker.
Batman: Arkham Originshas not been remastered likeArkham AsylumandArkham City. It’s available on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC, but can be accessed on Xbox One and Series X/S via backward compatibility.
On Christmas Eve, a historic snowstorm rolls through Gotham City while Black Mask hatches a despicable plan. The crime lord has placed a $50 million bounty on Batman’s head and enlisted the help of some of Batman’s toughest villains to fulfill it. The likes of Deathstroke, Deadshot, Shiva, and others all spend this festive night trying to bring down this younger, more angry version of Batman.
Now,it’s time for the finale of theBatman: Arkhamseries:Batman: Arkham Knight. This is the biggest one of them all and lets players drive the Batmobile for the first time in the whole series. Once again, there are major improvements to the combat with things like Fear Takedowns, which allow Batman to rapidly take down multiple enemies at once after emerging from the shadows. It’s easily the best feeling Batman game and gives a finer sense of control over one of the most precise and dangerous superheroes out there.
5 Ways Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League Is Like Batman Arkham (& 5 Ways It’s Different)
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is a somewhat unusual heir to the Batman: Arkham series, with major similarities and differences alike.
The story picks up a little less than a year afterArkham Cityand takes players to the streets of Gotham City proper. No more asylums, no more prison cities, the whole of Gotham City is a battleground. Most of Gotham has been evacuated as Scarecrow is planning to release his toxins on the city, which allows Batman’s rogues gallery to once again take over the grimy city. As if taking on a bio-terrorist wasn’t enough, there is another wrinkle: the titular Arkham Knight.
A mercenary/assassin that dresses similarly known as the Arkham Knight is hunting Batman. It’s clear there’s a vendetta from this mystery figure, but the list of possible suspects is many miles long. Ultimately,Arkham Knightpushes Batman to his absolute limits and delivers a pretty powerful conclusion to Rocksteady’s acclaimed story.
When To Play Batman: Arkham’s Spin-Off Games
The Batman: Arkham Spin-Offs Are Very Different From The Main Series
There are a few spin-offs in theBatman: Arkhamfranchise. These are all optional, but they can be played in just about any order except forSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The somewhat controversial follow-up toBatman: Arkham Knightis set some time after the events of Rocksteady’s last Batman game. While players could play it without experiencing the previousArkhamgames, it’s better to be familiar with the saga. The game directly addresses what happened afterArkham Knightand how Batman ended up in the Justice League. It’s also the only game in the series where players don’t play as Batman.
There’s alsoBatman: Arkham Origins Blackgate,which takes place a few months afterArkham Originsand is set in Blackgate Prison. VR users can check outBatman: Arkham VR, a short VR game that revolves around a nightmare Bruce Wayne has before the events ofArkham Knight. Finally,theupcomingBatman: Arkham Shadowis set for release on the Meta Quest 3 on July 14, 2025, and is set betweenBatman: Arkham OriginsandArkham Asylum. Fans can expect a new canonical story centered around The Rat King as the game’s villain.
Ultimately, there’s a lot ofBatman: Arkhamto enjoy across big open-world action games, 2.5D side-scrollers, and VR games. There are rumors thatRocksteady is returning to make anotherBatman: Arkhamgamein the future, but as of right now, those reports haven’t been confirmed. Either way, it seems likely that Warner Bros. will want to continue theBatman: Arkhamfranchise with or without Rocksteady, given how beloved the series is.
