Dive Into Gotham: The Ultimate Guide to Playing the Batman: Arkham Games!
The Batman: Arkham Series: How to Conquer Gotham's Underworld (In the Right Order!)
The Batman: Arkham games are legendary – seriously amazing superhero games. But with so many titles, it's easy to feel lost! This guide will help anyone, whether it's a newbie or longtime gamer looking for clarification.
Early superhero games varied wildly in quality; even the Batman Begins game (based on that fantastic movie) was a bit rough. But then came Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009), and it totally changed things! That game refined and innovated the gameplay in a manner rarely seen across games – setting a high bar rarely achieved; yet still regularly expected. Now, it might seem overwhelming with a series now 15 years old; including prequels and spin-offs. However, don't fret! Here's the best order for this epic experience.
Main Arkham Games: Follow the Release Order for Maximum Impact
First off? Play them in release order. That’s just simple, yet effective game design! It’s incredibly efficient!
1. Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009): The Series' Epic Beginning
Begin with the game that started it all: Arkham Asylum. It's not the earliest chronologically; but its release establishes that amazing combat, its creepy setting, and its incredible horror aspects that would set a precedence and really defined Arkham's feel that most people fondly associate with that particular style that almost never gets a perfect replication.
Batman takes the Joker to Arkham Asylum, only to find a larger scheme—and the whole prison's unleashed; many iconic foes roam free! The intense experience involves exploring this infamous location, getting through many intense boss battles, with its various thrilling puzzles, showcasing various aspects involving various characters.
2. Batman: Arkham City (2011): The Best Arkham Game? Possibly.
This sequel (and many people say best one!) picks up right where Arkham Asylum ends. After the mayhem of that first entry and with Arkham Asylum being declared unfit; Mayor Quincy Sharp (former Arkham Asylum warden) builds this insanely massive prison—Arkham City! Batman's captured with everyone else. He needs to free himself; uncovering Hugo Strange's nefarious plots.
Expect upgrades, tons of gadget enhancements; making the experience even more detailed! Combat's evolved; with cool additions like taking on enemies using everyday objects! Plus; a side storyline featuring Catwoman. There's lots of reasons why many believe that Arkham City is far and away superior than other games; some people have only played this specific game, but others still might prefer other entries such as Arkham Knight – a game which deserves some additional commentary later on!
3. Batman: Arkham Origins (2013): A Prequel That Brings its Own Style
Arkham Origins is a prequel (Rocksteady didn’t make it! WB Games Montréal did!), meaning the main characters aren’t the same. It features this younger, angrier Batman. It was made nine years before Arkham Asylum – this time is critical. Expect a new take on things including a distinct new style!
Christmas Eve. A huge blizzard hits Gotham City. This is what kicks off everything. Black Mask places a huge bounty on Batman! Expect an absolute storm! That young Batman is thrown against multiple incredibly difficult antagonists!
(Note: Arkham Origins isn't remastered; it is however compatible with newer systems via backward compatibility).
4. Batman: Arkham Knight (2015): The Grand Finale
The grand finale—the biggest and most ambitious of them all; involving this truly epic climax involving multiple memorable antagonists which had all been meticulously woven through this very intricate narrative, leaving a surprisingly impactful ending that fully utilized various character arcs and themes in a satisfying manner. And this brings back some of those memorable earlier characters! That insanely fun gameplay involves a new addition – driving the Batmobile! Combat receives amazing upgrades: using Fear Takedowns; adding yet more intensity and those truly intense, adrenaline-pumping combat scenes. You’ve got absolute, superb control and you'll completely demolish those foes; generating extremely powerful moments! Everything's improved and refined further.
This is also completely different! Gotham’s a battleground! There's a bioterrorist attack; making the environment even more complex! Then, the Arkham Knight – a seriously dangerous and enigmatic mystery mercenary figure hunting Batman and the motives are deeply complicated and layered, ultimately ending in one of the greatest finales; even in videogame history itself! It challenges Batman in some truly profound, interesting ways, demonstrating a worthy successor even when considering what preceded this excellent installment of an iconic franchise!
Arkham's Side Quests: A Trip Down Various Roads
Those other Arkham games are optional, generally played in any order you like. However, there are two extremely notable exceptions which require additional planning for getting the correct story arc:
1. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2023): A New Kind of Superhero Action
Set after Arkham Knight, Suicide Squad focuses on that group, not Batman. It explains Batman's place after Arkham Knight's conclusion. Play this only after playing the Arkham series – otherwise it doesn’t make as much sense and may just ruin the later surprise elements!
2. Batman: Arkham Shadow (October 22, 2024): New Lore to Explore
This one takes place between Arkham Origins and Arkham Asylum; adding yet another element involving new storytelling developments. The game utilizes a far less extensive world than the Arkham mainline titles, however the creative additions in the gameplay add even more compelling content! Play it after Arkham Origins for that great storyline flow. However, playing other titles remains largely inconsequential before and after this release.
(Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (a 2.5D side-scroller), and Batman: Arkham VR (a VR game) can also be included, these generally fall in anywhere you want. That just depends on your choice. Many will prioritize those titles over other, much less visually compelling choices.
Conclusion: Prepare for Your Own Epic Gotham Adventure!
That’s how to conquer Gotham! The Batman: Arkham series’ story spans various games; each an awesome experience. Following this guide, players can completely understand those narratives' complexities. This might not even include the recently reported (unconfirmed) new Arkham game. So even with existing releases, there is lots to explore!
