I Recently Marathoned the Batman Arkham Games, and Here’s My Official Ranking

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Spoilers ahead for the Arkham series.

I first experienced Batman through Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham Asylum, and it completely deepened my love for the character. I was thirteen when the game came out, and I still vividly remember the excitement of playing it for the first time on my PS3. It was a fantastic experience, especially knowing that three more incredible games were yet to come.

I’ve been a huge comic book fan since childhood. My dad actually used Batman comics to teach me how to read, and that sparked my lifelong love of superheroes, especially those in the DC universe. I still regularly watch Batman: The Animated Series and Justice League on Cartoon Network. I already thought Batman was amazing, but the Arkham Asylum video game really let me experience what it would be like to be him. I’ve played through the main four Arkham games over the years, but I recently took the time to play them all back-to-back. After days of virtually cleaning up Gotham City, I’m ready to share my official ranking of the games.

This list excludes Arkhamverse spin-offs like Shadow and Blackgate as well as expansions.

4. Arkham Origins

When Arkham Origins first launched, it received criticism for its bugs, but that’s not the main reason I rank it the lowest in the series. Looking at it now, it simply doesn’t feel as innovative as the other games. I’m generally not a big fan of prequels, but Origins does have a good story that held my attention. The character development was well done, however, the gameplay and exploration felt underwhelming. It lacked the freshness needed to stay engaging for long, and after playing the previous titles, Origins started to feel repetitive. It’s not a bad game by any means – I’d give it a solid B – but it doesn’t quite measure up to the rest of the Arkham games.

I really enjoyed the boss battles in Arkham Origins, particularly the one against Deathstroke – they were super satisfying.

3. Arkham Knight

While it’s the newest main installment, Arkham Knight feels overstuffed. The game’s large open world makes the story feel less focused, and the constant use of the Batmobile becomes tiresome. Plus, the reveal of the Arkham Knight as Jason Todd was predictable. It’s still an enjoyable game, but it doesn’t have the same compelling intensity as Arkham City and Arkham Asylum.

Just because a game is bigger doesn’t automatically make it better, and Arkham Knight proves that. While I wasn’t thrilled with the story or found the game world easy to navigate, it really excels in its exciting, movie-like scenes. There’s a lot happening in Arkham Knight, but those standout moments are definitely memorable. I enjoyed playing it overall, though it didn’t resonate with me as strongly as Arkham City or Arkham Asylum.

Even though the Batmobile overstays its welcome, the mechanics are really well done.

2. Arkham Asylum

The atmosphere in Arkham Asylum is the best in the Arkham series, perfectly capturing the feeling of Gotham City. I generally prefer straightforward stories, so it’s natural that Arkham Asylum is a favorite. However, looking at the whole series, the limited setting does hold the game back a little.

One of the best things about Arkham Asylum is its straightforward story, which keeps the game moving at a good pace and helps build a compelling narrative. However, the final fight with The Joker didn’t quite live up to my expectations. After revisiting the game after many years, I realized I’ve changed my preferences – I really don’t enjoy the large, muscular version of The Joker. I’ve always thought his strength lies in being a cunning and chaotic character, not in brute force. Even with these minor issues, Arkham Asylum remains a brilliant starting point for the series.

1. Arkham City

Having played all four main Arkham games, I think Arkham City is the strongest overall. It successfully combines a large, open-world Gotham City with compelling missions, solid gameplay, and memorable characters. The story is particularly good, culminating in a fantastic ending. The open world feels expansive without being confusing, and I was consistently engaged by both the narrative and the gameplay. In fact, I believe Arkham City is one of the best Batman stories ever told, whether you’re talking about games or other media. The scene of Batman carrying the Joker’s body is incredibly powerful and moving. It beautifully connects back to the Cain and Abel painting shown at the beginning, and even knowing what’s coming, it still gives me chills.

While I think the original Arkham games were stronger than the more recent ones (especially Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League), I’m still hoping for more stories set in that world. Arkham Shadow was a great step in the right direction, but I don’t enjoy playing games in virtual reality. Luckily, a friend let me try it on his Meta Quest 3, though it’s not how I usually prefer to play. We occasionally hear rumors about a new Arkham game, but it remains to be seen if they’re true. For now, I’m happy to have the four fantastic Batman games that already exist.

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2025-12-20 14:04