The 25 Best Batman Games of All Time, Ranked

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For decades, developers have been trying to create successful video games based on the popular DC hero, Batman, resulting in a large number of games with varying levels of quality. While the best Batman games, such as the Arkham series by Rocksteady, are considered all-time greats, Bruce Wayne’s history in gaming goes far beyond just those hits. Although many of the older games are quite bad – leading some to dismiss everything before 2009 – there are still a few worthwhile titles that deserve recognition.

Let’s rank the greatest Batman video games of all time. We’ll look at the classics everyone knows, hidden gems worth playing again, and even some older titles that still hold up today. With new Batman games being rare lately, revisiting the past is a great way to satisfy your Bat-gaming needs.

Team-up games will only be included if Batman is central to the story.

25. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate

The Forgotten Spin-Off To The Forgotten Arkham

While often overshadowed by Rocksteady’s main Batman: Arkham trilogy, Arkham Origins Blackgate was a surprisingly strong handheld spin-off. Released on the 3DS and Vita, it offered a Metroidvaniastyle experience that suited the platforms well. Armature Studio successfully adapted the core Arkham combat, simplifying it for mobile play. Blackgate* also allowed players to tackle parts of the game in any order, adding to its replayability.

Blackgate is a passable game, but not essential. While it’s fine for fans who want more content in the Arkham universe, it doesn’t live up to the standards set by the main Arkham titles, and it’s not a standout Metroidvania. The game is held back by easy bosses and a confusing map, which make playing less enjoyable.

Should You Play Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate In 2026?

If you’re not a big fan of the Arkham world, it’s best to skip Blackgate. It’s an okay game, but there are many, many other Metroidvania games that are much better.

24. Batman

Batman’s First Video Game Adventure

Though it might feel a bit dated today, the original Batman game was remarkably ambitious for its time. Ocean Software, a successful game developer that closed in 1998, was known for creating popular titles like Head over Heels (1987) and The Addams Family (1992), and Batman is one of their standout games. It’s an isometric platformer where you guide Batman through detailed environments, searching for his gear, dodging dangers, and making choices along the way.

While the graphics in the original Batman game are a bit old-fashioned, they still look decent if you remember how games looked back in the 8-bit era. The game’s map is like a confusing maze, often making you choose paths that lead to frustrating dead ends – and this is on top of the game already being quite challenging. Thankfully, Ocean included a save system, which was a smart addition for the time, back in 1986, to help players avoid getting too frustrated.

Batman‘s sequel, 1988’s Batman: The Caped Crusader, is also pretty good.

Should You Play Batman (1986) In 2026?

Today, the original Batman game is mostly interesting as a piece of gaming history – a look back at where the Dark Knight’s adventures began in video games. While it was good for its time, that time was over forty years ago.

23. Batman: Arkham VR

Become Batman (For A Short And Slightly Unsatisfying Time)

Rocksteady Studios is well-known for its Batman games, but Batman: Arkham VR isn’t one of their best. While it’s still a good game, it’s definitely their weakest offering in the Batman universe. Players should go in knowing that this virtual reality experience is quite limited compared to other Arkham games.

The idea of experiencing the world as Batman is really appealing, and Arkham VR delivers on that promise to some degree. Players take on the role of Bruce Wayne and become Batman to solve a murder mystery. The game includes familiar characters from Rocksteady’s Arkham series and tells a compelling story that feels like it came straight from a comic book. It really emphasizes Batman’s detective work, making that part of the game quite immersive.

Despite being a cool experience for dedicated Batman fans, Batman: Arkham VR feels a bit thin on content. It doesn’t include any fighting – a key element of the popular Arkham games – and the controls aren’t always smooth. It’s enjoyable, but not essential.

Should You Play Batman: Arkham VR In 2026?

Arkham Shadow is a much stronger game than Arkham VR, feeling like a complete experience instead of just a technology showcase. While Arkham VR was impressive when it first came out in 2016, virtual reality has improved significantly since then.

22. Batman: Vengeance

A Game That Captures The Look Of Batman: The Animated Series

Man, Batman: Arkham Asylum totally changed things for Batman games. Seriously, it was so good, a lot of those older games feel like they never even happened. And honestly? Most of them weren’t that great to begin with. Batman: Dark Tomorrow is still up there as one of the worst superhero games ever made. Batman: Vengeance wasn’t amazing, but it was a decent first attempt at a 3D Batman game that was actually playable. It was based on Batman: The Animated Series, and they really nailed the look and feel – the art style matched the show perfectly. Plus, they got Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy to do the voices, which was incredible!

Ultimately, Vengeance is best suited for fans of B: TAS who are eager to revisit that world with a new story. It feels very much like watching an animated episode, starring some of the series’ most famous villains. However, the awkward controls and uninspired combat make it a frustrating experience to play in 2026.

Should You Play Batman: Vengeance In 2026?

If you enjoyed Batman: The Animated Series, you’ll likely appreciate this game just for the experience of revisiting that world. Given how popular TAS is with Batman fans, Vengeance is definitely worth checking out.

21. Batman: Return Of The Joker

Average Is Not Bad

Whether you’ll love it or hate it, Batman: Return of the Joker is a pretty typical action-platformer for the NES. It’s easy enough to control, but it has many very difficult parts that can be more annoying than enjoyable. As you’d expect, Batman doesn’t have many moves – mostly just jumping and shooting from a distance.

This project is fairly simple, but that doesn’t make it a bad game. Batman: Return of the Joker is a solid example of its kind, and it looks good, with a distinctive style that suits the Batman universe. The game’s color scheme, in particular, feels inspired by Castlevania.

Return of the Joker also received a Genesis version.

Should You Play Batman: Return of the Joker In 2026?

Look, I’d only recommend this if you’re really into those classic action-platformers. Honestly, Return of the Joker feels totally stuck in the past – it’s a real throwback!

20. Batman: The Brave And The Bold – The Videogame

A Solid Romp For A Solid Show

Following the success of Arkham, Batman: The Brave And The Bold – The Videogame presents a lighter, more humorous take on the iconic hero. Inspired by the animated series of the same name, the game features a diverse group of heroes and villains and is divided into four separate episodes. Players can choose from a variety of playable characters and even team up with a friend in local co-op mode.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame combines platforming with fighting action, making it a decent game based on a popular license. However, it doesn’t really offer anything new or special. It’s best suited for fans of the specific Brave and the Bold cartoon series, rather than general DC or Batman enthusiasts.

Should You Play Batman: The Brave And The Bold – The Videogame In 2026?

After a lot of anticipation, it’s a definite yes. The Brave and the Bold isn’t amazing, but it delivers on its intentions and is generally a good story.

19. Batman Returns (SNES)

A Decent, If Not Great Beat ‘Em Up

During the 16-bit console days, it was really difficult to create Batman games with complex stealth or detective gameplay. So, fans mostly got straightforward, action-packed side-scrolling games, and they still enjoyed them! A great example is Konami’s Batman Returns for the Super Nintendo.

The game mostly retells the movie’s story, letting you play as Batman fighting Catwoman, the Penguin, and lots of enemies in a classic side-scrolling beat-em-up style. There’s one level where you drive the Batmobile. While not groundbreaking, the game still looks good and controls well, making the combat enjoyable. The boss battles aren’t as strong as those in other SNES beat-em-ups, but it’s still satisfying to stun enemies with a Batarang and then throw them through windows.

Should You Play Batman Returns In 2026?

Like Return of the Joker, whether you’ll enjoy Batman Returns really comes down to personal preference for classic games. However, Batman Returns holds up a little better over time, likely because it was released on the SNES, making it more accessible and enjoyable today.

18. Gotham Knights

The Bat-Family Takes Center Stage For A Decent Co-Op Adventure

We’ll be talking more about WB Games Montréal later, but their latest Batman game doesn’t actually put you in control of Bruce Wayne himself – though his presence is definitely felt. Despite that, Gotham Knights has a lot going for it and is worth checking out. The game focuses on the Bat-Family – Batgirl, Nightwing, Robin, and Red Hood – letting them take the lead. Each character has their own distinct abilities, skills, and ways of moving, making them all feel unique. Good co-op Batman games are rare outside of the Lego titles, and Gotham Knights is the best option if you’re looking for one. Simply put, the story is enjoyable to play with friends.

While not flawless, Gotham Knight offers a pretty captivating story centered around the Court of Owls and the seeming death of Batman. The four main characters are generally well-adapted from the comics. The game’s version of Gotham City is expansive and visually appealing, though it doesn’t quite capture the same unique atmosphere as the Arkham games. It’s tough to compare Gotham Knight to the Arkham series, though, as it falls short in most respects. The fighting and movement feel slow at first, but they get better as you unlock upgrades and abilities – which requires a good bit of repetitive gameplay if you want to fully improve all four characters.

Should You Play Gotham Knights In 2026?

Let’s talk about Gotham Knights. The recent release is a plus – it’s a well-made, modern open-world superhero game. It’s nice to see the focus shift to the Bat-Family, and the story is enjoyable. Playing with a friend makes Gotham Knights really shine, as the co-op experience is great. However, playing alone isn’t as strong; the game can feel repetitive and takes up a lot of time compared to other Batman titles. I recommend trying it out, but don’t feel obligated to stick with it if you’re not having fun.

17. Batman: The Animated Series

Respectable Representation Of A Beloved Series

Konami’s Batman: The Animated Series game for the Game Boy is a surprisingly good adaptation of the classic cartoon. Despite the limitations of the 1989 handheld system, the game manages to capture the feel of the source material with enjoyable gameplay, impressive graphics, and a fantastic soundtrack. While it’s a bit overlooked now, Konami really nailed this one, delivering a quality experience considering the hardware.

Players can choose to play as either Batman or Robin and battle a variety of villains from the animated series across different levels. Each level feels like a separate episode, creating a somewhat disjointed campaign. While Batman: The Animated Series isn’t groundbreaking, it’s still a worthwhile game for fans of classic Game Boy titles.

Should You Play Batman: The Animated Series In 2026?

I enjoyed working on this, but let’s be real – classic Game Boy games aren’t for everyone. If a Batman game on the original Game Boy sounds appealing, then go ahead and give it a try!

16. Batman Begins

Respectable License Game That Was Overshadowed By The Arkham Series

Everyone talks about Batman: Arkham Asylum being the game that really put Batman on the 3D map, and honestly, it was a huge leap forward. But I think Batman Begins gets overlooked. Compared to the older games like Rise of Sin Tzu and Dark Tomorrow, it was a real step up in quality. Back in the 2000s, movie tie-in games were usually terrible, rushed projects. But Eurocom actually did a great job with Batman Begins – it followed the movie pretty closely, but they weren’t afraid to try some new things too. It was a surprisingly good game!

In a lot of ways, Batman Begins feels like an early inspiration for the Arkham games, as both focus on sneaking around and using fear as a tactic. However, the 2005 Batman game is a straightforward adventure that switches between sections focused on stealth, driving, fighting, and using gadgets. While none of these elements are particularly complex or amazing on their own, they work well together to create a fun experience that doesn’t drag on.

Should You Play Batman Begins In 2026?

Yes, I’d recommend Batman Begins. Just go in with reasonable expectations, and you’ll probably enjoy it.

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2026-04-09 13:11