The 25 best Batman games to play in 2024 ranked: from Arkham to Lego Batman

Batman has been part of the cultural media landscape for generations spanning many iconic movies, games and comics. We’ve ranked every Batman game ever released from worst to best.

The Caped Crusader is one of the most dynamic characters in pop culture with each iteration of the character reinventing the character mythos in some way or another. Be it Tim Burton’s dark take on the character, Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed trilogy, or the quintessential Arkham series showcasing the character’s best representation yet.

It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that Batman as a character has evolved drastically over the years and this evolution has been prevalent in gaming media as well. So, we’ve curated a list of each game with Batman ever released ranking from worst to best.

25. Batman: The Video Game

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• Developer: Sunsoft
• Platforms: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
• Release year: 1989

Tim Burton’s Batman movie, released in 1989, was a commercial and critical hit, inspiring a slew of Batman games based on the movie. The majority of the earlier Batman games had the problem that, while they allowed you to play as Batman, you couldn’t really do much of what Batman does.

This game suffers from the same problem, as all you get to do as Batman is jump from wall to wall. While the game does feature some iconic villains from Batman’s rogues gallery like Deadshot and Joker, none of them stand out.

24. Batman (1986)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Developer: Ocean Software
  
• Platforms: ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Amstrad PCW
• Release year: 1986

Batman (1986) is yet another game suffering from the same problem of not incorporating Batman elements into the game. While the 3D isometric 8-bit setting with the retro colors does look appealing, apart from that the game is a simple puzzle game that just happens to have Batman in it.

Ocean Software even released a game called Head Over Heels in 1987 featuring the same isometric universe, the only exception being, that it didn’t have Batman. Thankfully, compared to other earlier Batman games, this game incorporates the save game system which means the game doesn’t throw you all the way to the start.

23. Batman Forever

 

 

 

• Developer: Probe Entertainment
  
• Platforms: SNES, Sega Genesis, Game Gear, Game Boy, R-Zone, MS-DOS
• Release year: 1995

Movie tie-in games are almost always doomed to fail unless of course they are Spider-Man 2 which just so happens to be one of the best Spider-Man games despite being a movie tie-in game. Batman Forever, released right after the atrocious movie of the same name is even worse than the Tim-Burton Batman games.

It uses motion-capture technology similar to the earlier Mortal Kombat games which at that time, it might have made the game look better graphically but also lost all its charm. The game lacks any quality of a good Batman game while also looking like a shoddy grotesque 3d render.

22. Batman: The Caped Crusader

• Developer: Special FX Software
  
• Platforms: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Apple II, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum
• Release year: 1988

The problem with many of these old games is that they feel janky now if you try to play them now. Batman: The Caped Crusader is the spiritual successor to the first-ever Batman game. It has a completely revamped look as the game has the look of a comic book with each frame giving you the feel of a comic book page.

While the small text pop-ups and the retro feel of the game make it look quite compelling it all falls apart when you start the game. Be it the confusing world or the annoying soundtrack, The Caped Crusader is the perfect example of not all that glitters is gold.

21. Justice League: Task Force

• Developer: Sunsoft
  
• Platforms: Genesis, Super NES
• Release year: 1995

Developed by the same developers as Batman: The Video Game, Justice League: Task Force is Sunsoft’s foray into fighting games and needless to say it is quite lackluster. The game features a typical fighting game plot as Darkseid invades the planet and the player is forced to fight all Justice League members who are revealed to be android duplicates by the end.

Apart from the bland story, the gameplay is pretty similar to Street Fighter 2. Speaking of Batman, this game features the same problem as Batman is reduced to a simple brawler not really living up to the essence of the Caped Crusader. This is prevalent with other heroes as well as it is apparent that the devs were simply trying to cash in on the Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter hype.

20. Batman & Robin

• Developer: Probe Entertainment
• Platforms: PlayStation
• Release year: 1998

Made by the same developers as Batman Forever, Batman & Robin is the character’s first foray into the open world allowing players to travel around Gotham City in the Batmobile. While the idea of this does sound appealing, Batman & Robin does a very shoddy job at perfecting the open world.

Gotham City is bare bones as the game is reduced to a watered-down version of Grand Theft Auto. The gameplay as Batman is quite unrefined as well. Since this was the time the majority of the games were transitioning from 2D to 3D, Batman & Robin ended up having one of the worst camera controls.

19. Batman: Dark Tomorrow

 

 

 

• Developer:  Kemco
• Platforms:  GameCube, Xbox
• Release year: 2003

Batman’s transition from 2D into the 3D realm was riddled with issues. While the 2D games despite not being faithful Batman games were still somewhat fun to play, the newer 3D Batman games lacked all the charm of that era.

Batman: Dark Tomorrow faces the same problems as Batman & Robin. Be it the nausea-inducing camera or the janky combat, Dark Tomorrow is arguably one of the worst Batman games ever made.

18. Batman Begins

• Developer:  Eurocom
• Platforms: Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
• Release year: 2005

Set in the Nolanverse, Batman Begins is a much more refined 3D Batman game with accurate-looking 3D models that look pretty good compared to what came before. The game allows you to take down your enemies in different ways as well while also incorporating stealth which was a feature not present in earlier Batman games. 

Interestingly enough, Batman Begins paved the way for the Arkham games as the game allows you to interrogate thugs and even hack systems. For the first time, Batman feels like a force to be reckoned with, something the Arkham games perfected later on.

17. Batman Returns

 

• Developer: Aspect
• Platforms:  Game Gear, Master System, Sega Genesis, Sega CD, Amiga, MS-DOS
• Release year: 1993

Batman Returns, based on the sequel to Tim Burton’s Batman movie of the same name fixes a lot of the problems of its predecessor. While the first Batman game only lets the player jump from one place to another as Batman, this game goes the extra mile to incorporate additional animations allowing Batman to throw enemies around using the environment while also letting Batman glide around the screen.

Batman Returns is a fun one-time play with unique animations and combat. However, the game doesn’t really stand its ground when compared to other entries on this list.

16. Gotham Knights

• Developer: WB Games Montréal
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S
• Release year: 2022

Gotham Knights lets players step into the shoes of the Bat Family, who take up the mantle of Batman as Bruce sacrifices himself in a last-ditch effort to take down Ra’s Al Ghul. The game lets you play as Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing and Red Hood. All in all, Gotham Knights is a decent game, but when compared to other entries on the list, it seems dated.

Despite being a next-gen entry, Gotham Knights feels more dated than Arkham Knight, which came out ten years before Gotham Knights. The combat feels janky, the movement feels slow, the story feels anti-climatic, and stealth is almost non-existent. These are just a slew of issues that plague Gotham Knights, hampering it from reaching its full potential.

15. The Adventures of Batman and Robin

• Developer: Konami
• Platforms:  SNES, Sega CD, Sega Genesis, Game Gear
• Release year: 1995

Almost any conversation regarding Batman is incomplete without mentioning Batman: The Animated Series. The Adventures of Batman and Robin is an early 90s game based on the legendary series, featuring Kevin Conroy for the first time. The game was written by Paul Dini, who was the writer for various DC animated projects and later went on to pen the script for Batman: Arkham Asylum.

The game is a 2D side scroller with the art style of the animated series. The game features various villains from Batman’s rogues gallery, such as the Penguin, Riddler, and Catwoman. Each boss battle is distinct from the other while also incorporating different elements of each villain. The Riddler’s boss battle, for example, features puzzles, while the boss battle with Clayface literally has Clayface becoming a ball of clay and hurling into Batman.

14. Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu

• Developer: Ubisoft
• Platforms: Xbox, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance, GameCube
• Release year: 2003

Batman’s foray into the 3D universe was arguably perfected by Batman: Vengence, one of the most underrated Batman games to date. Rise of Sin Tzu is the sequel to Batman: Vengence, which uses a top-down camera with beat ’em-up gameplay. While the game is fun at times, it is a huge letdown compared to Vengence.

That being said, you do get to play as Batgirl and Nightwing, which adds a lot of variety to the gameplay. The game also introduces a brand new character, Sin Tzu, made by the legendary comic book writer Jim Lee. 

13. Batman Arkham VR

• Developer: Rocksteady Studios
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows
• Release year: 2016

The Arkhamverse is synonymous with Batman at this point with each iteration of the game showing a different side of the character. Sadly, this is not true for Batman Arkham VR. Virtual Reality as a concept has huge potential in gaming but the technology hasn’t caught up to it yet or is really expensive.

Arkham VR  feels more like a tech demo than an actual Arkham game. Batman Arkham games are known for their combat, however, Arkham VR features no combat whatsoever as the game focuses entirely on puzzle-solving to progress through the story.

12. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate

• Developer:  Armature Studio
  
• Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360
• Release year: 2013

Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate is a spin-off game from Arkham Origins featuring a 2.5D approach. Blackgate feels like a love letter to the original 2D Batman games released in the 90s while also incorporating the iconic Arkham elements.

Blackgate is obviously not at par with the mainline Arkham games but it does make for a compelling play with something different to offer. The game even has unique animated cutscenes with comic-book elements that set the game apart from other Arkham games.

11. Injustice: Gods Among Us

• Developer:  NetherRealm Studios
  
• Platforms: PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Windows, iOS, Android,  Arcade
• Release year: 2013

You know you’re in for a treat when the developer for Mortal Kombat sets out to make a fighting game with superheroes. While Injustice comprises a bunch of characters from the DC universe, each character feels distinct from the other. Injustice features a story where Superman turns evil killing Joker and losing his moral compass. What follows is how the characters of the DC universe deal with the repercussions of this event.

While the game is far from a Batman story, a huge chunk of the story’s focus is on Batman as we get to see the Caped Crusader showcase his detective prowess while also going toe to toe with the Man of Steel himself. You can even make Batman fight different characters from the DC universe making it a fun game to play with friends.

10. Injustice 2

• Developer:  NetherRealm Studios
  
• Platforms: Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows
• Release year: 2017

Injustice 2 improves upon its predecessor in almost every way possible. With an even bigger roster of characters and more advanced graphics, Injustice 2 is a far more advanced game with an even more intriguing plot. The main focus of the game is its three lead characters, Batman, Supergirl and Superman.

Compared to the first game, the majority of the focus of Injustice 2 is on Batman and various other characters from Gotham City. You even get to see Harley Quinn team up with Batman at one point which keeps you hooked as different character interactions make for fun and engaging gameplay.

9. Batman: The Telltale Series

 

• Developer: Telltale Games
  
• Platforms:  PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch
• Release year: 2016

Telltale Games is known for developing narrative-driven games with an emphasis on decision-making and how the player’s decision leads to a branching storyline with multiple endings. With a unique comic-book art style and intriguing character interactions, Telltale delivers one of its most compelling games since The Walking Dead.

The point-and-click graphic adventure keeps the player hooked as you switch between Bruce Wayne and Batman showcasing an often overlooked yet equally important part of Batman. The game even received a sequel called Batman: The Enemy Within in 2018 which is often considered an improvement over the original.

8. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham

• Developer: Traveller’s Tales
  
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, OS X, iOS, Android
• Release year: 2014

LEGO games are almost always really fun to play owing to their laid-back nature. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham has one of the biggest character rosters seen in any Batman game to date living up to its “Beyond Gotham” subtitle. However, this is where the problem arises.

The vast world of LEGO Batman 3 ends up being distracting from the grounded story of Batman and Robin. While the game is still fun to play building upon its predecessors, it doesn’t really qualify as a Batman game. Additionally, this also happens to be the only game featuring the voice acting of the legendary Adam West.

7. Batman Vengeance (2001)

• Developer: Ubisoft
  
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox
• Release year:2001

Before they were churning out Assassin’s Creed games, Ubisoft had their turn at bringing Batman to life. Batman Vengeance was based on The New Batman Adventures, a continuation of the beloved Batman: The Animated Series.

Combining first and third-person elements into the game’s platform-style structure, players found themselves solving the mystery of The Joker’s apparent death, leading other figures from Batman’s rogue gallery to interfere as part of a larger nefarious plan. Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Harley Quinn, and more gave Batman grief in a range of fan-favorite locations.

It may have aged considerably gameplay-wise, but Vengeance’s immaculate recreation of the neo-gothic aesthetic of the animated show, haunting score, and solid voice acting (featuring veterans Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamil) make it worth revisiting.

6. Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes (2012)

• Developer: Rocksteady Studios
  
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation, Vita, Wii, Wii U, OS X, iOS, Android
• Release year: 2012

Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes was a fantastic tribute to the character’s multi-decade history. This installment marked a landmark moment for the developer Traveller’s Tales, as it was the first in their Lego series to feature an open world and spoken word dialog. In regards to the latter, Batman was voiced by The Last of Us’s Troy Baker and was joined by a gigantic roster of classic DC heroes and villains alike.

The world itself was clearly very influenced by Tim Burton’s run of films, with Danny Elfman’s score cascading often over the action. Its open world might not be massive in comparison to something like Arkham Knight, but there are loads of hijinks and easter eggs to discover as you traverse Gotham City in the Lego Batmobile.

5. Batman: Arkham Origins (2013)

• Developer: Rocksteady Studios
  
• Platforms: PlayStation 3, Wii U, Windows, Xbox 360
• Release year: 2013

Arkham Origins explores a vulnerable and somewhat inexperienced Batman during the second year of his career. Players are free to explore Gotham City, which is riddled with undesirables from the streets to the rooftops. The franchise’s now-signature combat is present, but Origins utilizes its chance to explore Batman’s early years with a focus on detective work and stealth.

Origins lets players interact with crime scenes, piecing together clues to nail the culprit. Boss fights in Origins are easily some of the best in the franchise, as players can face fierce foes like Deathstroke or Bane in gripping battles. With a captivating spin on Batman’s beginnings, astounding world design and pulverizing combat, Origins is the Batman game we needed and deserved.

4. Lego Batman: The Videogame

• Developer: Traveller’s Tales
  
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii,  Xbox 360, Mac OS X
• Release year: 2008

LEGO’s first foray into the streets of Gotham City plays out similar to how other LEGO games do like Star Wars and Indiana Jones. The game is funny with a lighthearted tone similar to that of Adam West’s Batman who popularised the character in the first place.

While none of the characters feature any voice and the tone is goofy throughout, this is one of the most faithful adaptations of the Caped Crusader. Similar to the LEGO Batman Movie, this game understands what it is and embraces it while also showcasing its deep love for the character.

3. Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)

• Developer: Rocksteady Studios
• Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, Mac OS X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Release year: 2009

Sorry, Arkham franchise fans, but Arkham Asylum doesn’t make it to the top of our list. However, Rocksteady’s debut entry into the Arkham franchise is still felt in gaming over a decade later. Hundreds of developers have attempted to replicate the game’s devilishly simple yet satisfying combat system, with only a handful (here’s looking at you, Spider-Man) successfully adding their own spin on it.

Arkham Asylum made us truly feel like Batman for the first time, with all of his intellectual agility and physical dominance at your disposal. Every corridor, every nook, and cranny feels tainted with unseen horrors as you stalk your way through Batman’s habitat: the shadows. Arkham Asylum itself is a cesspit of unspeakable terror, with Batman bulldozing his way through anyone who stands in his way.

Influenced by Grant Morrison’s Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, this is a quintessential Batman experience that marries exceptional game design with astounding world-building.

2. Batman: Arkham Knight

• Developer: Rocksteady Studios
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Release year: 2015

Batman: Arkham Knight is the conclusion to the legendary saga of the Arkham universe. While Batman still lives on in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, this game provides a definitive ending to the character while also telling a story for the ages. Almost everything that has come before in earlier Batman games is perfected in Arkham Knight to the minute detail. 

You get to explore the beautiful yet grotesque open world of Gotham City taken over by Scarecrow while traversing around the thug-ridden streets in your Batmobile. The game even goes as far as to use the Batmobile in such a way that not a single enemy is killed, upholding Batman’s no-killing rule. Furthermore, we get to see an interesting dynamic between the Joker and Batman. While many fans consider Joker’s addition to this game shoehorned, Joker is the essence of the Arkham games, and it is only fair that the last game in the series ends with him as well.

1. Batman: Arkham City

 

• Developer: Rocksteady Studios
• Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, Wii U, OS X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Release year: 2011

Batman: Arkham City is the Citizen Kane of all Batman games that came before it and probably all Batman games that come after. No one knew the impact Arkham Asylum would have when it came out, but to build upon it and deliver a sequel that does everything better was almost unheard of. Arkham City leaves no stone unturned, as everything from the story, exploration, combat, puzzles, and narrative is perfected.

Players get to interact with a vast majority of characters from Batman’s Rogues Gallery, with, of course, the king of them all being Mark Hamill’s Joker, who steals the show. The iconic duo of Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy keeps the players hooked, as you can’t take your eyes off when these two are on screen.