When it comes to superhero video games, acclaim is usually hit or miss. The game is either heralded as an exquisite view into a world usually reserved for comics and cartoons, or it is critically panned and largely forgotten.
Batman has been busting criminal heads since his first appearance in Detective Comics #27 in 1939 and has since made his mark on pop culture through a series of movies, television shows, graphic novels, toys, and video games. Bruce Wayne has found considerable fame in all these ventures, despite not every entry in the Batman saga being well-received. However, Batman has been fortunate enough to find significant success in the superhero video game universe. While some of his games are still being lauded to this day, others have been unfairly swept under the rug.
10 Overrated: Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman’s video game life forever changed in 2009 with the release of the hit first game in the Arkham series, Batman: Arkham Asylum. This exciting horror-action game combines familiar characters and comic storylines with fluid and fun gameplay for an immensely influential entry in the Dark Knight’s narrative. Filled with Easter eggs, classic villains, and a well-crafted plot, Arkham Asylum caters to everything fans want. However, after a decade of smashing the same thugs into pieces, the game is frankly too easy for current players. The boss fights are noticeably lackluster and simple, the stealth sequences are unintimidating, and the Riddler’s trophy side mission pales in comparison to the following games. Regardless of being a easygoing game, it is still a must-play for any fans of the series.
9 Underrated: Batman: Vengeance
Before Batman was dealing with genuinely scary villains and dire situations, he was still cracking cartoon skulls and facing off against absurd henchmen. Batman: Vengeance is no doubt a sign of its time, coming out in 2001. Despite the obvious underwhelming technical aspects of the game, the story is quite advanced and features a number of familiar voice actors, such as Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, and Tara Strong.
The game is based off the cartoon, The New Batman Adventures, a continuation of the popular, Batman: The Animated Series. While it may be a bit clunky by today’s standards, Vengeance is still a worthwhile entry for any superhero fans looking for a comical escape.
8 Overrated: Batman: The Telltale Series
Bruce Wayne is a man who must make some tough decisions throughout his time as the Caped Crusader. Telltale Games decided to let players help in the decision making by releasing a five part episodic game in 2016. In an original storyline, Batman faces off against new and familiar adversaries, with gamers molding Batman’s personality and behavior through their choices. While the game is no doubt a fresh take on the series and characters, the mechanics and pacing of the game tend to bog down the high points and the story can’t quite reach its full potential as a result.
7 Underrated: Batman: Arkham Origins
Origins is often considered to be the black sheep of the Arkham series for its strange storyline and unusual design, but in fact, it has some of the best gameplay in the whole series. Somewhat of a prequel, Origins features a younger Batman towards the beginning of his time as a masked crime fighter, wanted by the police and vicious thugs alike. Set during a snowy Gotham Christmas Eve, Origins positions Batman in the clutches of Black Mask and a group of elite assassins after a high-stakes bounty placed on the Bat’s head. While it has been criticized for using some of the same areas from Arkham: City, the festive décor and intricate hidden areas make it incredibly unique. Not to mention it features some of the best boss fights in the whole series.
6 Overrated: Batman Returns
Batman Returns is a classic film for many fans of the franchise, perhaps best known for Tim Burton’s intricate set designs and Danny DeVito as the Penguin. As with many big name films of the 1990’s, a video game was in order and the resulting product was well-received. There are multiple versions of the game developed by different companies (such as Sega for their own consoles and Konami for Nintendo consoles). The Sega variant is more of a platformer, while the Konami version features a beat-em-up style of gameplay. While both versions were a big deal at the time, the gameplay is quite dated and mundane. Not even the 3-D Batmobile levels can save it from the thresholds of exaggerated nostalgia.
5 Underrated: The Lego Batman Series
When it comes to Lego games, even the most serious of crime fighters can have fun. Spanning over three main installments and a handful of appearances, Batman gets the Lego treatment and joins other top franchise characters in the turbulent brick bashing gameplay style Lego is renowned for. While the series is nothing revolutionary, there is no denying that they are just plain fun. Starring a colorful cast of both familiar and obscure heroes and villains, Lego Batman manages to stay lively for all its entries and isn’t afraid to dig deep into Batman’s vast cast of characters and stories.
4 Overrated: Batman: Arkham Knight
When it comes to the Arkham series, the exceptional combat system along with the explorative side missions have always been strong suits. Naturally, the final entry in the series is going to have these features down to a tee. And it does, especially in the side mission department which are some of the best in the series.
Where Arkham Knight falls flat is the lack of boss fights and the reliance on the shoddy Batmobile gameplay. The game still looks amazing and the attention to detail is something every Batman game should aspire to. Regardless, fans have to hope that the next direction the franchise takes is not susceptible to terrible driving mechanics.
3 Underrated: Batman Begins
Superhero games based off specific movies will always raise a few eyebrows when released. Batman Begins, based off the movie of the same name, is no exception when it was released in 2005 to mediocre reviews. But in many ways, this game is the catalyst for what would become the Arkham series, with similar combat patterns, a heavy emphasis on stealth, and a darker and grittier Gotham that fits well in conjunction with the movie’s grim art style. The game essentially follows the plot of the film and includes most of the original cast doing voice overs. While it might not be one of the most memorable games in the franchise, it certainly deserves a lot of credit for revitalizing Batman’s presence in video games.
2 Overrated: Batman: Arkham City
There is no denying that Arkham City is an incredible game. It has an exceptional story, addicting side missions, fun cameos, stellar boss fights, and of course, top notch fighting and gadgets. In many ways, this is THE Batman game. With all that said, the game might be too big for its own shoes. While no fans are looking for an extreme challenge, Arkham City only seems to get easier as the story progresses and each villain is vanquished. By the time the finale is reached, the game hardly seems difficult at all. In fact, the most difficult part of the game is probably the Riddler trophies, which can be truly mind-boggling.
1 Underrated: Batman: The Brave And The Bold – The Videogame
Batman returns to his cartoon past in this video game based on the animated series of the same name. While Batman is no stranger to the beat-em-up genre, what makes this entry special is appearances from a multitude of additional heroes to play as. The team-up aspect of the game is certainly a fun feature, but the game also shines through the witty humor. While the Batman series isn’t known for being humorous in its comics or other media, Brave And Bold makes an honest attempt to add wise-cracking jokes into the Caped Crusader’s repertoire.
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