The 5 best Batman games that you need to play

One superhero that has received tons of praise throughout the decades is The Dark Knight, Batman. Since his first appearance on the pages of Detective Comics and in many DC Comics releases, Batman has had a cultural impact that has permeated throughout entertainment. To many, Batman is an icon in every sense of the word. Within video games, many Batman games have gone on to become classics on various platforms, including home consoles and PC. While some were based on the different live-action films from Hollywood, others were original stories that took the essence of Batman and spotlighted the best aspects of the character and his world.

With so many Batman games that have been released, it can be daunting to pick out the best ones for everybody to play. But when you're talking about the world's greatest detective, no task is impossible. Certain Batman games are just built differently and present The Dark Knight in ways that resonate with audiences throughout generations. Here are the absolute best Batman games that you need to play now.

5 Batman

Dancing in the pale moonlight

The 1989 live-action Batman movie is one of the biggest blockbuster releases of all time. It started the craze known as Bat-Mania in the late 80s and early 90s, and reinvigorated interest in the character from that point forward. Following the release of the film, multiple video games were released on different platforms based on the events and characters of the movie. The NES release of Batman by Sunsoft is seen as a classic and a must-play for the console. It was a game that had a dark atmosphere on the NES, with cutscenes loosely based on the film and interesting visuals. But it was the gameplay that made people take notice and recognize it as an NES classic.

Unlike other Batman games of the 8-bit and 16-bit era, Batman on NES takes a lot of liberties with the movie it was based on. More characters are interjected into stages for Batman to fight, as well as a barrage of gadgets that Batman can use against criminals. However, it was the platforming and easy controls that made Batman on NES so much fun to play, yet still provided a challenge that took time to overcome. Coming face-to-face with The Joker by the end was a great experience for NES owners who loved the movie and the world of Batman.

4 Batman (Arcade 2013)

The Batmobile takes center stage

One of the coolest aspects about Batman is his use of the Batmobile. It's arguably his greatest asset against the criminals of Gotham City. The Batmobile has been interpreted in many different ways throughout the years, but it's still Batman's main transportation tool. But it wasn't until 2013 that a driving game focused mainly on the use of the Batmobile was able to showcase just how awesome it is. The Batman arcade game from 2013 puts players in the driver's seat of the Batmobile as they zoom through the streets of Gotham City, taking down goons and putting away some of the most notorious criminals. It made Batman's car feel like a force to be reckoned with.

But that wasn't the best part about this arcade game for Batman fans. The game allowed players to choose from a selection of Batmobiles to control, with many being pulled from every Batman live-action movie and cartoon, including a few comic-inspired models. Whether you were a fan of the Adam West show or the realistic Nolan universe, there was a Batmobile for you to drive. Even Batman: The Animated Series saw some love with the Kevin Conroy version of the car. And what's better is that every version of the Batmobile felt great to drive and was outfitted with an arsenal of weapons and gadgets to combat Gotham's super villains. Other games may have included the Batmobile in some way, but they never gave it the center stage quite like this.

3 Batman Arkham City

The city is yours

The Batman Arkham series from Rocksteady Studios is heralded as some of the best video games about the character. Each game has an incredible amount of detail that builds out a portion of the DC universe surrounding Batman, with an ensemble of classic comic characters that will speak to nearly every Batman fan of any generation. But while the first in the series, Arkham Asylum, kick-started this interpretation of Batman in games, the sequel took everything to a different level. Batman Arkham City opened up the scope of what Arkham Asylum did so well, and in turn made scouring the rooftops as Batman feel truly authentic. Now there was a lot of space to grapple up and soar through the skies between buildings while stalking criminals lurking in the streets below.

For gameplay, this game took everything great about Arkham Asylum and further enhanced it. Approaching groups of bad guys was challenging, but fun to engage with, utilizing many of Batman's gadgets and signature martial arts moves. Animations for takedowns on enemies looked savage, while keeping the brutality of justice at just the right level. Big battles against notorious criminals and super villains were special and given the reverence they deserved, making some lesser-known villains into standout encounters with Batman. But in between the combat were moments where players could take in the view of the city, with all the dark and Gothic atmosphere that some of the best Batman tales provide.

Yet, all of this was complemented by a story that included some of the best aspects of Batman in pop culture. Kevin Conroy provided his iconic voice as The Dark Knight, Mark Hamill brought his iconic laugh as The Joker, and many other elements came together to make a truly legendary tale in Batman's history. All of it culminated in a shocking ending that set up events for the third game, while also leaving players stunned after going through such an amazing experience.

2 Batman Returns

The bat, cat, and penguin clash

The sequel to the 1989 Batman film may not have been as impactful on pop culture, but it was memorable enough to garner attention from everyone for its dark visuals and even darker story. Following its release, multiple video games were produced for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo, each taking very different routes for their experiences. While the Super Nintendo game was a brawler with a presentation closer to that of the film, the Sega Genesis game for Batman Returns was an action platformer with a different style. The events of the game were loosely based on the film, but the gameplay took some creative liberties to make things more interesting.

Players took control of Batman and traversed the roofs and streets of Gotham City, fighting enemies from the Penguin's Red Triangle Circus. Occasionally, a fight with Catwoman would happen towards the end of a stage, eventually leading to an encounter with The Penguin himself. Moving around as Batman was simple with punches and kicks, players could also use a collection of Batman's gadgets against foes, including batarangs and a swarm of bats. Batman could even throw the heat-seeking batarang that he uses in the film to take out multiple enemies on screen, opening up the way for him to get around obstacles. Boss battles against the Penguin could vary with different kinds of lesser baddies and a fight with the giant duck that the Penguin drives in the movie.

However, the soundtrack and level design made this version of Batman Returns stand out. The background music was not from the film itself, but a collection of original tracks that felt right at home on the Sega Genesis. The gritty tones matched well with the Gothic structures within every stage, which were clearly based on the architecture featured in the movie. Many would have preferred to have the iconic Danny Elfman Batman theme play at some point, but it worked out very well without it. An alternate version of Batman Returns was released on the Sega CD, which included a different soundtrack and additional stages that gave control of the Batmobile for driving stages. While the platforming parts in it are the same, the Batmobile stages mix things up in between and look closer to the style of the film.

1 Batman: The Telltale Series

Choosing what hero to be

People love playing Telltale games because of the choices that can be made, which influence their stories. Depending on what characters do or their paths, various outcomes and reactions can occur, making the experience feel like a true "choose your own adventure" in some ways. Batman The Telltale Series is one of those games that feels authentic to the character with its exploration of Bruce Wayne, a dark hero. It plays with the idea of Batman's actions that led to his legend of either being a true-caped crusader or a vicious agent of vengeance. Each episode peels off another layer of who Batman is, while showing his influence on those around him, as well as the city of Gotham.

Depending on how players choose their actions, different permutations of the story can unfold. Certain relationships with characters like Catwoman, Alfred Pennyworth, and even Vickki Vale can be influenced by what Bruce ultimately does as both Bruce Wayne and Batman. While the time spent on either one is split throughout the story, choices made on either side will eventually become more dominant over the other. But another part of the game that highlights Batman's abilities as a detective are the investigation sections. Much like how the Arkham series spends time on this aspect of the character, Batman The Telltale Series does the same by really emphasizing how integral it is to the story. Batman is considered the world's greatest detective, outside of his skills as a fighter, which only happen when he is able to piece together a case. This was a unique approach to a Batman game that was received positively by fans and was eventually followed up with a sequel called Batman: The Enemy Within, which told a new story featuring more characters.

One of the World's Finest

Batman is one of the greatest comic book characters ever created and has become one of the most iconic characters in entertainment history. The legacy of Batman games is unlike any other comic book character that has influenced pop culture in a significant way, with more games based on him than on any other character. Although many Batman games are considered good and even great in some cases, not all of them stand out as true testaments to the popularity and versatility of the character. People love engaging with a Batman story, and they love the feeling of becoming The Dark Knight. It's why Batman has become relevant for such a long time and why he has some of the world's finest video games ever to be released.