If you want to play (or re-play) all the Batman: Arkham games in chronological order based on the action in the game, you’re at the right place.
Today, I am here to tell you how you should play the games in the Batman: Arkham universe so that the story makes sense.
There are five games in the Batman: Arkham series, which were launched in this order:
- Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)
- Batman: Arkham City (2011)
- Batman: Arkham Origins (2013)
- Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (2013)
- Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)
But if you want the story to make sense, you shouldn’t play them in the order above. I actually recommend you to play them in chronological order to get fully immersed into the story.
So let’s check out below how to play the games.
Batman: Arkham Games Order (Chronological)
The launch order is not the one these games should be played in if you want to follow the story from start to finish. Here is how you should play them instead/
Batman: Arkham Origins
Released on: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC
Thoughts: Released in 2013, Batman: Arkham Origins is the first game in the series chronologically. The game takes place before the events of the first game, Arkham Asylum, and features a younger Batman in his second year of fighting crime.
The game centers around a plot by the Joker to kill Batman and includes appearances by several other well-known Batman villains.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Released on: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Mac OS X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Thoughts: Released in 2009, Batman: Arkham Asylum is the first game in the series. The game takes place entirely within the confines of Gotham’s infamous psychiatric hospital.
Batman must stop the Joker from taking over the asylum and unleashing his poisonous Titan formula on the city.
Batman: Arkham City
Released on: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii U, Mac OS X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Thoughts: Released in 2011, Batman: Arkham City picks up a year after the events of Arkham Asylum and sees Batman trapped in a section of Gotham that has been turned into a maximum security prison.
He must once again face off against the Joker, as well as other classic Batman villains like Two-Face, Mr. Freeze, and the Penguin.
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate
Released on: Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Vita, PC
Thoughts: Released in 2013, Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate is a companion game to Arkham Origins. It is a 2.5D platformer that takes place after the events of the main game.
Batman must once again face off against several of his most dangerous foes in order to prevent a prison riot at Blackgate Penitentiary.
Batman: Arkham Knight
Released on: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Thoughts: Released in 2015, Batman: Arkham Knight is the final game in the series. The game takes place a year after the events of Arkham City.
Batman must stop a new villain, the eponymous Arkham Knight, from destroying Gotham once and for all. The game also features the return of the Joker, who haunts Batman throughout the game.
Note: I have not included the latest Batman game, Gotham Knights, in the list above because it is not part of the Arkham universe. This story line seems to be complete (which is an amazing thing) – so start playing!
You can also check out the God of War Games Listed in Order. There’s a bit more to play there, so it’s easy to get lost.
Conclusion
The Batman: Arkham series has been a thrilling ride for fans of the Caped Crusader, and a game series worth playing and replaying – especially in chronological order, as listed above.
From the claustrophobic halls of Arkham Asylum to the open-world chaos of Arkham City, each game has delivered a unique and immersive experience that captures the essence of Batman – even though the 2.5D side scrolling adventure was mostly a flop, in my opinion.
However, as an avid gamer and fan of the Batman franchise, I have thoroughly enjoyed playing each game. So grab your Batarang and get into the world of Batman: Arkham – just like me, I am sure you’ll love it too.
Or, if you want, keep on reading about amazing TV-based games in my previous article listing the best games based on TV detective shows.