Batman Games in Order – 2024 Edition

If you’re an avid gamer or a DC fan, there’s no way you wouldn’t have stumbled across the Batman games. Filled with intriguing storylines along with great graphics and gameplay, the Batman games have it all. With there being so many of them, many people get confused as to which one they should play. So whether you’re looking to play them in chronological order or just want to take down a trip to memory lane, we have prepared an article that will put all the Batman games in the order they were released. Without further ado, let’s get down to it to save Gotham City from injustice! 

Solo Batman Games Releases in Order

These game releases don’t follow a specific theme, and most of them are pretty much standalone games. However, they will give you the two things you’re looking for in a game – action and combat. So dive into this list and start downloading all of them to experience the best of the Batman saga.

BATMAN (1986)

Developed by Ocean Software, BATMAN is a 3D isometric action-adventure that started the iconic Batman games in the years to come. The game became quite famous and received a rating of about 90% from many Video Game reviewers of the time. Due to its popularity, it later received a rework on some platforms, such as the ZX Spectrum, MSX, and Amstrad CPC.

The game’s objective was to rescue Robin from the scary depths of the Batcave. To rescue him, you needed to collect seven parts of the Batcraft Hovercraft scattered around the map. It also allowed you to save the game at checkpoints, where players could respawn in case they were killed in action. 

BATMAN: The Caped Crusader (1988)

Following Batman two years later was Batman: The Caped Crusader, which, similarly, was also an action-adventure developed by Ocean Software. Unlike the first game, this one was in 2D graphics. However, don’t let that deceive you, as the game is fun to play nonetheless. It received a 9/10 from Sinclair Magazine, which praised its vivid colors and fun gameplay. 

The game had two storylines, out of which you could play only one at a time. You either face The Joker or The Penguin. It was designed in comic-book style, making it more attractive and appealing to the younger generation at the time, especially those who were comic-book enthusiasts. The game allowed you to punch, kick, and throw your Batarang to decimate the opponents in your way.  

Batman (1989)

Seeing the success of the two prequels, Ocean Software decided to release another Batman game to complete the trilogy. However, this one was more challenging than the other two, which included a complex puzzle, and you could even drive your Batmobile in it. 

The objective of this game was the same: defeat The Joker. It had five levels, and in the final level, you had to climb up the Cathedral of Gotham City to stop The Joker from escaping in a helicopter. Each level had a timer, and if it ran out or you died on the way, you’d lose a life. The sense of urgency created in the game made it more thrilling for all the gamers out there. 

Batman: The Video Game (1989 – 1992)

These were a bunch of Batman platform video games released by Sunsoft for the NES and Gameboy. The games were similar to the Batman game we discussed above, only with a few tweaks. While all the games had the same name, they were still different from each other.

The Genesis version, just like other Batman games before 2000, was pretty similar to its respective movie’s plot. However, people liked the NES version more since you fought against The Joker at the end of the game. The NES version also received the most positive reviews. Allgame editor Brett Alan Weiss called the game “one of the best superhero games for the NES”.

Batman: Return of The Joker (1991 – 1992)

After seeing the success of their prequel game, Sunsoft decided to drop another Batman game to entertain all the Batman and DC lovers out there in 1991. The following year, the same game was remade under the title of Batman: Revenge of The Joker.

The game gave you the option to choose between three stages. However, at the end of each stage, you had to confront The Joker and make him fall to his knees. At the end of the game, it was shown that The Joker was behind bars. However the bars had been damaged, implying that he’d escaped. 

Batman Returns (1992)

Inspired by the film, Sega developed Batman Returns for Sega console versions such as Master System and Sega Genesis. Meanwhile, Konami published the game for NES and Super NES versions. The game featured a substantial amount of hand-to-hand combat, which would keep people on the edge of their seats for hours.

The Sega Version was more of a 2D platforming style, while the Konami version adopted a left-to-right scrolling beat ’em-up style. Both versions were a little different from each other and similarly received different ratings. People liked the Konami version more, which featured seven scenes and followed the plot of the movie more closely. 

Batman: The Animated Series (1993)

The next Batman game was released on Gameboy, based on the TV series of the same title. While an SNES version was also planned, it was released under a different name – Adventures of Batman and Robin. The game features a side-scrolling style, and you can also play the game as Robin and Batman, simultaneously controlling both.

It is an action-adventure that allows you to return to your Batcave to either change your equipment to fend off enemies on the way or start a specific stage in the game from scratch. The game’s objective is to stop Mr.Freeze, who’s hell-bent on freezing Gotham City. Some game versions, such as the Sega CD version, also included cutscenes from WB animation (producers of the Batman movies) themselves. 

Batman Forever (1995)

Just like Batman Returns (1992), Batman Forever is another beat ’em-up style video game. It was released in 1995 and was based on the movie of the same name. Developed by Probe Entertainment and published by Acclaim Entertainment, the game lets you play the main story by either choosing Batman or Robin. 

The game was released in multiple versions, including Game Gear and the SNES. However, it was rated as one of the worst games upon release, due to its slow and sluggish gameplay. The difficulty was too much, time constraints needed to be more relaxed, and the controls needed to be better, making it lose its publicity among Batman lovers out there. 

Batman Forever: The Arcade Game (1996)

This game was also based on the movie Batman Forever; however, to differentiate it from Batman: Forever (1995), it was given the title Batman Forever: The Arcade Game. The game is in no way related to the previous one, but was released by Acclaim Entertainment. 

You could play it as a single-player or two-player game, and you had to defeat Two-Face and Riddler as Batman and Robin. The game received okay-to-mixed reviews. Some argued that the game was too repetitive, while others felt it introduced fighting mechanics like the Street Fighter series. 

Batman & Robin (1998)

Based on the title Batman & Robin, this game was also published by Acclaim Entertainment on PS1. After receiving not-so-positive reviews on the first two games, you’d think that this game would be better. However, just like the first two, it wasn’t received well by the community and didn’t achieve many sales.

The game had much better graphics than all the Batman games available at the time and was comprised of sandbox-style gameplay. You could control three characters in the game: Batman, Robin, and Catwoman, as well as drive the vehicles assigned to each character. The objective is to stop Mr. Freeze from robbing a bank. 

Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker (2000)

Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker is another scrolling beat ‘em up video game that was developed by Kemco and released by Ubisoft. The game is also based on the movie of the same name and was released on PS1 and Nintendo 64. In this game, players have the option to choose suits, where each suit has its abilities and strengths.

You’ll have to fight off the Jokerz gang and defeat them all to win the game. Unfortunately, this game wasn’t liked much by the community and received negative reviews. 

Batman: Chaos in Gotham (2001)

Next up is Batman: Chaos In Gotham, which was developed by Digital Eclipse Software and published by Ubisoft. The game was released for Nintendo Game Boy Color and had quite a colorful graphic scheme. As the name suggests, the game has a plot where many prisoners escape from Arkham Asylum and spread chaos in Gotham.

Some of the escaped prisoners are from the DC universe, including Harley Quinn, The Joker, and Bane. Batman has to go out and capture all of them before they do something that endangers the whole city. As Batman is on his quest, he also discovers the people responsible for the escape. 

Batman: Gotham City Racer (2001)

Released for the PS1 by Ubisoft, this game was different than what the standard Batman games offered. Batman had to chase around the city in his Batmobile to catch villains, and this game leaned more towards the racing genre than an action game. The game also had many cutscenes embedded in it from WB animations. 

Since the game was somewhere in the middle between action and racing, it was generally disliked by the community and received unfavorable responses. 

Batman: Vengeance (2001)

Developed and Published by Ubisoft, Batman: Vengeance was released in 2001 on the PS2, Xbox, Gameboy, and Microsoft Windows. It is based on the television series The New Batman Adventures and is quite the upgrade from the rest of the Batman games released before it. The game had upgraded graphics, gameplay, and top-notch voice acting.

In the game, Batman learns that the Joker has died, and he begins an investigation to find out the cause behind it. During his investigation, he goes toe-to-toe with other Villains who try to kill him. The game received fairly positive reviews and was generally liked by the majority of the fanbase. 

Batman: Rize of Sin Tzu (2003)

A sequel to Batman: Vengeance, Batman: Rize of Sin Tzu was also developed and published by Ubisoft.  The game is an action beat ’em up game and was released on the Xbox, PS2, Gameboy Advance, and GameCube consoles. It is also based on the animated television series The New Batman Adventures and features most of the voice actors in the game as well. 

As far as the plot is concerned, after Batman finds out that the person responsible for the Arkham Asylum escape is Scarecrow, he realizes that he’s not the only one and that Sin Tzu is also out there roaming. Since Sin Tzu is too dangerous to be left alone, his job is to fight Sin Tzu to defeat and capture him. While the game wasn’t bad, it didn’t live up to the standards of its prequel. 

Batman: Dark Tomorrow (2003)

Batman: Dark Tomorrow is another action-adventure game published by Kemco for the Xbox and GameCube consoles. This game isn’t based on any movie or series and more resembles the comics from the DC universe. It even features some excellent voice acting, for which it was highly praised. 

The story revolves around Ra’s al Ghul and his daughter, who are on the verge of taking control of a weapon targeting Gotham City. On the other hand, the city is in chaos when prisoners escape and start their acts of vandalism. Batman faces many old foes, including Mr. Freeze, The Joker, and many more. The game was, however, disliked by many due to its repetitive controls and bad camera angles.

Batman Begins (2005)

Based on the movie by Christopher Nolan, this game focuses on stealth as well as action and is developed by Eurocom for the PS2 and Xbox. The game follows most of the storyline from the original movie, except for a couple of minor changes. It also has many cutscenes taken from the movie to add a factor of realism to the game. 

The game received positive reviews and was highly liked by the gaming community. Batman Begins also has a third-person perspective which was unique and new to the Batman games. The game itself leaned towards the mechanics of the Splinter Cell series. 

Author’s Note: If you’re looking to continue playing the Batman games in order, we suggest you try out the games under the Lego Batman Games category and the Arkham Series (the date of release is written alongside their title). Otherwise, continue reading forward.

Batman: The Telltale Series (2016)

If you’re looking for a more decision-based game, then Batman: The Telltale Series is for you. Introducing a new concept to the Batman games was welcomed with positive responses all around. The game was published by Telltale Games and released on Microsoft Windows, PS3, and PS4, as well as Xbox.

The game was divided into five episodes where the main protagonist is Bruce, and you have to face off against Lady Arkham in the final episode to save Gotham City from deeply infested corruption. 

Batman: The Enemy Within (2017)

A sequel to Batman: The Telltale Series, this game is also in the point-and-click genre developed and published by Telltale Games. The game includes a lot more features than its predecessor, and you could either choose Batman or Bruce to play as, which also affected the narrative of the game.

Another feature that this game introduced was that if you had finished the previous game, you could import its files, and the result would be different due to the choices you had previously made. However, that is optional, and you can still play the game without playing the previous game.

LEGO Batman Games in Order

If you love the idea of Batman in the LEGO world, you’ll love the thrill the LEGO Batman games bring to the table. So without wasting any time, let’s take a look at what they have to offer.

LEGO Batman: The Video Game (2008)

This is an action-adventure game developed by Traveller’s Tales, who also created the LEGO: Star Wars game. The game has similar mechanics to other LEGO games developed before, where the whole environment is built from LEGO blocks. It was released for Xbox, PS2, PS3, Microsoft Windows, and macOS X.

The game has an original plot and is not influenced by the DC comics. You can also play as other characters like The Riddler, The Joker, or Penguin. The game is filled with exciting and fun fights with an intriguing storyline. There are 30 levels in the game, with two secret levels that allow you to explore Arkham Asylum and Wayne Manor for more collectables. 

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (2012)

LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes was also developed by Traveller’s Tales games and is the sequel to LEGO Batman: The Video Game. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PS Vita, and macOS. The game was also the first LEGO game in which their respective actors voiced the characters. 

The game’s plot consists of Batman and Robin trying to stop Lex Luthor and Joker’s evil plans. It was well-liked by the gaming community because it had way better mechanics than what the previous game offered and had a well-told story. 

LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (2015)

LEGO Batman 3 is the last of the LEGO Batman games and has similar graphics and mechanics to the previous two. The game also had an increased number of playable characters, bringing it to over 150, and has around 200 characters total from the DC comic universe.

The story begins where the previous one ended. The main story is focused around Brainiac, who has captured six members of the Lantern Corps and is coming to capture the last one on Earth, which is Green Lantern himself. Upon capture, he will shrink the size of the Earth and destroy it. It is up to you to form an alliance and stop him from demolishing your peaceful homeland.

Batman Arkham Series of Games in Order

If you’ve played some games from the Batman Arkham series or want to start playing them from scratch, here’s how you can play them in order.

Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)

Batman: Arkham Asylum is an action-adventure game developed by Rocksteady Studios for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. The game was the first of many in the Arkham series and was based on DC Comics. The game was well-liked by critics as well as DC lovers due to its scintillating and fun gameplay. 

The main plot consisted of the traditional Batman going against The Joker to put an end to his evil plans. The Joker wants to take control of Arkham Asylum and trap Batman in it with some of his foes. Simultaneously, he’s threatening the whole of Gotham City by saying that he has bombs hidden. It is now Batman’s job to do whatever it takes to keep his city safe and sound. 

Batman: Arkham City (2011)

This game was also developed by Rocksteady Studios and is a sequel to Arkham Asylum (2009). Inspired by the Comic Book Mythos, Batman is incarcerated in Arkham City – a pretty complex prison. The Warden of the prison, Hugo Strange, is coming up with a Sinister Scheme, and Batman has to try to uncover all the secrets within the prison walls. 

The game is played from the third-player perspective and features mechanics for stealth, combat, and the ability to fight using gadgets. Batman can move throughout the prison, where he’s able to interact with other characters and do missions. The game was released for PS3, PS4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. 

Batman: Arkham City Lockdown (2011)

This game is a spin-off of Batman: Arkham City and is set six weeks before it. Developed by NetherRealm Studios, it is the first mobile Batman game available for Android and iOS. Batman’s job is to capture all the villains that have escaped from Arkham Asylum so that they don’t cause any more mayhem than they have in Gotham City. 

Batman: Arkham Origins (2013)

Next up is Batman: Arkham Origins, also developed by NetherRealm Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It was also designed for mobiles and had similar gameplay to Arkham City Lockdown. The game features a young Batman who learns how to control the crime that happens around Gotham City. 

Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (2013)

Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate is a sequel to Arkham Origins and was developed by Armature Studio and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The story is set three months after the events in Arkham Origins, where Batman must stop a prison riot at Blackgate Penitentiary.

It is a side-scrolling game and received negative reviews along with much criticism. People felt that it had strict controls, and the story wasn’t well constructed either. It was developed for PS3, PS Vita, Microsoft Windows, and Xbox 360. 

Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)

Seeing the success of Arkham City (2011), Rocksteady decided to develop another game called Arkham Knight, which they released in 2015. The game plays in the third-person perspective with a detailed focus on Batman’s combat, melee, stealth, and detective abilities. The game was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows.

The plot is set nine months after the events of Arkham City, where Scarecrow, with the help of Arkham Knight, has launched an attack on Gotham City, causing the people to evacuate. It is now up to Batman to confront both the villains and do whatever he can to stop from spreading mayhem and restore peace in the city. 

Batman: Arkham Underworld (2016)

Arkham Underworld is a mobile game developed by Turbine, Inc. Unlike all other Batman games, this game had you do the opposite. Instead of fighting villains, you are a villain and have to become the most prominent criminal kingpin in Gotham City. After that, you’d be able to go toe-to-toe against heroes, which included Batman. 

Batman: Arkham VR (2016)

This is the first Virtual Reality game in the Batman series where you’re able to look freely around in your environment. It was developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive. You won’t be able to combat anyone in the game; instead, you’ll have to look around the surroundings for clues that help you investigate the disappearance of Nightwing and Robin. 

If you are interested in the Batman games perhaps you may want to check out our guides on other DC games such as Is Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Multiplayer?, Is Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League Open World and Cross-play, and Are Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Servers Down.