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Looking for the best Batman games on a computer? The Caped Crusader has been protecting the streets of Gotham for many years now through a number of different media franchises. And naturally, the philanthropist-turned-superhero has also wiggled his way into the world of video games from time to time.
And luckily, unlike many other superhero spin-off titles, most of the Batman games on PC have actually been pretty good. Whether fighting criminals through the dank halls of Arkham Asylum or making a more light-hearted quest through Gotham like his LEGO counterpart, there’s something for all fans of the Dark Knight, although most of them come in the form of action-adventure games.
If you haven’t delved into Batman games on PC, or are looking for something new, then this list is here to help. We’ll only cover games where Batman, or Gotham, is the star – no Injustice or Multiversus here, as good as those are – or anything that isn’t easily accessible anymore. With those caveats in mind, here are the best Batman games on PC in 2022.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
For many, Batman: Arkham Asylum will be their first foray into the world of Batman. Despite releasing not long after The Dark Knight, Arkham Asylum was not a movie tie-in game. Instead, it took players to the titular facility in all its dark, grimy glory. Batman’s longtime nemesis, the Joker, manages to take over the asylum, with our hero aiming to wrestle control throughout the game.
Batman: Arkham Asylum initiated a style of combat that allowed Batman to face multiple enemies easily, avoiding and fighting back in a satisfying way. As the first game in the Arkham franchise, it seems a little simplistic these days, but Arkham Asylum still fulfills the powerful fantasy of becoming Batman. You’ll also see this free-flowing combat in other superhero games like Marvel’s Spider-Man, making it the most influential game on this list.
Batman: Arkham City
Batman: Arkham City takes you out of the asylum and into a much larger open world. Much of the gameplay is still familiar to Batman’s escapades in Arkham Asylum, but now with more gadgets and enemy types thrown into the mix. An open world also means more side content, breaking up the main story as you meet new characters – though avoid hunting down every collectible if you want to keep your sanity.
This sequel also introduced some new playable characters via DLC – Catwoman, Robin, and Nightwing. While the Catwoman DLC was the only one that included more story content, having the option to play as other characters was a nice change of pace.
Batman: Arkham Origins
Taking players back to the events before the first two games, Batman: Arkham Origins was the first entry in the franchise not made by Rocksteady Studios. It sees Batman in his early crime-fighting days, hunted by both assassins and a corrupt police force.
While one of the less memorable entries in the Arkham franchise, Batman: Arkham Origins is still an interesting take on the superhero. It’s not quite an origin story, but still offers new perspectives on both Batman and the world he’s trying to protect.
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate
Released alongside the main game, Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate was originally a handheld-only title. Receiving an enhanced port for PC less than a year later, Blackgate is a side hustle instead of a fully open world title.
While this limitation is clearly due to the original hardware that Blackgate was developed for, most of what you would expect from an Arkham game is still present. You’ll use tools for area traversal, taking down gangs with Batman’s usual dexterity, and the story introduces a number of major characters over its short run.
Batman: Arkham Knight
Batman: Arkham Knight hasn’t had the best start on PC, with many players encountering poor performance and a slew of game-breaking bugs. After a few patches and easier access to better hardware, Arkham Knight is now an enjoyable entry for PC gamers. Visually, it’s easily the most impressive game in the franchise, especially during the many Batmobile sequences. The Batmobile itself plays a big role in Arkham Knight as you tear through the rain-soaked streets of Gotham City.
Gotham Knights
Okay, so we know that Gotham Knights isn’t technically a Batman game, but it does briefly have the Caped Crusader in it. With Bruce Wayne dead, it’s up to Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, and Red Hood to protect Gotham City from villains seizing the opportunity to take control for themselves.
It borrows the stealth gameplay from other Arkham games, although it doesn’t take place in the same plot, and combat plays more like an action RPG game. It also has a co-op mode for the entire game, so you and a friend can ambush criminals together.
Batman: The Telltale Series
While the Arkham games did allow for some detective work, a greater emphasis was placed on traversing the world and fighting villains. Batman: The Telltale Series instead slows things down a bit, letting you play as both Bruce Wayne and his alter ego Batman. The second series, Batman: The Enemy Within, builds on the story even further, with better writing overall and a satisfying conclusion.
LEGO Batman: The Video Game
For a more upbeat time, LEGO Batman: The Video Game is the place to be. It’s another classic LEGO title, taking the usually stoic Batman series and injecting a lot more humor and goofy scenes into the mix. As with most LEGO titles, this one is also more fun to play in co-op.
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
As you can probably guess, LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes features both more Batman and more DC characters overall. Batman still takes the lead role, complete with a new set of suits and gadgets, but now some other familiar faces like Superman and the Flash appear for the first time. You even get an open world to explore, similar to the later Arkham games.
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
LEGO Batman 2 was still a Batman game, just with a light sprinkling of DC characters. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham on the other hand takes things even further, bringing the roster to over 150 characters across the DC universe. It’s perhaps the least Batman-focused title on this list, but he still gets a decent set of new tools to play with during his adventures in space.
Batman: Arkham VR
Batman: Arkham VR is an interesting title, not only as a Batman game, but for VR in general. Virtual reality technology was still in its relative infancy when this game came out, giving players a taste of what might be to come. Arkham VR won’t exactly blow your mind like modern VR titles, but it’s still fun to mess around with various Batman gadgets and solve some light puzzles.
And this concludes our list of the best Batman games on PC in 2022. There is a lot to go through for newcomers, although you may already own some of these games as free on the Epic Games Store. If you’re looking for other superhero games instead, we’ve got the list for you.
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