Although they have only recently become a popular genre, video games based on comic book characters have been around since the very beginning, with the likes of Superman, Spider-man, and even Judge Dread having multiple games under their belt. One superhero who seems to have more games than any other character in their name is the Caped Crusader himself, Batman.
While the first games that come to mind when gamers think of Batman are most likely the Arkham series, Batman has had many more games than these in the past, some of which being almost as critically acclaimed as Rocksteady's well-received series.
10 Batman: The Telltale Series (72)
The first of two Batman games by Telltale Games, this episodic adventure takes many cues from classic stories like Batman: Year One and follows a somewhat inexperienced Bruce Wayne in his early attempts to rid Gotham of criminal activity. Like all Telltale games, The Telltale Series plays out more like an interactive TV series rather than an action game like most other Batman titles, though there is still enough control given to the player to let them feel like they are behind the wheel rather than simply watching everything unfold.
9 Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (74)
Lego games aren't always viewed in the most positive light, but it's hard to argue against how fun they can be, especially when they are given license to make games with many available characters like DC and Marvel superheroes. As the title suggests, this Lego Batman adventure takes place not only in Gotham City but in many other DC locations, such as Metropolis and the Fortress of Solitude, as well as the Justice League Watchtower. The main villain here is Brainiac, though Batman's usual foes like The Joker, Solomon Grundy, and Killer Croc all make an appearance as well.
8 Batman: The Brave and the Bold (74)
Based on the animated series of the same name, this Nintendo DS title features a different style of gameplay from many other Batman games, as it is a side-scrolling platformer with beat-em-up elements in the same vein as Double Dragon or Streets of Rage.
Developed by WayForward, the same team behind the Shantae series and who recently assisted ArtPlay and 505 Games with Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, players are able to fight alongside familiar faces such as Robin, Blue Beetle, and Green Lantern to defeat various villains across several maps while keeping the art style of the animated series it is based on.
7 Batman: Arkham Origins (76)
The odd-one-out of the Arkham series, Arkham Origins may have been heavily divisive to both fans and critics, but it's hard to argue with its quality. While it was sad to see Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamil not return to reprise their roles as Bruce Wayne and The Joker respectfully, Roger Craig Smith and Troy Baker both do a great job at bringing the characters to life. Having the same gameplay as previous Arkham games, Origins follows a similar premise to The Telltale Series, with players in control of a fresh-faced Batman in the early days of his crime-fighting moonlighting while dealing not only with Gotham's worst criminals but also the police who want to detain him as well.
6 Batman: The Enemy Within (79)
The follow up to The Telltale Series, The Enemy Within moves the story forward several years to a more refined and ingrained Batman who has the support of the Gotham police as they not only have to deal with failing to capture The Riddler, but also the emergence of Amander Waller and The Agency, who prove to only make everyone's jobs harder. The story in The Enemy Within is reminiscent of that of Arkham Knight, with it clearly leading up to a conclusion with long-lasting ramifications no matter which options are taken, though in this instance, without the "death" of Bruce Wayne.
5 Lego Batman: The Video Game (80)
The first of three Lego Batman games, not including Lego DC Super-Villains, it is notable for being the first Lego game based on an existing franchise that tells an original story and is better for it. After many of Batman's main foes escapes Arkham Asylum, the player is tasked with taking down a group of gangs that have appeared in Gotham following the recent breakout, each one led by either Riddler, Penguin, or The Joker. Lego Batman also allows the player to control various Batman-related vehicles, such as the Batmobile, Batwing, and Batboat, as well as control several of Batman's allies, including Batgirl, Nightwing, and Robin.
4 Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (82)
The sequel to Lego Batman, DC Super Heroes follows Batman and Robin as they join forces with the rest of the Justice League to prevent plans by The Joker and Lex Luthor to have the latter elected as President. Unlike the original title, DC Super Heroes features an open-world Gotham to explore rather than the Batcave between levels, similar to Lego Marvel Super Heroes and New York City.
As well as being able to control Batman and his main Bat-family allies, players are also able to use other characters from the Justice League, such as Flash and Wonder Woman, who all feature full voice acting for the first time in any Lego Batman game.
3 Batman: Arkham Knight (87)
As the grand finale of the Arkham series, it's easy to see why it is one of the best Batman games of all time. Taking the combat and traversal mechanics of the previous entries, Arkham Knight is one of the smoothest gaming experiences you can have while playing as the Dark Knight. Although many people took issue with its story and the identity of the Arkham Knight being fairly obvious long before their reveal, the game does a lot to make players feel like they're Batman despite how the Batmobile raises some questions about the lethality of his equipment.
2 Batman: Arkham Asylum (91)
Many gamers didn't expect Arkham Asylum to do all that well, as the majority of Batman games that had come before were either cheap tie-ins with bad Joel Schumaker films or of the Lego variety, which isn't something everyone enjoys. Thankfully, not only was Arkham Asylum one of the best games of its generation, but it is easily a contender for the best game in the series, despite what Metacritic says. Although it is nowhere near as open as its sequels, the Asylum is packed with enough unique areas and references to Batman's history to keep even the most hardcore comic fan satisfied.
1 Batman: Arkham City (96)
Of all the Arkham games, Arkham City is, according to Metacritic, the cream of the crop when it comes to playing a Batman game. Although the game has several issues that were rectified in Arkham Knight, such as the slow traversal speed and awkward world design, it makes up for its shortcomings by enhancing what was established in Arkham Asylum with new combat maneuvers, new gadgets, and a host of new characters, including playable versions of Catwoman and Robin in DLC packs.