Batman is one of the most renowned properties in the world. He debuted in comic books, then transitioned over into film and television. There have been many iterations of Batman across various mediums, with a large sum of them being commercially and critically successful or acclaimed.

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However, Batman hasn't always been a hit when it comes to video games. For many, Rocksteady's Arkham series was the first to really do justice by the caped crusader. Some would even say the Arkham games were the first great superhero video games. There are, however, some non-Arkham-related Batman games worth checking out.

10 Batman (1986)

a screenshot of the Batman 1986 game featuring Batman in the Batcave

The 1986 Batman was the first Batman game ever made. While it hasn't aged too well, it's been remade plenty of times. In it, you play as Batman on his quest to rescue Robin by assembling a hovercraft from parts scattered across the Batcave.

While the gameplay is now on the simplistic side and the story is lacking, it was the first video game to bring the caped crusader to life. And the first to let you be Batman. It was also, perhaps more notably, one of the first games ever to feature an auto-save/checkpoint mechanic.

9 Batman: The Caped Crusader

a screenshot of Batman The Caped Crusader Game featuring Batman in the Batcave

Batman: The Caped Crusader was a side-scrolling, action-adventure puzzle game. As you might expect, you take on the role of Batman. When not battling henchmen with punches, kicks, and batarangs, you’re solving puzzles and taking on the Penguin and the Joker. It was the first Batman game that let you fight crime and be a detective (of sorts).

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More notably was that its aesthetics and visuals mimicked the look of a Batman comic book. You traverse panels with captions in the corner. Most Batman video games tried to match the visuals of the movies or TV shows; this one went to the original material instead.

8 The Adventures of Batman & Robin (SNES Version)

a screenshot of The Adventures of Batman & Robin on SNES featuring Batman battling the Riddler

Based on the animated show of the same name, previously known as Batman: The Animated Series, The Adventures of Batman & Robin were a series of puzzle-platformer action games released across multiple platforms. Konami's SNES version is considered by many as the best of the bunch.

You play as Batman, with the boy wonder joining you in cutscenes. Praised for its visuals and sounds, the game did not feature great gameplay; it was filled with slow animations, repetition, and unbalanced difficulty.

7 Batman: Vengeance

Batman Vengeance cover art: batman looms in front of the moon

Like many Batman video games, Batman: Vengeance was based on a TV show. This one specifically drew inspiration from The New Adventures of Batman, sharing many of the voice actors from the series, as well as the visual style.

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While Batman: Vengeance tells an engaging story that matches the look and style of the show, it failed to match that with engaging gameplay. The game’s controls and mechanics were often a hindrance, and the gameplay didn't offer a lot of variety, either.

6 Batman (1989)

a screenshot of the Batman 1989 game featuring Batman in battle

Based on the movie of the same year, Batman (1989) has you reenacting sequences from the movie. Each level of the game has a different style and mechanic. You start off in a classic, side-scrolling game, battling henchmen; then you drive the batmobile; then you solve puzzles like a detective; and then you fly the Batwing.

The 1989 Batman game not only lets you reenact a well-regarded movie, but it also lets you do what Batman does. It was the first Batman game that allowed you to experience almost every facet of Batman's being.

5 Batman: Return of the Joker

Batman Return of the Joker screenshot featuring Batman platforming

Batman: Return of the Joker was the sequel to Batman: The Video Game, based on the 1989 movie. In this game, you once again battle villains in a side-scrolling fashion.

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While not as good as its predecessor, this one gets points for telling a compelling, original story, as well as for its impressive visuals and fun gameplay. In a feat similar to the Arkham games, this Batman game also featured some of the best boss battles at the time, with the battle with the Joker being an iconic one.

4 Batman: The Video Game

Batman facing an enemy on a platform in Batman The Video Game

Also released in 1989 were a series of video games developed by Sunsoft based on the 1989 Batman. Each game, released on different platforms, has different mechanics, visuals, and styles. The NES edition is the most regarded and renowned, though.

In it, you play as Batman, again reenacting the events of the 1989 movie, albeit with more creative liberty and some larger DC Universe connections too. You battle various villains using gadgets and fists. One of the reasons this game is so well known is because of its difficulty, as well as how good it is.

3 Batman: The Brave and the Bold - The Videogame

a screenshot of Batman The Brave and the Bold The Videogame featuring Batman and Robin battling henchmen

The Brave and the Bold was one of the more family-friendly TV iterations of the caped crusader. The video game continued this, appearing exclusively on Nintendo consoles. The game was a short, side-scrolling beat 'em up, like many Batman games before it. You control Batman, using gadgets and combat to take down the villains.

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While the game was fun and entertaining, it was short. And because of its more family-friendly nature, it lacked much in the way of challenge. But collectibles allowed you to upgrade Batman and his gadgets, allowing some variation to gameplay.

2 Lego Batman (Series)

lego batman the video game

The Lego Batman series mixes the two titular brands together into an original, fun adventure for the whole family. In it, you take on the role of Lego Batman and his extended family of characters, battling enemies, solving puzzles, and collecting studs. You can even create your own Bat-Hero out of assembled parts earned or collected throughout the games.

If fighting crime and saving the day isn't your thing, the games also offer you the chance to play as the villains. They have their own story and progression, where you can commit crimes and cause havoc across Gotham. Later games expanded this further with the introduction of Superman and the Justice League.

1 Batman: The Telltale Series

Catwoman clings to Batman as they hang in the air

In Batman: The Telltale Series, everything you think you know about the caped crusader is turned on its head. This Telltale game makes it its mission to subvert your expectations, from Bruce Wayne's parents not being as nice as you'd expect to the Joker having a radically different relationship than normal with Batman. Telltale's Batman is unlike any other.

Where it fails to surprise is in its gameplay. This is a standard Telltale game, with choice-based mechanics and quick time events. If that's not your cup of tea, it won't be for you. But it does feature the late Telltale's updated engine, with greater visuals and more cinematic flare than earlier Telltale games.

NEXT: Best Batman Games (According To Metacritic)