Easy Guide to Playing the Batman Series in Order – What to play first? 

Due to the release of The Batman in theatres, players find it tempting to adorn the role of the Dark Knight in video games too. You can experience the adventures of the Caped Crusader via several retro titles and a few more casual ones like the LEGO Batman.  

Nonetheless, in the past few years, Warner Bros. Games have developed a Batman franchise, the Batman Arkham series, that hasn’t only been a megahit amongst the critics but also wreaked havoc among gamers. 

Consisting of eight games, including six PC games, a single mobile-based game, and another VR-based game, the Batman Arkham series can be challenging to navigate, regardless of whether you’re a newbie or an old fan. In essence, there are two mainstream orders to go through the Batman series: the release date order and chronological order.  

However, it’s optional to go about the Batman series in the above-mentioned manner. You are free to create your own preferred order. Here’s how you can play the Batman series in order. 

1. The Chronological Order to Play the Batman Series 

Although playing the Batman series chronologically can be a bit confusing due to the variety of spin-offs and bonus games out there, it’s your only choice if you want to gain an idea of Batman’s narrative in the Arkhamverse. 

Given below is the chronological order to play the Batman series. 

1. Batman: Arkham Origins 

2. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate 

3. Batman: Arkham Asylum 

4. Batman: Arkham City Lockdown 

5. Batman: Arkham City 

6. Batman: Arkham VR 

7. Batman: Arkham Knight 

8. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League 

The developers, Rocksteady Studios, are moving away from Batman and Gotham, but Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is still an official continuation of the Arkhamverse.  

In addition, the developers state that a bunch of threads and storylines from the past Batman Arkham series will receive a satisfactory conclusion. As a result, it’s safe to assume that Kill the Justice League will be set further away in the future, chronologically. 

2. The Release Order to Play the Batman Series 

If you want to avoid the hassle of navigating through the puzzling chronology of the Batman series, you can simply play the franchise in the release order. Given below is the release date order to play the Batman series. 

1. Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) 

2. Batman: Arkham City (2011) 

3. Batman: Arkham City Lockdown (2011) 

4. Batman: Arkham Origins (2013) 

5. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (2013) 

6. Batman: Arkham Knight (2015) 

7. Batman: Arkham VR (2016) 

8. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2023) 

Even though Rocksteady Studios hasn’t announced the exact release date of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, it’s scheduled for release in 2023’s second quarter. 

3. Which Batman game should you play first? 

The Batman game you should play first depends on your liking, as there’s no definite answer to this dilemma. Nevertheless, there’s a huge consensus that Batman Arkham Asylum is the best starting point. Although its gameplay is fairly different from what the series eventually presents, it’s a tightly constructed and significantly linear game. 

So, if the sequence of events is important to you, Batman Arkham Asylum is the way to go for you. But, if you don’t mind abruptions and are a huge fan of open-world experiences, you should play Batman Arkham City first. It’s important to note that Arkham City is a direct sequel to Arkham Asylum, so there’s a specific continuation in the storyline. 

Furthermore, Batman Arkham Origins is a game you can skip without a thought, as it doesn’t really provide a proper introduction to the series, even though it’s the prequel.  

Lastly, Batman Arkham Knight relies heavily on the previous installments for various in-game elements, so beginning with the same isn’t the best idea. 

4. Do you need to play the Batman series in order? 

When it comes to whether you need to play the Batman series in order or not, the division in opinions is huge. But, at the end of the day, the difference can be broken down into a single parameter – the intention with which you’re starting the Batman series. 

If you’re starting the series with the sole intention of enjoying the adventures of the masked vigilante, you must not resort to playing the Batman series in a particular order. Any knowledge of Batman’s relationship with the Joker from the comics or movies is enough to help you get through it. 

But, if you want to understand the exact narrative behind the revered Batman series, playing the Batman series in order is only fundamental. 

5. What is the darkest Batman game? 

According to the marketing producer of Rocksteady Studios, Dax Ginn, Batman Arkham Knight is the darkest Batman game in the entire series. He claims that in the previous installments, Batman is shown as the savior of Gotham city, portraying all his messiah-like properties.  

However, Batman Arkham Knight brings out the darkness and intensity of Bruce Wayne, whose parents were murdered in cold blood in front of his eyes.  

Also, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League could very well be the darkest game of the Batman series or, more precisely, the Arkhamverse, as villains taking down heroes is pretty much on the darker side of things. 

6. Should you play Batman Arkham Origins or City first? 

Batman Arkham Origins occurs five years prior to Batman Arkham Asylum on Christmas Eve. Also, Batman Arkham City takes place the following winter as Batman Arkham Asylum, while Batman Arkham Knight takes place the next Halloween. So, logically, you should play Batman Arkham Origins before playing Batman Arkham City.  

Besides, the series introduces newer features, gadgets, and tools with each release. So, if you don’t want to wait long hours to use the latest gadgets and features in the Batman series, feel free to jump onto Batman Arkham City straightaway.  

7. Will The Batman Arkham series continue? 

Although Rocksteady Studios is working on an official extension of the Arkhamverse in the form of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, the Batman Arkham series won’t be witnessing a new installment. 

Kevin Conroy, the voice behind the Batman iterations in the Batman series, in an interview with The Movie Dweeb, stated the following. 

“I wish there was, I really do. Because people ask all the time. You have to understand how expensive they are to build. They cost a fortune. They take years. Arkham Knight took two years to put together, and it was a huge secret, no one could know about it.” 

Kevin Conroy

8. About Batman Arkham

Batman: Arkham is a series of action-adventure video games based on the DC Comics character Batman, developed by Rocksteady Studios and WB Games Montréal, and published originally by Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.