It’s time to don the Batsuit and head out into Gotham City as we listing all Batman video games within the order they had been launched!

Batman first appeared in comedian books in 1939 and in stay motion in 1943 – nevertheless it wasn’t till 1986 that the costumed DC comics detective/vigilante appeared in a online game.

Batman has headlined an terrible lot of video video games since then. He’s appeared in lots of greater than we’re in a position to cowl right here – as an alternative, we’re having a look at each single console or pc sport that Batman is the star of – and named within the title – moderately than simply being half of a bigger solid. 

Note additionally that we’ve accomplished what we do greatest at Retro Dodo – and we’ve gone the additional mile for you – having separated video games with the identical identify in the event that they’re notably completely different on every format.

So with out additional ado, let’s try all Batman video games starring the Dark Knight himself!

• Platforms – Amstrad CPCPCW/MSX/ZX Spectrum,

The very first Batman sport is a fondly remembered, isometric journey title by Jon Ritman and Bernie Drummond.

The comedian book-style cowl artwork is gorgeous and the gameplay – that includes loads of motion and puzzles to sink your tooth into – is good.

Ritman and Drummond went on to create the superb Head Over Heels, an isometric title that used an improved model of the Batman sport engine.

• Platforms – Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum

A visually putting motion journey sport, Batman: The Caped Crusader took gamers to ranges which appeared in comedian e book panels.

It even featured captions and dialogue in speech bubbles, with the sport feeling virtually like an interactive comedian e book!

• Platforms – Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, GX4000, MS-DOS, MSX, ZX Spectrum

Foregoing the comedian e book influences of the earlier two video games, this 1989 Batman: The Movie title was primarily based on the darkish, gothic and neo-noir type of the 1989 Tim Burton film.

This was a stunning sport in its day; although it was a aspect scrolling, arcade-style motion sport for the opening and shutting phases, there have been additionally ranges which noticed you in charge of the Batmobile in a race throughout Gotham, the Batwing flying by means of Joker’s parade – and even a puzzle stage, wherein your objective is to search out the chemical compounds that make up Joker’s lethal Smilex components.

Though Batman: The Video Game supposedly took affect from the Tim Burton movie, this Sunsoft model of Batman deviated fairly a bit from the film’s plot.

It featured notable enemies from Batman’s comedian e book rogues gallery, a lot of which have nonetheless not appeared in stay motion. Though it did function the Joker as the ultimate battle, so it does no less than have that in widespread with the 1989 movie!

This was an excellent – if extraordinarily difficult – hack-and-slash type platformer, with wall leaping and projectile weapons making the Caped Crusader a reasonably versatile online game character by the requirements of the period.

This NES model additionally seems on our listing of the greatest DC Comics video video games!

Unlike its NES large brother, this Batman: The Video Game adaptation of the 1989 Batman film (additionally by Sunsoft) was fairly simple to finish.

Featuring simply 4 phases – together with one horizontally scrolling, Batwing shoot ‘em up part – this sport can also be notable (maybe infamous even) for arming the principle character with a gun.

Considering the character’s agency anti-gun stance, this at all times made the Game Boy Batman really feel a bit of off, nevertheless it’s a enjoyable, very playable sport nonetheless.

• Platforms – Sega Genesis, Sega Mega Drive

Another aspect scrolling motion affair, this 16-bit Batman: The Video Game Sunsoft sport was much more devoted to the movie’s occasions than the NES model – and far much less difficult too.

Interestingly, it additionally incorporates the Batmobile and Batwing in pseudo-top down capturing phases that add an honest quantity of selection to the expertise.

This Japan-only PC Engine title is the weirdest Batman ‘89 film adaptation of all of them, maybe even the strangest Batman title of all time.

Why is that, you say? Well, that’s as a result of this sport is a top-down maze sport – not in contrast to, say, Pac-Man.

Batman should gather sufficient objects to maneuver to the subsequent stage, whereas utilizing a restricted variety of Batarangs to stun dangerous guys.

Visually, it’s really very good – and it performs nicely too. It’s only a bizarre method to make use of the Batman license; it doesn’t really feel very like the Dark Knight in any respect!

• Platforms – NES, Sega Genesis

With Batman’s reputation sky-high due to the Tim Burton movie, Sunsoft capitalised on their rights to make use of the license with this observe as much as the film diversifications.

A platform run and gunner – within the vein of video games akin to Mega Man and Contra, with pressured scrolling and side-scrolling shoot ‘em up ranges additionally featured – Batman: Return of the Joker is among the most visually spectacular video games on the NES.

The Genesis model – known as Batman: Revenge of the Joker – improves the visuals considerably as you’d anticipate, however dials up the problem and is sadly a bit of unresponsive compared to the NES authentic.

Though bearing the identical identify because the NES sport – and the identical excellent cowl artwork too – the Game Boy model of Batman: Return of the Joker is a extra conventional platformer, moderately than the run-and-gun motion seen on the non-handhelds.

With solely 4 phases, it’s a shorter expertise too – although, apparently, all however the last stage could be tackled in any order.

An glorious sport, although undoubtedly overshadowed by the excellent NES model.

Batman Returns marks the tenth spot in our all Batman video games article!

Tim Burton’s Batman sequel was an extremely darkish movie in its day – with the horrific, deformed Penguin and near-enough BDSM Catwoman, it wasn’t probably the most child pleasant film, to say the least.

Yet it lent itself nicely to online game diversifications – and there have been a number of them!

This SNES model – by Konami – was a scrolling beat ‘em up with enormous sprites and a few critically bone crunching motion and sound results. The occasional Batmobile stage and extra platform-style, run and gun phases gave this title an excellent quantity of selection too.

On NES, it adopted a really comparable components – however was naturally far much less of a visible showcase than the attractive SNES model!

• Platforms – Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear, Sega Mega CD

These Sega-published variations of Batman Returns had been way more platform oriented beat ‘em ups.

Naturally, the Genesis/Mega Drive and Mega CD variations impress probably the most from a visible standpoint – with the CD model additionally having minimize scenes and 3D driving phases – and had been additionally much more forgiving than the ridiculously tough Master System and Game Gear variations.

The Master System model specifically is notoriously punishing – with Batman solely in a position to take one hit earlier than dying!

Packed in with the Lynx II console in some areas, Batman Returns was a technically spectacular, aspect scrolling beat ‘em up with platforming components.

The Lynx was an underrated console that didn’t actually get the recognition it deserved (although the horrendous battery life and sky excessive worth didn’t assist with that!) – however Batman Returns was a wonderful title and an excellent showcase for the console. 

Following on from the darkish tone of the Tim Burton motion pictures, the 1992 Batman: The Animated Series took a extra devoted method to the comedian e book materials than Burton’s movies – and stays among the many best possible diversifications of the comics to this point.

This Game Boy title is one other triumph for the Dark Knight on Nintendo’s handheld; a platform motion journey wherein gamers can change between Batman and Robin to reap the benefits of every character’s distinctive talents.

Batman: The Animated Series modified its identify to The Adventures of Batman & Robin for its second season, so although this has a distinct identify to the Game Boy title, it’s really primarily based on the identical present.

This Konami-developed title nails the look and ambiance of the animated present completely, with some pretty graphical results in its platform/beat ‘em up phases. The Batmobile phases are underwhelming, nonetheless.

• Platforms – Sega Mega Drive/Genesis

Published by Sega, the 16-bit model of The Adventures of Batman & Robin is a run and gun type title which could be performed in two participant co-op – with every of the titular characters being playable.

Some phases take the type of sideways scrolling shoot ‘em ups, with gamers controlling the Batwings with the intention to take down the dangerous guys.

• Platforms – Sega CD/Mega CD

Unusually, the Mega CD model of The Adventures of Batman & Robin consists solely of 3D driving and flying phases; within the Batmobile and Batwing respectively.

Most fascinating to Batfans, nonetheless, is that the between-level cutscenes encompass animated sequences created particularly for the sport – with the present’s artwork type and full solid all current!

With 17 minutes of animated footage in whole, it’s typically considered by followers as a ‘lost episode’ of the TV present!

• Platforms – Sega Game Gear

An extremely difficult sport – with poor, typically unfair stage design – the Game Gear adaptation of The Adventures of Batman & Robin animated collection is a reasonably easy and unoriginal platform motion journey.

Definitely the weakest adaptation of the animated collection, sadly – although that doubtful honour might nicely have fallen to the CD model if it hadn’t included these unbelievable, lavishly produced cutscenes!

• Platforms – SNES, Gameboy, Sega Genesis, Sega Game Gear

We’re at Number 18; time for Batman Forever to debut in our all Batman video games listing!

The third film was a notably and intentionally extra light-hearted and vibrant affair, nearer in tone to the campy 60s model of Batman – after Tim Burton’s darkish type scared off licensing companions.

Joel Shumacher’s movie ought to have made for excellent supply materials for a online game – particularly given how vibrant it was – however Acclaim as an alternative introduced a dire, murky beat ‘em as much as consoles.

Its greatest promoting level was the motion-captured, Mortal Kombat-style digitised graphics – however this made just about all variations of the sport laughably unresponsive and restricted. 

It was a formidable trying sport for the 8 and 16-bit platforms in 1995 – yep, even the Game Boy and Game Gear give the pre-rendered visuals a attempt, albeit with blended outcomes in fact – however seems to be horribly dated in the present day.

• Platforms – Sega Saturn, PS1

A quick-paced, scrolling beat ‘em up primarily based – because the title reveals – on the coin-op authentic, Batman Forever: The Arcade Game is an unlimited enchancment over the earlier console titles.

It’s nonetheless burdened with a considerably murky artwork type, nonetheless, with a reliance on digitised visuals that give it a jagged and unappealing aesthetic.

Joel Shumacher’s second shot on the Batman motion pictures resulted in Batman & Robin – which dialled the campiness and color as much as eleven.

Often derided and named because the movie that killed the franchise for a number of years (till 2005’s Batman Begins took issues in a intentionally darker course as soon as extra), unusually – for a licensed title – it solely emerged on the PS1.

A 3D beat ‘em up with early sandbox components, this sport was (deservedly!) as poorly obtained because the movie it was primarily based on.

• Platforms – N64, PS1, Gameboy Color

What occurs when Bruce Wayne must retire sooner or later? Who would be the protector of Gotham as soon as Batman is now not obtainable?

Enter Terry McGinniss, who takes on the mantle of the Batman in a cyberpunk-esque Gotham City, below the tutelage of Bruce Wayne himself – with the intention to take down a resurrected Joker and his gangs.

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (generally known as Batman of the Future: Return of the Joker in some territories) is a side-scrolling beat ‘em up on all platforms.

Its Game Boy Color model was, unusually, maybe the very best of the bunch – with the PS1 title oddly affected by an issue spike that made it frustratingly laborious from the second stage onwards.

• Platforms – Gameboy Color

The Batman: Chaos in Gotham Gameboy Color title was primarily based on the The New Batman Adventures – a continuation of the beloved early 90s animated collection.

The sport does a surprisingly nice job of replicating the type and color of the present, although the 2D, platform-based gameplay is a bit of uninspired.

• Platforms – GameDice, PS2, Xbox

Batman’s getting a brand new look within the twenty third title in our all Batman video games article, Batman: Vengeance.

From a presentation viewpoint, Batman: Vengeance completely knocked it out of the park – it seemed and sounded similar to an episode of the animated collection!

However, gameplay-wise it was a disappointment – with a clumsy digicam, horrible controls and terrible Batmobile ranges.

• Platforms – Gameboy Advance

Again mimicking the type of the cartoon – with FMV cutscenes too, which was very spectacular on the GBA – the hand-held model of Batman: Vengeance is a 2D, run and gun platform sport for probably the most half.

It additionally options aspect scrolling shoot ’em up sections and even overhead view, puzzle-based phases too.

Much more satisfying to play than its console large brother, GBA Batman: Vengeance has first rate selection and undoubtedly seems to be the half.

• Platforms – GameDice, Xbox,

Weirdly skipping the preferred console format of the time – the PS2 – Batman: Dark Tomorrow Kemco-licensed title is in any other case notable for that includes a Batman clearly impressed not by the animated collection or the films, however by the comedian e book itself.

Which is the one space it actually succeeds – it actually does nicely to seize the look and tone of the comedian.

Other than that, sadly Batman: Dark Tomorrow is a dire sport with terrible controls, a horrible fight system and even poor stage design. 

They say by no means choose a e book by its cowl – and that’s by no means been more true than with Batman: Dark Tomorrow, which seems to be nice till you really play it for your self!

• Platforms – GameDice, PS2, Xbox

What’s subsequent up in our all Batman video games listing? It’s time for Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu

Perennially in style comedian e book artist Jim Lee created an authentic villain – the titular Sin Tzu – for this 2003 beat ’em up.

It’s a genuinely first rate sport too, with an aesthetic that’s clearly impressed by the Batman animated collection.

It additionally permits two gamers to crew up and tackle the menace to Gotham collectively!

• Platforms – Gameboy Advance

Though the console model permits gamers to tackle Sin Tzu – and quite a lot of extra acquainted villains – as Batman, Robin, Nightwing or Batgirl, this handheld model of Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu one participant solely, with Batman being the one obtainable character to play as.

Gone is the 3D beat ’em up format too, with single airplane 2D brawling the order of the day right here.

It’s an enormous disappointment compared to the console model, sadly.

• Platforms – Xbox, PS2, GameDice

The large display screen rehabilitation of Batman’s tarnished picture – due to the 2 almost-impossibly campy Joel Schumacher motion pictures – began with 2005’s Christopher Nolan movie, Batman Begins.

This third particular person journey takes some inspiration from Splinter Cell to supply stealth-based motion with a number of devices.

Batman can use concern to terrify his enemies and there are even Burnout-style Batmobile sections too!

As licensed video games go, Batman Begins was not dangerous in any respect! 

• Platforms – Gameboy Advance

A nicely animated, versatile essential character is the most important constructive for the GBA model of Batman Begins.

A 2D motion journey, Batman Begins is a bit disappointing when it comes to its stage design and sluggish fight, nonetheless.

• Platforms – Windows, MacOS, PS2, PS3, PSP, Nintendo DS, Wii, Xbox 360

We’ve hit 30 in our listing of all Batman video games so as, which suggests it’s about time Lego Batman: The Video Game confirmed up!

As the primary Travellers Tales-developed Lego sport to have an authentic story (with Lego Star Wars and Lego Indiana Jones each being primarily based on their respective movie sagas), Lego Batman had a bit extra freedom to function a number of distinctive mechanics and conditions.

Naturally, it’s as charming as you’d anticipate and – although dated now – it’s nonetheless a extremely enjoyable sport for all ages, completely overflowing with stud-collecting, unlockable characters and secrets and techniques to find!

You’ll additionally discover Lego Batman on our listing of the greatest Lego video games!

Without doubt an absolute game-changer for not simply Batman video games, not simply tremendous hero video games, not even simply licensed video games – however for third particular person motion journey video games normally, Batman: Arkham Asylum is an absolute masterpiece of sport design and mechanics.

The story is phenomenal and brilliantly instructed, the fight system has been vastly influential and far imitated – and the Metroidvania-style gameplay is so completely applied alongside the narrative that that is nonetheless, in my humble opinion, the easiest sport within the Arkham collection.

Not solely that, nevertheless it’s our alternative for the easiest Batman sport ever!

Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Video Game is up subsequent in our all Batman video games listing!

There’s room for a couple of sort of Batman in fact; although the campiness of the Joel Schumacher motion pictures wasn’t interesting to most followers, the 60s Batman, regardless of being just about the cheesiest the characters have ever been, continues to be fondly remembered.

Animated team-up present Batman: The Brave and the Bold – which paired Batman with a distinct superhero in every episode – took a enjoyable, vibrant and humorous method to the characters, not in contrast to the Silver Age comics it paid homage to. It labored fantastically.

This Wii adaptation of the cartoon was nice enjoyable too, capturing the visible aesthetic of the present completely for its 2D run and gun type motion.

• Platforms – Nintendo DS

This DS adaptation of Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Video Game is an ideal accomplice to the Wii sport.

It’s much less of a straight motion sport than its large brother too, with an emphasis on utilizing the distinctive talents of whichever hero Batman is at the moment teamed with, with the intention to progress.

Most impressively, homeowners of the DS sport can hook up with the Wii model wirelessly and ‘invade’ the sport on the large display screen because the pesky, fourth wall-breaking Bat-Mite!

• Platforms – PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360,

Arkham Asylum was at all times going to be a tough act to observe, however builders Rocksteady stored the phenomenonal gameplay and storytelling out of the Asylum and into the open world of Gotham City on this glorious sequel.

An whole, enormous part of Gotham City stays walled off with the undesirables, criminals and supervillains trapped inside its confines; left to their very own units in an Escape from New York-inspired plot.

What they don’t know is that Batman can also be throughout the jail metropolis’s partitions – and it’s not lengthy earlier than the Dark Knight is uncovering all types of unpleasantness.

Though the open world is liberating after the – intentionally – claustrophobic confines of Arkham Asylum, this does imply that Arkham City has just a few pacing points and the story does really feel much less centered because of this.

Yet that is nonetheless comfortably one of many best possible Batman video games of all time – and, impressively, one of many highest promoting video games on varied platforms too. You can discover it on our listing of the greatest promoting PS3 video games!

• Platforms – Windows, MacOS, PS3, PS Vita, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Android, iOS

With the earlier Lego Batman sport being the primary Travellers Tales-developed Lego sport to function an authentic story, it’s clear that the builders had been eager to push the envelope when it got here to their Batman video games.

Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes additionally pioneered what would turn into an enormous facet of the Lego video games going ahead, because it was the primary sport within the Lego collection to function totally spoken dialogue – and it didn’t fiddle, assembling a genuinely spectacular solid of voice actors for its open world motion journey.

Though Batman video video games had been understandably all in regards to the Arkham collection in the course of the interval that Lego Batman 2 was launched, this good title supplied a enjoyable, all ages applicable different that might be loved by children in addition to adults.

• Platforms – PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360

When the third Arkham sport took the total consideration of Rocksteady Studios, improvement of a much less bold prequel handed to WB Montreal.

The end result – the underrated Batman: Arkham Origins, typically unfairly handled because the odd one out of the Arkham collection.

The prequel narrative, snowy setting and nicely applied mechanics that make nice use of Batman’s detective expertise all set Arkham Origins other than the opposite video games and provides it a novel really feel.

It’s a a lot better sport than many critics would have you ever consider – in reality, we at Retro Dodo take into account this to be a stronger sport general than the chronological third sport, Batman: Arkham Knight.

• Platforms – Nintendo 3DS, PS Vita, PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360

Originally launched just for the 3DS and PS Vita handhelds, Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate boasts brilliantly designed Metroidvania-style gameplay. 

Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate sees Batman attempting to cease a jail riot at Gotham City’s infamous Blackgate Penitentiary.

Interestingly, it was so nicely obtained (you’ll additionally see it on our listing of the greatest PS Vita video games!) that it was delivered to full dimension consoles as a Deluxe Edition, which featured quite a few enhancements – together with new maps, batsuits, devices, graphics and extra!

• Platforms – Windows, MacOS, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Nintendo 3DS, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Android, iOS

We’re nearing the top of our all Batman video games article, which suggests we want some hep from a blocky crusader. It’s time for Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham!

The third Lego Batman sport from Travellers Tales doesn’t simply go Beyond Gotham, because the identify suggests – it takes gamers past Earth and into some thrilling intergalactic adventures too!

Somewhat amusingly, it additionally incorporates a DLC pack which covers Christopher Nolan’s super-serious Dark Knight film trilogy – with no video video games primarily based on them since Batman Begins in 2005, this marked the one look of those variations of the characters in a sport!

Much like its predecessors, Lego Batman 3 is a sprawling journey with an enormous vary of playable characters to unlock. 

It’s the final Batman-focused Lego sport to date, although it was adopted by the superb Lego DC Super Villains, which took an fascinating twist in being – because the identify reveals – totally centered on the dangerous guys!

• Platforms – PS4, Xbox One

The closing chapter of the Arkham collection, Batman: Arkham Knight offers gamers not solely an enormous and impressively detailed, open-world Gotham City to discover – but in addition, the keys to the Batmobile!

Which, sadly, is the sport’s greatest weak point: the Batmobile and its transformation right into a tank is relied on far an excessive amount of, with a number of boring, repetitive story missions that see you taking up enemy tanks.

The story itself is great – and, although one main twist is way too apparent, the narrative does have some actually gorgeous developments all through.

The dynamic between the Joker and Batman is explored brilliantly – with Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy as soon as once more proving why they’re the definitive actors for these two iconic roles.

Plus, Arkham Knight has one of many most interesting bounce scares in any sport, ever – and normally, it’s surprisingly wealthy with real horror.

As Batman video video games go, this one is nearly definitely the darkest of Dark Knights.

• Platforms – PS3/PS4/Switch/Xbox 360/Xbox One,

Here at Retro Dodo, we frequently wax lyrical about how efficient the Telltale video games are at drawing gamers in to their involving, choice-based narrative gameplay.

One collection that doesn’t get sufficient love, nonetheless, is Batman: The Telltale Series.

This first collection concentrates simply as a lot, if no more, on Bruce Wayne – the person behind the masks – moderately than his actions as Batman, however that’s to not say that the superheroics are uncared for.

Also, Batman’s standing because the World’s Greatest Detective is put to good use on this sport too, with loads of sequences that depend on gamers connecting items of proof at crime scenes.

• Platforms – Vive, Oculus, PSVR

A brief however very immersive digital actuality expertise, set between the occasions of Arkham City and Arkham Knight, Batman: Arkham VR goes out of its approach to make you’re feeling similar to Batman.

Suiting up, analysing crime scenes in three dimensions and even utilizing devices akin to Batarangs and the Grapnel Gun all add to the genuine atmosphere – with the story seeing some stunning twists and turns earlier than the ultimate reveal.

Though simplistic, it’s a triumph of audiovisual design and narrative, very like the opposite Arkham video games. 

Also true to the custom laid down by the remainder of the Arkham collection, Arkham VR is extremely creepy at occasions, particularly with an early-game go to to the morgue!

• Platforms – PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One

The final title in our all Batman video games article (and the most recent on the time of writing) is the incredible Batman: The Enemy Within!

The second Telltale Batman sport is a fully phenomenal examination of the Joker’s descent into villainy, instructed in an authentic and unpredictable method.

Naturally, being Telltale, the way in which that the story unfolds for every participant feels very private.

This makes John Doe’s tragic fall from grace – whereby he’s merely attempting to do the proper factor alongside Batman – all of the extra involving and affecting.

An up to date model of the sport – the Shadows Edition – was launched in 2019; this allowed gamers to use a noir-esque color filter to the sport. Though inessential, it’s undoubtedly a welcome possibility.