Summary
- Batmobile in games were often poorly executed, but certain titles managed to offer entertaining and immersive experiences.
- Batman games showcased different Batmobile styles and gameplay, with each version presenting unique gameplay mechanics for the iconic vehicle.
- Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham Knight delivered an advanced Batmobile with various functions, popular for its versatility and integration into gameplay.
Despite being synonymous with Batman in comics, movies, and television, the iconic Batmobile has not had a massive presence in video games like his famous gadgets or martial arts skills. The Batmobile has seen many variations and updates over the years as the character has evolved with the times, from armored muscle cars to high-tech tanks that could crush Bane.
Fortunately, there are games out there for enthusiasts of the Batmobile, with different styles of gameplay mixed with signature designs that help them stand out from each other. Even in games where the Batmobile is only a small portion of the experience, it still adds to the overall immersion by making the player feel like The Dark Knight.
8 Batman: Gotham City Racer
An Appealing Concept Wasted By Poor Execution
Batman: Gotham City Racer
- Released
- January 1, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- everyone e10+
- Genre(s)
- Racing, Vehicular Combat
Using footage from The New Batman Adventures for cutscenes, Batman: Gotham City Racer allowed players to take control of the sleeker Batmobile in an oft-forgotten title by UbiSoft. Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, and the many famous Batman villains also have their respective vehicles that can race through the streets of Gotham City.
Unfortunately, aside from the novelty of seeing the available vehicles, Batman: Gotham City Racer is almost universally panned for its poor controls and unappealing visuals. Even the Batmobile feels too unresponsive and floaty in response to player inputs, making the constant turns through Gotham frustrating.
7 Batman Returns
Each Version Puts A Different Spin On The Batmobile
Batman Returns
- Released
- 1992
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Beat 'Em Up
There are several versions of Batman Returns developed by different companies for various systems, resulting in multiple gameplay styles for the Batmobile. In the MS-DOS version, which combines action and point-and-click adventure elements, the Batmobile serves as a hub for Batman to receive updates and fast travel to different locations in the city.
In Batman Returns for the Sega CD, the Batmobile sections feature intense third-person shoot-'em-up levels interspersed with areas where players control Batman on foot. Konami’s version for the NES is also a shoot-‘em-up but adopts a 2D side-scrolling format reminiscent of Gradius, showcasing a diverse range of gameplay for the Batmobile in 1992.
6 Batman & Robin
The First Open-World Batman Game
Batman & Robin
- Released
- August 5, 1998
- ESRB
- T for Teen - Animated Violence
- Developer(s)
- Probe Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Acclaim Entertainment, Inc.
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original)
In many ways, Batman & Robin on the original PlayStation reflects the movie it is based on: a poorly made project designed only to sell toys. However, to give credit where it is due, it was also an ambitious title as players had to use detective work to figure out where to go and at what time. It’s not much, but it’s still more Dark Knight Detective work than most games.
5 Batman Movies With The Best Stories, Ranked
There have been plenty of Batman movies through the ages, but these are the ones that stand out for their narrative strength.
When it comes to the massive neon-lit Batmobile, Batman & Robin also deserves credit for implementing the first open-world Gotham City to explore. Batman has to go to specific locations throughout Gotham to start the next level in the story using the Batmobile, which is clunky but for a PS1 title, it was ahead of its time.
5 Batman Vengeance
Simple But Effective Action Game For The DC Animated Universe
Batman: Vengeance
- Released
- October 15, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T // Violence
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Engine
- unreal engine
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo GameCube, PC, PS2, Xbox (Original)
Batman Vengeance is another game based on The New Batman Adventures, but is designed to feel like an extended episode of the beloved animated series. Most of the game is spent playing Batman, fighting villains and their thugs in a third-person action-adventure, with the Batmobile only being playable on certain levels.
The Batmobile is far from complicated; it has the player chasing cars and shooting at them, dodging other vehicles, and using a grapple to make sharp turns via quick-time events. While they go on for a little too long, they are still considered a vast improvement over Batman: Gotham City Racer.
4 Rocket League
Many Famous Movie Cars Are Playable
Rocket League
- Released
- July 7, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Many famous cars have raced their way into Rocket League as DLC, from the Ecto-1 of the Ghostbusters universe to James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5. There have also been multiple Batmobiles based on the original Tim Burton Batman movies, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, the DC Extended Universe, and Matt Reeves’ The Batman.
The Batmobiles are purely cosmetic and do not affect gameplay, which means that it is still the same Rocket League experience that thousands of players fell in love with. It is a soccer game with cars, leading to as many tense moments as hilarious ones, as cars compete online to score points.
3 LEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroes
A LEGO Gotham Requires A LEGO Batmobile
LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes
- Released
- June 19, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Cartoon Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Traveller’s Tales has tackled many famous franchises in LEGO form and Batman is one that helped them revolutionize their games with new mechanics with each entry. LEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroes was not only their first game to feature voice actors, but Traveller’s Tales also fully embraced an open-world superhero title after the popularity of Batman: Arkham City.
Every LEGO Batman Game, Ranked
Like many long-running LEGO series, LEGO Batman has changed a lot over the years, and this list determines which games are the most enjoyable.
Characters like Superman were introduced in LEGO Batman 2, so most players will opt for him to get around the LEGO version of Gotham, but the Batmobile and other unlockable vehicles are still a viable option. They are fast with tight controls and would lay the foundation for most vehicle sections in other LEGO games.
2 Batman Begins
The Tumbler Helps Break Up The Stealth Gameplay
Batman Begins
- Released
- June 14, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Stealth
In Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, the Tumbler set a new standard for Batmobiles for many versions afterward, with many portraying the Batmobile as an armored personnel carrier. This would also be the case for the Batman Begins video game, which featured multiple gameplay mechanics that would eventually become part of the highly-regarded Batman: Arkham series.
The ten Tumbler missions throughout Batman Begins are linear chases and races, but they are action-packed and take full advantage of the tank-like design as Batman drives through the city. Smashing through criminal cars in slow-motion is a delight with impressive animations for a PS2 movie-licensed game and runs smoothly for a game moving so fast.
1 Batman: Arkham Knight
Rocksteady Did Not Disappoint With Their Batmobile
Batman: Arkham Knight
- Released
- June 23, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action
After three games where the Batmobile was a static object, Batman: Arkham Knight was when fans finally got their hands on a new advanced prototype Batmobile to traverse with. Gotham City was at its biggest and was filled with military vehicles, so Batman was given a Batmobile that could transform into a turret-clad tank that can drive, smash, and shoot through the open world.
While Batman: Arkham Knight was criticized for overusing the Batmobile in the main story, that doesn’t diminish how satisfying it is to use in the open world, races, time trials, and combat challenges. It can even be used to solve various puzzles, having as many gadgets as Batman does. Additionally, DLC has allowed for Batmobile skins based on Batmobiles from various movies.
15 Best Suit Mods In Batman: Arkham Knight
From movie costumes to entirely new characters, fans have shown their love for dedication to Batman: Arkham Knight with mods for new costumes.