Summary
- DC games offer a range of genres for all fans to enjoy, featuring beloved superheroes like Batman and Wonder Woman.
- Lesser-known titles like Justice League Heroes and Scribblenauts Unmasked provide unique DC experiences.
- Games like Injustice 2 and Batman: Arkham Knight build on strong foundations, offering cinematic visuals and diverse character rosters.
Superheroes are a joy on their own, as shown with Batman: Arkham Asylum, but part of the fun of having an established DC Universe is partaking in the fantasy of seeing many heroes or villains team up to save a city or even the world from some kind of threat. Multiple DC games have taken advantage of that over the years by featuring entire rosters filled with characters.
Gamers have had the opportunity to play as their favorite superheroes, ranging from the Justice League to the Bat-Family, across various genres. Whether players enjoy action-packed battles in an open world or strategic team play in role-playing games, DC superhero games provide something for every fan.
10 Justice League Heroes
An Overlooked RPG Featuring DC's Greatest Heroes
Justice League Heroes
- Released
- September 10, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T // Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Snowblind Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo DS, PS2, PSP, Xbox (Original)
In almost direct competition with Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Justice League Heroes presents a similar dungeon-crawling adventure RPG. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Zatanna, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter are the main characters going up against Brainiac and his collection of villains as minions.
While not a flawless game, there is fun to be had playing as a pair of DC heroes running and punching through hordes of enemies and leveling up. Justice League Heroes is often forgotten, even though it provides a DC experience with visuals and storytelling that is almost reminiscent of the DC Animated Universe and the comics combined.
9 LEGO Batman: The Videogame
Bring Justice Or Chaos To Gotham, One Brick At A Time
Lego Batman: The Videogame
- Released
- September 23, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Cartoon Violence
- Developer(s)
- Traveller's Tales
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Before there was an open world or voice acting, LEGO Batman: The Videogame was the game that spawned a whole DC franchise by Traveller's Tales. While Batman and Robin are the stars, every villain in the main story and more can also be unlocked to be played in their own campaigns that tell the same story from their perspective.
Like many other Traveller's Tales games, LEGO Batman: The Videogame features the stud collecting and puzzle-solving that made the games so famous. The addition of famous Danny Elfman tracks, suit-swapping mechanics, and deep-cut Batman characters is just the icing on what is a delicious bat-shaped cake.
8 Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure
DC Fans Can Accomplish Anything With Their Imagination
Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure
- Released
- September 24, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Wii U, New Nintendo 3DS
Imagination is essential for playing Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure, the fifth installment in the series. In this game, the protagonist, Maxwell, uses his magical journal to conjure up anything he can think of. By simply typing in any character or object that comes to mind, players can summon it to solve puzzles, complete missions, and assist DC superheroes in an entertaining, family-friendly story.
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If a player can think of a character or item from the vast DC universe, it is likely included in the game, encompassing both heroes and villains. The game also features origin stories presented in the charming art style of Scribblenauts, allowing players to experience the pasts of iconic heroes such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
7 Injustice: Gods Among Us
A DC Universe By The People Behind Mortal Kombat
Injustice: Gods Among Us
- Released
- April 16, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- NetherRealm Studios
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
After successfully rebooting their Mortal Kombat franchise, Netherrealm Studios took their fighting game style to the DC Universe to create Injustice: Gods Among Us. Inspired by an arc in the Justice League animated series, it focuses on the Justice League arriving on a parallel Earth where Superman is a tyrannical ruler hellbent on stopping crime before it can even happen.
On top of the blockbuster-level story, Netherrealm effectively gave fans a DC fighting game that has many of the qualities that made Mortal Kombat so fun and engaging. However, there are just enough twists and additions for Injustice to stand on its own rather than be a clone. Additionally, the roster is diverse with iconic and lesser-known characters.
6 Gotham Knights
The Bat-Family Gets The Chance To Shine
Gotham Knights
- Released
- October 21, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- WB Games Montreal
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PS5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Gotham Knights allows players to choose one of four members of the Bat-Family to protect Gotham City after Batman is killed in the opening cinematic. This character can be the sole hero through the whole campaign, or the player can swap between characters at the end or start of an in-game day, which allows for different gameplay styles and dialogue.
While there are similarities to the Batman: Arkham franchise, Gotham Knights plays more like an action RPG, with Batgirl, Nightwing, Robin, and Red Hood finding loot to upgrade their stats, and even giving them elemental bonuses. Each hero is like a class, with their pros and cons, with unique abilities and perks that change the way characters traverse through Gotham or fight certain enemies.
5 Batman: Arkham City
Batman Is Not Alone In The Open World
Batman: Arkham City
- Released
- October 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Rocksteady Studios
- Platform(s)
- PS3, PC, Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Switch
While bigger isn't always better, Batman: Arkham City demonstrates that it can be. The game not only expands Batman's arsenal and skills, but also allows him to glide freely through an open world. Players will encounter more villains, engage with additional storylines, and experience a second campaign featuring Catwoman, which runs concurrently with Batman's narrative.
Batman is already enjoyable to play, but Catwoman stands out as a highlight in Batman: Arkham City. Her ability to crawl along ceilings and utilize whip-based attacks enables her to play like Batman, while still feeling distinct as a character. Additionally, the challenge mode includes Robin and Nightwing as extra characters, each with their own unique combat systems.
4 LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
A Justice League Story Of Cosmic Proportions
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
- Released
- November 11, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Cartoon Violence
- Developer(s)
- Traveller's Tales
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
- Platform(s)
- 3DS, Android, iOS, Nintendo Wii U, PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
The game may be titled LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham, but it is more of a Justice League game than anything, with DC's heroes going across multiple planets to stop cosmic villains like Brainiac. It sacrifices the open-world format of the previous game for a more linear experience, with hundreds of characters to unlock and use in colorful worlds.
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham is a unique opportunity to explore the extensive mythology of the various Lantern Corps through its diverse planets. The game features over two hundred characters to collect, including downloadable content characters like Adam West's Batman and Henry Cavill's Superman from the DC Extended Universe.
3 LEGO DC Super Villains
Players Create The DC Villain Of Their Dreams
LEGO DC Super-Villains
- Released
- October 16, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Cartoon Violence
- Developer(s)
- Traveller's Tales
- Genre(s)
- 3D Platformer, Action
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Where villains were an unlockable bonus in previous games, they are the main protagonists of the final DC game by Traveller’s Tales. Playing the Joker, Lex Luthor, Reverse Flash, and other bad guys as the only hope for saving the world is a joyful novelty in LEGO DC Super-Villains, but it also features a deep character creation system for the main protagonist, who can be anything from an elemental to a gun-wielding assassin.
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Not only does LEGO DC Super-Villains provide a unique perspective with plenty of comedy, but it also brings back the open-world format. Gotham City and Metropolis, and the surrounding locations, can be fully explored, with side missions available to enjoy when not playing through the story missions. With every character unlocked, more options for visual customization and powers become available.
2 Batman: Arkham Knight
The Final Chapter Is Stocked With Characters
Batman: Arkham Knight
- Released
- June 23, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Rocksteady Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The developers at Rocksteady went all out in making Batman: Arkham Knight feel like the ultimate finale for this version of Batman as he takes on Scarecrow and the enigmatic Arkham Knight. Fans were finally given access to a fully-fledged Batmobile to drive across the three islands of Gotham City for transport or combat, which proved to be a major part of the gameplay.
While Batman is the only protagonist in the story, the challenge maps and DLC storylines feature Catwoman, Robin, Nightwing, Harley Quinn, Batgirl, Red Hood, and Azrael. Batman: Arkham Knight takes what Batman: Arkham City did so well and improves upon it, creating what many consider to be a strong end to the Batman series.
1 Injustice 2
More Factions Mean More Heroes And Villains For The Roster
Injustice 2
- Released
- May 11, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
Thanks to not only the even bigger roster of powerful DC heroes and villains, but also an in-depth gear system for customization, Injustice 2 is a radical upgrade from its predecessor. The visuals alone make it look and feel cinematic, but a grander story featuring three different factions is often praised as being better than some DC movies.
The roster in Injustice 2 is larger than before and features a mix of new and familiar characters, utilizing the same combat system as before but polished and tweaked to be an improvement. The characters on the base roster, like Scarecrow and Black Canary, proved to be strong additions, but Injustice 2 also has excellent DLC with Hellboy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Mortal Kombat characters.