Summary
- Engage in the iconic world of DC through video games with narratives as engaging as comic books.
- Justice League Heroes offers a straightforward superhero story featuring heroes like Superman and Wonder Woman.
- The Batman: Arkham series has become a gold standard in the world of superhero games.
Playing as a DC hero or villain is fun, especially with all the powers and technology at their disposal; however, a big part of what makes the DC mythology so interesting is its lore and stories. As technology has advanced, video game developers have found ways to deliver stories for DC’s most iconic characters that are on par or even better than what is seen in films and comics.
From gritty detective mysteries featuring Batman to epic battles with universe-altering stakes with the Justice League, these games immerse players in the iconic world of DC. They offer narratives that are as engaging and thought-provoking as their comic book counterparts, with some games standing out as better than others.
11 Justice League Heroes
A Rare Chance To Play As DC's Iconic Team
Justice League Heroes
- Released
- September 10, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T // Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
As a dungeon-crawling RPG, Justice League Heroes is effective in providing fans with a straightforward superhero story, where the seven heroes of the Justice League battle a collection of villains. There is a mysterious element to the question of which villain is pulling the strings behind every event, but aside from that, it is a rather basic story that feels like it was pulled out of a comic book, albeit in a good way.
The real appeal to Justice League Heroes is getting to play and level up the abilities of the superheroes. Being able to control characters like Superman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and the Flash is a rarity in video games, and they do not disappoint. It can be compared to other action RPGs, such as Diablo or the Marvel Ultimate Alliance games.
10 Gotham Knights
The Proteges Continue Where Batman Left Off
Gotham Knights
- Released
- October 21, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Gotham Knights separates itself from the Arkhamverse with its more neon-lit Gotham City, unified Bat-Family, twists on Batman lore, and the fact that Batman dies in the first ten minutes of the game. It then follows Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin as they investigate Batman’s last case, which leads them to the Court of Owls and their plans to control Gotham City from the shadows.
While Gotham Knights wasn’t a major success, it does have its fair share of dedicated fans who play through the story solo or with a partner. Being able to play as one of the four characters or swap between them to play the story however the player wants allows for lots of replayability, especially since each of them has radically different skills, abilities, gear, and perks akin to classes in an RPG.
9 Batman: Arkham Knight
The Final Chapter Is A Memorable But Divisive Entry
Batman: Arkham Knight
- Released
- June 23, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action
On the one hand, Batman: Arkham Knight arguably has the most refined traversal, combat, open-world, and puzzle elements of all the games combined, which makes the player feel like they are playing a Batman simulator. On the other hand, however, the story that Rocksteady tried to end the Batman: Arkham games with is often considered a mixed bag.
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Storylines teased in Batman: Arkham City are wasted on tiny side missions, the Batmobile makes certain vehicle encounters less exciting, and the mystery behind the titular Arkham Knight is criticized for being predictable and anticlimactic. However, Batman’s fight against Scarecrow and the Militia has plenty to enjoy, especially with the appearance of a phantom Joker that haunts Batman throughout the game.
8 Injustice: Gods Among Us
Crafted A Dark Multiverse Adventure Before It Was Cool
Injustice: Gods Among Us
- Released
- April 16, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
The idea of Superman turning to the dark side has been explored in comics before, but Injustice: Gods Among Us takes it to another level. It features an alternate DC universe where Superman is tricked into killing his pregnant wife, Lois, which triggers a nuclear explosion that wipes out Metropolis, driving him to become a relentless dictator of Earth.
The dark yet epic storyline is often praised for being on par, if not surpassing, many DC movies. It explores new allegiances with classic heroes and villains swapping roles, heroes from other universes being pulled into the mix, and just how far Superman has fallen. On top of it all, Injustice is a strong fighting game that spawned a franchise thanks to being developed by the team behind the Mortal Kombat series.
7 Batman: Arkham Asylum
Rocksteady Turned A Claustrophobic Nightmare Into An Iconic Superhero Game
Batman: Arkham Asylum
- Released
- August 25, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
It can be said that Batman: Arkham Asylum changed the way people viewed superhero games forever. Instead of cheap, bargain-bin titles and movie tie-ins, they could be AAA action-adventure titles and Game Of The Year material. Rocksteady proved that with their experimental Batman title, which is heavily inspired by famous Batman graphic novels.
Mixing action, detective work, and epic storytelling, Batman: Arkham Asylum has the titular superhero stuck on Arkham Island with a collection of his greatest villains led by the Joker. It’s simplistic in concept, but it has enough layers to it, featuring memorable encounters with Scarecrow, Bane, Poison Ivy, and more to create an iconic game. It also helps that fans were immediately hooked when Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprised their roles as Batman and the Joker, respectively.
6 Injustice 2
Superman's Evil Still Has Its Consequences
Injustice 2
- Released
- May 11, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
While the new gear system , which allowed players to create the Superman or Green Arrow of their dreams, and improved gameplay were much-appreciated aspects of Injustice 2, NetherRealm Studios went bigger with the story. It featured Brainiac coming to Earth in the Injustice universe to collect it and the two remaining vestiges of Krypton: Superman and Supergirl.
Injustice 2 ditches the multiverse elements of the first game's story to focus purely on the aftermath of Superman's fall. With Brainiac and his forces, three factions lead to more characters that flesh out this version of the DC universe even more. The story has even more emotional moments, such as Supergirl struggling with the fact that her cousin is evil, and Batman and Superman reuniting like the best friends they used to be.
5 Batman: The Telltale Series
Troy Baker's Batman Can Be Molded By The Player
Batman: The Telltale Series
- Released
- August 2, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
After playing the character in LEGO form, Batman: The Telltale Series features Troy Baker in the iconic role, portraying a darker and more mature version developed by Telltale Games. As a result, the game is more focused on story and characters, with players choosing how Batman goes about conversations and being Gotham’s hero as new threats emerge.
The Penguin, Catwoman, and a new villain send Batman down a rabbit hole of conspiracies and secrets about Gotham City and even his own family. Troy Baker continues to be a versatile actor in the video game world, but the rest of the cast also excels in voicing their characters, which helps make every twist more engaging. Additionally, players can choose how heroic or dark Batman will be in his adventure, a feature not often seen in Batman games.
4 Batman: The Enemy Within
Leave It To Telltale Games To Top Themselves
Batman: The Enemy Within
- Released
- August 8, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
- Genre(s)
- Point-and-click, Adventure
If someone enjoyed Batman: The Telltale Series, it only makes sense to immediately hop into Batman: The Enemy Within, which is the second season and a continuation of the story. Gotham has more villains than ever, including Joker, Harley Quinn, Bane, Mr. Freeze, the Riddler, and Amanda Waller, with Bruce dealing with his own struggles on top of it all.
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Batman remains fully under the player's control, and with even more plotlines that will leave them conflicted, Batman: The Enemy Within tests players' memory and morals. Like the first game, it also throws in many twists on the lore that fans might not expect, such as Harley Quinn being the more notorious villain, and Batman being friends with the Joker.
3 Batman: Arkham City
The Sequel That Helped Define The Arkhamverse
Batman: Arkham City
- Released
- October 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Less can be more, but Batman: Arkham City proves that bigger can be better, giving players the opportunity to explore an open world as Batman as he is stuck inside a walled-off prison in the heart of Gotham City. With criminals controlling and warring in Arkham City, Warden Hugo Strange is preparing to initiate Protocol 10, leading Batman to try to stop it at all costs.
Not only is the main story grand in scale, but multiple side stories spring from it, including a second campaign starring Catwoman, fleshing out the Arkhamverse in many ways. Most fans consider Arkham City to be the best game in the series, balancing its gameplay with a storyline that pushes Batman to his limits, thanks to the multitude of villains he has to tend to.
2 Batman: Arkham Origins
The Gritty Prequel Became A Cult Classic
Batman: Arkham Origins
- Released
- October 25, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
Often regarded as the black sheep of the Batman: Arkham franchise, Batman: Arkham Origins was developed by WB Games Montreal instead of Rocksteady and features a different cast playing the lead characters. Over time, the game has earned a reputation as an iconic prequel, largely due to its engaging story. The narrative takes place during Batman's second year as a vigilante, presenting a more grounded storyline.
It’s Christmas Eve, and eight assassins are after Batman and the fifty-million-dollar bounty on his hea. As Batman: Arkham Origins progresses, WB Games Montreal excels at showing Batman evolve from a street-level vigilante to Gotham’s designated superhero, both physically and emotionally. Roger Craig Smith has since become a beloved Batman voice actor as the game explores Bruce’s rage, heroism, hatred for the Joker, and his relationship with Alfred.