Summary
Playing as aDChero 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 andstories. 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.
As a dungeon-crawling RPG,Justice League Heroesis effective in providing fans with a straightforward superhero story, where the seven heroes of the Justice League battle a collection of villains. There is amysterious 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 itwas pulled out of a comic book, albeitin a good way.
The real appeal toJustice League Heroesis 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 asDiabloor theMarvel Ultimate Alliancegames.
Gotham Knightsseparates itself from the Arkhamverse withits more neon-lit Gotham City, unified Bat-Family, twists onBatmanlore, 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.
WhileGotham Knightswasn’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.
On the one hand,Batman: Arkham Knightarguably 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 toend theBatman: Arkhamgameswith is often considered a mixed bag.
Storylinesteased inBatman: Arkham Cityare wasted on tiny side missions, the Batmobile makes certain vehicle encounters less exciting, and the mystery behind the titular Arkham Knight is criticizedfor 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.
The idea ofSuperman turning to the dark sidehas been explored in comics before, butInjustice: Gods Among Ustakes 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,Injusticeis a strong fighting game that spawned a franchise thanks to being developed by the team behind theMortal Kombatseries.
It can be said thatBatman: Arkham Asylumchanged 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 experimentalBatmantitle, which is heavily inspired by famousBatmangraphic novels.
Mixing action, detective work, and epic storytelling,Batman: Arkham Asylumhas the titular superhero stuck on Arkham Island witha collection of his greatest villainsled 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.
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 ofInjustice 2, NetherRealmStudios went bigger with the story. It featured Brainiac coming to Earth in theInjusticeuniverse to collect it and the two remaining vestiges of Krypton: Superman and Supergirl.
Injustice 2ditches 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 Supermanreuniting like the best friendsthey used to be.
After playing the character in LEGO form,Batman: The Telltale SeriesfeaturesTroy Baker in the iconic role,portraying a darker and moremature 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 inBatmangames.
If someone enjoyedBatman: The Telltale Series, it only makes sense to immediately hop intoBatman: 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.
Batman remains fully under the player’s control, and with even more plotlines that will leave them conflicted,Batman: The Enemy Withintests 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.
Less can be more, butBatman: Arkham Cityproves that bigger can be better, giving players the opportunity toexplore an open world as Batmanas 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 attempt 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 theArkhamversein many ways. Most fans considerArkham Cityto 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.
Often regarded as the black sheep of theBatman: Arkhamfranchise,Batman: Arkham Originswas developed by WB Games Montreal instead of Rocksteady and features a different cast playing the lead characters. Over time, the game has earned a reputationas 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. AsBatman: Arkham Originsprogresses, 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.
