Playing the Arkham games in order is best achieved by starting with Batman: Arkham Asylum, then Batman: Arkham City, followed by Batman: Arkham Origins, and concluding with Batman: Arkham Knight.
Figuring out how to play Arkham games in order can seem like a puzzle, given the release dates aren’t strictly chronological. Many fans often wonder which game to play first to truly understand the narrative. The Batman Arkham series provides an amazing experience, and understanding the order enhances the fun.
Starting with Arkham Asylum allows you to understand the core mechanics and characters. Moving through the series sequentially reveals the growing world and complexity of the stories. This order ensures you get the full experience.
How to Play Arkham Games in Order
So, you’re ready to dive into the dark and gritty world of the Batman Arkham games? That’s awesome! But with several titles and a storyline that jumps around a bit, it can be tricky knowing where to start. Don’t worry, we’re here to guide you through the correct order to experience Batman’s adventures in Gotham. Playing these games in the right sequence will make the story richer and more impactful, allowing you to fully appreciate the evolution of Batman, his gadgets, and the challenges he faces. We will explore how to play the Arkham games in order so you can enjoy Batman’s world the way it was meant to be experienced. Get ready for a wild ride!
The Chronological Arkham Order
While release order is a perfectly acceptable way to enjoy the games, if you want the storyline to unfold in a way that makes the most sense, then playing in chronological order is the way to go. This means starting earlier in Batman’s career and seeing how he develops as a hero. Think of it as watching a movie series from the very beginning. Let’s get right into it!
Batman: Arkham Origins
Yes, this is where we begin! Even though it was released after Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Origins actually takes place earlier in the timeline. It’s like a prequel, showing us a younger, less experienced Batman. He’s not yet the seasoned crime-fighter we see in later games. In this story, Batman faces not only a group of assassins, including Deathstroke, on Christmas Eve, but also early versions of familiar villains like The Joker. Playing this first provides context to many of the things that follow in the other games. The fighting system feels a bit different, too, and it’s actually really fun to learn! Expect a lot of stealth combat, taking on multiple enemies, and even some cool detective work. You’ll see a Batman that’s still figuring out his style and how best to protect Gotham. It’s a great starting point for the series and sets the scene for the events to come. Plus, the holiday setting is pretty unique for a Batman game.
Key Things in Arkham Origins:
- Shows Batman’s early career.
- Introduces key villains and their initial forms.
- Offers a different combat style experience.
- Sets the stage for following games
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Next, we move to Batman: Arkham Asylum. This game throws Batman into a chaotic situation at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison for Gotham’s worst criminals. The Joker, ever the schemer, initiates a riot, forcing Batman to navigate the dangerous confines of the asylum, battling iconic villains like Killer Croc and Poison Ivy. It’s a claustrophobic, intense experience that showcases a different aspect of Batman’s abilities and his vulnerability. Unlike the sprawling cityscapes of later games, here, you are trapped with some of the scariest villains, so you always have to be careful. The emphasis here is more on puzzle-solving in addition to combat, as Batman has to find ways to move through the asylum and take down the Joker’s evil plan. Arkham Asylum introduces us to a more strategic and stealthy Batman, showing his capability of thinking in tight situations. This game is a huge leap in quality from the previous games in the series, in terms of storytelling, gameplay, and combat system. This game is considered as the beginning of great Arkham Series.
Key Things in Arkham Asylum:
- Features a more enclosed, claustrophobic environment.
- Introduces a strategic, stealth-focused combat style.
- Shows Batman’s vulnerability in close situations.
- Marks the start of Batman’s journey in the series.
Batman: Arkham City
Then it’s time for Batman: Arkham City. Here, the scale increases drastically. A large portion of Gotham City is turned into a giant prison, housing all sorts of criminals. The Joker, once again, causes a great deal of chaos, and it’s up to Batman to not only deal with the villains but also the political mess surrounding the establishment of the Arkham City. The introduction of new mechanics such as the ability to grapple and glide around the city makes it feel like a playground for Batman. This game allows for a much broader range of gameplay, with numerous side missions and secrets to find as you navigate the larger open-world area. Here you are really starting to feel like the Batman that everyone knows and loves, with better and more equipment. Arkham City improves and builds upon the combat and detective aspects of Arkham Asylum, making it feel like a more well-rounded game. It gives us a chance to see Batman deal with a city-wide problem, fighting many different villians at once, and makes the whole experience much more grand and entertaining.
Key Things in Arkham City:
- Introduces a larger, open-world setting.
- Expands Batman’s traversal and combat abilities.
- Offers diverse villains and side missions.
- Focuses on city-wide crisis and adventure.
Batman: Arkham Knight
Now, you arrive at Batman: Arkham Knight. This is the final chapter of Batman’s adventures in Rocksteady’s games (excluding the VR game and the upcoming Suicide Squad game). The stakes are higher than ever as Scarecrow unites all of Batman’s major villains and introduces a new foe, the Arkham Knight. Gotham is in serious danger, and this time, Batman has to rely on all of his abilities as well as the Batmobile to save it. The game is bigger and more detailed than ever, and the introduction of the Batmobile is a unique element to the franchise. You get to experience the speed and power of the Batmobile while completing challenges and puzzles. The combat and stealth mechanics are more smooth and refined than ever before and makes for a fantastic gameplay. Playing Arkham Knight last provides the sense of closure and makes it the final adventure of the Batman series. It’s the culmination of all the skills you’ve learned through the prior games.
Key Things in Arkham Knight:
- Introduces the Batmobile as a major gameplay element.
- Features the largest map in the series with a highly-detailed Gotham.
- Showcases a high-stakes final confrontation.
- Gives a sense of closure to Batman’s story.
A Note About Batman: Arkham VR
While Batman: Arkham VR is technically part of the Arkham series, it’s a side story and not essential to the main narrative. It is designed for VR, offering an experience that is very different from the mainline games. It’s more focused on detective work and exploration than combat. If you have a VR setup and are a big fan of the series, it can be fun to try, but it’s not a core game you need to play to understand the major storyline. It’s better to think of it as a fun side story, not something that fits in the chronological order of the main games.
Why Play in Chronological Order?
Playing in chronological order allows you to witness the progression of Batman and his journey as he develops from a young crime-fighter into the seasoned hero we see in the later games. This approach gives you an insight on the development of the gadgets and skills, allowing you to see how he learns and evolves in this world. Furthermore, the villain’s stories make more sense when playing in this sequence, and you get to see their origins and how they became the enemies that Batman has to deal with. You will be able to understand every reference and will fully appreciate all the character’s backgrounds and stories. Playing in this sequence makes the experience much more enjoyable.
What about other games?
There are other games related to the Arkham universe, such as Batman: Return to Arkham, which is the remastered collection of Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. There is also Batman: Arkham Underworld, which was a mobile game. However, these are not necessary to understand the primary storyline. Therefore, if you’re on a mission to experience the best of the Arkham series, focusing on the chronological order of the main four titles is a safe place to start. These four games will give you a full understanding of the Batman story from Rocksteady.
A Quick Reference Guide
To make sure you’re all set, here is a quick recap of the order for the Arkham Games:
- Batman: Arkham Origins
- Batman: Arkham Asylum
- Batman: Arkham City
- Batman: Arkham Knight
Playing the games in this order provides the best understanding of the narrative and provides the most enjoyable playing experience. Each game provides further insight and information into the whole series and the background stories for each of the characters.
How To Play Batman Arkham Games in The Right Order!
Final Thoughts
Begin your Arkham journey with Arkham Asylum, then move to Arkham City. After that, play Arkham Origins, and finally, complete the series with Arkham Knight. This order ensures you experience the story chronologically.
Playing this way lets you understand the character development and plot twists correctly. There must be a proper sequence to grasp all the elements. Following this list is truly how to play arkham games in order. Enjoy saving Gotham!
