The recommended order to play the Arkham games is: Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Origins, and finally Batman: Arkham Knight.
Gotham’s calling, and you’re ready to answer as the Bat. But where do you start with these critically acclaimed games? Many fans wonder what order to play the Arkham games for the best narrative experience. It is definitely understandable to feel a bit overwhelmed.
The series tells an amazing story across multiple titles. Following the correct order provides you with a great understanding. You’ll get a deeper appreciation for each games, characters and story developments. So, start with Asylum, and work your way through.
What Order to Play the Arkham Games
Alright, Bat-fans! You’re ready to dive into the awesome world of the Batman Arkham games, but you’re scratching your head about the correct order to play them? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! It can get a little tricky with all the different titles and how they connect. This guide will clear up the confusion and make sure you experience Batman’s adventures in the best possible way. We’ll cover the release order, what makes each game special, and even talk about a few extra bits that can add to your experience. Let’s get started!
The Simple Answer: Release Order
The easiest and most straightforward way to play the Arkham games is in the order they were released. This way, you’ll experience the story as the developers intended, and you’ll appreciate the gameplay improvements and story progression from one game to the next. Here’s the list:
- Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)
- Batman: Arkham City (2011)
- Batman: Arkham Origins (2013)
- Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)
Playing in this order helps you get to know the characters, understand the story arcs, and appreciate how the gameplay mechanics have advanced over time. It’s like reading a book series – you usually start with the first one, right?
Diving Deeper: Why Release Order is Great
Choosing release order goes beyond just playing games in a sequential fashion. Here’s why this order is a particularly smart choice for your Arkham journey:
Character Development
In Arkham Asylum, Batman is very different from how he is in Arkham Knight. The games show his journey through challenges. You also see other characters change and grow. Playing in release order lets you watch these changes unfold naturally. You’ll see how relationships between characters evolve and understand more of their motivation.
Gameplay Evolution
Each game builds on the previous one, introducing new mechanics, gadgets, and ways to fight. You’ll appreciate how the combat flows from the close-quarters style of Asylum to the more open-world style of City, then onto the more diverse and gadget-filled combat of Knight. Skipping around would make some of the new features seem less impactful. You might also find the controls feel clunky if you go back to an older title after playing a newer one. It’s much better to experience the games in order and see how the mechanics get refined.
Story and Lore
The story of the Arkham games is a long, connected adventure. Each game adds to the bigger story and includes hints and clues about future events. Starting with Asylum lets you grasp the important story beats and understand how it all connects. Arkham City picks up where Asylum leaves off, and Arkham Knight takes the story to its epic conclusion. Playing the games out of order would create a lot of confusion and spoil crucial story points. It would also mean you might miss important details that connect to later games.
A Closer Look at Each Game
Let’s break down each game a little more to see what makes it special.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
This is where it all began! Arkham Asylum is a brilliant game that puts you inside the crazy asylum, which is now under the control of Joker and his goons. It’s more of a closed, focused experience than later games. This means there’s a bit of a different feel. You’ll get used to the basics of combat, how to use gadgets, and solve puzzles in a more compact area. Asylum established the dark, gothic atmosphere the series is famous for. It’s important to experience this game first to appreciate the journey to the bigger world of later titles.
Key Features:
- A more contained and focused world
- Emphasis on stealth and detective work
- Introduction to the free-flow combat system
- Strong storyline and character introductions
Batman: Arkham City
Arkham City opens up the world significantly, giving you an entire section of Gotham that has been turned into a giant prison. It allows for more open exploration, but still keeps the focused and engaging gameplay we saw in Asylum. There are many more villains, side quests, and secrets to find. The gameplay expands from Asylum with better combat moves and more gadgets, but still feels very natural in this sequence.
Key Features:
- Open-world setting
- More complex gadgets and tools
- More side quests
- More varied enemy types
Batman: Arkham Origins
Now, here is where things get a bit tricky. Arkham Origins is a prequel set before Asylum, but it released after City. It shows a younger Batman, and it’s more of an origin story for some of his villains. It doesn’t have as much of an impact on the overall narrative as the other titles do. While playing this before Asylum is an option, it is better to play after, so you can appreciate the improvements in the gameplay when compared to Asylum. If you play it before, it can be a bit jarring to go back to the more basic mechanics of Asylum. Because of this, it is better to keep it in the order it was released.
Key Features:
- Set in a snowy, wintery Gotham
- Story focuses on Batman’s early career
- Includes a multiplayer mode
- Introduces new villains and characters
Batman: Arkham Knight
Arkham Knight brings everything together in an incredible finale. It is the most visually stunning game in the series, and it features a new take on the series with the Batmobile, adding fast driving and epic battles to the mix. The world is huge, the story is emotional, and the combat system has been refined further. It’s the best game to end on because it shows all the ways the series has grown and it is very satisfying if you have been following the story since Arkham Asylum.
Key Features:
- First time use of the Batmobile in the core gameplay
- Huge open world, the biggest in the series
- Emotional, high-stakes story with the return of Scarecrow
- Extensive combat mechanics and stealth options
A Quick Table: Arkham Games by Release Order
For a quick reference, here’s the release order again:
| Title | Release Year | Why Play In This Order? |
|---|---|---|
| Batman: Arkham Asylum | 2009 | Introduces the world, combat system, and story. |
| Batman: Arkham City | 2011 | Expands upon gameplay and introduces a larger open world. |
| Batman: Arkham Origins | 2013 | Pre-story but play after because of gameplay. |
| Batman: Arkham Knight | 2015 | Epic conclusion to the story and showcases all new gameplay mechanics. |
Should You Play in Chronological Order?
Some people like to play games in chronological order (in the order that the story takes place). For the Arkham series, that would mean playing Arkham Origins before Arkham Asylum. While this is possible, it’s generally not the best way to experience the series for the first time. The gameplay and story were designed to be played in release order.
Here’s why chronological order isn’t recommended for a first playthrough:
- Gameplay Discontinuity: Going from the more refined mechanics of Origins to the simpler mechanics of Asylum can feel awkward.
- Story Impact: You might not fully appreciate the character growth and connections if you play Origins first, as it was built with the assumption you played Asylum and City.
- Overall Experience: The game’s experience was intended to be played in the order in which they were released.
If you’re replaying the series, trying it chronologically is a fun way to play, but for your first playthrough, release order is the best method. It keeps the story more straightforward and avoids gameplay issues.
The Bonus: Arkham VR
There’s one more Arkham title you might consider which is a little different: Batman: Arkham VR. This title came out after Arkham Knight and is a virtual reality game that puts you directly inside Batman’s world. It is a different experience, focusing on detective work and puzzles. It’s very short and has very little direct impact on the main story. It’s okay to play this after Arkham Knight or at any point when you’d like to change it up a little bit.
Key Points:
- VR experience so you will need a headset
- Focus on detective work and narrative
- Has no impact on the main storyline
Choosing the right order to play the Arkham games can make your time with Batman even more memorable. Remember, the best path to enjoy this fantastic series is through release order, starting with Batman: Arkham Asylum and finishing with Batman: Arkham Knight. After that, you can always jump into the VR version or try a chronological play-through on your next run. This order helps with the story and provides the best experience with the games. Now go, become the Batman and clean up Gotham, one bad guy at a time!
How To Play Batman Arkham Games in The Right Order!
Final Thoughts
Play Arkham Asylum first, then Arkham City, and finally, Arkham Knight. This chronological order allows you to follow the narrative’s progression effectively. Skipping titles can diminish your understanding of the characters and overarching story.
What order to play the arkham games is best defined by release date. This ensures you experience the evolution of gameplay mechanics correctly. You will have a much better time experiencing each installment in the order given.
