- Page :
- « Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
9. Batman: The Video Game (GB)
The game may have a fairly basic appearance as a result of being released in the early years of the handheld's life, but Sunsoft managed to add some variety to the locations and the gun-toting Batman sprite is amusing in its own way. The game gets tougher later on but it doesn't feel overwhelming, and the Batwing levels are a great addition to the excellent platforming action found in the rest of the game. Overall, Batman: The Video Game on Game Boy is a decent facsimile of its bigger brother on NES and still a lot of fun to play through.
8. LEGO Batman (Wii)
Who’s afraid of the big blocky bat? Not Traveller’s Tales, whose first foray into Gotham proved to be a hit. Sequels to Lego Batman would expand the roster of characters and locations available, but this is a solid foundation for the Caped Crusader that carries all the hallmarks of the Lego Star Wars and Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures. That includes any existing issues with previous Lego games.
7. Batman Returns (SNES)
Batman Returns is often considered one of the best Batman films, and the video game version matches those sentiments. The SNES release capitalised on the hugely popular side-scrolling beat ‘em up genre where Batman has to fight various characters from the movie, such as Penguin and Catwoman. There are stages that utilise the excellent visuals too, such as Scene 5 in the Batmobile, and Scene 6 on the Circus Train. It wears its Final Fight inspirations on its sleeve, but that's no bad thing at all.
6. Batman: Arkham Asylum (Switch eShop)
Note. Only available as part of the Batman Arkham Trilogy.
It may not have a great big open world to play around in like Arkham City, but Batman: Arkham Asylum is still our favourite game of Rocksteady's Bat-trio. It introduced everything that's great about the trilogy; the combat, the dark tone, the endless Riddler puzzles and detective work, whilst also serving up a story that didn't waste any time. The Switch port isn't as smooth as it should be considering this originally launched in 2009, but Asylum remains a tight and taut thrill ride, one of the all-time great superhero games, and essential reading whether you're a Batfan or not.
5. Batman: Arkham Origins (Wii U)
Batman: Arkham Origins isn’t innately bad, but it recycles so much from its predecessors and does absolutely nothing to evolve or improve them. The gameplay is uninspired, the graphics are a bit shaky, and the plot tries to do too much and ends up being too sloppy to make any real sense. The previous two Arkham games played like excellent stealth adventure titles in which you happened to take on the role of Batman; this one feels much more like a Batman game with stealth elements tacked on. It's far from awful — and taken in isolation it's rather enjoyable — but it's a shame that the Wii U received this lacklustre and unremarkable entry in the Arkham series over, say, the original Arkham Asylum.
4. Batman: Arkham City (Switch eShop)
Note. Only available as part of the Batman Arkham Trilogy.
Arkham City can still stand shoulder to shoulder with any modern AAA open-world game, and even though you've got to contend with some unfortunate stutters from time to time in this Switch port, and it doesn't look nearly as good here as it does on other platforms, this is still the full-fat experience running rather well, all things considered. If you've yet to experience this one, it's a must-play.
3. The Adventures of Batman & Robin (SNES)
A video game based on one of the best Batman cartoons is surely going to be good, and Konami absolutely delivered with The Adventures of Batman & Robin. Despite the title, Batman is the only playable character here, but every single level is loosely based on an episode from the show; Fowl Play, for example, is set in Gotham Museum and based on "I've Got Batman in my Basement". You can even change what gadgets Batman has on him in the Batcave; it's the most authentic way to experience the show without watching it.
2. Batman: The Video Game (NES)
A classic 2D platformer from a time when that was the go-to genre for any licensed game (much like 3D open world action games are these days). The reassuring subtitle 'The Video Game' promises an experience recounting the beats of Tim Burton's 1989 film, a 'movie event' that arguably birthed the modern, cross-media comic book blockbuster. Sunsoft might not have turned in the most faithful of tie-ins, but it's a tight little game with excellent music which sees an acrobatic Caped Crusader wall-jumping and punching his way through an 8-bit Gotham City in search of the Joker, and it's still a fun retro treat today.
So, have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?
1. Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition (Wii U)
Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition may not be the definitive version of the game but, aside from some frame rate issues, the incorporation of GamePad controls felt totally natural, and the opportunity to don the Dark Knight's cowl and cape in one of the best Batman games ever was a considerable boon for Wii U owners.
With a relatively lengthy campaign, loads of extra content, and the opportunity to give Batman's gallery of rogues a sound thrashing, this was the Batman game to play on Wii U — a console which boasts no fewer than five flavours of the Caped Crusader (counting the LEGO ones, Arkham Origins, and Blackgate - Deluxe Edition).
You did it! You ranked all 39 Batsmen games, and you lived to tell the tale.
But do you disagree with the rankings? Do you reckon that the GameCube Batmans were robbed? Are you hoping that some game studio will make RPatz his very own Bat-game? Or do you want to elaborate on why you picked the ones you did as your favourites? The bat-comments below are open for you.
- Page :
- « Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Comments 53
I still haven't played any of the Arkham games, but I've only heard positive things about them. It's too bad they aren't accessible on the Switch though.
Absolute disgrace lego Batman isn’t number one. I have lost all faith in humanity.
Lego Batman on the ds was one of my first games as a kid and I loved it, kinda stung seeing it down that low lol
But to be fair, I played it a few days ago in years and it was so slow and repetitive idk how I played it as a kid, but the second one is still a masterpiece imo
Honestly, the Lego Batman series is definitely the go-to Batman games for me.
And I do own Lego Batman 3 on WiiU. I'm hoping that there will be a Lego Batman collection in the future. The Switch will definitely benefit from that.
When I was a kid, Batman, Robin, Joker, etc. were rich in color. Now it's just dark. Too dark.
@TenEighty
What do you mean. Everything needs to be dark,gritty or else it is for kids. At least that is what Twitter says.
@blindsquarel Many love it then and that's what made it famous. Times have changed, I guess.
Arkham City is the pinnacle of Batman games, so I'd have to go with the Wii U port.
The fact Batman on NES is number 2 on the lost speaks volumes about how good this game still holds up. It plays like it was released yesterday. Highly recommend it.
Totally disagree with the rankings. Arkham City ran better on Xbox 360 and PS3 which surprises me that it's number 1. Also Batman Returns on SNES should have been higher especially with the Danny Elfman score. But then again that's why I don't like these ranking pieces. It's just a popularity contest and most often the not the top game on the list is just because it's cool to vote for the most popular one rather then the best one.
I loved Arkham Origins on WiiU. The Christmas setting was splendid and largely reminded me of Batman Returns. The detective skills used the gamepad very well. The enemies were a nice change of pace from the main 3 or 4. Firefly was awesome. Where in Arkham City you felt like super powered Batman. In Origins you feel like Batman the detective. If you've never played it, don't listen to the nonsense that it's not a good game. Makes me wonder if whoever is making these claims on the game in the article ever actually played the game.
@TenEighty
To be clear I agree with you.
I've been playing the Gameboy version of Batman Forever for the last couple of days. And I think it's a pretty cool game now that I've gotten past the first screen (hint: there's a balcony/floor above you that you can reach by pressing down and then quickly up to do a giant leap upwards).
Combat is actually really fun too; it's sort of a baby fighting game system with B button being punch and A being kick. You can do floor sweeps and uppercuts (by pressing down and then A or B respectively) as well as normal punches and kicks etc.
You also have a quite large number of gadgets available to you (although you have to choose 2 at the start of the game/level).
The game also have some good (and pretty unique) music for a Gameboy game IMO.
The graphics were down converted from the home console versions I've heard. And it do look like Batman and his adversaries were digitized rather than drawn originally (early Mortal Kombat style).
That's not the only thing early/gameboy MK and this game has in common; to use gadgets you have to do quick button combination like in a fighting game.
For instance down - right (or down - left depending on which way you're facing) plus punch throws a batarang (if equipped), left - right - down plus punch activates the grapple hook in vertical direction (if you hold punch it keeps ascending until it hits a surface).
There's lots of button combinations to do different things, and thankfully there's a guide to the move list on the game's Gamefaq.com page.
Very underrated game if you ask me.
I agree with top 2.
Batman Forever (SNES) is easily the worst game on my entire collection, I don't think I've ever made it past the first area.
Lego Batman came out at that time where I was moving away from childish type of games, if it had come out on the GC I think I would've been all over it. Looking at some videos now it sure does look fun, sigh.
How is brave and the bold on wii before any of the NES games??? This is lunacy.
@AlienX Oh man, being a huge Batman fan I clearly remember going to Woolworths and purchasing the game with my hard earned pocket money. It looked cool, music was decent but it plays like a melted left shoe on a right hand.
@AlienX The Batman Forever SNES version is very different compared to the Genesis version, which I believe the Gameboy version was modeled after (in the SNES version you have Robin as your companion and it seems to have much more cramped level designs than the Genesis and the Gameboy versions).
I'm surprised my adventures of Batman and Robin on SNES made it this far to number 3#
I must profess to not have played a fair few of these as I dimissed them as below average license cash ins. Obviously that is completely not the case from every game there from Lego Batman 3 upwards IMO. Incidentally, I believe the Wii and Wii U Lego Batman games ought to be higher in the list, particularly Lego Batman 2. Batman The Brave and The Bold was an underrated gem and a genuinely fun playthrough. Difficult to argue with the stellar Batman Arkham City as number 1 and Arkham Origins near the top.
@blindsquarel me too, dont know if for the same reason but still #nofaith
@EriXz
What other reasons other than lego Batman not being the best Batman ga- no, best game in history, could you lose faith in humanity. Sounds petty to me.
So we can learn to pick ourselves back up
I don't think I have played city yet LOL.
@Half-ShellHero I used to defend Arkham Origins alot until I went back to it over Christmas. It's alot clunkier and ugly than Arkaham City that's definitely the best Batman game on Nintendo consoles by miles
@MatoFilipovic agree best batman game ever tok me 30 years to beat the joker, but i did it. And it still holds up today!
Arkham City on the Wii U was excellent. While it did have some performance issues, it was also able to display two separate views of Arkham City on the TV and on the Gamepad, it had gyro aiming, the map on the Gamepad was great and it had an excellent off-screen (handheld) mode.
@Big_Fudge Fair enough. I like the Snes version of Batman Returns the most followed closely by Origins and the NES Batman.
@blindsquarel You are right, silly me...
I really enjoyed the Brave and the Bold games. They're a tad on the easy side, but they are fun. I think the cartoon is very underrated.
The NES batman was one of the first games I played that had wall jumping
@bstoppel Just picked up the DS Brave and Bold game on eBay. Looking forward to it!
I haven’t played any Batman games besides the Lego ones, but I still think that 1 and 2 got snubbed.
Why was " LEGO Batman Dimensions Batman Movie Story Pack " game left off the list? Although I think Lego Batman 1 might have been better or on par with this one.
Batman: Return of the Joker (NES) was and still is pretty underrated, IMO. It's not as good as Batman: The Video Game (NES), but that's a pretty lofty goal for any NES game. It does it's own thing and it does it admirably.
I love Batman 89
@LEGEND_MARIOID "Lego Batman 2" is great...except for all the times you need to go anywhere in Gotham City itself. The game has one of the worst open worlds you'll ever find!
As often, a very weird ranking.
I absolutely don't agree with all these shovel ware Lego games ranked so high.
Batman Begins on GBA should be ranked way higher.
But I agree with Arkham City in 1st place.
At least on Nintendo systems.
I rate the Telltale games very highly in terms of story and characterisation.
"Best Batman Games"
Mentions Batman Forever and Batman Beyond
I wish they would bring the Lego batman trilogy games to the switch
NES Return of the Joker deserves to be way higher on the list.
NES Batman. That is all.
Further to my comment from March 2022, lol, I'd like to add the Telltale series games. I liked them too. I have Arkham Asylum Switch on my backlog
I am not a batman fan (loathe him actually) but his games were often one of the few options when you wanted to play a decent superhero game (until xmen legends showed up….somebody revive that series! So I have a number if these, especially the ones based on TAS or Batman Returns but didn’t realize that there was another game that let you play as Batgirl (beyond gotham knights which I enjoyed). So gotta dig out the wii and a gamecube controller. Lol.
I know homebrew doesn't qualify for the list, but check out the homebrew GBA port of the 8-bit isometric Batman game, which was originally by the same devs as Head over Heels.
edit: the GBA port is called GWatman.
Frickin’ Lego, I swear to god…
My favorite is Batman: The Video Game on Game Boy. I still play through it like 3 times each decade.
Latest play through was on the Steamdeck. The game has so many details that just pops up on the Steamdeck screen
I really enjoyed Batman Arkham Origins Blackgate on 3ds. Loved the 3d effect and setting. I bought the WiiU version before eShop closed, but have yet to play it.
There is a error on the Batman The Animated series for the GB. It's not a game boy color game, and sadly, you can't just switch between the characters at whim, though when it was released it was billed that way, you do play as Batman thru most of the game, but it has 2 Robin sections that I remember, it's been a while, still enjoy that game though.
Batman vengeance was one of two games I got with my GameCube on launch day. I LOVED that game as a kid. Loved the cartoon as the best cartoon out there at the time as well, so that helped.
Batman: Arkham Asylum and City are my two favorite superhero games of all-time. Happy the Switch ports turned out well enough, it's nice to be able to play them at home or on the go.
After those, my favorite Batman game is the NES version of the one based on the 1989 movie, which holds up surprisingly well. I remember opening it up on Christmas morning in 1990 and playing all day. I've always been a huge fan of the Batman universe so that Christmas is one of my most cherished childhood memories.
hello this delete
Tap here to load 53 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...