24. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (3DS)
Although naturally not as visually accomplished as the home console versions, LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham nevertheless delivered an authentic, reasonably fun LEGO title starring our favourite gritty superhero. It was hampered by clunky and repetitive gameplay and the enemy AI was pretty poor. This is perhaps one for diehard LEGO fans, only.
23. Batman: Return of the Joker (GB)
Unlike its NES counterpart, Batman: Return of the Joker for the Game Boy Color put its focus primarily on platforming, featuring a handy grappleshot to aid with traversal. You could fire out some Batarangs with the rather rudimentary combat, but with rather short, basic levels, the game can’t quite match up to the NES version.
22. Lego Batman (DS)
Batman’s first LEGO entry arrived in 2008 and was actually the first of the LEGO games to feature an entirely original story. Switching characters and utilising abilities can be done via the DS’s touch screen, however the console cinematics were replaced by comic-book style panels to accommodate for the DS’s hardware limitations. A good game, but perhaps not quite up there with its sequel.
21. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (3DS)
So if Batman: Arkham Origins was a prequel to the proper trilogy games, this was a prequel to the prequel, we think. In any case, this was a portable-only release around the same time as Arkham Origins, designed for 3DS (and Vita!) with a side-on view and Metroidvania-type design, as you'd expect. It's a game that has moments of "oh cool I'm pummelling thugs as Batman on the 3DS", but there are some design and presentation issues too. A valiant effort, anyway.
20. Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (DS)
It was pretty much a case of ‘more of the same’ with LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes for the DS. It took most of the structure and style of the original and just did… more. It’s perhaps regarded as the best in the series for DS, but at this stage, it also had the beefier 3DS version to contend with.
19. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate - Deluxe Edition (Wii U eShop)
This one has scored a little better among the community, likely because as a 'Deluxe' version on consoles it spruced up the visuals with a HD sheen. Playing on a big screen may also help with the occasionally awkward blend of 2D play for dynamic motion combat, though aside from the high-res lick of paint there weren't any other major improvements to be found. Sadly the GamePad map falls a little short, too, lacking touch support. But hey, if you like the concept of a 2D Metroidvania Batman game it's a tempting option.
18. Batman Returns (NES)
Batman Returns for the NES was basically Final Fight: Batman Edition. The gameplay was straight-up beat-em-up focused, and the visuals did a decent job of depicting the gothic nature of Burton’s 1992 sequel. Arriving within the vicinity of the SNES launch, the game ended up being cross-platform, with the SNES naturally being quite a bit more accomplished.
17. Batman: Return of the Joker (NES)
Boasting some pretty gorgeous visuals for the humble NES, Batman: Return of the Joker borrowed a few elements from Tim Burton’s 1989 movie, but was ultimately an entirely separate take on the caped crusader. Its gameplay is an odd blend of ‘Castlevania meets Contra’, and with only 7 main levels clocking in at less than an hour (if you’re good), this is nevertheless a pretty cracking game.
16. Batman: The Animated Series (GB)
With typical platforming gameplay, the Game Boy Color adaptation of the popular cartoon series lets you switch between Batman and his plucky side-kick Robin, with each character featuring unique abilities to aid them. It was pretty well received upon release and holds up as a decent - albeit short and sweet - platformer to this day.
15. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (3DS)
As with many handheld ports of multi-platform offerings, LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes falls short of its console iterations. The handheld version loses the multiplayer aspect and doesn't bring any touchscreen controls or improvements with it. This is one definitely best experienced elsewhere.
14. Batman: The Brave and the Bold (DS)
Just like its Wii counterpart, Batman: The Brave and the Bold is the only non-Lego Batman game on the system, but it’s a fair bit different from its console sibling. Multiplayer might be stripped out, but this handheld take on the 2010’s cartoon shifts the emphasis from beat ‘em up to platformer with tight controls, and WayForward’s impressive visual style is on full show here, with bombastic special effects and beautiful comic book-style art on the bottom screen.
13. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (Wii U)
Expanding the roster across the DC universe even more, Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham is Lego and Batman at their most ambitious. But while the series had been steady for a while, poor technical issues and gameplay aspects that were occasionally confusing, or otherwise streamlined, undermined what was otherwise a hilarious, jam-packed adventure. Maybe next time, eh Bats?
Comments (41)
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
Played the NES Batman religiously when I was a kid. Was a good time to grow up.
Ah, Batman BnB. My favorite cartoon iteration of Batman. I bet the games were as fun as the cartoon was. I feel like rewatching it now.
@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
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