Game · in order
Batman Arkham Games in Order
The four core Batman: Arkham games, including Rocksteady's Asylum-City-Knight trilogy and WB Montreal's Origins prequel. Play by release date or in the chronological story order.
Batman Arkham Games in Order โ complete list
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Why this order?
The Batman: Arkham series is one of the most acclaimed superhero game franchises ever made, and there are two sensible ways to work through its core entries. The default here is release order, which tracks how the saga actually unfolded and how its combat, gadgets, and freeflow systems matured. You start with Rocksteady's tight, claustrophobic Arkham Asylum (2009), expand into the open districts of Arkham City (2011), detour to WB Montreal's prequel Arkham Origins (2013), and finish with the Batmobile-driven spectacle of Arkham Knight (2015).
The chronological order rearranges things to follow Bruce Wayne's timeline. Arkham Origins comes first as an earlier-career prequel showing a younger, rougher Batman, then Asylum, then City, then Knight, which closes the Rocksteady arc. This is the better path if you care about narrative continuity over watching the mechanics evolve, though playing the 2013 prequel before the 2009 original means a noticeable step back in polish.
The key gotcha is that Origins is the outlier: it was built by a different studio and sits earliest in the story but third in release. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2024) and the short Arkham VR experience are spin-offs, not part of the core four, so they are not in the main order here.
If you enjoy this style of cinematic, traversal-heavy superhero action, the Insomniac Marvel's Spider-Man games and the Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor series owe a clear debt to Arkham's freeflow combat. For more Caped Crusader, the Telltale Batman series offers a story-first alternative.
Timeline 2009โ2015
Every entry plotted by release year โ see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Cameos & crossovers
Characters from Batman: Arkham who also show up elsewhere โ see the full character atlas โ
- Batman / Bruce Wayne
The Dark Knight himself โ anchors the live-action films, the Arkham games, and the DCEU's Justice League.
- Joker
Batman's chaos-agent nemesis โ terrorizes the films, haunts the Arkham games, and crashes the DCEU's Suicide Squad.
- Alfred Pennyworth
Bruce Wayne's loyal butler, present across the Batman films, Arkham games, and DCEU.
- Harley Quinn
Joker's psychiatrist-turned-accomplice who links the Arkham games, Suicide Squad, the DCEU, and the new DCU.
- Bane
The back-breaking brute who menaces both the live-action films and the Arkham games.
Also in Batman - Catwoman / Selina Kyle
Cat-burglar antiheroine who slinks between the live-action Batman films and the Arkham games.
Also in Batman - Commissioner Gordon
Gotham's honest top cop, a fixture of the Batman films and the Arkham games.
Also in Batman - Mr. Freeze / Victor Fries
Cold-hearted scientist villain shared by the Batman films and the Arkham games.
Also in Batman - Poison Ivy
Eco-terrorist seductress bridging the Batman films and the Arkham games.
Also in Batman - Ra's al Ghul
Immortal League of Assassins leader linking the Batman films and the Arkham games.
Also in Batman - Robin
Batman's caped sidekick, appearing in the Batman films and the Arkham games.
Also in Batman - Scarecrow / Jonathan Crane
Fear-toxin psychologist who terrorizes the Batman films and the Arkham games.
Also in Batman - The Penguin / Oswald Cobblepot
Umbrella-wielding crime boss appearing in the Batman films and the Arkham games.
Also in Batman - The Riddler / Edward Nygma
Puzzle-obsessed villain spanning the Batman films and the Arkham games' trophy hunts.
Also in Batman - Two-Face / Harvey Dent
Coin-flipping former DA, scarred villain across the Batman films and Arkham games.
Also in Batman
Frequently asked questions
How many Batman: Arkham games are there?
There are four core Batman: Arkham games: Arkham Asylum (2009), Arkham City (2011), Arkham Origins (2013), and Arkham Knight (2015). Arkham VR and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League are spin-offs outside the main order.
What order should I play Batman: Arkham in?
For most players, release order is best: Asylum, City, Origins, Knight. If you prefer to follow the story timeline, play Origins first, then Asylum, City, and Knight.
Is Arkham Origins a prequel?
Yes. Arkham Origins, made by WB Montreal rather than Rocksteady, is set earliest in Batman's career, so it comes first in chronological order even though it released third.
Do I need to play Arkham Origins?
No, it's optional. Origins stands apart from Rocksteady's trilogy and isn't required to follow Asylum, City, and Knight, but it adds backstory and a fun take on Bane and Deathstroke.
Is Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League part of the Arkham series?
It's a spin-off set in the same Arkhamverse continuity but is not one of the core Arkham games, so it isn't included in this main order.
Where can I play the Batman: Arkham games today?
They're available on Steam and the Epic Games Store for PC, plus PlayStation and Xbox storefronts. A bundled Arkham collection is also available on Nintendo Switch.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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