Best Batman Games 1

What are the best Batman games? Well, there a no shortage of contenders to choose from, because when you think about it Batman is the perfect video game protagonist. Bruce Wayne’s crime-fighting alter-ego excels at acrobatic hand-to-hand combat, of course, but he also has access to a wealth of high-tech gadgets and, beneath the cowl, is a detective at his core. Take all of this into account, and you have the blueprint for a decent adaptation of DC Comics’ so-called Caped Crusader.

Over the years, there have been dozens of takes on the Dark Knight, from the PS1 era movie tie-ins all the way through to Rocksteady’s critically acclaimed action adventures. Not every instalment has hit the highs of Wayne Enterprises, with many of the earlier attempts being particularly mixed, but more recently Batman has found success in LEGO and even fighting game form, with the Injustice series being a notable example.

On this page we’ve included a list of the best Batman games, from his early origins on PS1 all the way through to his more contemporary encounters on PS5. If you want to settle down with the Dark Knight for a drizzly romp through Gotham City, then we’ve compiled all of his best PlayStation encounters in one place. This list is ordered based on your personal ratings, so if you’d like to have your own say, feel free to click the star next to any of the games’ names to add your score.

To reiterate, if you disagree with the order, then it’s up to you to have your say: this list will evolve and dynamically reorder over time based on your votes, meaning this is a live representation of the best Batman games. Do you agree with the list or not? Don’t be Two-Faced: let us know which title is a masterpiece and which is a Joker for scoring so high. There’s no Riddler here: it’s all up to you.

Best PlayStation Games by Series

23. Batman: Gotham City Racer (PS1)

Rather than a third-person action game, Batman: Gotham City Racer takes place entirely in the Batmobile. Inspired by animated television series Batman The New Adventures – with cut-scenes based on clips taken directly from the show – this PS1 title focuses more on point-to-point time trials in an open world Gotham City, as opposed to outright racing. It results in a less exciting overall package than the name may indicate, but the polygonal visuals are at least impressive – even if the city setting feels empty and languishes through a ridiculous number of loading screens.

22. Batman & Robin (PS1)

George Clooney was Batman in the 1997 film Batman & Robin, which is one of the most embarrassing attempts at bringing the Dark Knight to the big screen. This video game tie-in, though, dated as it is, is unbelievably ambitious for the era: an open world Gotham City awaits, which you can explore both on-foot and in the Batmobile as you please. The visuals are surprisingly impressive for the era, and while the gameplay is unpolished and ancient today, you have to at least respect the effort on display here.

21. Batman Forever: The Arcade Game (PS1)

Batman Forever, the 1995 movie released after the Tim Burton films, starring Val Kilmer as the Caped Crusader and Jim Carrey as the Riddler, is largely ridiculed today. Heck, it was panned at the time, too – and is largely regarded as one of the worst superhero movies of all time. This Acclaim tie-in, developed during Mortal Kombat’s heyday with a similar visual style, isn’t particularly great either. It’s a Streets of Rage knock-off with some neat set-piece moments, but cumbersome controls inhibit its breakneck pace and flashy effects.

20. Batman Begins (PS2)

Before the era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Christopher Nolan temporarily made Batman the biggest superhero on the planet with his own take on the Caped Crusader. Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale as the Dark Knight, told an origin story, and this movie tie-in followed largely the same storyline. With some solid visuals, a number of different gadgets, and some solid gameplay variety – including a couple of Batmobile segments – it was a decent movie tie-in for the time, but totally unremarkable today.

19. Gotham Knights (PS5)

A spin-off of the Batman: Arkham series, Gotham Knights does its best to transition the world of the Caped Crusader to a Destiny-style co-op experience. The results are a little mixed, and subsequently it fails to match up to the high points of Rocksteady’s iconic series. However, there’s a nice story and enjoyable combat system on offer, which at least offers some short-lived entertainment.

18. Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu (PS2)

A 3D beat-‘em-up inspired by television show The New Batman Adventures, Ubisoft’s Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu followed up Batman Vengeance with a somewhat samey adventure against iconic antagonists like Scarecrow, Bane, and Clayface. While its combat-focused gameplay may seem extremely repetitive by modern standards, there’s something satisfying about hammering on Gotham City’s greatest goons in this cartoon caper featuring the Caped Crusader.

17. Batman Vengeance (PS2)

A textbook PS2 era tie-in, this time inspired by The New Batman Adventures television series, Ubisoft’s Batman Vengeance is predominantly a 3D beat-‘em-up, where you’ll face off against villains like Mr Freeze and Harley Quinn. It does have a few tricks of its own, however, including a Batmobile chase sequence and some first-person gameplay systems. It’s rough around the edges and largely unplayable by modern standards, but some may find enjoyment in the variety of activities across this short campaign.

16. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (PS4)

By the time LEGO Batman 3 arrived in 2014, the formula was beginning to get a bit stale. Following the blueprint of its immediate superhero predecessors, including the Marvel themed LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, this entry felt a little flat coming just a year after developer Traveller’s Tales previous effort, with a light storyline and the same puzzle-focused gameplay loop. One for uber Batfans, then, we suppose.

15. Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (PS3)

It may be hard to believe these days, but in 2008, when Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe released, NetherRealm Software’s iconic arcade fighting series was going through a bit of a rough patch. Throwing superheroes like Batman into the roster seemed like a sturdy solution, and it worked: this crossover delivered crunching content and a killer cast. While it was, ultimately, quite light on unlockable content – and would go on to be bettered by series like Injustice – it proved the jolt in the arm that Mortal Kombat needed, ahead of its reboot in 2011.

14. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate - Deluxe Edition (PS3)

A port of the PS Vita game of the same name, Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate is a lot less impressive blown up on the big screen. While this remaster does have improved visuals, the side-scrolling action feels notably inferior to its full-blown counterparts, also available on the PS3. If you’re itching for more Batman, and have already exhausted all of the other options available, then you may get value out of this – otherwise, it’s an easily skippable experience on console.