Harley Quinn Takes Over Gaming: Unleashing Chaos Beyond Suicide Squad
Harley Quinn, the beloved DC character, has made numerous memorable video game appearances over the years, cementing her status as one of the most popular figures in the modern age of gaming
Introduced in Batman: The Animated Series in 1992, Harley Quinn has soared to new heights and gained immense popularity within the DC universe. Originally known as the Joker's deranged love interest, Harley Quinn has evolved into a distinct character, separate from her origins. She has showcased her versatility by seamlessly transitioning from a vital member of the Suicide Squad to collaborating with Batman and the Justice League, and even embarking on her own adventures alongside the Birds of Prey. With her multifaceted nature and undeniable impact, Harley Quinn stands as one of the finest additions to the DC universe in the past thirty years.
As the gaming industry burgeoned into the modern era, it was only fitting that Harley Quinn made her mark in the world of video games. Although many of her appearances in these games relegate her to a secondary villain, a handful truly capture her essence, rivaling even the most remarkable Harley Quinn stories in comic books and animations.
Every Harley Quinn Video Game Appearance
The Adventures of Batman and Robin
Batman: Chaos in Gotham
Batman: Vengeance
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Batman: Arkham Origins
Batman: Arkham City
Batman: Arkham City Lockdown
Batman: Arkham Underworld
Batman: Arkham Knight
Gotham Knights
Injustice Gods Among Us
Injustice 2
Mortal Kombat 11
LEGO Batman
LEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroes
LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
LEGO DC Super-Villains
LEGO Dimensions
Batman: The Enemy Within
Fortnite
Infinite Crisis
DC Legends
DC Universe Online
DC Unchained
Suicide Squad: Special Ops
Scribblenauts Unmasked
Harley Quinn has played a significant role in a total of 26 video games as of July 2023. Her first appearance in a video game dates all the way back to 1994 in The Adventures of Batman and Robin, a tie-in game with the Batman: Animated Series. In this game, she acts as the final stage boss, utilizing a jet-powered armchair and attacking Batman with projectiles.
Harley Quinn continued to appear in other video games based on Batman animated shows, such as Batman: Chaos in Gotham for Game Boy and Batman: Vengeance for PS2. However, some of her most iconic and beloved video game appearances can be found in Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham series. She is featured in every game, including its lesser-known mobile spinoffs. In most of the Arkham games, players confront her as a boss character, while in Arkham Knight, players have the opportunity to control Harley in a bonus level and various challenges. The Arkham games provide ample screen time for Harley Quinn, and Tara Strong's portrayal of the character is still considered one of the most iconic.
Harley Quinn has had a notable presence in the Injustice games developed by NetherRealm Studios. Players have the opportunity to control her character, utilizing her signature gymnastics and iconic weapons such as her oversized mallet. Additionally, in Mortal Kombat 11, she can be selected as an alternate costume for Cassie Cage. Harley Quinn has also made appearances in various DC LEGO games, being a playable character in every LEGO Batman and having a significant role in the storyline of LEGO DC Super-Villains.
However, Harley's participation in video games extends beyond these titles. She has appeared in several DC multiplayer games, with DC Universe Online being a noteworthy example. It is worth mentioning that this was the last game to feature Arleen Sorkin, the original voice actor for Harley Quinn. More recently, she has made crossover appearances in Fortnite, offering various styles based on her portrayals in Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey, and the Rebirth DC comics.
