Unleash the Dark Knight on Nintendo Switch: Why Batman: Arkham Origins Needs a Port Now!

Nintendo's latest Direct presentation may not be remembered as one of their greatest, but it certainly had some thrilling announcements, especially for Super Mario fans. While the standout was undoubtedly the new 2D Super Mario Bros. Wonder, there were also some noteworthy reveals such as a remake of Super Mario RPG, a mysterious Princess Peach game, a new WarioWare installment, and a sequel to Detective Pikachu. However, beyond these first-party announcements, one third-party reveal stole the show and became one of the biggest highlights of the entire Nintendo Direct: Batman: Arkham Trilogy.

Scheduled for release in Fall 2023, the Batman: Arkham Trilogy collects all three mainline entries of the series, along with their respective DLCs and expansions. While there are doubts about how well the trilogy will perform on the Switch, it remains an exciting announcement with the potential to pave the way for more Batman: Arkham games on Nintendo consoles in the future. In particular, there is one underrated entry that could thrive on the Switch.

Batman: Arkham Origins Could Thrive on the Nintendo Switch

Batman: Arkham Origins, released in October 2013, stands out as the black sheep of the Arkham franchise. Despite being developed by WB Games Montreal instead of the series creator Rocksteady, it remains an underrated game within the series. While lacking the same level of polish as its predecessors, Arkham Origins still delivers a satisfying combat system, reminiscent of the successful formula established by Rocksteady. With its own unique abilities and a gripping narrative that may not match up to the first two Arkham entries, but still offers a solid Batman Year One-esque story with compelling iterations of iconic characters. Set in a unique Christmas setting, Batman: Arkham Origins deserves a revival alongside its more acclaimed siblings as a great superhero game.

Batman: Arkham Origins has the potential to make a comeback on the Nintendo Switch, especially if the Batman: Arkham Trilogy performs well on the console. With almost a decade since its original release, a remaster or a port of Arkham Origins could give the game a fresh perspective and improve its reputation. In comparison to Rocksteady's current project, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Arkham Origins might shine, and the Nintendo Switch could be the ideal platform to reintroduce the game to a wider audience.

One unique feature that sets Batman: Arkham Origins apart from Rocksteady's games is its multiplayer mode. This asymmetrical mode, which was ahead of its time, allows players to experience Batman and Robin teaming up against a group of criminals equipped with ranged weapons. While not flawless, this multiplayer mode added a nice touch to Arkham Origins and helped it stand out. If this mode were to be revived in a potential Nintendo Switch port, the game would have an even greater chance of receiving a positive response in today's gaming landscape.

Batman: Arkham Trilogy will launch on Nintendo Switch in Fall 2023.