Unleashing the Secrets Behind the Unparalleled Success of the Arkham Series in DC Games

Highlights

The titles in Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham series are considered to be some of the greatest superhero games, with the characters, story, and gameplay aging well.

Gotham Knights, developed by the same team, failed to replicate the success of Batman: Arkham due to DC's failure to learn from the correct principles.

The triumph of Batman: Arkham stems from its commendation of the comic book rendition of Batman, its genuine depiction of characters, and its distinct and approachable storyline.

Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham series is widely regarded as the best superhero game series, with only a few other comic book games coming close. Since its debut in 2009 with Batman: Arkham Asylum, the Arkham series has gained even more popularity over time, thanks to its well-developed characters, engaging storylines, and immersive gameplay. Given that Batman: Arkham continues to set the standard, it's no surprise that DC has attempted to replicate its success.

When Gotham Knights was announced a few years ago, it generated significant excitement from the start. Developed by the team behind Batman: Arkham Origins, Gotham Knights seemed like a natural progression for the Dark Knight in the gaming world. However, DC failed to draw the right conclusions from Batman: Arkham, resulting in Gotham Knights being one of the biggest letdowns of 2022. Moving forward, it is crucial for DC to revisit Rocksteady's Arkham series and thoroughly analyze what made those games exceptional in the first place.

The Batman: Arkham Series Was a Celebration of Everything Caped Crusader

When Batman: Arkham Asylum was released in 2009, it had a significant impact on the gaming world for various reasons. One of the main reasons was the game's commitment to staying true to the essence of Batman and his comic book origins. While Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins and Dark Knight movies were exceptional, they took a more realistic approach to the character and his villains. In contrast, Batman: Arkham Asylum provided a refreshing take on the comic book version of Batman. This was the first time since Batman: The Animated Series that the character received such prominence, and Rocksteady Studios delivered an outstanding portrayal. The game featured iconic Batman adversaries, portrayed brilliantly by voice actors from the Animated Series. Although the gameplay itself was exceptional, it was the game's narrative and characters, which captured the tone, atmosphere, and authenticity, that truly made it stand out when it was first released in 2009.

The Batman: Arkham series continually improved upon the aspects that made Asylum exceptional. It featured more accurately depicted comic book villains, enhanced writing, and a plethora of Easter eggs and references, all serving as a homage to Batman's extensive pop-cultural legacy. Unlike the Arkham series, which only contained subtle connections to the broader DC universe, modern DC struggles to place Batman at the core of its narrative, unable to replicate the franchise's success.

Over the past decade, following the success of the Nolan trilogy, DC has grappled with creating standalone superhero films. In their eagerness to rival the Avengers in terms of profitability, DC has unsuccessfully attempted to prematurely unite its heroes. These endeavors have relied on the audience's prior knowledge, leading to poorly executed results and ultimately prompting a complete reboot spearheaded by James Gunn. Unfortunately, this issue may seep into future DC video games, as Gunn's newly established universe is believed to be canon and interconnected through gaming. DC must comprehend that the triumph of the Batman: Arkham series lies in its distinctiveness and accessibility. The game itself provided sufficient context and filled in any knowledge gaps, eliminating the necessity for newcomers to consume animated series or the Nolan trilogy to comprehend Arkham Asylum.