DC may have had a very shaky track record in the film industry, but when it comes to games, they've released some great titles. Much of his existing DC Comics work lends itself to this medium, as does his Marvel work.
Batman is clearly the biggest draw, but there's a lot more to DC than just the Dark Knight, and this world is packed with cool characters and even better concepts. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the company's infamous penchant for dark, noir aesthetics lends itself well to a variety of genres of games.
This is clearly something publishers and developers have known for years. As of this writing, over 100 of his DC games have been licensed, including 52 Batman games.
So, with that in mind, we've dug through DC's back catalog and brought you Dexerto's top 10 DC games of all time.
10. Batman: Arkham Origins (2013)
When it was first announced, everything seemed to be going well for Batman: Arkham Origins. As his third mainline work in the Arkham series, this work was released following his excellent Arkham City (more on that later). It also had a very appealing premise, set nine years before Arkham Asylum, with an incomparable assassin hunting a young, cocky Batman.
Unfortunately, in play, Origins felt more like an expansion than a complete game. It just tweaked the previous game's great systems, offering little innovation or progress. That said, it starts off on a solid foundation and at least remains a decent Batman game.
9. Wolf Among Us (2013)
In a list inevitably packed with Batman titles, The Wolf Among Us stands out as the most significant departure from the usual formula. Telltale's signature style lends itself well to games based on his Fables series published under his Vertigo label at DC.
The story follows Detective Bigby Wolfe as he investigates a series of murders in the Manhattan enclave known as Fabletown. The game features a number of familiar fairy tale characters and a fascinating yet moderately dark story. The simple nature of Telltale Games' story isn't for everyone, but this is definitely one of their best efforts.
8. DC Universe Online (2011)
The utility of MMORPGs should never be underestimated, and DC Universe Online had a huge task trying to translate the DCU. That said, developer Dimensional Ink Games has done a great job of making it a reality, and the game has maintained a healthy community nearly 13 years after its initial release.
This game definitely has its problems, but it's the only one on this list that allows players to create their own heroes and villains before venturing out into the world. Technically it can be a little unreliable and it's not for everyone, but for those who like to get together and battle with friends, there are few better options than DCUO.
7. Batman: The Video Game (1989)
Dating back to 1989, Batman: The Video Game is both fun and difficult to play. The game is a loose adaptation of Tim Burton's always controversial Batman films, but don't let that color your opinion of this impressive retro release. The game is basically a side-scroller like many games of the time.
That said, it's a great representation of Batman's aesthetic, especially considering the technological limitations of the time. Another big thing to note is that he is a contender for one of the most difficult games ever. I've only personally launched this for less than 6 months, and this was a complete indictment of my overall ability to win games. I strongly recommend it.
6. Injustice: God in Us (2013)
netherrealm studioIn retrospect, it's almost unbelievable that it took this long to develop a standalone DC fighting game (despite the arrival of the 2D Justice League Task Force on the SNES). When it finally arrived, Injustice quickly secured its place as one of his best genre entries of the early 2010s.
2008's Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe showed a pattern before NetherRealm Studios picked up the same ball and ran with it here. The game's story mode made Superman's character really interesting, and the locales for each battle quickly became iconic. With plenty of supermeters and combos, there was plenty for traditional fighting game fans to get excited about, and Injustice nailed that line.
5. Batman: The Enemy Within (2017)
telltale game studioTelltale Games' second entry on this list, Batman: The Enemy Within, manages to improve upon the already well-received original. As a direct sequel, those who enjoyed the original should know what to expect. That being said, the story is much tighter and more interesting to work on.
The game's biggest victory comes in the form of the main villain. The Joker is everywhere, so he might get a little tired. That's not the case with The Enemy Within, and I won't spoil anything, but it does breathe some significant life into the characters, ably aided by Anthony Engruber's flawless performance. Both Telltale Batman games are worth playing, but The Enemy Within is definitely the best.
4. Injustice 2 (2017)
The sequel to 2017's critically acclaimed Injustice: Gods Among Us takes everything the first game had to offer and improves on it in almost every area. Combat will be significantly closer, while also being more fluid, giving players more ways to fight as their favorite heroes.
The game largely follows the same path as the first game, but there were some significant changes to the online multiplayer. In Injustice 2, players can upgrade their fighters by earning points and purchasing gear. This gives you a unique squad that will make every encounter with online enemies different. The best fighting game in DC history.
3. Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)
rocksteady studioThe second of the Arkham series to appear on this list, Arkham Knight is an objectively impressive game. It's definitely more ambitious than his other two games on this list, but there were some issues in execution that prevented it from making any further progress.
The brutal fisticuffs combat is still impressive, and the vehicle elements are a lot of fun now that major issues have been fixed. This story is probably the least engaging of his three, but it still serves its purpose as a memorable conclusion to a great gaming trilogy.
2. Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)
rocksteady studioThe game that started it all, Batman: Arkham Asylum, is holding up surprisingly well considering it's approaching its 15th anniversary. It's a fairly small-scale game compared to the countless sequels it spawned, but it's been immensely successful in everything it sets out to do more generally.
This story is quintessential Batman and introduces some of the most iconic villains from various comics history. The brutal feel that combat gives players would continue to define the series for years to come, with few changes along the way. As far as action-adventure games go, Arkham Asylum is the best of all time.
1. Batman: Arkham City (2011)
rocksteady studioJust barely surpassing the game that started it all, Arkham City is an amazing expansion of the original formula. His ability to navigate the vast rendition of Gotham immediately gives him an edge over his competitors, and brings home the idea that Batman is a lone figure in a city full of badass actors.
Rocksteady Studios clearly recognized how great the first game was and did little to change it much, choosing instead to enhance existing systems and add systems as needed. Arkham City is the closest Batman has come to perfection, and there's a solid argument that it's one of the best superhero games of all time. Arkham City is worth revisiting today. There's no better way to take on the duties of the Caped Crusader.
This list was created as part of Dexerto's Hero Fest, a week celebrating all things superheroes. Check out the full HeroFest schedule here.
