Superhero games have had their ups and downs over the years, with many flops and memorable successes. Fans may struggle with liking the idea of being able to step into the shoes of these larger-than-life characters, especially since many attempts to successfully put players in these shoes are not quite right.
Batman games weren't always at the forefront of the superhero gaming genre, but the Caped Crusader spent the first two decades of the 21st century as DC's main character. From celebrities Arkham franchise for the other game appearances Bruce Wayne has made over the past few decades, Batman games tend to offer immersive experiences for players to immerse themselves in but not all are easy.
GameFAQs was used as a reference because the site has a difficulty meter. Since the score varies by console, we'll list the version in the header. Also only one entry per game.
8
Batman: Chaos in Gotham (GBC)
GameFAQs Difficulty Score: 3.64/5
Batman: Chaos in Gotham
- Released
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April 17, 2001
- ESRB
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E For everyone
- Developers
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Digital Eclipse
A bit forgotten Batman game, Chaos in Gotham is a fairly traditional example of the Dark Knight's pocket adventures on the Game Boy consoles. A 2D action platformer with simple combat and level design, Chaos in Gotham is a fun diversion that lets you take on some of Batman's most iconic villains as the premise involves escaping Arkham Asylum.
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Honestly, this game isn't overly difficult for a GBA action platformer, and most people probably won't put too much effort into getting through the campaign. That said, the controls are refined enough that some frustration might occur, and mistakes are severely punished.
7
Batman: Vengeance (GBA)
GameFAQs Difficulty Score: 3.82/5
Remember the days when publishers used the same title for both home and handheld games, even though they were completely different? Good, Batman: Revenge serves as a prime example, as the only thing the GBA release has in common with its larger sibling is a somewhat similar presence. Most people are probably familiar with the PS2/GameCube/Xbox/PC version, which is a fairly easy 3D battle that also features several different gameplay styles and sections. Even if it's a little hard to come back Revenge was probably the best Batman game when it came out.
The GBA title is a completely different beast, though it also tries to incorporate variety into its gameplay. In the end, most of the campaign is a traditional 2D action platformer with a version of Batman that goes down surprisingly quickly. The controls aren't fantastic, which makes the difficulty seem worse than it is.
6
Batman and Robin (PS1)
GameFAQs Difficulty Score: 4.07/5
Batman and Robin
- Released
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August 5, 1998
- ESRB
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T for Teen – Animated violence
- Developers
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Probe Entertainment
Some games are difficult because they are designed to test the player's expertise and require them to become true masters if they want to complete the journey. They are hard but satisfying and you have all the tools you need to overcome an obstacle, while failure is usually due to user error.
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Then there is Batman and Robina game that delivers its difficulty solely through poor controls. It takes place in Gotham City and is divided into days where you can complete missions, Batman and Robin was ambitious for a film-licensed game, pursuing a sandbox structure that wouldn't really be attempted again until Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. The graphics are impressive for a PS1 title and the world has a surprising amount of things to do. You even have three playable characters that are different enough from each other to be worth trying out.
None of that matters though, e.g Batman and Robin is just a pain to control.
5
The Adventures of Batman and Robin (Genesis)
GameFAQs Difficulty Score: 4.24/5
Not to be confused with Konami's SNES game, The Adventures of Batman and Robin it stands as its own entity on the Genesis, relying on run-and-gun mechanics. Although not the only Batman title to touch on this genre, The Adventures of Batman and Robin it received the best and also managed to maintain the high skill cap synonymous with these types of releases.
While the SNES game is no walk in the park, the Genesis release is consistently harder, to the point where some levels cross the line into being annoying. At times, Batman feels too weak, especially with respect The Adventures of Batman and Robin forcing him to deal with many enemies at once.
4
Batman: Dark Tomorrow (GameCube)
GameFAQs Difficulty Score: 4.38/5
Somewhat similar Batman and Robin, Batman: A Dark TomorrowThe challenge comes from the unintuitive controls, frustrating mechanics, terrible camera, and unfair difficulty swings. Notorious for being the worst Caped Crusader game, A dark tomorrow it wastes a pretty good story on gameplay that's so anti-fun that it's damn near impossible to recommend to anyone.
Seriously, even if you're a finishing bat who's also a punishment eater, A dark tomorrow may still be a step too far. At most, I would recommend watching the cutscenes on YouTube, as this will allow you to enjoy the only decent part of the package.
3
Batman Forever (PC)
GameFAQs Difficulty Score: 4.45/5
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Platforms: SNES, PC, R-Zone, Game Boy, Game Gear, Sega Genesis, DOS
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Released: 07.10.1995
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Developers: Acclaim Studios London
Tim Burton's films continued without him throughout the rest of the 1990s, and games based on each had to follow. Batman forever it hasn't stood the test of time as a movie, but as a game it remains a great example of how brutally unforgiving a video game can be. This applies to any version of the game that players try to take on, although the PC version was considered the most challenging of all.
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Batman forever it had all the elements of a great fighting game, but introduced many platforming elements that gave the controls a confusing nature. While some players have been able to deal with it, Batman forever it doesn't have a much better reputation today than the movie it was based on.
2
Batman (1986)
GameFAQs Difficulty Score: 4.46/5
Batman (1986)
- Released
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1986
- Developers
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Ocean Software
- Publishers
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Ocean Software
Concept a Batman the game is as old as The Legend of Zelda franchise. First Batman the game was developed in 1986 for entry-level PC models. Set in an isometric 3D universe, the game featured Batman trying to collect the various pieces of the Batmobile in order to put it back together and save Robin.
Despite the age, this Batman the game is quite interesting in that it introduced some early game features such as the precursor to the save system and was considered a classic at the time. Despite this, trying to play this game from 1986 is difficult now, as the style of video games has moved on a lot and the short length of games at this time required them to be challenging. If players somehow manage to find this game, they are definitely in for a tough time.
1
Batman Returns (Atari Lynx)
GameFAQs Difficulty Score: 4.59/5
If games based on 1989 Batman movie were challenging, they were nothing compared to games based on Tim Burton movies Batman walks. Batman returns it was released alongside a sequel in 1992, developed separately by different companies for different systems, and all are difficult. The Sega CD, Genesis, and SNES versions are probably the most famous, and the first two are definitely among the hardest. Batman games. However, they absolutely pale in comparison to the Atari Lynx Batman returnswhich is so difficult that it can almost veer into unplayable territory at times.
Visually impressive for the time, Batman returns is a zoomed in side scrolling that starts to punish and gets progressively harder with each new level. Most games from this era are notoriously difficult, but this title often feels unfair to me, to the point that I would only recommend it to die-hard fans who really want to experience Bruce Wayne's most painful gaming adventure.
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