| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Game title | Batman™: Arkham Knight |
| Platforms | Windows (Steam), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
| Release date | June 23, 2015 (PS4, Windows, Xbox One); December 1, 2023 (Switch) |
| Genre | Action-adventure |
| Developer | Rocksteady Studios (Switch port by Turn Me Up Games) |
| Publisher | Warner Bros. Games (listed as Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment or WB Games, depending on the source) |
| Mode | Single-player |
| Age rating | ESRB “Mature” (per Wikipedia) |
| Languages | Steam: 10 languages with English, French, Italian, German, Spanish (Spain), Portuguese (Brazil) and Japanese audio, plus Korean, Polish and Russian interface and subtitles. PlayStation Singapore listing: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Spanish (Mexico) voice, with a slightly different set of on-screen languages. Check your own store for your region. |
About Batman: Arkham Knight
Arkham Knight is set nine months after the events of Arkham City and is the fourth main game in the Batman: Arkham Knight. Scarecrow threatens Gotham with a new fear toxin, and the city’s civilians are evacuated. Batman faces Scarecrow and a mysterious militia leader called the Arkham Knight, along with a line-up of familiar villains that includes Penguin, Two-Face, Riddler and Harley Quinn.
The story Batman: Arkham Knight was written by Rocksteady’s own team, with DC’s Geoff Johns consulting. Kevin Conroy returns as the voice of Batman, and Mark Hamill also returns as the Joker.
Key Features
- A large, open Gotham City. Wikipedia describes it as about five times the size of the Arkham City prison area, split into three islands. You can explore from the start rather than waiting for areas to unlock.
- A drivable Batmobile. It works as transport, a puzzle tool and a combat vehicle. It has a Pursuit mode and a Battle mode, and you can summon it while on foot.
- Freeflow combat. You chain strikes, counters and dodges to keep a combo going across groups of enemies.
- Dual Play. In certain situations you can switch to an ally such as Robin, Nightwing or Catwoman mid-fight.
- Stealth and detective work. You take down enemies quietly, use Detective Vision and investigate crime scenes.
- Side content. “Most Wanted” missions feature well-known villains, and the Riddler offers 243 optional challenges.
- New Game Plus. Finishing the story unlocks a replay that keeps your gadgets, experience and collectibles.
- Post-launch content. It includes story missions, challenge maps, character skins and alternate Batmobiles. SteamDB lists 41 DLC items for the PC version.
Gameplay and Player Experience
The game leans on Batman’s usual tools: grapnel gun, glide, batarangs and Detective Vision. Wikipedia notes that some gadgets can be used while gliding. Combat rewards experience points, which you spend on gadget abilities, combat moves and health upgrades.
The Batmobile is meant to be used alongside on-foot traversal. The developers say they built the challenges so players don’t rely on only one method. There is no fast travel, because the designers considered moving around the city part of the experience.
Critics were split on the Batmobile’s Battle mode. Some reviewers liked the tank-style combat, while others found it out of place for Batman. I haven’t played the game for this article, so treat that as a summary of published reviews, not a personal verdict.
Visit More Games:
Platform and Availability
- PC: The game is on Steam for Windows. SteamDB lists it as Steam Deck Verified, based on a test from September 2023. The PC launch in 2015 had serious performance problems, and Warner Bros. temporarily pulled the game from sale. It returned on October 28, 2015 after patches.
- PlayStation: The PS4 version is sold on PlayStation Store. Sony’s page says it is playable on PS5 but some PS4 features may be missing.
- Nintendo Switch: A Switch version was released in December 2023. It was criticised for performance issues, and later patches improved some problems. Wikipedia says Switch 1 hardware still has stuttering and an inconsistent frame rate.
- Xbox One: Wikipedia lists the game as launching on Xbox One in 2015. I didn’t have an official Xbox page to confirm current availability.
Prices and regional availability change, so check the official Steam, PlayStation Store, Nintendo eShop or Xbox listing for your country before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Batman: Arkham Knight single-player or multiplayer?
It is single-player. Wikipedia states that it has no multiplayer component.
Which Batman: Arkham Knight platforms is it available on?
Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. It is playable on PS5 through backward compatibility, with some PS4 features possibly absent.
Do I need to play the earlier Arkham games first?
The story continues directly from Arkham City, so playing earlier entries gives more context. The sources don’t say earlier games are required.
Is there extra content beyond the main story?
Yes. There are side missions, Riddler challenges, New Game Plus and post-launch DLC. That includes story missions, challenge maps, skins and extra Batmobiles.
Are all platform versions equal in performance?
Not according to the sources. The PS4 and Xbox One versions received “generally favorable” reviews, while the Windows and Switch versions were criticised for technical problems, especially at launch. Patches have since changed things, so check recent player feedback for your platform.
Final Overview
Batman: Arkham Knight is a single-player, open-world Batman game that mixes combat, stealth, detective work and vehicle sections in one large Gotham City. It suits players who want a story-driven Batman adventure with a lot of side content, and who are comfortable with a mature-rated game. Performance varies by platform, so it’s worth checking recent feedback for the version you plan to buy.
1 Response
[…] Batman: Arkham Knight […]