The recent wave of successful comic book video games that are more than cheap movie tie-ins can be traced back to one character in particular: Batman. The Caped Crusader’s escapades intheBatman: Arkhamseriesare not only fantastic comic games, but they single-handedly ushered in a new era for the industry where superhero games actually became a viable option for development. Although the series has now come to an end, the proverbial torch of Batman games is now being passed toGotham Knights.
WhileGotham Knightsis very much set in a world occupied by Batman’s colorful cast of characters, it’s a very different world from theBatman: Arkhamseries. The game is not actually connected toBatman: Arkham, and on top of that, trailers have made it clear that Batman is dead at the game’s start. While this may just seem like a dramatic way of setting up the game’s story,GothamKnightsalso seems to make it clear that fans won’t be getting another solo Batman game for quite awhile. Although this may be disappointing to some, there could be some legitimate reasons behind it.
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Batman Burnout After the Arkham Series
The video game industry nowadays is frequently held up by the strength of various sequels across multiple franchises. While this trend has sustained many of the best franchises over the years, there are times where a series can experience some burnout over the years. Many gamers have expressed displeasure over this sort of thing with games likeCall of DutyandAssassin’s Creedin the past, and it’s possible that Warner Bros. could be trying to avoid the same fate withGotham Knights. While the game is certainly Batman-adjacent, its co-op style and Bat Family-centered story should be enough to keep things from seeming too repetitive.
A Tough Act To Follow For Gotham Knights
The success of theBatman: Arkhamseries really cannot be overstated. The games combined crisp combat with excellent storytelling to make an overall unforgettable experience, and it’s hard to find a series of comics-based games that compares to its level of quality. The series ended in a rather definitive way, with Bruce Wayne having his identity revealed and subsequently “dying” at the end ofArkham Knight. TheArkhamfranchise is held in such high esteem that trying to follow up on it with a similar Batman game would be a tall task.Gotham Knightsbenefits from being different enough that it shouldn’t draw too many direct comparisons.
Gotham Knights: Time For Other Heroes To Shine
Batman may arguably be one of DC’s biggest superheroes, but the company has a plethora of different heroes that deserve their chance in the video game spotlight eventually.Gotham Knightsis taking a calculated risk by giving players a game dedicated to Batman’s line of sidekicks. These characters never would have helmed their own game ten years ago, but after increased popularity among the fanbase and a good foundation laid byBatman: Arkham, they now have a legitimate chance. The same sentiment is being shown bySuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, giving DC’s band of misfits some time to shine.
As disappointing as it may be for Batman fans,Gotham Knightsis probably going to be the next best thing to a new Batman game for awhile. The World’s Greatest Detective possibly the best series of games a comic book character could possible get, and now it’s time to pass that success on to some other heroes to see if they can share inBatman: Arkham’s achievements. Batman fans can find some solace in the fact that they can have a Batman-like experience once again inGotham Knights, but it might be time to accept that there won’t be another solo game until some other DC heroes get their shot at a video game adaptation.
Gotham Knightsis currently in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
