Batman: Arkham Knight 1.0

From the very beginning, Arkham Knight makes one thing clear: this is the end of Batman’s story. The opening scene — a haunting, first-person sequence of the Joker’s cremation — sets the tone. The clown prince of crime is gone, and for the first time in years, Gotham feels… quiet. Too quiet.

But peace in Gotham never lasts. When Scarecrow resurfaces with a new, terrifying strain of his fear toxin, the entire city is evacuated, leaving only criminals, the GCPD, and Batman to pick up the pieces. What begins as a simple mission to stop Scarecrow quickly spirals into something far more personal when a mysterious new villain emerges: the Arkham Knight, a militarized warrior who knows Batman’s every move, every weakness, and — somehow — his identity.

What follows is a sprawling, emotionally charged tale of fear, loss, and legacy. The writing is sharper than ever, blending blockbuster spectacle with psychological depth. Every mission feels like a step deeper into Bruce Wayne’s fractured mind, and every choice carries the weight of a man confronting his own mortality.

Becoming the Batman — One Last Time

Rocksteady always understood that Batman isn’t just a character — he’s an experience. In Arkham Knight, that experience reaches its most immersive form. The game world isn’t a confined asylum or a quarantined city anymore; it’s an entire open-world Gotham, sprawling across three massive islands, each meticulously crafted to feel alive. Rain pours off rooftops, lightning cuts through the smog-filled sky, and the Bat-Signal glows faintly in the distance. You don’t just play in Gotham — you exist in it.

Traversal feels smoother than ever. Grapnel boosts, gliding, and stealth takedowns are all seamless, giving players the ultimate predator fantasy. But the biggest addition — and the most controversial — is the Batmobile.

The Batmobile: A Blessing and a Curse

The Batmobile had been the most requested feature since Arkham Asylum, and Rocksteady finally delivered. Sleek, powerful, and bristling with gadgets, it’s more tank than car — capable of transforming from high-speed pursuit mode to battle mode in seconds. Driving it through Gotham’s empty streets feels exhilarating, and using it to chase down criminals or solve puzzles gives the sense that you’re truly the guardian of the city.

But for all its brilliance, the Batmobile is also the game’s most divisive element. Rocksteady leaned into it hard, making it central to combat, puzzles, and even boss fights. Sometimes it’s thrilling — like when you’re racing through collapsing tunnels or fighting an army of drones. Other times, it feels repetitive and overused, dragging down the pacing of an otherwise masterful game.

Still, love it or hate it, the Batmobile represents the same thing it does to Batman: a tool, powerful but imperfect. And that makes its inclusion — flaws and all — strangely fitting.

The Psychology of Fear

At its core, Arkham Knight isn’t about saving Gotham. It’s about confronting fear — both the city’s and Batman’s own.

Scarecrow, voiced chillingly by John Noble, serves as the perfect antagonist. Cold, methodical, and terrifyingly calm, he weaponizes fear not just to destroy Gotham, but to expose Batman’s greatest secret: that beneath the mask lies a man who’s terrified of losing control.

And then there’s the Joker — or rather, the hallucination of him. Despite being dead, Mark Hamill’s Joker returns as a figment of Batman’s toxin-fueled mind, haunting him at every turn. His appearances are masterfully integrated, blending seamlessly into gameplay. Sometimes he materializes behind you mid-cutscene; other times, you turn around and he’s just… there, grinning in the corner.

These interactions are the beating heart of Arkham Knight. They’re darkly funny, unsettling, and, at times, surprisingly emotional. The relationship between Batman and Joker — one built on mutual obsession — reaches its tragic conclusion here. It’s not about defeating the Joker anymore. It’s about letting him go.

The Voice Behind the Mask

No review of Arkham Knight would be complete without honoring the late Kevin Conroy. His performance here is arguably his finest — layered with exhaustion, pain, and quiet strength. You can hear the weight of decades in his voice, the burden of being Gotham’s protector, and the cost of living as two people at once.

Mark Hamill, too, delivers an unforgettable final act as the Joker. Their chemistry — forged through decades of performances together — elevates every scene they share. Even in death, the Joker feels alive through Hamill’s manic charm, while Conroy grounds every moment with gravitas and humanity.

Together, they form the soul of the Arkham series.