So, you’ve beaten Scarecrow. You’ve unmasked the Arkham Knight. You might even feel like the hero Gotham deserves. But then you look at that Most Wanted menu and see it: a massive, mocking grid of green icons. Edward Nigma isn't going to the GCPD without a fight, and honestly, he’s holding the "True Ending" of the game hostage behind 243 separate chores.
It's a lot.
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Most people see the Arkham Knight Riddler trophy count and immediately uninstall. I get it. Who has time to hunt down 179 physical trophies, solve 40 riddles, save 6 bomb rioters, and smash 90 breakable objects? But if you want to actually punch Nigma in his smug face—which, let’s be real, is the most satisfying moment in the entire franchise—you have to play his game.
The Mental Grind of 243 Collectibles
Look, Arkham City was worse. It had 440 collectibles. In that context, Arkham Knight is actually a bit of a break, but the scale of the map makes it feel heavier. You aren't just hopping across rooftops; you're navigating three massive islands and three separate indoor "hubs" that are basically mini-dungeons.
Bleake Island starts you off easy with 37 trophies. Then you hit Miagani with 38, and Founders' Island ramps it up to 41. But the real headaches aren't even on the streets. They're hidden in the Stagg Enterprises Airships, Panessa Studios, and the Arkham Knight HQ.
If you're missing one trophy and the map says it’s in the HQ, prepare for a long walk. That place is a labyrinth of elevator shafts and ventilation ducts.
The smartest thing you can do? Stop trying to find them yourself. Seriously. Gotham is too big. You need to find the green-glowing thugs—the Riddler Informants—and interrogate them. Don't accidentally knock them out in a FreeFlow combo. I’ve done it. It’s devastating. You’re in the middle of a 50x combo, you see the green glow, and your muscle memory just kicks in. Bam. Sleepy time for the only guy who knew where that trophy was hidden in the subway.
Why Some Trophies Feel Impossible
The puzzles in this game aren't just "find the box." Rocksteady went hard on the gadget integration. You’ll be switching between the Voice Synthesizer to trick robots and the Remote Electrical Charge to power generators.
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Sometimes, you need the Batmobile’s winch. Other times, you’re using the Line Launcher in mid-air to create a tightrope because the floor is literally lava (or electrified, same difference).
The Founders' Island Subway Problem
Founders’ Island is home to some of the most annoying trophies in the game, specifically the ones buried in the subway tunnels. You’ll spend ten minutes driving the Batmobile through narrow corridors just to reach a pressure plate. If you don't have the "EMP" or "Drone Hack" upgrades for the car, you might find yourself stuck.
A lot of players don't realize that some trophies are locked behind story progression. If you’re at 95% and can’t find the last few, it’s probably because you haven't finished the side quests. For example, some riddles on Bleake Island won't even trigger until you've progressed the "Militia" or "Gunrunner" storylines.
Is the Knightfall Protocol Worth It?
This is the big question. Do you really need every single Arkham Knight Riddler trophy to see the ending?
The short answer: Yes.
The game lets you trigger a "partial" Knightfall Protocol if you finish about half of the side missions. It’s a cool cinematic, but it cuts to black before the real reveal. To get the full, extended ending—the "True" ending that people are still debating years later—you have to 100% the game. That includes Edward Nigma.
It feels like a personal insult from the developers. They know we want closure, and they know we hate those trophies. By making the trophies a requirement for the final cutscene, they've turned the Riddler into the ultimate final boss of the series. Not because he's hard to fight, but because he tests your patience more than Scarecrow ever could.
How to Not Lose Your Mind
If you’re going for the 100%, do yourself a favor and don't save it all for the end. It's soul-crushing.
- Interrogate constantly. Every time you see a green guy while gliding to a mission, drop down and grab him. It fills your map so you aren't flying blind.
- Listen to podcasts. The Riddler’s dialogue is funny for the first hour. By hour ten, you’ll want to mute the game. Put on a video or some music and just grind out one island at a time.
- Use the Grid. The Riddle menu in the pause screen is actually a grid. If you’re looking at a guide online, they usually reference Row 2, Column 4. This makes it way easier to track what you're actually missing.
- Don't forget the Batmobile. You can scan for "riddle trails" using the sonar. It’s a mechanic the game barely explains, then expects you to use for about a dozen trophies.
Honestly, the best part of the whole ordeal isn't the ending. It's the moment you finally walk back into the Riddler’s orphanage, watch him jump into his giant mech suit, and you get to dismantle it piece by piece. After hours of looking for green question marks, that beatdown feels earned.
The Arkham Knight Riddler trophy hunt is basically a rite of passage for Batman fans. It’s tedious, it’s arguably too long, and it’s definitely frustrating. But when you see that "100.0%" on your save file, there’s a specific kind of peace that comes with it. Or maybe that's just the relief of never having to hear Nigma’s voice again.
If you’re stuck on the final few, check your map for the "interior" icons. Most people forget the trophies inside the GCPD evidence room or the ones hidden in the Panessa Studios cells. Double-check those before you start wandering the streets of Founders' Island for the tenth time. Clear the grid, lock him up, and finally initiate Knightfall. You've earned it.