You'd think finding every Batman game on the PS4 would be easy, right? It's really not. Between the remasters, the VR spin-offs, and the Telltale stuff, the PlayStation Store looks like a crime scene that even the World's Greatest Detective would struggle to piece together.
Basically, there are two ways to look at this. You can play them in the order they actually hit the shelves, or you can try to follow the "canon" timeline so the story makes sense. If you're a purist, you'll probably want the release order. But honestly? If you want to feel the weight of Bruce Wayne’s tragic arc, the chronological path is the way to go.
Here is how you navigate the batman games ps4 in order without losing your mind.
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The Chronological Headache: Playing by the Story Timeline
If you want the story to flow from Batman’s early years to his "final" night, you have to start with a game that wasn’t even originally on the PS4.
1. Batman: Arkham Origins (Via PS Plus Premium)
Technically, this is a PS3 game. However, it is playable on PS4 if you have a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription for streaming. It takes place on Christmas Eve, roughly two years into Bruce Wayne's career as Batman. He's younger, angrier, and basically a myth to the GCPD. You fight eight assassins—including Deathstroke and Bane—and it’s where he first meets the Joker. It’s a prequel, so it’s the logical starting point for the narrative.
2. Batman: Arkham Asylum (Return to Arkham)
This is where the "Rocksteady Trilogy" begins. In the story, years have passed since Origins. Batman is bringing Joker back to the asylum after a failed breakout at City Hall. Of course, it’s a trap. The PS4 version is part of the Return to Arkham collection, which is a remaster. It feels smaller and more claustrophobic than the later games, but many fans still think it has the best atmosphere.
3. Batman: Arkham City (Return to Arkham)
Set about 18 months after the asylum incident. A massive chunk of Gotham has been walled off to house all the city's criminals. This is widely considered the peak of the series. You’ve got Hugo Strange, Ra's al Ghul, and a dying Joker all pulling strings at once. On the PS4, this is also included in that Return to Arkham bundle.
4. Batman: Arkham VR
Wait, this counts? Yeah, it actually does. If you have a PSVR headset, this short experience sits right between Arkham City and Arkham Knight. It’s a bit of a "fever dream" detective story that deals with Bruce's deteriorating mental state after the events of the previous game. It's only about 90 minutes long, but it’s creepy as hell.
5. Batman: Arkham Knight
The big finale. It’s Halloween, Scarecrow has evacuated the city, and a new villain called the Arkham Knight has an army of tanks roaming the streets. This was built natively for the PS4, so it looks significantly better than the remasters. It also introduces the Batmobile, which people either love or think is a bit too "tank-heavy."
The Release Date Order: How We Actually Experienced Them
Sometimes, playing chronologically is a bad idea because the gameplay evolves. If you play Origins (2013) and then jump back to Asylum (2009), you’ll feel like Batman suddenly forgot how to do half his moves.
If you want to see the technology and mechanics get better with every entry, follow this release schedule for batman games ps4 in order:
- LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (November 2014): Not part of the "Arkham-verse," but it was the first Batman title to land on the PS4. It’s lighthearted, features the whole Justice League, and is great if you just want to smash bricks.
- Batman: Arkham Knight (June 2015): The first "serious" Batman game for the console. It pushed the PS4 hardware to its absolute limit back in the day.
- Batman: The Telltale Series (August 2016): This is a completely separate universe. It’s a point-and-click adventure where your choices matter. It focuses more on Bruce Wayne’s public life and his family’s corrupt history.
- Batman: Return to Arkham (October 2016): This was the bundle that finally brought Asylum and City to the PS4. They moved the games from Unreal Engine 3 to Unreal Engine 4. Some people think the lighting looks "waxy" compared to the originals, but the textures are much sharper.
- Batman: Arkham VR (October 2016): Launched alongside the PSVR.
- Batman: The Enemy Within (August 2017): The second season of the Telltale series. It features one of the most unique versions of the Joker (John Doe) ever put in a game.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Remasters
There is a huge misconception that Return to Arkham is a "perfect" version. Honestly, that’s not true. While the PS4 remasters are the only way to play these games on modern hardware, some of the artistic "mood" was lost in the transition.
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Digital Foundry did a massive deep dive on this years ago. They pointed out that while the resolution is higher (1080p), the frame rate is sometimes less stable than the original PC versions. Also, some of the character models—like the Penguin or Hugo Strange—look a bit different because of the new lighting.
Is it a dealbreaker? No. But if you're a die-hard fan, you might notice that the "foggy, gothic" vibe of the original Asylum feels a little "cleaner" on the PS4.
The Telltale Side Quest: Is It Worth It?
If you're looking for batman games ps4 in order, don't skip the Telltale stuff just because they aren't action games. Most Batman stories stick to the same script: parents die, Batman fights Joker, Batman wins.
Telltale actually takes risks. They change the origins of certain characters in ways that will genuinely shock you. If you like the detective side of Batman more than the "punching people in the face" side, you should play these between your Arkham sessions. They are basically interactive movies where you decide if Batman should be a hero or a brutal vigilante.
Real Evidence of Connectivity
One thing that makes the Arkham series so good on PS4 is the environmental storytelling. If you play them in order, you'll see references to the next game everywhere.
For example, in Arkham Asylum, there is a secret room in Quincy Sharp’s office. If you blow up a specific wall (which doesn't show up on Detective Vision), you find the blueprints for Arkham City. Rocksteady was literally showing us the sequel before we even knew it was coming.
Similarly, in Arkham City, there are several hints about Scarecrow's return and the "protocol" that eventually leads into Arkham Knight. Playing them in order lets you catch these "I see what you did there" moments.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Playthrough
If you're ready to start your Gotham journey, here's the most efficient way to do it right now:
- Buy the Batman: Arkham Collection: This is usually on sale for dirt cheap on the PlayStation Store. It includes Return to Arkham (Asylum and City) and Arkham Knight with all the DLC. It’s the best value.
- Check PS Plus Premium: If you want the full story, search for Arkham Origins in the classics catalog. You'll have to stream it, so make sure your internet isn't trash.
- Start with Arkham Asylum: Even though Origins is first chronologically, Asylum is the best introduction to the world. It’s short, focused, and sets the tone perfectly.
- Don't skip the DLC: Specifically, play Harley Quinn’s Revenge after Arkham City and the Batgirl: A Matter of Family mission in Arkham Knight. They fill in massive plot holes.
The PS4 remains the best place to play these because of the sheer variety available. Whether you're doing the "Arkham-verse" or the Telltale narrative, just make sure you aren't jumping into Arkham Knight first. You'll miss out on years of character development that makes the ending actually mean something.
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Most players find that Arkham City is the one they return to the most, but Arkham Knight has the most fluid combat. Whichever way you choose to go, just remember to stay in the shadows.
Quick Reference Checklist
- Batman: Arkham Collection (Best starting point)
- Batman: The Telltale Series (Best for Bruce Wayne fans)
- LEGO Batman 3 (Best for kids or casual play)
- PSVR Headset (Required for Arkham VR)
The most important thing to remember is that while the order matters for the story, the quality of these games is so high that you'll probably end up playing all of them eventually anyway. Gotham is a big place; you might as well start at the beginning.