Gotham Knights is an original IP with distinct RPG features, but there are a few seminal Batman games that players should be introduced to or revisit in the meantime. Gotham Knights would likely not exist if it were not for the Batman games that came before it, particularly the Batman games that feature Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, and Red Hood as playable characters.

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Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu (2003)

One cannot discuss the Bat Family’s importance in games without putting Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu on its proper pedestal. Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu is a co-op beat-’em-up adapted from The New Batman Adventures’ animated series, featuring Batman, Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl as playable characters. Each character is playable from the beginning, meaning that players can choose the dynamic duos they want, or a lone character if in single-player. Batman and Nightwing are comparable as a larger pair while Robin and Batgirl are comparable as a smaller pair, which has an effect on attacks, animations, and frame data.

For example, Batgirl’s throw from a grab sweeps enemies in a tight AoE, but is a longer animation that could consume precious seconds. This is important to consider, since each level is on a timer that will fail the player once expired. Regardless of which character players pick, Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu is a fantastic beat-’em-up with the Bat Family and a wonderful celebration of the DC Animated Universe.

Batman: Arkham City (2011)

Rocksteady’s Arkhamverse is mainly celebrated for its depiction of Batman and his rogues’ gallery of supervillains, but while Batman is inarguably the Arkhamverse tetralogy’s focal point, a couple of its installments also wonderfully portray the Bat Family. For example, Batman: Arkham City introduces a grittier Boy Wonder in Tim Drake’s Robin. This Robin is perpetually hooded, dons armor similar to Batman’s own suit, and wields unique gadgets and a retractable bo staff.

Robin appears briefly as an NPC in Batman: Arkham City’s main narrative, but is featured as a playable character in the Harley Quinn’s Revenge DLC. Further, Robin is playable in Batman: Arkham City’s challenge modes, dubbed Riddler’s Revenge. Interestingly, it is in these Riddler’s Revenge challenge packs that Nightwing is also playable. Nightwing has no voice lines, but does have his own animations and Escrima stick abilities, making him a well-rounded addition to Batman: Arkham City’s playable characters.

Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)

Batman: Arkham Knight concludes Rocksteady’s Batman trilogy, and as such it throws in the kitchen sink in terms of content. Batman: Arkham Knight’s AR challenges present an abundance of comprehensive combat and predator encounters for players to complete, and in them every playable character is available. This includes Batman, Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, Catwoman, Azrael, Harley Quinn, and Red Hood—following the Arkham Knight’s reveal as Jason Todd. Perhaps the most exciting among these additions are Batgirl and Red Hood, who are exclusively playable in this game.

Each Bat Family character also has an individual Arkham Episode story mission, with Batgirl’s being the most substantial as a prequel tale to Batman: Arkham Asylum. Being able to play as each of Gotham Knights’ playable characters is fantastic, and playing as them Batman: Arkham Knight may be a great way to get excited for WB Games Montreal’s new DC IP.

Gotham Knights is scheduled to release on October 21, 2022, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

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