GameTimeline

Release & story order

Batman: Arkham timeline

Batman: Arkham from Rocksteady's 2009 Asylum through Arkham Knight, WB Montreal's Origins, Quest VR Shadow (2024), and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League—US release dates, in-universe chronology, and FAQ for Blackgate, VR, and where newcomers should start.

Updated August 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When Rocksteady, WB Montreal, and partners shipped each main chapter—Asylum (2009) through Suicide Squad and Arkham Shadow (2024). Mobile fighters, Underworld, and the Assault on Arkham film are optional.

  • Newcomers → Batman: Arkham Asylum then City then Knight—Rocksteady trilogy first; add Origins before Asylum only if you want full lore
  • Chronology purists → Story tab: Origins → Shadow → Asylum → City → Knight → Suicide Squad
  • Skip Arkham VR and mobile spin-offs unless you want every edition
  • Arkham Shadow needs Meta Quest 3/3S—it is not on PlayStation or Xbox
Story order tips

One Arkhamverse continuity on this page: Origins (early Batman) → Arkham Shadow → Asylum → City → Knight → Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Release order starts with Asylum because Origins shipped later as a prequel.

  • Core arc: Origins → Shadow → Asylum → City → Knight
  • Suicide Squad (2024) continues the same universe after Knight's ending—optional but official epilogue entry
  • Origins Blackgate fits between Origins and Asylum—optional, not a required story-order step here
  • Play Asylum before Origins on release order to avoid prequel spoilers

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Batman: Arkham Asylum

    Batman: Arkham Asylum

    PCPS3Xbox 360Action-adventureMainlineRocksteady

    Batman: Arkham Asylum is Rocksteady's 2009 breakout—Joker seizes the island with freeflow combat and predator rooms. Release tab year here is 2009.

    Overview
    Detective Mode and combo freeflow defined a decade of superhero action games.
    In-game setting
    Release-order start; Story order after Origins and Shadow. Conroy/Hamill voice landmark.
    Should you play it?
    Best newcomer Release start. Tone neighbors: Spider-Man, inFamous. Pair Batman: Arkham Asylum with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    Release date
    US August 25, 2009; Return to Arkham remasters later. Platforms called out for this beat: PC, PS3, Xbox 360.
  2. Batman: Arkham City

    Batman: Arkham City

    PCPS3Xbox 360Wii UAction-adventureMainlineRocksteady

    Batman: Arkham City opens the prison-city hub—Hugo Strange, Protocol 10, and a denser rogue's gallery. Release tab year here is 2011.

    Overview
    Expanded open district, Catwoman chapters, and bigger traversal toys. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Batman: Arkham City established.
    In-game setting
    Direct Asylum sequel in both orders. Harley Quinn's Revenge DLC is optional.
    Should you play it?
    Play immediately after Asylum on Release; same on Story after Asylum. Pair Batman: Arkham City with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    Release date
    US October 18, 2011 (plus Wii U later). Platforms called out for this beat: PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U.
  3. Batman: Arkham Origins

    Batman: Arkham Origins

    PCPS3Xbox 360Wii UAction-adventureMainlinePrequel

    Batman: Arkham Origins is WB Montreal's Christmas Eve prequel—eight assassins and a nascent Joker rivalry. Release tab year here is 2013.

    Overview
    Expanded Gotham, new voice cast, and launch multiplayer (now secondary). Sequel debates still measure new games against what Batman: Arkham Origins established.
    In-game setting
    Story-order chapter one; ships third on Release after City.
    Should you play it?
    Start Story here. On Release, play after City unless you want chronology early. Pair Batman: Arkham Origins with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    Release date
    US October 25, 2013. Platforms called out for this beat: PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U.
  4. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate
    Optional

    Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate

    3DSPS VitaPS3Xbox 360PCAction-adventureHandheldOptional

    Arkham Origins Blackgate is a 2.5D handheld companion—Blackgate riot ~months after Origins. Release tab year here is 2013.

    Overview
    Metroidvania layout on 3DS/Vita with later console ports. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate established.
    In-game setting
    FAQ side chapter—not a main story-order title on this page.
    Should you play it?
    Optional completionist; skip on a main Arkhamverse path. Pair Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    Release date
    US October 25, 2013 alongside console Origins. Platforms called out for this beat: 3DS, PS Vita, PS3, Xbox 360, PC.
  5. Batman: Arkham Knight

    Batman: Arkham Knight

    PCPS4Xbox OneAction-adventureMainlineRocksteady

    Batman: Arkham Knight unites Scarecrow's villains across full Gotham—Batmobile set pieces and Rocksteady's Batman finale. Release tab year here is 2015.

    Overview
    Drivable tank combat plus largest Arkham open world. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Batman: Arkham Knight established.
    In-game setting
    Story capstone before Suicide Squad epilogue—needs City spoilers.
    Should you play it?
    Finish the Batman-led arc here before the Squad epilogue. Pair Batman: Arkham Knight with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    Release date
    US June 23, 2015; PC launch patches followed rocky shipping. Platforms called out for this beat: PC, PS4, Xbox One.
  6. Batman: Arkham VR
    Optional

    Batman: Arkham VR

    PSVRPC VRVROptionalSpin-off

    Batman: Arkham VR is a short PSVR/PC VR tone piece—not a full campaign sequel. Release tab year here is 2016.

    Overview
    First-person Batman presence in Arkhamverse aesthetics. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Batman: Arkham VR established.
    In-game setting
    Optional; Story optional—skip without VR hardware. Continuity with Batman: Arkham VR is easiest if you play neighboring required titles first.
    Should you play it?
    Skip unless you own VR and want the vignette. Pair Batman: Arkham VR with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    Release date
    US PlayStation VR October 11, 2016. Platforms called out for this beat: PSVR, PC VR.
  7. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

    Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

    PCPS5Xbox Series X|SAction-adventureMainlineEpilogue

    Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is Rocksteady's co-op shooter epilogue—Metropolis after Knight's fallout. Release tab year here is 2024.

    Overview
    Live-service hero shooter inside Arkhamverse continuity (Brainiac invasion).
    In-game setting
    Officially post-Arkham Knight. Optional if you stop at Batman's arc.
    Should you play it?
    Story-order epilogue only—skip for Batman-only playthroughs. Pair Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    Release date
    US February 2, 2024 (PC/PS5/Xbox Series). Platforms called out for this beat: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S.
  8. Batman: Arkham Shadow

    Batman: Arkham Shadow

    Meta Quest 3Quest 3SVRMainlinePrequel-era

    Batman: Arkham Shadow (Quest) continues six months after Origins—Rat King and Batman's turn toward hope. Release tab year here is 2024.

    Overview
    Camouflaj VR campaign with Roger Craig Smith returning as Batman. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Batman: Arkham Shadow established.
    In-game setting
    Story order between Origins and Asylum. Requires Quest headset to play.
    Should you play it?
    Lore-important VR chapter; watch a recap if you lack Quest hardware. Pair Batman: Arkham Shadow with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    Release date
    US Meta Quest October 22, 2024. Platforms called out for this beat: Meta Quest 3, Quest 3S.

FAQ

Release vs story order, Origins vs Asylum, Arkham Shadow placement, spin-offs, and post-Knight Suicide Squad.

Release order

Release order is when each game launched in the US (2009–2024)—Asylum first, Origins third, Shadow and Suicide Squad last. Story order follows in-fiction chronology: Origins → Arkham Shadow → Asylum → City → Knight → Suicide Squad. Use Release to see how the franchise evolved; use Story for Batman's timeline.

Most players → Arkham Asylum → City → Knight (release order Rocksteady trilogy). Full lore → Story tab from Origins, then Shadow if you have Quest VR, then the trilogy, then optional Suicide Squad. Avoid starting with Origins on release order if you want Asylum's surprises fresh.

Story & canon

On story order, yes—Origins depicts a younger Batman years before Asylum. On release order, Asylum shipped first and Origins can spoil later twists if played early. Gameplay-wise Asylum is tighter; lore-wise Origins comes first. Shadow (2024 VR) sits between Origins and Asylum in fiction.

Batman: Arkham Shadow (2024) is a VR sequel to Origins set six months later—Story order before Asylum. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2024) is Rocksteady's post-Knight epilogue in Metropolis—Story order last on this page. Both are optional if you lack Quest VR or do not want a live-service shooter.

Collections & DLC

Optional & spin-offs

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.