It seems like the Batman: Arkham games are far from over, according to recent rumors of a new installment being developed by Rocksteady, along with a mysterious job listing for an open-world, melee-based game. This suggests that the Arkham series is gaining traction, with more and more people talking about its imminent return.
But what’s the next step for this series? Will we ever see Bruce Wayne in the Caped Crusader cowl again? Or will it be another live-service looter-shooter, like Rocksteady’s fumbled attempt with Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League?
At Gfinity, we love speculating about upcoming gaming content, especially from our favorite titles. I’m eagerly anticipating the next Batman: Arkham game. So, here are the top 5 things I want to see in Rocksteady’s next Arkham title:
A New Caped Crusader
I admit, it’s going to be strange seeing a Batman game without the World’s Greatest Detective himself, but isn’t it about time the guy retires?
Part of my wishlist for the next Arkham game would be introducing another playable protagonist. It could be Batgirl, Robin, or Nightwing — heck, maybe even Red Hood. This is why many players adored Gotham Knights for shifting the focus away from Batman and shining the spotlight on Bruce’s other proteges. Unfortunately, Gotham Knights had too many issues that ruined the overall experience, from performance problems to a lukewarm attempt at co-op online multiplayer.
Rocksteady could do something great by adding a new protagonist while leaving Batman as a mentor figure. We’d still see Batman behind the scenes, but the new character would handle the action. That’s something I would love to play.
Better yet, they could use a dual-protagonist setup, similar to Devil May Cry 4, where Nero serves as the younger, more inexperienced hero. Then there’s Dante, the older, overpowered character.
A Unique Rogue’s Gallery
A Batman game is only as good as its villains, and what more could we ask for from a series that thrives on its rogue’s gallery? I’d love to see more Batman villains take the spotlight rather than the usual lineup we’ve had before. I’m tired of Joker hogging all the screen time — although, since he’s technically dead, that’s comforting. And, please, let’s not revisit collecting 500 Riddler trophies again.
The next Arkham game could introduce a fresh villain — someone underdeveloped in the Batman mythos but with the potential to wreak serious havoc on Batman and Gotham. Maybe Calendar Man could be the main antagonist, or the Mad Hatter could be cooking up his own brand of vengeance. For added fun, even the Condiment King could use some love!
No More Live-Service Slop
Here we go again. With Suicide Squad’s failure, it’s safe to assume that Rocksteady has learned its lesson and will avoid integrating live-service features into its beloved franchises. Nobody asked for a looter-shooter version of the Suicide Squad. As great as the game’s visuals and combat were, it couldn’t carry the weight of its plummeting player base and the growing disinterest of many players.
If the next Arkham game returns to a pure single-player experience, it could be hugely successful because it’s exactly what Batman Arkham fans want.
Enhanced Detective Work
I’ve always enjoyed the detective work in the Batman: Arkham games, despite how unrealistic it sometimes is. I love reconstructing crime scenes, finding blood stains on the floor, or tracking Killer Croc’s saliva.
I’d love to be able to create my own investigation board and gather enough clues to track down one of Batman’s rogue gallery members.
The next game has the potential to amp things up with a variety of gimmick features from current-gen consoles. Maybe haptic feedback for PlayStation controllers, touch controls, or something even more immersive that only Rocksteady knows. With faster load times thanks to SSDs, we could even recreate one massive crime scene in real time.
Improved Predator & Melee Combat
Combat makes the Batman Arkham games so enjoyable. There’s just something satisfying in breaking a goon’s bones with a chest smash or cracking skulls with a well-thrown Batarang. With gaming technology improving over the years, Rocksteady will likely enhance the melee combat for the next Arkham title. But how?
Maybe we’ll see the return of the "Dual-takedown" mechanic from Arkham Knight, or better yet, two playable characters you can swap in real-time during Predator mode, the Arkham game’s version of a stealth mission.
Batman has plenty of tools to shake up the battlefield, and I’m sure he won’t stop serving justice with just his Batarang.
While there’s more to look forward to in the next Arkham game, these are the realistic expectations I think Rocksteady should aim for. It might sound demanding, but I’ve been an Arkham fan for a long time, and I would love to see the franchise succeed again — I even enjoyed Origins despite its shortcomings.
It’s only a matter of time before we finally get the next Arkham title reveal, and I can’t wait for that moment. And besides, it’s high time r/BatmanArkham gets something new to talk about — apart from their usual insanity.