{
  "id": 16521776,
  "title": "15 Years Later, Batman: Arkham City Remains Batman's Last Gaming Masterpiece",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/15-years-later-batman-arkham-city-remains-batmans-last-gaming",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-25T20:00:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Polygon",
    "slug": "polygon",
    "url": "https://www.polygon.com/batman-arkham-city-retrospective-best-superhero-video-game/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2009, Batman: Arkham Asylum arrived during a period when superhero video games were often simple movie tie-ins. However, this title was an exception, created by Batman writer Paul Dini and developed by Rocksteady. The game gained widespread acclaim and laid the groundwork for its 2011 sequel. Now, 15 years later, Arkham City is still celebrated as one of the best games, and its impact can be seen in many superhero games that followed. Unlike its predecessor, Arkham City allows Batman to roam freely throughout Gotham, engaging in brutal combat with criminals. The game introduced random enemy encounters, optional boss battles, and a plethora of collectibles known as Riddler trophies. Rocksteady essentially set a standard for future superhero games, with titles like Insomniac’s Spider-Man series and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor borrowing heavily from Arkham City’s design. Its combat system, which emphasizes sliding around the battlefield and breaking elbows, has influenced action games of all kinds. Even though Arkham City established a high bar for superhero games, it’s surprising that another Batman title hasn’t topped it since. Games like 2013’s Arkham Origins served as competent entries but failed to match the essence of Arkham City. The final Batman game, Batman: Arkham Knight, had a weak antagonist and overused the Batmobile, which didn’t align with Batman’s no-gun, no-kill policy. Its successor, Gotham Knights, from the studio behind Arkham Origins, was met with disappointment. Rocksteady’s most recent endeavor, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, also failed to impress. Despite these misses, Arkham City remains the benchmark for Batman games, with its adult-oriented, gritty, and dark tone setting it apart. Over 12 million copies sold, it’s surprising that Rocksteady and publisher Warner Bros. largely abandoned the series after Arkham Knight. However, the idea of Rocksteady returning to Batman, perhaps focusing on Terry McGinnis’ Batman Beyond, still excites fans. For now, fans can always revisit Arkham City and relish its unmatched excellence.",
  "summary": "Batman: Arkham City set a new highwater mark for superhero games and has influenced their design and mechanics in the 15 years since its release.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}