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 June 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 FAQ-only.

  • 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 SKU
  • 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 row
  • Origins Blackgate fits between Origins and Asylum—FAQ only, not a Story row 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

    Rocksteady's breakout—Joker seizes Arkham Island.

    Overview
    Freeflow combat, predator rooms, and detective mode defined superhero games for a decade.
    In-game setting
    Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill as Batman and Joker—start of the Arkhamverse voice cast.
    Should you play it?
    Best release-order entry point—Story order comes after Origins and Shadow.
    Release date
    US launch August 25, 2009. Return to Arkham remasters on PS4/Xbox One.
  2. Batman: Arkham City

    Batman: Arkham City

    PCPS3Xbox 360Wii UAction-adventureMainlineRocksteady

    Open-air Arkham City prison—Hugo Strange and Protocol 10.

    Overview
    Expanded open hub, Catwoman chapters, and a larger rogue's gallery.
    In-game setting
    Direct sequel to Asylum—Story order continues immediately.
    Should you play it?
    Play after Asylum on release order; after Asylum on Story order too.
    Release date
    US launch October 18, 2011.
  3. Batman: Arkham Origins

    Batman: Arkham Origins

    PCPS3Xbox 360Wii UAction-adventureMainlinePrequel

    Christmas Eve young Batman—eight assassins and a nascent Joker bond.

    Overview
    WB Montreal prequel—expanded Gotham, new voice cast, multiplayer mode at launch.
    In-game setting
    Story year before Asylum—ships third in release order.
    Should you play it?
    Story order first chapter; release order after City unless you want chronology spoilers early.
    Release date
    US launch October 25, 2013.
  4. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate
    Optional

    Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate

    3DSPS VitaPS3Xbox 360PCAction-adventureHandheldOptional

    2.5D portable side story—Blackgate prison riot.

    Overview
    Handheld companion to Origins—Metroidvania layout on 3DS/Vita.
    In-game setting
    Story placement ~3 months after Origins—FAQ, not a main Story row.
    Should you play it?
    Optional for completionists—skip on Story order unless you want every chapter.
    Release date
    US launch October 25, 2013 alongside console Origins.
  5. Batman: Arkham Knight

    Batman: Arkham Knight

    PCPS4Xbox OneAction-adventureMainlineRocksteady

    Scarecrow unites Gotham's villains—Batmobile and the Arkham Knight.

    Overview
    Full Gotham open world, drivable Batmobile, and Rocksteady's trilogy finale.
    In-game setting
    Story capstone before Suicide Squad epilogue—requires City spoilers.
    Should you play it?
    Finish Rocksteady arc here before Suicide Squad on Story order.
    Release date
    US launch June 23, 2015. PC port issues at launch; patches followed.
  6. Batman: Arkham VR
    Optional

    Batman: Arkham VR

    PSVRPC VRVROptionalSpin-off

    Short PSVR experience—Arkhamverse tone piece between Knight and later entries.

    Overview
    First-person Batman VR—not a full campaign sequel.
    In-game setting
    Set in the Arkhamverse but optional for plot—FAQ only on Story order.
    Should you play it?
    Skip unless you own PSVR/PC VR hardware.
    Release date
    US PlayStation VR launch October 11, 2016.
  7. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

    Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

    PCPS5Xbox Series X|SAction-adventureMainlineEpilogue

    Rocksteady live-service shooter—Metropolis after Knight's fallout.

    Overview
    Co-op hero-shooter in the Arkhamverse—Brainiac vs the Squad.
    In-game setting
    Officially set after Arkham Knight in the same continuity.
    Should you play it?
    Story order epilogue—optional if you only want the Batman-led games.
    Release date
    US launch February 2, 2024.
  8. Batman: Arkham Shadow

    Batman: Arkham Shadow

    Meta Quest 3Quest 3SVRMainlinePrequel-era

    Quest VR sequel to Origins—Rat King and Batman's turn toward hope.

    Overview
    Camouflaj VR campaign—Roger Craig Smith returns as Batman.
    In-game setting
    Six months after Origins in fiction—Story order before Asylum.
    Should you play it?
    Requires Quest headset—Story row for lore; skip hardware if VR-only.
    Release date
    US Meta Quest launch October 22, 2024.

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.