Batman: Arkham Origins

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 32,418 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Batman: Arkham Origins Game Cover
Feels like a long DLC at times but fun enough to be The Batman.
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In Batman: Arkham Origins, play as a young Bruce Wayne before he becomes Gotham's Dark Knight. The game is set in a gritty, open-world Gotham City, where you must take down dangerous thugs and villains like Black Mask and the Joker. Use an array of Batman's gadgets and stealth abilities to uncover plots and bring order to the city. This action-adventure game features thrilling combat and powerful storytelling.

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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 32,418 reviews
story4,985 positive mentions
stability1,892 negative mentions
  • story12,056 mentions

    The story of "Batman: Arkham Origins" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its exploration of a younger, more aggressive Batman during his early years as a vigilante. While some critiques focus on the predictability of the plot and the overuse of the Joker as a central antagonist, the game is praised for its engaging narrative, character development, and emotional moments, particularly in the interactions between Batman and Alfred. Despite some bugs and pacing issues, the story is considered a compelling addition to the Arkham series, with memorable boss fights and a rich atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.

    • “Although a lot of people hate on this game, I loved the whole Batman Begins story. It was very cool to get a backstory and more lore to the series!”
    • “The story is solid - short, but solid.”
    • “The story provides a deep exploration with well-developed characters and an engaging plot.”
    • “The main story feels padded out; the usual Riddler stuff is a few hours by itself, and after beating the main story, there's an extra like 90 minutes of one of the most pointless post-story missions I've ever seen. I mean seriously, I was down to 10 Blackgate prisoners left to capture, beating my head against the wall because I just wanted to be done with it.”
    • “The story is solid - short, but solid. Thankfully the gameplay still holds up (a bit easier, to be honest, thanks to a certain gadget or two) and the story is my personal favorite of all the Arkham games, along with the pretty fun boss fights.”
    • “The story is a cluttered mess where all the interesting scenes happen off-screen and what we get are mostly repeats of what happened in Arkham City.”
  • gameplay4,224 mentions

    The gameplay in "Batman: Arkham Origins" is largely similar to its predecessors, particularly "Arkham City," featuring the same fluid combat and stealth mechanics, but with some new gadgets like the shock gloves and remote claw. While many players appreciate the familiar gameplay and engaging boss fights, others criticize the lack of innovation, repetitive mechanics, and various bugs that can disrupt the experience. Overall, it offers a solid but unremarkable gameplay experience that fans of the series may enjoy, albeit with some frustrations.

    • “Thankfully the gameplay still holds up (a bit easier tbh thanks to a certain gadget or two) and the story is my personal favorite of all the arkham games, along with the pretty fun boss fights.”
    • “The gameplay is engaging, offering a variety of challenges and activities.”
    • “The gameplay is identical to the arkham series games so it's very easy to pick up and play.”
    • “It feels so meh, the mechanics are the same, the Riddler stuff so frustrating against previous games, even the story doesn't keep you wanting to play more.”
    • “The gameplay is, as mentioned, very city-esque.”
    • “The gameplay is basically arkham city again, but slightly better with the new gadgets added to the game, and the side missions are less torturous than city.”
  • graphics2,207 mentions

    The graphics in "Batman: Arkham Origins" have received mixed reviews, with many praising the game's visual fidelity and atmospheric design, particularly in 4K resolution. While some players appreciate the detailed environments and character models, others note that the graphics can feel dated compared to its predecessors, with occasional glitches and inconsistencies in cutscenes. Overall, the game is considered visually appealing for its time, though it may not reach the same heights as "Arkham City" or "Arkham Knight."

    • “Batman fans must play this game; the dark nuances of Gotham City, graphics, and combat gameplay are neatly arranged in this game.”
    • “This time is not an exception either; the graphics with the PC port of this game look really good, and nothing is really buggy; you can just enjoy the almost decade-old story with 4K graphics.”
    • “The graphics, storyline—everything is perfect.”
    • “The game has other issues too, like the gameplay and graphics being worse than Arkham City, a game released two years prior.”
    • “One major flaw, I found that the cutscenes were in something like 480p, looking fuzzy and atrocious compared to the rest of the game's graphics, which were understandably dated, but still quite serviceable.”
    • “The graphics are sub-par and the map is very similar to Arkham City, the combat feels a little off with some of the gadgets missing and the introduction of several difficult to counter enemy types can sometimes be overbearing in combat.”
  • stability1,928 mentions

    The stability of "Batman: Arkham Origins" has been a significant point of contention among players, with many citing a plethora of bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some players report minor issues that do not severely impact gameplay, others have encountered game-breaking glitches, frequent crashes, and frustrating technical problems that require restarts. Overall, the game is considered to be much more unstable compared to its predecessors, leading to a mixed reception regarding its stability.

    • “So look, generally this Batman game is fine (and runs great on Steam Deck by the way!).”
    • “I had a bug-free experience playing through both Arkham City and Arkham Knight.”
    • “Even from 2013, still runs great!”
    • “It is absolutely filled to the brim with bugs and glitches.”
    • “The only thing that's annoying to me in this game is the bugs and the glitches.”
    • “This game is a buggy, lazy, cynical cash grab made with none of the love and care of either of the two earlier games in the series.”
  • optimization454 mentions

    The optimization of "Batman: Arkham Origins" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, including frequent stuttering, bugs, and crashes, particularly on PC. While some users report that the game runs well on high-end systems, others experience severe frame drops and unresponsive controls, indicating that the game was poorly optimized at launch and still suffers from various technical shortcomings. Despite these issues, some players have found workarounds and mods that improve performance, suggesting that the experience can vary widely depending on hardware and settings.

    • “The original release of Arkham Origins was plagued by performance issues; however, most shortcomings in this department seem to have been fixed by now, so anyone planning on playing the game shouldn't worry too much about the performance.”
    • “This is a quality game well-optimized for PC.”
    • “A very well-optimized game, which still has awesome graphics.”
    • “The dark souls 2 of the Arkham games, Origins does some things really well, but wowieee is it by far one of the most unoptimized and buggiest games I ever played.”
    • “The game is barely optimized for PC.”
    • “Glitches, bugs, and performance problems plague nearly every aspect of the game, from stuttering framerates to game-breaking crashes.”
  • music434 mentions

    The music in "Batman: Arkham Origins" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric orchestral score, particularly during the Christmas setting, which enhances the game's mood and emotional impact. Composed by Christopher Drake, the soundtrack is noted for its haunting quality and integration of traditional Christmas themes, although some players found it less memorable compared to previous entries in the series. Overall, while the music is often highlighted as a strong point, opinions vary on its uniqueness and lasting impression.

    • “The orchestral score, composed by Christopher Drake, delivers a haunting and powerful soundtrack that heightens the emotional impact of key story beats and intense action sequences.”
    • “The soundtrack of Arkham Origins complements the atmospheric gameplay, enhancing the mood and tension of each moment.”
    • “This game is brutally underrated; it takes everything you love about City and expands on it, adding its own things as well, and in my opinion has the best soundtrack out of all the Batman Arkham games.”
    • “Movement, especially with the gliding mechanics, bugs out more often than not, which, added to the boring soundtrack and issues with the grapple system in this game, makes traversal quite a chore.”
    • “The first thing you hear in this game is a great rendition of 'Carol of the Bells', too bad that's about it for the soundtrack, and I hope you like that song, because you'll hear it throughout the game in pianissimo, or very softly.”
    • “The music, composed by Christopher Drake, is reminiscent of Zimmer's soundtrack for the Nolan films, and is in a permanent state of tension and depressiveness.”
  • atmosphere350 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Batman: Arkham Origins" is widely praised for its dark, gritty depiction of Gotham City, particularly enhanced by the unique Christmas setting and snowy environment. While some players feel it lacks the immersive quality of earlier titles in the series, many appreciate the detailed visuals, atmospheric soundtrack, and the overall mood that captures the essence of being Batman. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay and story, the game's atmosphere remains a standout feature, making it a compelling experience for fans of the franchise.

    • “The story is gripping, the combat is fluid, and the atmosphere perfectly captures Gotham's dark, gritty vibe.”
    • “From the moment I stepped into Gotham City, I was engulfed in its dark, atmospheric ambiance.”
    • “The atmosphere of this game... Gotham City on Christmas Eve.”
    • “[i]Origins[/i] is a recycle of elements from the previous games with little innovation, an absence of attention to detail and atmosphere, an insultingly broken skill progression tree, and a disjointed, disappointing story that can’t be bothered to write beyond the scope of an eighth grader’s fanfic.”
    • “The atmosphere is more drab throughout as it takes place during a snow storm.”
    • “The only real downside is the lack of the magical atmosphere of Arkham Asylum.”
  • grinding341 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. Traversal across the map, particularly the large bridge, is often described as monotonous, while side quests and challenges, especially those involving the Riddler, are seen as time-consuming and lacking in engagement. Overall, players suggest that the game requires a significant investment of time and effort, often feeling like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding!”
    • “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
    • “One long, tedious grind.”
    • “The setting is really unique, but I can't excuse the terrible UI along with the gating of skills and gadget upgrades behind arbitrary and frankly tedious AR challenges.”
    • “You'll complete an area only to be rewarded with backtracking; every door is locked behind a tedious puzzle or some other pointless extra step to artificially increase playtime.”
    • “The riddler's 100% completion section is extremely tedious, and the game is riddled with a surprising amount of bugs for a AAA game.”
  • humor194 mentions

    The humor in "Batman: Arkham Origins" is often highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying the game's quirky glitches and ragdoll physics that add a comedic element to combat and exploration. While some bugs can be immersion-breaking, many find them amusing, contributing to a lighthearted tone that balances the darker themes of the narrative. Overall, the game is seen as entertaining, with moments of humor stemming from character interactions and unexpected gameplay scenarios.

    • “Last but not least, the game has a fun sense of humor that keeps things from getting too dark and serious.”
    • “Honestly, from my experience it was functionally less buggy than Arkham Knight, and most of the spaghetti code just resulted in janky and funny ragdolls, which just had a silly charm to it more than anything.”
    • “The story in Origins has always been solid, and the use of crime scene reconstruction is a fun, hilariously unrealistic gimmick, that I wish was somehow able to have been randomized and implemented in more 'ambient crime' encounters.”
  • character development150 mentions

    Character development in "Batman: Arkham Origins" receives mixed reviews, with many praising the depth given to Bruce Wayne's character as he learns to accept help from others, particularly in his relationships with Alfred and various villains like Bane. While some players appreciate the emotional weight and narrative arcs, others criticize the pacing and execution, feeling that certain conflicts are resolved too quickly or lack sufficient depth. Overall, the game is noted for its strong character designs and engaging storytelling, though opinions vary on the effectiveness of its character development compared to other entries in the Arkham series.

    • “There's a lot of excellent character development that goes on with Bruce over the course of Origins' story that I hope continues in some degree into Arkham Shadows where he will reprise the role of Batman.”
    • “Batman’s character development in this game is amazing - at first never wanting help from anyone, but across the course of the story, he finds out that he needs people and help from his friends.”
    • “The game seamlessly weaves together moments of heart-pounding action with poignant character development, leaving you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.”
    • “There is little in the way of character development; conflicts are resolved too quickly, and Batman feels just as skilled and confident here in his early career with little struggle.”
    • “My only gripe with the story is that, even though they stuck true to many of Batman's comic book stories, it ultimately fell flat because I feel like not enough time was put into character development for us to appreciate the big moments in the game.”
    • “One of the biggest flaws in this game is character development.”
  • replayability140 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally praised, with many players highlighting the abundance of extra modes, side missions, and challenge maps that enhance the experience beyond the main storyline. However, some reviewers note limitations, such as the lack of difficulty adjustments and the need to reacquire gadgets in new game plus, which can detract from the overall replay value. Overall, while many find it highly replayable, opinions vary, with some feeling it lacks sufficient incentives for multiple playthroughs.

    • “The replay value is amazing after the main mission.”
    • “Great storyline and immense replayability.”
    • “With so much content, the replayability and longevity of life that this game has is tremendous.”
    • “However, the game also lacks replayability, as there is no way to change the difficulty or increase the challenge.”
    • “Very abrupt ending, I was not appreciative of that, and I do not see the replayability factors that would encourage me to play again or for any remaining awards.”
    • “Great gameplay but very short and no replay value.”
  • emotional136 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its deep character development and impactful storytelling, particularly highlighting the relationships between Batman and key figures like Alfred and Commissioner Gordon. Some players found the narrative to be genuinely heartwarming and immersive, evoking strong feelings during pivotal moments, while others criticized it for being convoluted or lacking emotional depth. Overall, the game is noted for its ability to make players feel like they are truly embodying Batman, despite some inconsistencies in the story's execution.

    • “My personal favorite game in the franchise, it contains a story with genuine emotional stakes and amazing characterization for everyone involved on top of fun gameplay that innovates off of city.”
    • “The voice acting, led by Roger Craig Smith as Batman, delivers a convincing and emotionally charged performance, bringing the characters to life with depth and authenticity.”
    • “The orchestral score, composed by Christopher Drake, delivers a haunting and powerful soundtrack that heightens the emotional impact of key story beats and intense action sequences.”
    • “I just can't recommend a game that relies on story, as all RPGs do, but has a bunch of villains mashed together into a very confusing and boring storyline.”
    • “I beat the first boss hoping it would get better but I just couldn't stomach more boring story and repetitive gameplay.”
    • “Pretty boring story which I didn't find compelling.”
  • monetization72 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers expressing disappointment over its reliance on microtransactions and downloadable content (DLC) rather than delivering a polished and engaging experience. Players feel that the game lacks the depth and quality of its predecessors, often describing it as a rushed product designed to capitalize on the success of earlier titles without genuine care for gameplay or player satisfaction. Overall, the sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, urging potential players to avoid the game despite any sales or promotions.

    • “The presence of microtransactions to gain goodies is entirely unnecessary.”
    • “This uninspired prequel to the Arkham series fails to capture the magic of its predecessors and instead delivers a lackluster experience that feels like a cheap cash grab.”
    • “In short, this game is a cash grab with more negatives than positives, so stay away even if it is on sale.”
    • “This game is a buggy, lazy, cynical cash grab made with none of the love and care of either of the two earlier games in the series.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

Buy Batman: Arkham Origins

Play time

20hMedian play time
38hAverage play time
12hMain story
40hCompletionist
10-38hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 110 analyzed playthroughs

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