Should You Play Arkham Asylum or Arkham City First?
As an avid gamer and content creator focused on the Batman Arkham series, the question I get asked most often by newcomers is: "Should I start with Arkham Asylum or jump right into Arkham City?" My advice is always the same – begin your Dark Knight journey in Arkham Asylum. Moving chronologically through the asylum‘s twisting halls first will make your eventual arrival in Arkham City far more impactful and rewarding.
Arkham Asylum – The Dark Knight Begins
Release Year: 2009
Developer: Rocksteady Studios
As the inaugural title in the critically-acclaimed franchise that redefined superhero games, Batman: Arkham Asylum lays vital groundwork. This is where you first grapple with the FreeFlow combat system, engage in stealthy Predator takedowns, and truly feel the weight of the cape and cowl. The setting itself contributes hugely to the oppressive atmosphere; the asylum‘s dimly-lit corridors filled with scribbled lunatic ramblings will have you on edge.
Speaking of lunatics, Rocksteady‘s take on Batman‘s iconic Rogue‘s Gallery also shines here. The dynamic between Bats and a particularly diabolical Joker will have you invested in the unfolding mystery from the onset. This is Batman/Joker as their legendary rivalry was meant to be depicted.
Arkham Asylum Review Scores
IGN: 9.3/10
GameSpot: 8.5/10
Metacritic: 91%Estimated Playtime to…
- Main Story Completion: ~12 hours
- Full Game Completion: ~25 hours
Smooth Transition into Arkham City
Arkham City builds directly off the closing events of the asylum-set original. Without spoiling pivotal details, Gotham finds itself in turmoil after revelations that led to the facility‘s shutdown. This leads directly into Hugo Strange enacting the creation of Arkham City – an expansive chunk of slums walled off to house Gotham‘s entire criminal population.
Picking up 18 months after the asylum incident, this 2011 sequel kicks the action out into an open world map five times bigger than before. The scope expands to deliver a deeper slice of Gotham‘s elite rogues gallery. Moving from Asylum into this complex situation would undoubtedly confuse anyone lacking the full context of what sparked Strange‘s extreme initiative.
Starting in Arkham City also spoils critical character surprises and plot advancements best uncovered yourself. Trust me, unpacking the story in order take full advantage of Rocksteady‘s masterfully woven narrative techniques.
Refined Gameplay and Technology
While Asylum‘s design holds up incredibly well over a decade later, City does represent serious gameplay innovation. The developers clearly iterated on fan feedback and built upon the rock-solid foundation of the original. With Bat-gadgets, world density, visual fidelity and options for fluid combat/traversal enhancing this stellar sequel, it‘s best enjoyed as the robust follow-up it was designed to be after already mastering Asylum.
Going back to face cumbersome controls or visual downgrades after experiencing Arkham City‘s impressive upgrades could negatively impact your enjoyment. I advise all fans, both new and old, to restrain themselves and be patient – the payoff Arkham City delivers just hits different post-asylum.
Arkham City Review Highlights
IGN: 10/10
GameSpot: 9.5/10
Metacritic: 96%Estimated Playtime
- Main Story: ~15 hours
- Full Completion: ~34 hours
Expert Opinions Support Starting With Asylum
Beyond my own experience, Batman experts across enthusiast websites and gaming publications widely recommend playing Arkham Asylum first before Arkham City:
"Arkham City follows the closing events of the first game directly, so I definitely recommend playing Asylum first for full impact." – HowLongToBeat
"You‘ll be doing yourself a huge favor by playing Asylum first and enjoying the technical advancements City then provides." – GameRevolution
"Don‘t be tempted to skip Asylum! The atmosphere and slower pace makes City‘s scope more special." – Steam Community forums
Verdict: Play Arkham Asylum Before Arkham City
In short, Arkham Asylum is where I insist every burgeoning Batman gamer begins their odyssey through Rocksteady‘s gorgeously dark vision of the Dark Knight and his iconic rogues gallery. The focused setting allows gameplay concepts and core characters that define the ensuing Arkham trilogy to properly solidify.
Then, and only then, the sprawling adventure of gliding between Arkham City‘s skyscrapers will prove justly gratifying both narratively and mechanically.
Start within the cold walls of Arkham Asylum‘s twisting cell blocks to experience why this exceptional series spins Batman‘s stealth and detective work into gaming gold. Just try not to go mad yourself navigating the Rogue‘s Gallery of psychos contained inside – because the night has only just begun!
Let me know if have any other Arkham questions – I‘m always happy to help fellow gamers appreciate my favorite comic book franchise properly adapted to virtual awesomeness!
