This game will forever have a place in my heart 🩵

Arkham Origins is the often-overlooked middle child of the Arkham series—the one who shows up late to the party, wearing a familiar outfit, and insists, "No, really, I’m cool too!" And you know what? It kind of is.

Set on Christmas Eve, long before Batman becomes the gruff, bat-punching legend of Arkham Asylum, this prequel drops you into a Gotham that’s cold, chaotic, and lit up like a depressing holiday postcard. You’re a younger, angrier Bruce Wayne, still figuring out the line between justice and rage, while eight assassins (including some seriously fun picks like Deathstroke and Firefly) try to murder you for a bounty.

Combat and traversal are nearly identical to Arkham City—which is to say, still incredibly smooth and satisfying. You’ll be flipping over goons, chaining counters like a rhythm game, and gliding across rooftops with that Batman™ elegance. The upgrades and gadgets are mostly returning favorites, though some additions like the shock gloves do a great job of making you feel even more like an unstoppable goth tank.

The story leans more into detective noir, which is refreshing. It’s got some solid emotional beats, especially with characters like Alfred and Jim Gordon, and watching the early tension between Batman and the GCPD unfold is surprisingly compelling. And yes—Joker shows up (because of course he does)—but the way he’s introduced here is actually one of the better “origin” takes on their relationship. It's less "HAHA CRAZY", more "Oh no... this is going to be a thing, isn’t it?"

Sure, it’s not as polished as the Rocksteady entries. The world feels a bit more empty, and the side missions can dip into “go here, punch this” territory. The detective mode also tries some CSI-style reconstruction stuff that’s cool in theory, but basically turns you into Bat-DVR. Still, it’s fun scanning crime scenes while pretending you’re smarter than every cop in Gotham.

Arkham Origins may not redefine the series, but it doesn’t need to. It’s a solid Bat-story with great boss fights, moody atmosphere, and enough grit to chew through like gravel stew.

8/10 exploding presents. Would get punched by Bane under a snow-covered bridge again

This City Needs Me, ...I'M BATMAN