Batman: Arkham Asylum

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Hack and slash/Beat 'em up • Adventure
2009

Batman: Arkham Asylum is an upcoming Hack and slash/Beat 'em up/Adventure game releasing on PlayStation 3, Ouya, PC (Microsoft Windows). Scheduled to launch on August 25, 2009.

Developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Eidos Interactive, Playcast-media, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

Release Date: 08/26/2009

Released
Batman: Arkham Asylum cover
trailer

Story

After the Joker assaults Gotham City Hall, he is caught by Batman and taken to Arkham Asylum, which temporarily houses many members of the Joker's gang, who were transferred after a fire at Blackgate Prison. Believing the Joker allowed himself to be captured, Batman accompanies him into the asylum. The Joker's plan is revealed as Harley Quinn takes control of the security and the Joker escapes into the facility, aided by a corrupt guard who kidnaps Commissioner Gordon. The Joker threatens to detonate bombs hidden around Gotham City if anyone tries to enter Arkham, forcing Batman to work alone. Tracking Quinn to the medical facility to rescue Gordon, Batman is exposed to the Scarecrow's fear toxin and hallucinates, seeing Gordon's death and the corpses of his parents talking to him. After fighting off Scarecrow, Batman finds and subdues Quinn before rescuing Gordon. The Joker then directs Batman to the captured Bane, who has been experimented on by asylum doctor Penelope Young. The Joker frees Bane and Batman is forced to fight him, during which Quinn escapes. Afterward, he goes to a secret Batcave installation he had hidden on the island, where Batman restocks his gadgets.

There, Batman learns that the Joker returned to the asylum to gain access to Young, who has been developing Titan—a more powerful version of the Venom drug that gives Bane his strength—intending to use it to help patients survive more strenuous therapies. Young learned that the Joker had been funding her research to create an army of superhuman henchmen; her refusal to hand over the formula precipitated Joker's return to the Asylum. While searching for Young, Batman is again attacked by Scarecrow and the fear toxin, and hallucinates the night of his parents' deaths. After he recovers, Batman destroys Young's Titan formula and rescues Young from Victor Zsasz. An explosion kills Young and the Joker obtains the completed batches of Titan.

At the Penitentiary, Quinn releases Poison Ivy from her cell before being imprisoned by Batman. Quinn accidentally reveals that Joker has a Titan production facility in the Arkham botanical gardens. Batman travels there and learns that Titan is created by genetically modified plants. He enlists Ivy's help to create an antidote and learns that it can only be made from spores found exclusively in Killer Croc's lair in a sewer. En route to Croc, Batman is again attacked by Scarecrow and overcomes several doses of fear toxin. Meanwhile, Joker injects Ivy with Titan, enhancing her powers. Ivy begins ravaging Arkham Island with giant mutant plants. Pursued by Batman into Croc's lair, Scarecrow is attacked by Croc and dragged underwater. Batman recovers the necessary spores and subdues Croc before returning to the Batcave, but can only synthesize one dose of the antidote before Ivy's plants breach the cave and destroy his equipment.

Batman returns to the botanical gardens and defeats Ivy, halting the rampaging plants. The Joker announces that the preparations for his party are finally complete and Batman travels to the asylum's visitor center where the Joker's applauding henchmen welcome him. The Joker reveals he has recaptured Gordon and tries to shoot him with a Titan-filled dart; Batman leaps to Gordon's defense and is shot instead. Batman attempts to resist the change, and an upset Joker takes an overdose of Titan, mutating into a massive monster. In a makeshift arena on the building's roof, the Joker challenges Batman to a fight as Titan-induced monsters in front of news helicopters. Batman refuses to transform, uses the antidote on himself, and defeats the Titan-affected Joker and his henchmen, knocking his nemesis unconscious with an explosive gel-enhanced punch. In the aftermath, those affected by Titan begin to revert to normal, including the Joker—who is restrained and taken into custody as police officers retake the asylum. Batman overhears a call about a crime led by Two-Face in progress and flies back to Gotham City in the Batwing. In a post-credits scene, a crate of Titan formula is shown floating in the ocean near the asylum when a hand surfaces and grabs it.

Screenshots

Batman: Arkham Asylum screenshot 1
Batman: Arkham Asylum screenshot 2
Batman: Arkham Asylum screenshot 3
Batman: Arkham Asylum screenshot 4
Batman: Arkham Asylum screenshot 5

Game Information

Platforms

PlayStation 3OuyaPC (Microsoft Windows)MacXbox 360Nintendo Switch

Genres

Hack and slash/Beat 'em upAdventure

Developer

  • Rocksteady Studios

Publishers

  • Eidos Interactive
  • Playcast-media
  • Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Age Rating

ESRB: Unknown

Player Perspective

Third person

Part of

  • Batman franchise
  • DC Comics franchise

Ratings & Reviews

89%
Critic Score
5 reviews
86%
User Score
2401 ratings

Features & Details

Themes & Elements

ActionScience fictionHorrorStealthOpen world

Game Modes

Single player

Key Features

assassindetectivecomicsinsanityaction-adventuresteam trading cardsover the shouldersuperhero

Game Engine

Built with Unreal Engine 3

Release Information

Primary Release Date

August 25, 2009

✅ Already released

Platform Release Dates

Xbox 360

September 3, 2009
Australia
August 28, 2009
Europe
January 14, 2010
Japan
August 25, 2009
North America

PlayStation 3

August 25, 2009
North America
January 14, 2010
Japan
September 3, 2009
Australia
August 31, 2009
Asia
August 28, 2009
Europe

Ouya

May 28, 2014
Worldwide

Mac

November 15, 2011
Europe
November 3, 2011
North America

PC (Microsoft Windows)

September 15, 2009
North America
September 18, 2009
Europe
September 18, 2009
Australia

Nintendo Switch

December 1, 2023
Worldwide

Release Notes

  • Release dates may vary by region and platform
  • Pre-orders may be available before the official release date
  • Digital releases typically go live at 00:00 local time
  • Physical releases may arrive a few days earlier or later depending on shipping

System Requirements

Estimated system requirements for Batman: Arkham Asylum on PC

Minimum Requirements

os:Windows 10 64-bit
processor:Intel Core i7-8700K / AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
memory:16 GB RAM
graphics:NVIDIA RTX 2060 / AMD RX 6600 XT
directx:Version 12
storage:50 GB available space (SSD recommended)

Recommended Requirements

✨ Recommended
os:Windows 11 64-bit
processor:Intel Core i7-10700K / AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
memory:32 GB RAM
graphics:NVIDIA RTX 3080 / AMD RX 6800 XT
directx:Version 12
storage:100 GB available space (NVMe SSD recommended)

Important Notes

  • These are estimated requirements based on game analysis and industry standards
  • Official system requirements will be announced closer to release date
  • SSD storage highly recommended for reduced loading times
  • Requirements may vary for different graphics settings (Low, Medium, High, Ultra)
  • VR games may have additional requirements if VR support is included

💡Performance Tips

For the best experience with Batman: Arkham Asylum, consider upgrading to an SSD, ensuring your graphics drivers are up to date, and closing unnecessary background applications before playing.

Frequently Asked Questions about Batman: Arkham Asylum