Batman: Arkham's Five Best Character Skins

Whatever Batman lacks in superpowers, he more than makes up for in iconic costumes.

Through various media, eras, and alternate universes, the Caped Crusader has changed duds possibly more than any other of his costumed brethren. But no installment has has honored and represented those various looks better than the Batman: Arkham video games.

With Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Origins, and this week’s Batman: Arkham Knight, the game series has brought Batman’s sharpest costumes to three-dimensional life. From the iconic to the obscure (Hello, Thrillkiller Batman), nearly every era of Batman has received from Rocksteady Studios and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. But in honor of Arkham Knight’s release, we present our five favorite Batman skins.

Batman The Animated Series
From: Batman: Arkham City

Who knew Bruce Timm’s smooth, cartoon design would fit so well within the hyper-realistic world of Arkham City. Thanks to Paul Dini’s writing credit on Arkham City, this series already felt like an extended Batman: The Animated Series episode anyway. And with this costume, the circle is complete. The cell shading used to make the classic cartoon pop is a nice touch that truly honors the design’s animation roots, keeping the costume as clean and simple as it was on FOX Kids. Here’s the New Batman Adventures and Justice League:The Animates Series redesigns make it onto Arkham Knight.

Batman ’66
From: Batman: Arkham Knight (and Arkham Origins)

Holy nostalgia, Rocksteady. One of Batman’s first variant costumes for Arkham Knight is already his best, as the ultra groovy costume from Batman ’66 finally brings Adam West into a video game. This version is even more faithful to its source material than the one featured in Batman: Arkham Origins With the character’s low-budget suit and iconic beer paunch lighten up the super-grim Arkham Knight universe, our fingers are crossed for a special Batusi takeout move.

Knightfall Batman
From: Batman: Arkham Origins

If Maximum Carnage could have its own Super Nintendo game, then the Batman franchise is more than allowed to indulge its nineties excess through a video game, too. Jean Paul Valley-or AzBats—keeps the decade alive and well with his pouches, pointy accessories, and “extreme” glow-in-the-dark eyes. While the original design is a blight on Batman’s visual history, it’s Arkham Origins port is easily the uniquest variant.

Dark Knight Returns Batman

From: Batman: Arkham City

Seriously, who doesn’t love this costume. Frank Miller’s hulking Dark Knight, with his simple-yet-striking suit, really put the fear in Arkham City’s thugs. And if we’re really being honest, it was hilarious to see the behemoth Batman execute the acrobatic actions designed for Arkham City’s much svelter Batman. Spend just a few minutes with this skin, and you’ll be begging Warner Bros. to develop a Dark Knight Returns video game.

Red Son Batman
From: Batman: Arkham Origins

All hail the furry-hatted Batman. The Cold War may be over, but the Soviet Union is well-represented in Gotham City with one of the most iconic Elseworlds suits in Batman’s history. We doubt players would have any trouble tangling with Mr. Freeze in this cozy suit, which made its short debut in Superman: Red Son. That Batman may be dead and gone, but you can honor his legacy time and time again with a suit that harkens back to Mother Russia.

Which Batman: Arkham Skins are your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

Batman: Arkham Knight hits shelves on June 23.

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