Metascore
91 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 29 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. 100
    Batman's trip to the asylum has hardly any flaws. The controls fit perfectly and the missions will entertain you every second you play this game. Buy it, play it, love it.
  2. Batman: Arkham Asylum is the ultimate Batman experience, hands down.
  3. 100
    If you're a Batman fan, this is the best treatment the World's Greatest Detective has ever received in videogame form -- and if you're not a Batman fan, Arkham Asylum will change that. This is how to make a licensed game.
  4. For Batman fans, this game is a long time coming. Taking the Unreal engine, Rocksteady has gone and made a truly fun superhero game and it looks incredible on the PC.
  5. This is very nearly the perfect game. This game is as close to 100% as I've ever seen.
  6. A flawless PC conversion with PhysX visual extras over the console versions. In every way polished and fun, managing to at all times to capture the essence of Batman. Game of the Year material.
  7. 93
    Rocksteady nailed what Batman is supposed to feel like. Fans, rejoice.
  8. An amazingly polished, finely crafted piece of action gaming excellence that's worthy of the name Batman. [Dec 2009, p.70]
  9. This is the first game that truly grants players an opportunity to be Batman, whether he's using his intellect or his fists. Anyone with even a modicum of interest in playing an awesome Batman game should pick up Arkham Asylum, without any hesitation.
  10. I can say with confidence and cannot stress enough, Batman: Arkham Asylum is, without a doubt, the best Batman game ever created. It does more than give you the Batman game you want, it gives you a video game that you could play repeatedly, even if it didn't have the caped and cowled Dark Knight in it.
  11. Long story short, if you're still not convinced that Batman: Arkham Asylum deserves your precious time, grab the demo, play it, then run to the store and buy it.
  12. A remarkable achievement. I need to stress just how thoughtful and smart its progression is. The way you make your way around Arkham is executed so well, and everything about the game is polished to an almost offensive sheen.
  13. The gameplay is diversified, the graphics are great and the combat-system is one of the best we have ever encountered. Batman: Arkham Asylum is a definite "Must-Have" on any platform and more then worthy to wear the famous name of The Dark Knight and Worlds greatest detective.
  14. Batman: Arkham Asylum is a massive triumph: Action, stealth and investigation as its best. The best videogame based on Bob Kane's composition, and the best superhero game this far too. A brilliant work that drives Rocksteady to the highest rank of developers.
  15. Buy this game. It's as simple as that. It's a masterpiece of design from concept to execution and is my game of the year so far.
  16. Whether you fancy skulking in the shadows, smashing slow motion fists in into a goon's skull, or simply using some cool gadgets, you can do no wrong with what is Eidos' best game in years.
  17. The result is so good that we're declaring it an easy 'Best of' contender for 2009.
  18. A new benchmark for superhero games, and a serious GOTY contender. [Dec 2009, p.56]
  19. Everything about this game--the impressive visuals, stirring soundtrack, superb voice acting, fiendish puzzles, hard-hitting combat--feels like it has been lovingly crafted by a development team that's both knowledgeable and passionate about the source material. Miss out on this one and the joke's on you.
  20. There isn't a single element of Arkham Asylum that isn't polished to the utmost degree.
  21. Batman Arkham Asylum is a product of absolute value that can count on a cast of colorful characters to build a great game, really fun. The greatest strengths of the production lie in the gameplay built around what are the real capabilities of Batman, mixing action and stealth section, but always related with the universe from which have been extrapolated. Rocksteady's game is certainly the new standard for understanding how produce games under license, adapting for videogaming the very spirit of this historic character.
  22. It's far from perfect, but still a damn good rollick through DC's well carved territory. [Nov 2009, p.88]
  23. The most satisfying brawler ever coupled with an uncommonly creative stealth game. Only the bosses drag it down. [Nov 2009, p.94]
  24. If the combat has been a bit more sophisticated in the latter stages of the game, it'd have been a nailed-on Classic. [Dec 2009, p.62]
  25. It's certainly the best Batman game by far, probably the best action/adventure game this year. Accordingly, I hope that Rocksteady has a sequel in the works.
  26. Rocksteady and Paul Dini created a game which is open for both fans and those who never heard of Batman. Arkham Asylum is the middle between animated series and Chris Nolan's movies. But don't let the "Teen" rating push you away: the gloomy hospital/prison where criminals are literally monsters and doctors are crazier than their patients, is more atmospheric than some "horror" flicks.
  27. This is simply the best superhero game out there and a real treat that shouldn't be missed. [Issue#24, p.45]
  28. New Batman game deserves the title for being the most adult Batman game ever. Great design, rough melee fights and a perfect cast of all the protagonists makes it the best choice among other comic rivals. [Oct 2009]

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User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 423 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 7 out of 126
  1. I was wary in the buying of this game. Checked some youtube clips... looked interesting... One word, wow! I stuck this one out to the end, well, the end of the story that is- and, what a ride! You ARE Batman! The one think that grabbed me, was the actual atmosphere. It brought the feeling of the newer Batman movies closer and sucked me RIGHT in! Punch, combo, boom, get the baddies from above, glide down THWACK! Upgrades are available for better armor, etc.. They didn't really feel like they had much of an effect, but some the weapons that are weened into your inventory as the game progresses kick ass ;> Graphic-wise, this game really shines. I'm not too sure how it looks on a non-nvidia card (the game uses the .. uhm Nvidia graphics ... physics thing to enhance smoke and adds tile effects), but even without the extra physics- it plays VERY well. As BenW mentioned in his review, "Definitely the best Batman game out there". The others that Ive played outside this one are pretty cack. (not tried the Sun Tzu one tho!) + Graphics + Plays very well + Batman - Fights get a little repetitive as the story draws to an end Full Review »
  2. BenW
    7
    Definitely the best Batman game out there. I was lured by the high scores this game achieved in the reviews as I normally avoid syndicated games like the plague. However this game is good, the graphics and atmospherics as exciting and very DC comics. The animations are excellent and the backdrop enguaging. The game play however is good, but inflexible and linear. Once youve played the game for a few hours, you get the idea. The setup with its central area and riddler clues to pick up is a bit like Tony Hawks skating for Batman fans. Its good, but its not Half-life 2. Full Review »
  3. "Batman: Arkham Asylum" is a better-than-average action game that really is just...solid. The graphics and textures are sweet and cool, but the basic controls are not. Unlike the xbox 360, free flow combat is quite harder due to the idiotic keyboard settings the game has. The story is solid, which is pretty good and fine to me, but the campaign is too linear. After all the setting's limited to an asylum, right? In conclusion B:AA is a solid game that can either be a masterpiece to Batman fans or mediocre. Full Review »