Since his 1939 debut, Batman has dominated entertainment. But nothing beats the thrill of video games. For decades, consoles have allowed fans to step into the Dark Knight's boots and keep Gotham safe.

Batman: The Video Game (1989)

NES

Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman ushered in a new generation of Batman films and it also gave fans a glimpse into the possibilities of video game cinematic adaptations. Batman: The Video Game is a game that’s as challenging as it is fun to look at with pixelated graphics that have aged like fine purple and blue wine.

Photography: Sunsoft

Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)

PS3/Xbox 360

Batman: Arkham Asylum started a whole new generation of Batman games. This first installment of the Arkham series was more claustrophobic than later entries, sending Batman crawling through the nooks and crannies of Arkham Asylum to stop a hostile takeover. It was excellent enough to spawn a slew of sequels.

Photography: Warner Bros.

The Adventures of Batman & Robin (1994)

SNES

The 1990s gave fans Batman: The Animated Series, which would later become The Adventures of Batman & Robin. It’s still celebrated as one of the greatest superhero cartoons of all time, and this Super Nintendo adaptation is the closest thing you’ll get to an episode of the beloved show.

Photography: Konami

Injustice 2 (2017)

PS4/Xbox One

Injustice 2, the sequel to the popular superhero fighting game, features all of DC's most popular superheroes. The game features a final showdown between Batman and Superman with two very different endings.

Photography: Warner Bros.

Batman Returns (1993)

SNES

Batman Returns, the 1992 Tim Burton classic, gave Batman fans a variety of video game adaptations but the Super Nintendo version is the undisputed champion. The SNES version of Batman Returns has great graphics, a faithful retelling of the film’s plot with fun boss fights and relentlessly fun beat-em-up gameplay.

Photography: Konami

Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)

PS4/Xbox One

The culmination of Batman’s Arkham series didn’t disappoint. It gave fans bone-crunching combat, a terrifying twist on the recently deceased Joker, a great story and a Batmobile to cruise the streets of Gotham. In this story, Batman faces one of his toughest enemies, who has ties to The Dark Knight's past.

Photography: Warner Bros.

Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (2012)

PS3/Xbox 360

Are you looking for a Batman video game that offers all of the fun with none of Gotham’s gloominess? Then you want Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes. This delightful romp through Gotham is fun for the whole family with a delightfully charming aesthetic that still manages to deliver character depth and an immersive experience as the Dark Knight.

Photography: Warner Bros.