Quick Verdict: Batman: Arkham Origins is the better pick if you want classic FreeFlow Arkham combat in a tighter, more focused prequel story, at a fraction of the price. Gotham Knights is the better pick if you want co-op Bat-family action with four distinct playable heroes and full campaign multiplayer. Arkham Origins costs $19.99 on Steam, Gotham Knights costs $59.99, and both already have their own “how to get it free” guide linked below.
Batman: Arkham Origins and Gotham Knights were both developed by WB Games Montreal, but they take Gotham’s heroes in very different directions. One is a tightly focused prequel built on the Arkham series’ signature FreeFlow combat. The other is a co-op loot RPG starring the Bat-family after Batman’s death. This guide breaks down where each one wins.
Arkham Origins vs Gotham Knights at a Glance
| Category | Batman: Arkham Origins | Gotham Knights |
| Release Date | 2013 | October 21, 2022 |
| Price on Steam | $19.99 | $59.99 Standard ($89.99 Deluxe) |
| Developer | WB Games Montreal | WB Games Montreal |
| Publisher | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment | Warner Bros. Games |
| Reception | Long considered one of the series’ more underrated entries | High-60s Metascore at launch (mixed), 68 percent positive Steam rating (15,500+ reviews) |
| Combat Style | Refined FreeFlow combat, the Arkham series’ signature rhythm-based system | Slower, loot-driven combat with RPG damage numbers |
| Multiplayer | Primarily single-player, with an online multiplayer component | Full two-player campaign co-op, plus a free four-player Heroic Assault mode |
| Best For | Players who want classic FreeFlow Arkham combat in a prequel story | Players who want co-op Bat-family action with RPG progression |
Story and Setting
Batman: Arkham Origins is a prequel set years before Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, following a young, unrefined Batman hunted by eight assassins across a snow-covered Gotham on Christmas Eve. Gotham Knights picks up after Batman’s death, following Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Hood, and Robin as they uncover the Court of Owls conspiracy the Bat himself never fully exposed. Edge: Batman: Arkham Origins, for a tighter, more focused single story many fans still rate among the series’ most underrated.
Combat System
Batman: Arkham Origins refines the series’ signature FreeFlow combat with new enemy archetypes, including martial artists that break the standard counter rhythm players had grown used to. Gotham Knights trades that rhythm-based system for a slower, loot-driven brawler with RPG damage numbers, a change that split critics and players at launch. Edge: Batman: Arkham Origins, for the more polished, series-defining combat system.
Character Variety
Batman: Arkham Origins keeps you as Batman for nearly the entire campaign, with only brief playable segments as the Joker or Bane. Gotham Knights gives you four fully distinct heroes, Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Hood, and Robin, each with their own skill tree, traversal style, and combat approach. Edge: Gotham Knights, for meaningfully more character variety across a single playthrough.
Multiplayer and Co-op
Batman: Arkham Origins is primarily a single-player experience, with an online multiplayer mode as a separate addition. Gotham Knights supports full two-player co-op across its entire campaign, plus a free four-player Heroic Assault mode added after launch. Edge: Gotham Knights, for genuine, full-campaign co-op support built into the core experience.
Critical and Community Reception
Gotham Knights launched to a mixed, high-60s Metascore, with console players specifically pushing back on its frame rate cap, though its Steam community has settled at 68 percent positive from over 15,500 reviews. Batman: Arkham Origins never carried the same headline critic controversy and has held up over time as one of the series’ more underrated, well-regarded prequels among longtime fans. Edge: Batman: Arkham Origins, for holding up better in long-term reputation, without the divisive launch Gotham Knights faced.
Price and Value
Batman: Arkham Origins costs $19.99 on Steam. Gotham Knights costs $59.99 for the Standard Edition, or $89.99 for the Deluxe Edition, though it has discounted heavily since launch, tracked as low as $3.99 at its steepest cuts. Edge: Batman: Arkham Origins, for a dramatically lower price at full retail.
Which One Should You Play First?
- Want classic FreeFlow Arkham combat in a focused prequel story: start with Batman: Arkham Origins.
- Want co-op Bat-family action with four distinct playable heroes: start with Gotham Knights.
- Working with a tighter budget: start with Batman: Arkham Origins, which costs a third of Gotham Knights’ price.
- Want to play through a full campaign with a friend: start with Gotham Knights, built for two-player co-op from the ground up.
Overall Verdict
Batman: Arkham Origins remains the safer, cheaper pick for players who want the series’ signature FreeFlow combat in a well-regarded prequel story. Gotham Knights costs significantly more and launched to a more mixed reception, but it delivers something Origins never attempted: four distinct playable heroes and genuine full-campaign co-op. If you want classic Arkham-style combat at a low price, start with Batman: Arkham Origins. If you want to team up with a friend across an entire Bat-family story, Gotham Knights is worth the extra cost, especially once it’s on sale.
Get Both For Less
Both games already have their own dedicated guide on this site covering legitimate ways to get them below full Steam price. Read How To Get Batman: Arkham Origins Free and How To Get Gotham Knights Free for the full breakdown of both routes.
FAQ
Which is better, Batman: Arkham Origins or Gotham Knights?
Batman: Arkham Origins is the better pick for classic FreeFlow combat and a lower price. Gotham Knights is the better pick for co-op play and four distinct playable heroes. Neither is objectively better, they take the Batman universe in very different directions.
Are Arkham Origins and Gotham Knights made by the same studio?
Yes. Both were developed by WB Games Montreal, though under different publishers, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for Arkham Origins and Warner Bros. Games for Gotham Knights.
Does Gotham Knights have co-op?
Yes. It supports full two-player co-op across its entire campaign, plus a free four-player Heroic Assault mode added after launch for the whole Bat-family.
Which is cheaper, Arkham Origins or Gotham Knights?
Batman: Arkham Origins is far cheaper at $19.99 compared to Gotham Knights’ $59.99 Standard Edition price.
Is Gotham Knights on Xbox Game Pass?
Yes. It joined Xbox Game Pass in October 2023, available on PC, cloud, and Xbox Series X|S.
