Ahh, Christmas. A time for love, laughter, family, and-- if you’re anything like teenage Cam (that's me, I'm Cam)-- hiding away from it all upstairs playing video games while the adults talk and do the dishes. For me, the Arkham games that got me through the most trying holiday seasons. But now, I’m older. Jaded. Roped into the same adult talk about jobs, weather, politics. It’s time for a new generation to rise.
If you're reading this, I'm doing the dishes.
Gotham Knights is the newest Batman game by WB Montreal, a company Bat-fans might remember best as the developer/publisher of Batman: Arkham Origins, a game that got a little too much hate when it came out, if you ask me. Although Gotham Knights is NOT an installment in the Arkham franchise (but fans of Rocksteady’s series should keep an eye out for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League next year!), the game more than stands on its own, and offers up a rich new take on Gotham City for its players to explore.
The game follows four members of the Bat Family: Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood, and Robin, as they take on the deadly Court of Owls in an attempt to close Batman’s last case. It’s an emotional story about grief and healing. A compelling narrative that just so happens to be packaged in an extremely fun game.
Players take on the role of one (or more if you play with friends!) of the titular Gotham Knights as they conduct investigations and fight crime across Gotham City. That's right, for the first time in a very long time, we have a multiplayer superhero game! A pretty good one, too. I got the chance on several occasions to play with a friend, and it's incredibly fun. The experience of swinging, gliding, and driving around Gotham in the completely untethered co-op is immaculate. I highly recommend this game to anyone who's looking for a great Bat-time with a great Bat-friend. Not to mention the 4 player co-op mode that was just added!
A particularly memorable experience for me was along the Harley Quinn questline, where she stages a massive breakout from Blackgate Penitentiary. I was playing this particular segment with a friend of mine (who is posing as Nightwing in the pictures in this article!). We were running through the halls, doing awesome combos and team takedowns (all of which are incredibly cool) when, all of a sudden, the hallways open into a large rec yard, and this cover of "Livin' La Vida Loca" (made special for this game!) explodes in my ears with the force of a thousand suns. I remember both of us geeking out the entire fight (and a good while after) about just how awesome this moment was. This was the scene that solidified my love for this game, and I think it'll do the same for you too.
Between the thrilling story, engaging RPG combat, and incredible co-op gameplay, Bat-fans will have plenty to keep them entertained this holiday season.
Gotham Knights is available to play on Playstation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X. You can buy it straight from their website, or from Gamestop, Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
And be sure to check out our previous 2022 Batman Gift Guide posts!
