Bat-Family Characters Who Need an Arkham Game

The Bat-Family has appeared throughout the Batman Arkham games, but none of them have held the title of their own game. While icons like Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl led a separate DLC, there is still an abundance of the best Bat-Family characters that deserve an Arkham game to call their own.

Whether it’s a hero that has been referenced, featured, or never before mentioned in the Arkhamverse, there are plenty of exciting Bat-Family characters that can continue the legacy of brilliant Batman games.

6 Cassandra Cain’s Batgirl

The Fourth Batgirl, Born of Assassin Heritage, But Fights for Justice

• Debut Issue: Batman #567 (July, 1999)
• Created by: Kelley Puckett, Damion Scott
• Arkham Games Featured in: None

Cassandra Cain is one of the most interesting members of the Bat-Family, and perhaps its strongest. Her mother, Lady Shiva, has already been introduced in the Arkhamverse with Batman: Arkham Origins and there’s high potential for Cassandra Cain to take to Gotham as its newest hero, and she is certainly one of the most worthy. Cassandra Cain’s tragic past as the daughter of two of the best assassins in the world places her in a position of understanding how to fight, and how to kill.

Cassandra Cain refuses to take a life, and her upbringing has made her lack a childhood – thus she’s deprived of a normal life. Joining the Bat-Family, Cassandra Cain knows how to fight to the point where she could possibly beat even Batman, and to see her lead the charge in her own game would bring about new fans for the character.

5 Batwoman

Bruce Wayne’s Cousin, and a Ruthless Crime Fighter

• Debut Issue: 52 #7 (August, 2006)
• Created by: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen, Ken Lashley
• Arkham Games Featured in: Batman: Arkham Knight (reference only)

Kate Kane follows in her cousin’s footsteps by becoming a bat-themed crime fighter, but Batwoman comes from a military background where she has more edge than Batman. Batwoman could easily have her own game as she learns the ropes of Gotham City and delves into its crime-riddled deduction with the help of her ex-girlfriend and detective, Renee Montoya.

Both Renee and Kate have been referenced in the Arkhamverse, so it’s clear that Kate exists. What’s more interesting is how a voicemail from Kate in Batman: Arkham Knight implies she already has the Batwoman identity, so to see her own unique fighting style and her flawed lines of a no-kill rule could make for an interesting game.

4 Damian Wayne’s Robin

The Son of Batman and Talia Al Ghul Could Provide New Lore

• Debut Issue: Batman: Son of the Demon (December, 1987)
• Created by: Mike W. Barr, Grant Morrison, Andy Kubert
• Arkham Games Featured in: None

The idea of Batman having a son might not sit well with some fans considering Talia was killed in Batman: Arkham City. However, who’s to say that Talia can’t be resurrected by the Lazarus Pit and that she hid a secret son from Batman to be trained as the next Demon’s Head like her father, Ra’s al Ghul?

Damian’s birth was kept secret from Batman for years, and considering the two have a romantic history in the Arkhamverse, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Batman father a new Robin. Damian Wayne could serve an interesting story, balancing his training from the League of Assassins with his father’s wishes to be a hero who doesn’t kill, all the while, being old enough to see a future Gotham.

3 Red Hood

An Anti-Hero with a Death Wish

• Debuted Issue: Batman #401 (November, 1986)
• Created by: Gerry Conway, Don Newton
• Arkham Games Featured in: Batman: Arkham Knight

Jason Todd is an odd case and an awkward, distant member of the Bat-Family. After Jason’s death at the hands of the Joker, Jason assumed the mantle of his killer’s former identity and became Red Hood, a killer vigilante who would do what Batman never could. Batman’s former Robin and second ward would always weigh heavy on Bruce’s conscience, especially now since he was the Arkham Knight in the Arkhamverse.

With Red Hood in full swing, interesting story beats could come to light, like overcoming trauma from Joker’s torture, as well as grappling with resentment and rejection from Batman, while trying to fix Gotham his own way to see if killing really is the right thing for a city overrun with crime.

2 Catwoman

A Master Thief and the Lover of Batman

• Debuted Issue: Batman #1 (March, 1940)
• Created by: Bob Kane, Bill Finger
• Arkham Games Featured in: Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Knight, Batman: Arkham Shadow (reference only)

Selina Kyle’s story has been entwined with Batman’s for decades, and the Arkhamverse teases their blossoming romance a few times throughout. While Catwoman’s story might be at an end after she retires somewhere tropical with the money stolen from the Riddler in Batman: Arkham Knight, it would be nice to see her come out of retirement for one more score that she can’t seem to break from.

Catwoman presents interesting relationships with Batman’s Rogues Gallery, like a friendship with Poison Ivy and a rivalry with Two-Face. It would be interesting to see what other relationships Selina has, and to see what gameplay antics she can get up to in her own title, even if it’s more than likely not in agreement with the rest of the Bat-Family.

1 Nightwing

The Successor to the Mantle of Batman

• Debuted Issue: Superman #76 (May, 1952)
• Created by: Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Jerry Robinson
• Arkham Games Featured in: Batman: Arkham City (Challenge Maps), Batman: Arkham Origins (Online Mode), Batman: Arkham Knight, Batman: Arkham Shadow

Dick Grayson was Bruce Wayne’s first son after he was adopted when his parents were murdered during their Flying Graysons act as Haley’s Circus. As Bruce’s ward, he would be trained in the same combat styles, and eventually became Batman’s Robin so that he could overcome his grief and be the hero that Gotham needs, becoming a symbol greater than what Bruce could ever be.

A Nightwing game could easily focus on the hero’s destiny to become the new Batman of Gotham City, or, it could just be fun to enjoy Nightwing’s own library of villains across Bludhaven, and take on new stories and characters with a character that more than deserves it.