The Joker is one of the most recognizable figures in all comics. His calculated, eccentric madness has been the source of Batman's sleepless nights, and with numerous iterations on the character, his traits have been refined - or in some cases, revolutionized. London-based studio Rocksteady released its first DC Comics game, Batman: Arkham Asylum, in 2009 to critical acclaim, and though the Caped Crusader lies at the heart of the game, it's Joker that always steals the show.

Understanding the complexities of a character that has been adapted so many times is a feat that seems impossible, but Batman: Arkham Asylum achieves this. Its subsequent sequels also advance the Joker in ways that few would have expected. The Clown Prince of Crime lives up to his name across all four Arkham games, and while writers like Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV have had their own spin on the character, in the realm of video games there are arguably few better iterations.

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Arkham Asylum is Joker's Playground

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Batman: Arkham Asylum's horror-esque atmosphere is still unrivaled in the superhero genre, and a lot of its success is because of Joker's place. This is the most powerful he's been in the series, with total control over Arkham Asylum that forces Batman to dance to his tune throughout. From a close encounter with Bane to an eerie confrontation with Killer Croc, Joker is always pulling the strings, as the story explores his whimsical and eccentric nature.

However, Arkham Asylum is also the game that makes the most significant blunder with this character, as it ends with a whimper. The final fight with the Clown Prince of Crime is weak from a gameplay perspective, as well as a narrative angle. The disappointment is fueled by the superb character development that happened up until the last fifteen minutes, and it sticks out like a sore thumb because the rest is so good. In any case, Batman: Arkham Asylum is a solid take on Batman lore, and one that makes significant strides forward for the Joker.

A Joke The Whole City Can Hear

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For the follow-up, Batman: Arkham City, Rocksteady used even more of the DC toybox to make the sequel bigger, and in many ways better. Increased freedom to traverse the landscape, more optional content, and plenty of brushes with villainy makes it a tight-packed experience. As such, Joker takes a more supporting role, with characters like Catwoman, Harvey Dent, and Ra's Al Ghul taking up a lot of screen time. However, Joker's presence is still felt throughout, as his declining health has put him in a situation where he has nothing to lose. The Titan formula has taken a toll on Joker, and with an evil plot to poison all of Gotham's hospitals, he decides to go out with a bang.

So many of Joker's plans in the pages of comics have city-wide implications, so Arkham City feels like it's closely aligned to previous actions for the character. From poisoning Gotham's water supply in Ed Brubaker's The Man Who Laughs to deceiving Superman and tricking him into destroying Metropolis in 2013's Injustice: Gods Among Us, any great Joker scheme will always have an impact on regular civilians. With the whole of the Arkham City super-prison primed for chaos, Joker can do what he does best.

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Christmas with The Joker

With voice acting handed to industry veteran Troy Baker and WB Games Montreal developing the adventure, Batman: Arkham Origins had the most potential to go wrong. Instead, it was a worthy addition to the Arkham lore, with its superb take on the Caped Crusader balanced by a festive story that kept players guessing. Serving as a prequel during Bruce Wayne's first few years on the job, Arkham Origins shows Batman grappling with the criminal underworld on Christmas Eve, but the story takes a turn when primary antagonist Black Mask is revealed to be the Clown Prince of Crime.

It may have been a disappointment to yet again see Joker as the thorn in Batman's side, but with the Arkham series giving numerous villains enough time to shine it's a welcome surprise. Critically, it shows Joker's cunning and methodical side, wiping away all doubt that he's often the smartest person in the room. Bane is also a highlight of Batman: Arkham Origins, proving his worth as one of Gotham's most menacing villains, but with the calculating Joker introducing himself to The Dark Knight it's hard to believe that anyone else could steal the show.

A Knight to Remember, and a Joke to Forget

The Joker in Batman: Arkham Knight

When the events of Batman: Arkham Knight unfold, Joker's reign of terror on Gotham is over, but his mind games have only just begun. Though he met his end at the conclusion of Arkham City, Joker's blood that was transfused into Bruce Wayne results in mental torture. It's a constant battle, and as a new villain named the Arkham Knight appears with a twist, Batman has more than enough to deal with.

Arkham Knight zones in on the impact that Joker's presence has on Batman himself. There's no way he can hurt the people of Gotham after his death, but even though Bruce remains focused and dedicated to justice, the psychological toll that Joker has had is thoroughly explored. The Joker is a despicable, morally reprehensible figure of pure villainy, and his final hurrah has had significant ramifications on how well Bruce can continue his crusade as Batman.

Rocksteady and WB Games Montreal understood what makes the Joker so special. The Arkham series is revered by many comic fans, and though Batman is the character who takes up each game's title, it's the Clown Prince of Crime that is the most consistently and effectively developed. Showing off his many twisted traits across each of these four entries, the saga that gamers got between 2009 and 2015 is one that beautifully captures why so many across the globe love to hate the infamous Joker.

Batman: Return to Arkham is available now on PS4 and Xbox One.

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