ENTERTAINMENT

Amazon’s offering three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $49.88. Considering the new price of Game Pass Ultimate is $19.99/month, you’re saving $10.09 with this three-month deal. That’s a nice little discount that allows you to enjoy the massive Game Pass library for less.

What’s Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass?

Game Pass has a nice rotation of new titles to play every month. If you’re curious about what’s in store for the end of February, we’ve got you covered. The Xbox Game Pass February Wave 2 lineup is:

• EA Sports F1 24 (Cloud, Console, and PC) EA Play – February 20
  Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – February 20
  Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
• Watch Dogs: Legion (Cloud, Console, and PC) – February 25
  Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

Unfortunately, for those subscribing to the new Standard tier (available for $14.99/month), this does not give Game Pass users access to day one releases. This means that some big new releases on the platform, like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, will not be available on that tier.

What Games Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass?

Unfortunately with new games joining the catalog it means a few must take their leave. Below, we’ve listed the games that’ll be leaving Xbox Game Pass on February 28.

• F1 22 (Console and PC) EA Play
• Gris (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Maneater (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• PAW Patrol World (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Space Engineers (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Wo Long Fallen Dynasty (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Yakuza 3 Remastered (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Yakuza 4 Remastered (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Biggest Games Releasing on Xbox Game Pass

Xbox’s Summer Showcase last June was a massive success, showcasing an incredible amount of new games coming to the platform. Alongside Black Ops 6, the showcase also included Doom: The Dark Ages, Perfect Dark, Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and so many more. But which of these titles will appear as day-one releases on Game Pass? Thankfully, quite a few! Including all of the previously mentioned titles.

The latest big release on the platform is Avowed. In our review, writer Travis Northup said, “Even if it doesn’t swing for the fences or leave a memorable mark on the genre, though, it’s still perfectly competent with all the tried-and-true stuff I expect, including chaotic combat, leveling systems and a loot progression that lets you build the kind of character you want to play, and meaningful decisions that can have a massive impact on the world.”

If you’re looking for even more savings on all things Xbox, have a look at our roundup of the best Xbox deals. There, we’ve highlighted all of the latest and greatest discounts on the platform, from incredible game deals to fantastic offers on high-quality headphones. Or, if you’d rather see what’s going on with other platforms, check out our roundups of the best PlayStation deals, the best Nintendo Switch deals, and our overall roundup of the best video game deals.

Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.

Batman Arkham Games in Chronological Order

Below we’ve outlined two ways to approach the Batman: Arkham games: chronologically by release date or chronologically by narrative. The choice is yours, and both possible paths are outlined below.

With series newcomers in mind, these brief plot synopses contain only mild spoilers such as broad plot points and character introductions.

1. Batman: Arkham Origins

The first Arkham game chronologically is 2013’s Batman: Arkham Origins. Set on Christmas Eve in a snow-covered Gotham, Origins stars a less-experienced Batman who finds himself with a $50 million bounty on his head, drawing the attention of Gotham’s finest criminals: the Joker, Black Mask, The Penguin, Mad Hatter, Bane, Deadshot, Firefly, and Killer Croc, among others. The ending hints at the reopening of Arkham Asylum, setting up the future events of Rocksteady’s game of the same name.

Notably, Origins stars Roger Craig Smith as Batman and Troy Baker as the Joker, subbing in for Arkham’s regular superstar duo of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. While the Arkhamverse was established by Rocksteady Studios, Origins was developed by WB Montreal, the studio behind Gotham Knights.

A mobile version of Arkham Origins was also released. While it plays much differently than its console counterpart — it’s a brawler developed by Mortal Kombat studio NeatherRealm — it hits the same narrative beats.

2. Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate

Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate is set three months after the events of Origins. Unlike the third-person adventures that comprise the mainline Arkham games, Blackgate is a 2.5D side-scroller developed by Armature Studio (Resident Evil 4 VR).

In Blackgate, Batman investigates the titular prison, where an explosion has freed its inmates. As the Caped Crusader, you explore three main areas, each controlled by one of Gotham’s most notorious villains: Penguin, Black Mask, and the Joker. Other notable characters include Catwoman, Amanda Waller, and Rick Flag.

Roger Craig Smith and Troy Baker take another turn as Batman and the Joker.

3. Batman: Arkham Shadow

Batman: Arkham Shadow is the second VR game set within the Arkhamverse. The game primarily takes place in Blackgate Penitentiary between Origins/Origins Blackgate and Asylum — on July 4, to be exact, seven months after the Christmas-set events of Origins (and therefore four months after Blackgate).

Roger Craig Smith once again voices this younger iteration of Batman, who faces off against a mysterious new villain known as The Rat King. Other Gotham staples in Shadow include Jim Gordon, Doctors Harlene Quinzel and Jonathan Crane, Arnold Wesker (The Ventriloquist), and Barbra Gordon.

Shadow is the first game in the Arkhamverse developed by Camouflaj, the studio behind Marvel’s Iron Man VR.

4. Batman: Arkham Underworld

Batman: Arkham Underworld is a mobile game that positions you as Gotham’s newest criminal mastermind, allowing you to command Batman villains such as Harley Quinn, The Riddler, Scarecrow, Mr. Freeze, and Killer Croc. It’s essentially a free-to-play Gotham gang recruiter, in which you build a criminal hideout, recruit henchmen, and do battle. Kevin Conroy reprises his role as Batman following the mainline Arkham trilogy.

Arkham Underworld is set sometime before Arkham Asylum, though it possesses little importance to the overall Arkhamverse narrative — which is fortunate considering it’s no longer available to download (Arkham Underworld was shut down in 2017, only a year after it was released).

Bonus: Batman: Assault on Arkham

Batman: Assault on Arkham is an animated film set in the Arkhamverse, roughly two years before Arkham Asylum. Those only interested in the games can skip the film without much effect, but those interested in the full Arkhamverse narrative should check it out — it’s available to stream on HBO Max and happens to be a pretty entertaining movie; our review awarded it an 8.8, calling it “a great heist film.”

Like Arkham Underworld, Arkham Assault shines the spotlight on Batman’s adversaries, following Harley, Joker, Riddler, and others as they infiltrate Arkham Asylum, ultimately freeing many of its most notorious inmates.

Kevin Conroy once again voices Batman, while Troy Baker voices the Joker. Notably, Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian, Breaking Bad) lends his voice to Black Spider.

5. Batman: Arkham Asylum

Rocksteady’s first Batman game, Batman: Arkham Asylum introduces us to the Arkhamverse’s verson of the Caped Crusader (voiced by Kevin Conroy). It’s the fourth game in the chronology but the first to be released. Mark Hamill’s Joker serves as the primary villain, though the cast of characters also includes Harley Quinn, Commissioner Gordon, Scarecrow, Bane, Poison Ivy, and others.

With the help of Harley Quinn, the Joker infiltrates the asylum to obtain a super-strength serum called Titan. The Clown Prince had bombs planted around Gotham City, threatening to detonate them should anyone come to Batman’s aid, leaving our hero to deal with the asylum’s escapees alone.

Arkham Asylum’s story was written by Paul Dino, whose long history with the franchise includes many writing credits on Batman: The Animated Series and Batman Beyond.

6. Batman: Arkham City Lockdown

Released shortly after Arkham City, Batman: Arkham City Lockdown is a fighter set between the events of Asylum and City. It’s the first Arkham mobile game to be released and the second developed by NeatherRealm (the other being the aforementioned Arkham Origins mobile game).

Narratively, Arkham City Lockdown features tons of Arkham staples, including the Joker (voiced by Mark Hamill), Harley Quinn, Two-Face, Penguin, Solomon Grundy, Poison Ivy, Deathstroke, Robin, and of course, Batman (voiced by Kevin Conroy). The story centers around yet another prison escape that Batman must clean up.

We’ll spoil this one since the plot is relatively inconsequential and Arkham City Lockdown is no longer available to purchase: Batman prevails and returns the escaped prisoners to the asylum.

7. Batman: Arkham City

Rocksteady’s second game in the series, Batman: Arkham City takes place a year and a half after Arkham Asylum. Following the events of Asylum, Mayor Quincy Sharp opens Arkham City, a section of Gotham City walled off to house criminals. Arkham City sees Batman navigating the lawless area while working to thwart the nefarious, overarching plot seemingly orchestrated by Hugo Strange.

Batman must also deal with a separate threat from the Joker, who’s dealing with the ill effects of the Titan serum he took during the events of Asylum.

Arkham City’s story, like Asylum’s before it, was written by Paul Dini.

8. Batman: Arkham VR

The series’ lone virtual reality game, Batman: Arkham VR is set shortly before the events of Arkham Knight. It’s a narrative-driven game focused on detective work as Batman tries to solve the murder of a close ally.

Given its nature as a story-heavy game, we can’t say much here, but if you have access to a VR headset, Arkham VR is certainly worth playing, especially considering its brief ~90-minute runtime.

The supporting cast includes Robin, Nightwing, Alfred Pennyworth, Penguin, Killer Croc, and Joker. Arkham VR stars Conroy and Hamill’s Batman and the Joker.

9. Batman: Arkham Knight

The conclusion to Rocksteady’s trilogy of mainline Batman games, Batman: Arkham Knight raises the stakes with the series’ biggest version of Gotham, its most varied cast of characters, and the introduction of a fully playable Batmobile.

Arkham Knight is set on the night of Halloween, presumably less than a year after the events of City. Scarecrow (voiced by Lord of the Rings’ John Noble) is threatening Gotham City with his fear toxin, while a new threat surfaces in the mysterious Arkham Knight. Batman, all the while, is dealing with internal torment as an effect of the previous games.

All three threads are wrapped up by the end of Arkham Knight’s ~16-hour campaign, though you’ll have to earn 100% completion to see the game’s true ending.

In addition to Scarecrow and Arkham Knight, the supporting cast includes Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Penguin, Riddler, Two-Face, Robin, Commissioner Gordon, and Barbara Gordon.

10. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

Rocksteady’s latest game takes us away from Batman and Gotham, yet it’s officially “a continuation of the Arkhamverse,” according to the developer. Rocksteady promised “a lot of the threads and storylines [from past Arkham games] will come to fruition.” The game takes place about 5 years after the events of Arkham Knight.

Kill the Justice League shifts the focus to Task Force X, as players explore Metropolis as either Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, or King Shark. It’snow available to play on consoles and PC.

How to Play the Batman Arkham Games By Release Date

• Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009)
• Batman: Arkham City (2011)
• Batman: Arkham City Lockdown (2011)
• Batman: Arkham Origins (2013)
• Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (2013)
• Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014)*
• Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)
• Batman: Arkham Underworld (2016)
• Batman: Arkham VR (2016)
• Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2024)
• Batman: Arkham Shadow (2024)

*Animated film

What’s Next in the Arkham Series?

After Arkham Shadow released last October, there are currently no known Batman Arkham games in development. The most recent VR release was developed by Camouflaj, so fans are hoping to see primary developer Rocksteady Studios return to the series after nearly a decade away. While Bloomberg reported Rocksteady was once again pitching single-player games (after Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League), there’s been no official word on the studio’s next project.

Jordan covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer for IGN.