The Batman: Arkham games have spotlighted a number of iconic DC villains from the Dark Knight's rogues gallery, but some of these menacing foes had a more memorable role than others. Starting with Batman: Arkham Asylum in 2009, the Caped Crusader of Rocksteady's Arkhamverse has done battle with iconic enemies like the Joker as well as lesser-known foes like Professor Pyg. Many of these characters received fresh twists from Rocksteady, with some also benefiting from the return of voice actors from the seminal Batman: The Animated Series - most notably Mark Hamill as the Clown Prince of Crime.
The Batman: Arkham games primarily revolved around Batman's relationship with the Joker, with the WB Games Montréal-developed Batman: Arkham Origins' story focusing on Joker's first meeting with the Dark Knight. This dynamic was even explored following the character's death in Batman: Arkham City, with Batman: Arkham Knight showcasing Bruce Wayne having to fight off his own personal demon of the Jester of Genocide. While other villains had key roles to play, the Arkhamverse's main story was primarily oriented around Batman and Joker's deadly back-and-forth.
Despite this, plenty of other villains got their chance to shine in the Batman: Arkham games. Whether they were referenced in the series' numerous Easter eggs or made minor appearances in side-missions, there were a few recurring and one-time adversaries who managed to leave a lasting impression. Some, like Hush, were not so fortunate, with some Batman: Arkham side-missions failing to deliver on previous teases. Either way, the majority of Batman villains in the Arkhamverse all got a moment in the spotlight, with some benefitting particularly from the panel-to-pixel adaptation.
#5 - Poison Ivy Is A Force of Nature In Batman: Arkham
First appearing in Batman: Arkham Asylum, Poison Ivy always presents a threat to Batman and his allies. Whether it's giant plant monsters in Arkham Asylum or hypnotized henchmen sent against Catwoman in Arkham City, Ivy always has a way to deal with those who get in her way. Her true greatness, however, comes in Batman: Arkham Knight. Refusing to be a part of Scarecrow's team of villains, Ivy spends the majority of her time in the game on the side of good, aiding Batman against Scarecrow and the Arkham Knight. In fact, without her sacrifice toward the end of the game, Gotham City would've been destroyed under a blanket of fear toxin. Whether on the side of good or evil, Poison Ivy leaves a mark on the series that few can top - unlike her fellow Gotham City Sirens in Batman: Arkham: Harley Quinn and Catwoman.
#4 - Mister Freeze Gives Batman The Cold Shoulder In The Arkhamverse
Mister Freeze is one of Batman's most intelligent and tragic foes. When players first encounter him in Batman: Arkham City, he is the key to curing Batman and the Joker of their Titan overdose (the former having been infected by the latter). It is only after helping get revenge on Penguin that Batman is confronted by Freeze in what amounts to one of if not the best boss fight in the game.
In Batman: Arkham Origins, Mister Freeze and the Penguin's relationship's origin is explored when the two team up for an assault on New Year's Eve. Freeze's superior technology forces Batman to up his own technological game in order to defeat him. Finally, in Batman: Arkham Knight's post-game DLC, The Season of Infamy, the two become allies as the militia had kidnaped Nora, Freeze's wife. The hero and the villain put aside their differences to fight the militia and reunite the couple, after which Freeze swore to spend his wife's remaining days by her side. Though his acts are cold and ruthless, Freeze ultimately does it out of love for his wife, and that makes him one of the more relatable and dangerous foes Batman faces during the series.
#3 - Jason Todd Wreaked Havoc In Batman: Arkham Knight
Despite only appearing in one game, the Arkham Knight left his mark on the series by being one of the few villains to know every in and out of Batman's crimefighting style, including his secret identity. This is revealed to be because the Knight is actually Jason Todd, the second Robin, whom Batman thought killed by the Joker earlier in the Batman: Arkham story timeline. Once Batman finds this out, he is determined to save his former ward.
Returned and with a massive chip on his shoulder, the Knight, along with Scarecrow, brings Gotham to its knees before finally being confronted and defeated by Batman. After his defeat, Jason has a change of heart and ultimately takes up the mantle of Red Hood, an ostensibly good, if lethal, protector of Gotham. His crimefighting story can be explored in the Red Hood story DLC, where he takes on Black Mask.
#2 - Scarecrow Brings The Fear Into The Batman: Arkham Series
Scarecrow's appearances and gameplay were a standout in Batman: Arkham Asylum. His return in Batman: Arkham Knight - foreshadowed perfectly in Batman: Arkham City - was devastating. In addition to shaking up every game he's in through unique and mind-bending gameplay, Scarecrow shows Batman that he isn't the only one in Gotham who can use fear as a weapon. His plot to destroy Gotham succeeds (if only for a few moments thanks to Poison Ivy), and he is able to use Batman's fear of losing those he loves to bring him to his knees and effectively end the myth behind the Bat. No other villain succeeded where Scarecrow did. But one did go beyond anything Scarecrow could hope to do.
#1 - The Joker Is The Greatest Villain Of The Batman: Arkham Series
Throughout every game in the Batman: Arkham series, it always comes down to one classic showdown. Batman vs. the Joker. In Batman: Arkham Asylum, the two duked it out on the roof of the visitors center. Arkham City detailed the two's cat and mouse hunt for the cure for Joker's titan poisoning. Batman: Arkham Origins showed the two's first meeting, which sealed their fates as sworn enemies. Even after his death in Arkham City, Joker still haunts Batman's mind more effectively than Scarecrow thanks to the remnants of his Titan infection. In the end, Batman isn't scared of Scarecrow and what he is capable of - he's scared of the Joker, and that is why the Clown Prince of Crime reigns supreme as the biggest bad of the Batman: Arkham games.