Many games based on DC properties tend to go all out when it comes to the amount of DLC. The Batman: Arkham games are the perfect example of this: not only were the games awesome on their own at launch but there was so much DLC to look forward to. All four main entries have become famous for some DLC.
With most DLC, it can result in some absolutely stunning content that will keep playable going for another few hours. However, there is also the opposite side of the spectrum where the DLC content lacks any substance, fun, or even quality. The Arkham games had plenty of both cases.
Updated on April 22nd, 2022 by Melody MacReady: A majority of the DLC content is now free thanks to newer releases such as the Return To Arkham remasters of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City; even those that bought The Arkham Collection were fortunate enough to get all DLC for Arkham City. However, that still doesn't change how fans felt when they originally bought DLCs for the full extra price.
As previously mentioned, the Arkham games had a lot of DLC. Batman: Arkham Knight alone has nearly 40 add-ons to download and install. As a result, there is still plenty more DLC both good and bad worthy of being showcased. From additional campaigns to challenge maps to even playable characters themselves.
Best DLC Of The Arkham Games
Initiation (Arkham Origins)
With Initiation, Arkham Origins could have gone the cheap route and made Bruce Wayne into a simple skin for Batman. Instead, Bruce Wayne and Vigilante Bruce Wayne are their own character who play differently from both Batman and Deathstroke.
It also featured a story via challenge maps that featured Bruce Wayne completing his training under Kirigi by fighting swarms of ninjas. Though it could have been a full-on campaign like Cold, Cold Heart, it was still a refreshing bit of content that showed off some of Batman's training days.
Playable Deathstroke (Arkham Origins)
There are many playable characters across the Arkham games. Some were better than others but none quite reached the same level of greatness as Deathstroke. Deathstroke was already one of the best boss fights in the Arkham games, so fans gladly accepted being able to play as him.
Unfortunately, he did not receive a story pack but playing as him throughout the challenge maps did provide a fun and unique gameplay style that was refreshing from Batman.
Flip Of A Coin (Arkham Knight)
Tim Drake's Robin is sidelined a little too much in the main campaigns. However, he does get some chance to shine in DLC stories including A Flip Of The Coin in Batman: Arkham Knight. It's all about Tim taking on Two-Face after the Knightfall Protocol.
Tim can be seen slowly evolving, becoming more like Bruce which heavily hints at him becoming Batman. Everyone from his own newlywed wife Barbara and his opponent Two-Face thinks he's not ready to be like Bruce but he proves his worthiness in the end.
Season Of Infamy (Arkham Knight)
A common complaint about Arkham City was that the DLC never added anything to the free-roaming aspect of the game other than skins that served no purpose once the map was completed. That was rectified with Arkham Knight's DLC.
Season Of Infamy introduced several side missions across Gotham City for players to have fun with and each containing villains. Killer Croc, Ra's Al Ghul, Mad Hatter, and Mr. Freeze all make giant comebacks with the always tragic Mr. Freeze stealing the show yet again.
Cold, Cold Heart (Arkham Origins)
Arkham Origins' DLC overall was great despite a couple of odd choices. However, if anyone is to get the Season Pass for one thing: it's Cold, Cold Heart. Batman meets Mr. Freeze for the first time as he breaks into Wayne Manor to kidnap Ferris Boyle.
Not only are the new locations added brilliant with Wayne Manor being the best but Batman gets a new suit. The XE Batsuit turns him into an armored tank allowing him to fight Freeze. On top of it all, the entire story is an extended retelling of an iconic episode of Batman: The Animated Series.
A Matter Of Family (Arkham Knight)
When it came to DLC stories, nothing was going to seemingly top Cold, Cold Heart. That changed when Arkham Knight released a prequel to Arkham Asylum known as A Matter Of Family. It starred everyone's favorite supporting character: Barbara Gordon when she was still Batgirl.
This story returned to the series' roots with a small explorable map akin to Arkham Island from Arkham Asylum. Batgirl plays flawlessly, the map has its own side missions, and it even has a mystery with DC universe easter eggs. Even the story is interesting enough to keep fans engaged.
Worst DLC Of The Arkham Games
Harley Quinn Story Pack (Batman Arkham Knight)
On her own, Harley Quinn is a great character to play as. The way they made her combat and predator fit her character is commendable with things such as Psychosis Mode and her lack of silent takedowns. Sadly, almost all DLC stories for Arkham Knight feel closer to the opening prologues of stories that never get to be finished.
Small touches such as Harleen Quinzel talking to Harley in their head are nice and the setting of the Bludhaven Police Station is well-made but the short length and the lacking Nightwing boss fight ruin what could have been a stellar story.
Nightwing (Arkham City)
When Nightwing was added to Arkham City, fans were excited to play as the prodigal son of Batman. Robin and Catwoman were great to play so they expected that Nightwing would be treated equally.
Well, no. Nightwing's combat is very bland and limited compared to the others, something that would be improved in Arkham Knight. On top of that, Nightwing had no dialogue which is just odd since the character is known for his quips and witty remarks.
Catwoman's Revenge (Arkham Knight)
Riddler is the worst thing about the Arkham Knight campaign without a doubt. Fans were already sick of him but what does Catwoman's DLC do? Bring back the Riddler to constantly scream and pester the players' ears some more.
At least it's Catwoman and she is even more fun to play in Arkham Knight than Arkham City. Sadly though, the DLC so not only short but is tedious due to the number of enemies in Riddler's lair. It's so easy that it becomes a slog to get through.
Multiplayer Content (Arkham Origins)
Arkham Origins once featured a rather unique form of online competitive multiplayer. However, people quickly lost interest, and over time, the servers lost numbers.
The worst part about the multiplayer was how much it relied on microtransactions for upgrades and cosmetics. Pay to win is already bad but then it gets worse when the multiplayer content won't work anymore now that the servers have been deactivated.
Red Hood Pack (Arkham Knight)
It was only inevitable that Red Hood, as voiced by Troy Baker, would join Arkham Knight. Red Hood is a huge fan favorite and since Robin, Catwoman, Knightwing, Batgirl, and Azrael were all great in their own ways, Red Hood was highly anticipated.
Red Hood's combat was slow, clunky, and felt very awkward to handle. Combined with a DLC story that can be beaten in ten minutes, Jason Todd seemed to have bad luck with the game.
GCPD Lockdown (Arkham Knight)
Poor Nightwing AKA the original Robin was sidelined into nothing more than an AI partner in the main game. With his GCPD Lockdown story, he had his chance to shine but unfortunately, it wasn't even a story. GCPD Lockdown is essentially one Predator challenge map that happens to have cutscenes at the beginning and end.
Nightwing's gameplay itself is an improvement but everything else is rushed and unsatisfying. The concept of the Penguin and his men controlling the GCPD with Nightwing infiltrating is a good one. Instead, the story feels like it was rushed out before it was properly finished.
Iconic But Useless Batmobiles (Arkham Knight)
While fans felt that the Batmobile was overused in the Arkham Knight campaign, it was still a fun way to traverse Gotham City. One of the Batmobile's standout functions was the ability to turn into a tank much like Ben Affleck's Batmobile.
So this made things rather aggravating when iconic Batmobiles such as the Tumbler and other movie Batmobiles were introduced only to have no functioning weapons. These Batmobiles were exclusively for doing racing challenges which made the option to use them in the open world useless. It made the DLC Batmobiles feel tacked on and lazily designed.