The upcoming open-world superhero title Gotham Knights will feature skill trees similar to the Batman: Arkham games, but the system will be even more robust. While Batman: Arkham Origins developer WB Games Montreal is creating Gotham Knights, the upcoming title is unrelated to Rocksteady's beloved series. The game will instead be set in a brand-new adaptation of Gotham City with Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing and Red Hood defending it following Batman's mysterious death. Recently-revealed Gotham Knights' Nightwing and Red Hood gameplay teases the game's ability trees, and they sound quite similar to Batman: Arkham's system.
Upgrades changed slightly throughout the Batman: Arkham series, but the system remained largely the same through all four titles. In Batman: Arkham Asylum the Dark Knight earns experience by beating up bad guys or completing Riddler challenges, and leveling up lets the player unlock any item from the ability menu. These skills can include new stealth takedowns, enhanced combat moves, additional gadget functions and more. Arkham City used a more tree-like system, with some skills locked until others are obtained, and Arkham Knight leans even further into this progressive tree setup. Through upgrades the notorious Batman: Arkham combat system gets more complex over time, and gadget upgrades give the Caped Crusader access to new areas or stealth tactics.
While the game has yet to release, WB Games Montreal suggests that the game will feature an ability tree system similar to later Batman: Arkham games. Each of the game's four heroes has three separate trees at their disposal, with each containing new moves and improved stats to unlock. These three separate trees allow players to recognize which aspect of a character they like the most and focus on it early in the game. For example, Red Hood players can focus on improving either relentless melee attacks or long-range pistol moves. Unlocking new Red Hood abilities in Gotham Knights will greatly affect the vigilante's performance, with momentum abilities and a late-game Knighthood tree having a particularly dramatic impact on gameplay.
Gotham Knights Is Expanding On Batman: Arkham Upgrades
Gotham Knights is implementing a system similar to the Batman: Arkham titles, though the upcoming game looks much more expansive. The Arkham games made a wide range of abilities available to unlock right from the start, letting players prioritize certain areas like combat, stealth, traversal or Batmobile performance. Gotham Knights will likewise let players invest in three separate trees early on, meaning that every player should find at least one ability worth unlocking. By offering a total of twelve different trees across four characters, plus bonus momentum abilities and Knighthood trees, Gotham Knights progression looks much more robust than its Batman: Arkham predecessors. The game even gives Red Hood magic jump abilities, proving how unique these skill trees can get.
The Batman: Arkham games do contain role-play elements, but their upgrade trees are typically just a list of available skills. Gotham Knights, meanwhile, will give each character three separate ability trees that progress logically and unlock new skills over time. By leaning hard into role-play elements, Gotham Knights promises to be be an even more robust and personal experience than its Batman: Arkham predecessors.