WB Games Montréal's Gotham Knights game has a bold premise, with players taking on the role of the Bat Family following Batman's death, and while some fans have been hoping that the Dark Knight isn't dead and will be featured as a secret playable character, doing so might cheapen the importance of the character's sidekicks in a game that should be dedicated to them. Since the revelation of Bruce Wayne's apparent death in the game's first trailer, many fans have been speculating as to whether Batman is really dead in Gotham Knights, or whether his death has been faked. There are even some fans hoping that a late-game reveal that Batman survived might include him as a secret or unlockable playable character.

It is understandable why many fans of the Dark Knight may be hoping for his inclusion as a playable character in Gotham Knights. Batman is not only one of DC Comics' most popular heroes, but also one of the most iconic comic book characters of all time. Batman has been influential in all forms of pop culture, including films, television shows, comic books, and video games. And with the upcoming film, The Batman, on the minds of many fans, plenty may wish to get the chance to play as Batman in an upcoming game.

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Although Gotham Knights isn't a Batman: Arkham sequel, and is instead set in a different continuity, the influence of that series may be felt on it in a number of different ways. Many players have become accustomed to how Batman plays in the Batman: Arkham games, so it makes sense that they would want to step back into the Dark Knight's more comfortable shoes in a Batman-adjacent title like Gotham Knights, especially now that Matt Reeves' The Batman will also be releasing in 2022. However, the Batman: Arkham games also helped to show off the potential of other members of the Bat Family with its DLC missions, such as the impressive Batgirl DLC in Batman: Arkham Knight, which helped to show just how great a Batman game could be when it takes the focus off of its titular hero and lets other members of the Bat Family shine.

Playable Batman Would Undermine Gotham Knights' Premise

Batman looking at the camera while recording a video

While Batman is a fantastic character that few players would complain about playing again, the popular hero has already had plenty of time in the spotlight. Not only was he the star of the Batman: Arkham trilogy and its prequel, Batman: Arkham Origins, he is also playable in several other DC games and crossover games, such as the upcoming WB MultiVersus. Batman's proteges, who are all excellent in their own right, have had much less time to be developed in video games, and Gotham Knights is the perfect opportunity to see them grow.

In DC Comics, as well as shows like Titans, some of Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, and Red Hood's best character development comes during the absence of Batman (for one reason or another), where they have to step up and work together to defend Gotham. This makes their characters and journeys perfect for Gotham Knights' co-op focused experience, and should also help the game to stand on its own and not just feel like a discount version of the Batman: Arkham games. Nightwing and Batgirl in particular have held their own comics series for years at a time over the past several decades, carving out their own identities away from the Dark Knight's shadow.

If Batman is indeed still alive in Gotham Knights, despite his apparent death, the game would benefit heavily from keeping him off the roster of playable characters. Shows like Batman Beyond prove that Bruce Wayne can be just as compelling as a mentor or in a supporting role, and WB Games Montréal's title could emulate that approach as well. Some players have also theorized that Bruce Wayne may actually be working with Batman villains the Court of Owls, and could therefore play a more antagonistic role, which could be an interesting way to bring back Batman without compromising the focus on the Bat Family in Gotham Knights.

Next: How Batman Changed Nightwing In Gotham Knights