Batman - The Telltale Series and 6 more iOS Batman games
No sign of Wayneing
The first episode of Batman - The Telltale Series has finally hit the App Store after a protracted wait. PC and console gamers are just tucking into the second episode, but never mind.
Of course, this isn't the first Batman game to hit Apple's platform. Plenty have come and gone from the App Store over the past eight years - after all, we're talking about the world's favourite comic book hero here.
Old Bats does lend himself so very well to the videogame medium, too. He's a fearsome hand-to-hand fighter, the world's greatest detective, and a bit of a stealthy blighter to boot. Despite this he's completely vulnerable - what with being a human and all - so there's a natural limit to what he can do.
If Telltale's more narrative-driven take on Batman doesn't float your boat, here are six alternative Batman games currently available on iOS.
Batman: Arkham OriginsBatman - The Telltale Series too sedate for you? Then you'll be wanting Batman: Arkham Origins, a button-mashing brawler that focuses on The Bat's ability to crack skulls.
This being an Unreal Engine-powered NetherRealm Studios game, said skull cracking is rendered in wince-inducing clarity. It's quite the looker, even if it lacks the brains you might associate with one of the most intelligent fictional heroes in the business.
The Dark Knight RisesThe Dark Knight Rises sees Gameloft 'borrowing' from Rocksteady's fabulous Arkham trilogy of console games. Not a bad idea, given that they're three of the best Batman games ever made.
It's a competent job, with stealth and combat stirred together relatively fluidly. But it never quite raises itself above being a competent tribute, which is a shame, as is the game's grind-heavy IAP-fuelled structure.
Batman Arkham City LockdownLike Arkham Origins, Batman Arkham City Lockdown is a graphically impressive brawler from NetherRealm Studios (the maker of the Mortal Kombat series). Again, there's something of Infinity Blade to its screen-tapping one-on-one action.
The key advantage of Batman Arkham City Lockdown over its follow-up is that it's a premium game, so structurally it's a little more satisfying and less grindy.
Batman: Arkham UnderworldYou have to hand a little credit to Warner Brothers for allowing a different take on Batman after a couple of thematically similar swipey combat games. Batman: Arkham Underworld is more of a a strategy management game in the mould of Clash of Clans - and you don't actually get to 'be' Batman either. Brave move.
The game's all about building a criminal empire and conducting tactical raids on enemy turf. You may even get to take on The Dark Knight himself...
Injustice: Gods Among UsIt's another NetherRealm Bat-brawler! But wait, Injustice: Gods Among Us is a little different to the other two on this list. It's based on the popular console game of the same name, but it stirs in a card battler mechanic that's unique to the mobile version.
Unique, but not particularly great, unfortunately. We found the mechanics to be a repetitive slog with minimal skill requirement. Nice graphics, though.
Lego Batman: DC Super HeroesLego games are great. Batman is great. It stands to reason, then, that Lego Batman: DC Super Heroes on iOS is great. TT Games has provided pretty much the full console experience here.
That means a generous chunk of block-smashing, pip-collecting action. There are loads of unlockables, including some 80 DC Comics characters to play as besides The Dark Knight himself.