3/5 ★ – JudexPurus's review of Gotham Knights.

Gotham Knights is an action role-playing game released in 2022, and follows four young proteges of Batman in Nightwing, Batgirl, Red Hood and Robin, who must investigate the circumstances around the death of their mentor. While not linked to the very successful Arkham games, Gotham Knights borrows many of the same mechanics and penchant for storytelling. The story is very immersive, with dynamic cut scenes and intricate characters but sadly, in its attempt to deviate from the previous games’ successful formats Gotham Knights fails to leap the bar previously set. I am a fan of the Batman character and lore and will always jump at the chance to delve into the universe no matter the developers or storylines. I was excited to give Gotham Knights a go, and while I really enjoyed the storyline and gameplay, it did at times feel clunky and predictable. The player can switch control of the characters, which doesn’t change the outcome of the story but does alter cutscenes and dialogue here and there. Additionally, varying characters allow for different styles of combat and varying skin customization, a refreshing departure from the Arkham series. A major strength for Gotham Knights is its multiplayer ability, where players can drop in and out of campaigns to assist in missions as they please. It made the gameplay much better when I played with my brother, as you can navigate a mission with stealth or all out brawling. I do have a bias for these types of games, and I know it was poorly received, however I found this game enjoyable enough for a one time playthrough. I am not committed enough to complete ALL trophies in a game, so I’m not going to finish the story with each character, but it was fun to alternate between them as I progressed through the story. I was also surprised and impressed that Gotham Knights included subtle hints towards Timothy Drake’s sexuality, which if I recall was a new revelation in the comic books at the time of the release. This wasn’t done to be a forced inclusivity quota but was done tastefully and not in a way that overshadowed any elements of the story. It was representation that I had previously not experienced in the Batman gaming universe. Gotham Knights is an enjoyable enough game that doesn’t offer much replay value.