Gotham Knights is an upcoming game from developer WB Games Montréal, the studio who developed 2013's Batman: Arkham Origins. While Arkham Origins was set in Rocksteady Studios' Arkham series, Gotham Knights is set to be a fresh new take on the Batman mythos. It will focus on the Dark Knight's closest allies in a world where the caped hero has seemingly died.
Not much is known about Gotham Knights other than its four playable heroes and open-world gameplay. The Court of Owls, a shadowy organization created in 2011 by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, will reportedly be the game's main threat. However, it has also been confirmed that other Batman rogues, such as Mr. Freeze, will receive their own unique storylines. With the Arkham games featuring a number of iconic rogues, WB Games Montréal has the opportunity to both introduce brand new villains and put a unique spin on some familiar faces.
1. Prometheus
Prometheus is a long-time but relatively unknown DC villain, with multiple incarnations of the character squaring off against the Justice League, Batman and Green Arrow over the years. The best-known version of the character, the son of two professional criminals who are gunned down by law enforcement in front of their son's eyes, acts as a dark reflection of Batman himself.
Prometheus is referenced in Batman: Arkham Asylum, but the character has never physically appeared in a video game. This relative obscurity, coupled with the amount of danger he poses to even experienced heroes like the Justice League, makes him a perfect candidate to appear in Gotham Knights. The character's status as a dark reflection of Batman could also be an interesting idea to explore in a world with a now-deceased Caped Crusader.
2. Ventriloquist
Another relatively obscure villain, Arnold Wesker is a meek and harmless man who acts as the ventriloquist for a dummy, the violent mob boss Scarface. Like many of Batman's rogues, the Ventriloquist is a member of organized crime but possesses a strange theatrical twist.
Although the dummy Scarface appears briefly in Arkham Asylum and its sequels, Arnold Wesker never makes an appearance. As one of Batman's older and more interesting villains, Ventriloquist would make a good fit for Gotham Knights. A slightly more modern version of the character, which instead features female ventriloquist Peyton Riley in the employ of Scarface, could also be used instead.
3. Clayface
Clayface is a name used by a lineage of Batman rogues, each with a different backstory and skillset. The original and best-known Clayface is Basil Karlo, a B-list actor who is driven murderously insane when he is recast for a film remake. After a team-up of multiple Clayfaces, many of whom possess superhuman abilities, Karlo injects himself with their blood to become a shapeshifting monstrosity.
Clayface makes a memorable cameo in Arkham Asylum and abruptly shows up as the final boss of Arkham City. However, given Clayface's long history and unique abilities, there's a lot that WB Games Montréal could do with the character in Gotham Knights. Featuring a Clayface other than Basil Karlo could be interesting, and the character's shapeshifting powers could make for a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with the young heroes.
4. Scarecrow
Scarecrow, the villainous alias of former psychology professor Jonathan Crane, is perhaps Batman's most dangerous psychological foe. Employing a powerful "fear gas," Crane is able to make his victims hallucinate their greatest fears. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, the creators of Batman, Scarecrow is one of the Dark Knight's oldest foes.
Unlike the previously named villains, Scarecrow is far from underutilized. He is perhaps the most memorable part of Arkham Asylum, stalking Batman throughout the game and repeatedly drugging him to trigger outlandish nightmare sequences. After an absence from Arkham City, Crane returned as the main villain in Arkham Knight, setting into motion a plot to destroy Gotham and break the Batman.
While he has appeared before, a return appearance from Scarecrow in Gotham Knights could be interesting due to the four different playable characters. Encountering Scarecrow -- and inevitably fighting through a fear gas hallucination -- could be a unique experience for each character.
5. Ra's al Ghul
The Head of the Demon and the master of the League of Assassins, Ra's al Ghul is one of Batman's deadliest and most persistent enemies. Created in 1971 by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Neal Adams, Ra's al Ghul has risen to become arguably the greatest Batman villain after the Joker. An international terrorist who seeks to bring about global stability, the Demon's Head uses rejuvenating Lazarus Pits to prolong his life by several centuries.
Despite being considered Batman's most powerful foe, Ra's al Ghul was featured only sparingly in the Arkham games. He has a fairly large role in Arkham City, but returns only in a brief downloadable side mission in Arkham Knight. As a major Batman villain, Ra's deserves the spotlight in a game based on the franchise's mythos. His relationship with Batman's supporting cast, particularly Red Hood who is brought back to life using one of Ra's Lazarus Pits, would also be interesting to explore.
While Arkham Origins was divisive upon release, many of the game's criticisms stemmed from living under the shadow of Rocksteady's established franchise. The title also had many redeeming qualities, which will hopefully shine through in the developer's next project. With Gotham Knights, WB Games Montréal has a chance to create its own version of Gotham, Batman and his rogues. With villains new and old confirmed to show up in the title, only time will tell which supervillains rise to challenge the Knights.