The popular DC fighting games Injustice and Injustice 2 recently received their own animated feature-length film. Inspired by the games, the movie loosely follows the same plotline of Superman becoming evil, with Batman and his allies having to stop him. While the Injustice storyline is good, arguably the best stories told in DC video games are from the popular Arkham franchise.
In 2009, developer Rocksteady Studios released Batman: Arkham Asylum with critical acclaim. Not only was the gameplay praised for its fluid combat, but the story was incredibly mature and compelling, especially compared to other superhero games of the time. The game opens with Batman sending the Joker, voiced by the iconic Mark Hamill, to Arkham Asylum. But things drastically escalate when all the villains break out and wreak havoc on the island, leaving Batman to take them down one by one.
Superhero stories featuring multiple villains can often feel crowded and unfocused, however, Batman: Arkham Asylum was able to fit every villain naturally into the story. And with the inclusion of voice actor Kevin Conroy, who played Batman in the '90s Batman: The Animated Series, the Arkham character feels close to the one many people grew up with.
While Batman: Arkham Asylum is full of so much content that it would at the very least need its own movie, there are two other Rocksteady Batman sequels with equally, if not more, compelling stories. Batman: Arkham City took the franchise to a fully open world, once again receiving critical acclaim. The game starts with Bruce Wayne being thrown into Arkham City, a walled-off section on Gotham where criminals run rampant. Much like the first game, Batman must go around dealing with villains one by one, but what makes Arkham City stand out are the performances. Mark Hamill's portrayal of the Joker is movie-quality acting, with he and the Dark Knight coming to an emotional conclusion that solidifies the game as one of the best Batman/Joker stories ever told.
Finishing off the Arkham series is Batman: Arkham Knight, which goes all-in with the cinematic storytelling. Facing his biggest threat yet, Batman must stop Scarecrow from terrorizing the entire city with his fear toxin, all while confronting his own inner demons. With so many Batman adaptations out there, very few actually follow Batman up to the end of his career, but Batman: Arkham Knight offers a fitting end that's full of emotion and tears. It also features cutscenes with performances that make it feel like players are watching a movie.
While there are other notable Arkham games, such as Batman: Arkham Origins, a prequel developed by WB Games Montreal, the main three Arkham games offer a complete package. And it would definitely be a big commitment adapting the games, as each is jam-packed with at least ten plus hours of content and important story. But even just loosely following the main plotline would please fans and bring these incredible Batman stories to a wider audience.