19. Batman: Return of the Joker (NES)

Boasting some pretty gorgeous visuals for the humble NES, Batman: Return of the Joker borrowed a few elements from Tim Burton’s 1989 movie, but was ultimately an entirely separate take on the caped crusader. Its gameplay is an odd blend of ‘Castlevania meets Contra’, and with only 7 main levels clocking in at less than an hour (if you’re good), this is nevertheless a pretty cracking game.

18. Batman: The Brave and the Bold (DS)

Just like its Wii counterpart, Batman: The Brave and the Bold is the only non-Lego Batman game on the system, but it’s a fair bit different from its console sibling. Multiplayer might be stripped out, but this handheld take on the 2010’s cartoon shifts the emphasis from beat ‘em up to platformer with tight controls, and WayForward’s impressive visual style is on full show here, with bombastic special effects and beautiful comic book-style art on the bottom screen.

17. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (3DS)

As with many handheld ports of multi-platform offerings, LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes falls short of its console iterations. The handheld version loses the multiplayer aspect and doesn't bring any touchscreen controls or improvements with it. This is one definitely best experienced elsewhere.

16. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (Wii U)

Expanding the roster across the DC universe even more, Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham is Lego and Batman at their most ambitious. But while the series had been steady for a while, poor technical issues and gameplay aspects that were occasionally confusing, or otherwise streamlined, undermined what was otherwise a hilarious, jam-packed adventure. Maybe next time, eh Bats?

15. Batman: The Brave and the Bold (Wii)

Taking on a more of a cartoony aesthetic, Batman: The Brave and the Bold was based on the Cartoon Network TV series of the same name. Outside the LEGO games, it was the only Batman game to grace Nintendo’s motion controller marvel, but with its more family-friendly tone and simplistic gameplay it’s a respectable entry that may prove a good gateway to the world of Batman for younger audiences.

14. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Wii U)

The Wii U release of LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes may have been the last version to launch, but the ever-fun LEGO games always win through with their charm and co-op gameplay. Even when this port is virtually the same as the Wii and 3DS ones, smashing up LEGO bricks and seeing the pieces shatter all across this blocky, bricky Gotham is all simple, addictive joy. It's a bit of a shame nothing was added, and the GamePad functionality was subpar at best.

13. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Wii)

It's hard not to get excited for a game with the tagline "Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman — they're all here!", and the second LEGO Batman game does an excellent job of building on that excitement. This was the most open LEGO game to date, with tons to explore, and a bevy of DC characters to play as. For pure, unadulterated joy, the LEGO games are always the place to go, especially if you have someone else to play with.

12. Batman - The Telltale Series (Switch)

While Batman isn't Telltale's best comic book or graphic novel adaptation, Batman - The Telltale Series does a great job of balancing both the Dark Knight and the man behind the mask.

You get to see Bruce Wayne the man, not The Bat, more than in any other video game. And the developer's choice and consequence formula works in perfect harmony with the moral struggle Batman often encounters. The World's Greatest Detective had a pretty good home with Telltale for a while.

11. LEGO Batman (Wii)

Who’s afraid of the big blocky bat? Not Traveller’s Tales, whose first foray into Gotham proved to be a hit. Sequels to Lego Batman would expand the roster of characters and locations available, but this is a solid foundation for the Caped Crusader that carries all the hallmarks of the Lego Star Wars and Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures. That includes any existing issues with previous Lego games.

10. Batman: The Video Game (GB)

The game may have a fairly basic appearance as a result of being released in the early years of the handheld's life, but Sunsoft managed to add some variety to the locations and the gun-toting Batman sprite is amusing in its own way.

The game gets tougher later on but it doesn't feel overwhelming, and the Batwing levels are a great addition to the excellent platforming action found in the rest of the game. Overall, Batman: The Video Game on Game Boy is a decent facsimile of its bigger brother on NES and still a lot of fun to play through.