Looking for games like Gotham Knights? The new DC Comics game is upon us, and if you want a taste of superhero action once you've finished, we've rounded up some recommendations for a bunch of games that'll give you the superpowered feeling of being the city's protector, all from the safety of your games console.
In this list, we'll break down our recommendations of games like Gotham Knights. Our picks are based on similar combat, themes, and superhero storylines from trailers, interviews, and more. They'll keep you nice and busy until you get your hands on Gotham Knights.
Games like Gotham Knights
- Marvel's Spider-Man
- Batman: Arkham Knight
- LEGO DC Super-Villains
- Mad Max
- Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
- Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order
Marvel's Spider-Man
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+ 6First on our list is arguably the wall-crawler's best adventure yet. Insomniac Games' spin on Spidey provided the definitive web-swinging mechanic, as well as bouncy Arkham-inspired combat that stays true to the sleek, agile fighting style of the character.
Released in 2018 on PS5 and available on PS5 and PC, Marvel's Spider-Man starts off as a regular adventure as you take on Mister Negative, but soon becomes much more character-driven and laden with familiar enemies.
But none of it would click (or stick?) without the effortless traversal mechanics. With some of the best web-swinging we've seen in the franchise yet, zipping around New York, running up walls, and laying waste to an unsuspecting pack of thugs never gets old.
If you like this one, there's even the shorter Miles Morales spin-off out there already and a sequel on the way. On top of Insomniac's own upcoming Wolverine game, Spider-Man on PS4, PS5, and PC truly kickstarted a new era of Marvel games.
Batman: Arkham Knight
click to enlarge + 6Of course, Batman Arkham: Knight is perhaps the most obvious recommendation to play prior to Gotham Knights. While Rocksteady's most recent game may not take place in the same continuity as Gotham Knights, its developer WB Games Montreal is no stranger to the Arkham universe. Having previously made 2013's Batman: Arkham Origins, you'll want to catch up on Arkham Knight before playing.
The first bona fide next-gen Batman game, the main gimmick of Arkham Knight is the fully controllable Batmobile, which roars through the desolate streets of a Gotham City ravaged by Scarecrow's fear toxin. It's the most extensive Batman simulator yet, combining the classic rooftop ziplining with the fearsome presence of the Bat's super tank.
The Arkham series is renowned for its two-button combat, and Arkham Knight took that one step further with instant chain takedowns to clear rooms effortlessly. There's no doubt that Arkham Knight is the blueprint for Gotham Knights' combat and open world, so it's a no-brainer to give it a go beforehand.
LEGO DC Super-Villains
click to enlarge + 6If the characteristically dingy aesthetics of the DC universe leave you wanting something a bit lighter, then the everlasting LEGO series has you covered. We've had three standalone LEGO Batman games, but the most recent entry focused on everyone's favourite DC baddies. In a world where the Justice League have disappeared, it's up to the villains to keep the peace.
The breadth of choice has always been a strength for the LEGO games, and DC Super-Villains is no different. You've got expected stars like The Joker and Lex Luthor, but with a cast of 250+ characters to play as, it's a DC fan's dream. Want to play as Clock King or even Music Meister? Go for it.
Of course, the gameplay isn't as action-heavy as other DC games. Anyone familiar with other LEGO games will know what to expect, but that's where the comfort factor comes in. If you need something easy to switch your brain off to, LEGO DC Super-Villains is more than capable.
Mad Max
click to enlarge + 62009's Batman: Arkham Asylum revolutionised hand-to-hand combat mechanics, but very few games tried to mimic the two-button strike and counter system. One game that did so was 2016's Mad Max game: itself a loose tie-in to Mad Max: Fury Road from the year before. While there's much more of a focus on vehicular combat, the heavy hits of Arkham's combat returns here.
Widely considered a vastly underrated open-world adventure, you play as the ever-grumpy wasteland dweller Max Rockatansky. The game opens with him losing he beloved Magnum Opus car, so you spend the rest of the story slowly building a new desert-rider to strike fear into bandits hidden in the dunes.
With a vast wasteland to explore and intense dynamic weather such as hulking sandstorms, it's a very accurate ode to the fils and their brutal tone. Of course, it also retains the two-button combat from the Arkham series, so if you want a refresher on it prior to Gotham Knights, Mad Max can do the trick.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
click to enlarge + 6The success of the Batman Arkham games didn't only lead to plenty of spin-offs like Gotham Knights, but reinvigorated the superhero game genre more broadly. As such, we've had games on most popular heroes: including last year's adventure starring the Guardians of the Galaxy.
In this game from Square Enix you only get to play as Star-Lord, with the other Guardians available to execute combo moves alongside you. Fortunately, Peter Quill is a more than capable protagonist, with nimble twin blasters and jet boosters to add some verticality to the combat.
The story of this game is also worth seeing out. Featuring cameos from some of your favourite Marvel heroes and a cosmic story the likes of which the MCU is still building up to, focused single-player narrative games like this are a dime a dozen nowadays, so seek out Guardians of the Galaxy if you can.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order
click to enlarge + 6Our last pick, for now, is another co-op superhero brawler. The latest entry in the enduring RPG series, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, released in 2019 exclusively for Switch. It loosely follows the Infinity Gauntlet storyline as you attempt to stop Thanos and his minions from collecting the Infinity Stones to destroy the universe, but expansions take it beyond that as well.
The best part of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 is the sheer range of characters on offer. From the Avengers to the X-Men, this game isn't bogged down by the licensing troubles that have impacted the Marvel films. As such, you can tackle levels with Daredevil, Venom, Wolverine, or even Ghost Rider.
The combat isn't as precise as Gotham Knights appears to be, but the game makes up for it with deep RPG customisation mechanics and plenty of varied worlds to explore and bosses to take down. It's a Marvel fan's dream game - and if you're a DC fan and don't mind hopping across the divide briefly, it'll give you a great time.
And that's it for our look at some games like Gotham Knights. With these, you'll enjoy plenty of superhero stories and gnarly combat, which should keep you busy until the game launches. We've also got a list of the best free action games for even more adrenaline-fuelled experiences!
Elsewhere, feel free to check out our picks of games like The Callisto Protocol if you love intergalactic survival horror. On top of some games like The Last of Us and even the best free horror games, you'll never run out of new things to try.