Honestly, I can only recommend this if you're willing to spend OVER *20 HOURS* of your time lackadaisically getting all the achievements for this game. This is only a good game for you if you've already entirely beat and love the other Batman Arkham games and want more Completionist cred' on your Steam profile. If you even bother to get all the achievements, you are committing to THREE playthroughs of the entire game. You WILL get bored - but maybe that's worth it to you.

Other reviews have already said: the story/cutscenes are good, but the combat is impact-less, the map is HORRIBLE, and exploration is lame and like a point-and-click adventure. Play ANY of the other Arkham games before choosing this. This is the bottom of the barrel of Batman content. There is no replay value here, especially once you've beaten it 3 times and found and scanned all the crap - you will never come back to this game.

Overall, I don't regret playing and experiencing it, just get it on sale if you're bored.

Recommended when 75% off or more.

The game in general is alright to playthrough. If you liked the other Batman games, you’ll find this alright. It’s fun actually to play Batman in some sort of 2D (2,5D) world. The story is nothing special and the abilities and gadgets you get are limited.

But… This is why it’s only recommended when 75% off (and I think the Steam rating (mixed) is a perfect reflection of this game):
The game is notoriously inconsistent. I play(ed) through it with a controller. Certain key combinations that need to be pressed to perform certain actions differ every now and then. For example when entering an air vent or when dropping down from a higher area in the game. Sometimes you need to press x,y,z and sometimes you don’t. Or sometimes you only need to press one of the keys from the otherwise 2 keys you need to press to perform that certain action.

Sometimes it is really obvious what you need to do, but Batman won’t do it. Why not? You haven’t used ‘detective mode’ yet in which it will tell you what to do. You figured it out already because you roughly know the series from before. Now you’re stuck and after a while you think: “Let’s use detective mode, because clearly I must be missing something else.” Well, you don’t. The game just needs your confirmation you're on the same page and uses detective mode to verify this. At least that is something, once you know it, you can adapt to.

Graphics are a bit dissapointing too. For a game from 2014 which in essence is a glorified sidescrolling action game you ought to expect a little bit more. Arkham Asylum from 2009 and fully 3D looks better.
And someone should really explain to me why those spikes in the ground are in the game. If you use the detective mode it will give an explanation which is absolute rubbish. It's just annoying and placed in spots that also make no sense at all.

All in all I do have fun playing through this. It's just by no means worth full price and they really could have done a better job polishing this game. Hence, for the full price ($20), with all the things mentioned and a game that is now hitting 11 years I can't recommend it. $5 Or less is a no-brainer if you like the genre.

⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)

Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate - Deluxe Edition is an expanded version of the original Blackgate handheld game, bringing a 2.5D Metroidvania-style experience to consoles and PC. Developed by Armature Studio, this side-scrolling spin-off of the Arkham series attempts to capture the franchise’s signature combat and detective elements in a smaller, more contained world. While it has some good ideas, it doesn’t fully live up to its Arkham predecessors.

🦇 Story & Setting
Set after Batman: Arkham Origins, the game follows Batman as he investigates an uprising at Blackgate Prison, involving familiar villains like Joker, Penguin, and Black Mask. The story is told through comic-style cutscenes, which fit the tone well but lack the cinematic flair of the mainline games. The prison setting, while atmospheric, can feel repetitive after a while.

🥋 Gameplay & Combat
The game uses a side-scrolling approach instead of the usual open-world format, making it feel more like a Metroidvania than a traditional Arkham title. The free-flow combat system is still present but feels less fluid due to the 2.5D perspective. Stealth sections and detective mode add variety, but they’re not as polished or satisfying as in the main Arkham games.

🔍 Exploration & Progression
Like classic Metroidvania games, certain areas are inaccessible until you acquire new gadgets (e.g., the Batclaw or explosive gel). While this design encourages exploration, backtracking can feel tedious, especially without a detailed map. Some sections require excessive scanning in Detective Mode to progress, slowing down the pacing.

🎧 Visuals & Sound
The Deluxe Edition improves graphics from the original handheld release, adding better textures and lighting, but it still doesn’t match the quality of the mainline Arkham games. The voice acting is solid, featuring Roger Craig Smith as Batman and Troy Baker as Joker, but the limited animation in cutscenes holds back the narrative impact.

✅ Pros:
✔️ Interesting Metroidvania take on the Arkham formula
✔️ Strong voice acting and engaging story moments
✔️ Signature Arkham combat and stealth mechanics

❌ Cons:
❌ Combat and movement feel clunky in 2.5D
❌ Lots of tedious backtracking with limited map guidance
❌ Lacks the depth and polish of other Arkham games

Final Verdict:
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate - Deluxe Edition is an ambitious attempt to bring Arkham gameplay into a side-scrolling format, but it falls short of the series’ high standards. While die-hard Batman fans may enjoy the story and exploration, casual players may find it frustrating and repetitive.

🔥 3/5 — A decent but underwhelming Arkham spin-off.