How Long After Arkham Asylum Is Arkham City (And Why)?

How Long After Arkham Asylum Is Arkham City (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 18 months

Both Arkham Asylum and Arkham City are action-adventure video games that revolve around the Batman universe, which was first introduced by DC Comics. Apart from the mentioned two, there are many games in the Batman: Arkham series, which follow a particular timeline of events.

The Batman: Arkham series of games include Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, Arkham Origins Blackgate, Arkham Knight, Assault on Arkham, and Arkham Origins.

The Batman: Arkham video game series was released by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and created by Rocksteady Studios and WB Games Montréal. Some of the platforms on which you can play the aforementioned Batman: Arkham video games are Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and more.

How Long After Arkham Asylum Is Arkham City

How Long After Arkham Asylum Is Arkham City?

S. No.Chronological order of eventsOrder of release
1Arkham OriginsArkham Asylum
2Arkham Origins BlackgateArkham City
3Assault on ArkhamArkham Origins
4Arkham AsylumArkham Origins Blackgate
5Arkham CityAssault on Arkham
6Arkham KnightArkham Knight

With respect to the order of release, Arkham Asylum was released first in 2009. Next was Arkham City in 2011. Next were Arkham Origins and Arkham Origins Blackgate in 2013. Next was Assault on Arkham in 2014. Released last was Arkham Knight in 2015.

Despite the order of release, the events within the games followed a specific order. The chronological order of the games is Batman: Arkham Origins, Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, then Batman: Assault On Arkham, then Batman: Arkham Asylum, then Batman: Arkham City, and lastly, Batman: Arkham Knight.

The events that occur in the Batman: Arkham City video game happen approximately 18 months after the events that occur in the Batman: Arkham Asylum video game.

The games are set in Arkham, a completely gated-off district within Gotham city. It is most popularly known as a huge prison city. Although Arkham is well within the limits of Gotham city, it is essentially sealed off from Gotham, making it an area of its own. Arkham, unlike Gotham, is a high-security prison, which was intended to hold all the criminals in one space.

Arkham City

Batman: Arkham Asylum revolves around the superhero, Batman, who fights against Joker, his archenemy. The Joker plans to carry out his plot to take over Arkham Asylum. In addition, the Joker plans to trap Batman and the occupants of the asylum inside, while simultaneously planting hidden bombs across Gotham city, to harass and threaten the citizens.

Batman: Arkham City follows the story of Batman, who is now imprisoned in Arkham City. In this game, he must defeat all odds to investigate and reveal a well-guarded secret regarding a scheme, harbored by Hugo Strange, the genius psychiatrist who controls the super-prison that is Arkham City. Meanwhile, Batman also has to put an end to the chaos caused by his fellow inmates.

Why Does Arkham City Take That Long To Take Place After Arkham Asylum?

In Batman: Arkham Asylum, Joker is transported to the asylum after being caught by Batman for assaulting Gotham City Hall. With the help of Harley Quinn, the Joker escaped into the asylum and threatens the citizens of Gotham City, that he would detonate the hidden bombs in the city if anyone dares to enter Arkham. Batman then learns that the Joker purposefully entered the facility to gain access to Penelope Young’s Venom drug, which he wants to use to build a large army of superhuman minions. Despite Batman destroying the drug’s formula, Joker gets a hold of the finished drug from his production facility in Arkham. After traveling to obtain the ingredients for an antidote for the drug, Batman and Joker are injected with the Titan formula, but Batman uses the antidote and defeats Joker in the process. The ending of this game hints at the next game, Batman: Arkham City, by introducing the warlord, Two-Face, and his crime, as Batman travels to defeat him.

Arkham City

In Batman: Arkham City, we are shown that the newly appointed mayor of Gotham City, Quincy Sharp, is hauling off people with even the smallest trace of a criminal record to Arkham City prison. This includes Batman, who held a public rally against Sharp’s proposal to turn a portion of the city into an isolated prison for potential criminals. After he is shipped off to Arkham City, he must reveal and prevent Hugo Strange’s secret plan to destroy the whole of Arkham city, killing the criminals. After encountering many hurdles on his way, Batman travels to the Wonder Tower to disable the destruction of Arkham City, and save everyone. In the end, Joker dies because Titan’s formula has mutated inside his blood.

Hence, the aforementioned events are the reasons why Arkham Asylum takes place 18 months before Arkham City.

Conclusion

To conclude, Batman: Arkham City occurs approximately 18 months after Batman: Arkham Asylum. During this timeline, Batman goes from fighting the Joker and his foes to prevent him from taking over the Arkham Asylum in Batman: Arkham Asylum, to being imprisoned in Arkham City and preventing Hugo Strange from carrying out his secret masterplan, in Batman: Arkham City.

According to many forums, the Arkham games are suitable for people aged 13 years or above. But some of the games contain realistic violence and real-time interactivity with other players, so some of the content can only be suitable for people aged 16 years or beyond.

If you are an avid DC universe fan or a Batman fan, it is advised that you play the games in their chronological order, as opposed to their order of release, in order to enjoy the complete experience.

References

  1. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/oa-edit/10.4324/9781003035466-13/road-arkham-asylum-james-fleury
  2. https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/arkham-epic/157021
  3. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10383441.2015.1119777

Last Updated : 23 February, 2024

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26 thoughts on “How Long After Arkham Asylum Is Arkham City (And Why)?”

  1. The characters’ depth and the intricate plotlines make the Arkham series a thrilling experience for fans of the Batman universe. It’s truly an immersive journey through the world of Gotham City and its iconic heroes and villains.

  2. The storylines of Arkham Asylum and Arkham City are captivating and complex, offering players an in-depth narrative to explore. The plot development keeps fans invested in the gaming experience.

  3. It’s impressive how the games were released, with each building on the events of the previous ones. The methodical release order adds depth to the overall narrative and captivates the player.

    1. I agree, the build-up of the story across multiple games provides a truly immersive experience for fans of the Batman universe.

  4. The universe of Batman: Arkham offers an immersive and thrilling gameplay environment that captures the essence of the original comics. It’s a well-crafted narrative journey for fans of the Dark Knight.

  5. The chronological order of the games is an interesting aspect to consider. It helps fans understand the flow of the storyline and appreciate the interconnected nature of the games.

    1. Absolutely, seeing the events unfold in chronological sequence offers a new perspective on the plot developments and character interactions.

  6. I’m intrigued to see how the events in Arkham City unfold, especially with the establishment of the isolated prison and the new challenges that Batman faces. It’s a compelling continuation of the narrative.

  7. The transition from Arkham Asylum to Arkham City presents an evolution of the storyline, introducing new conflicts and expanding the scope of the narrative. It’s a testament to the intricacy of the game’s design.

  8. The games being set in Arkham, a prison city, generate a unique atmosphere that adds depth to the gameplay. It’s fascinating to explore this closed-off district within Gotham City.

  9. The rich storytelling and intertwined plots of the games make for an engaging experience. The events of Arkham City occurring approximately 18 months after Arkham Asylum provide a well-structured progression in the series.

  10. The Arkham video games are an excellent portrayal of the Batman universe, where players live out the role of the caped crusader. The timeline and order of events follow a compelling storyline and make for an engaging experience.

    1. I completely agree. These games are a must-play for any Batman fan and really bring the character and universe to life in a thrilling way.

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