The Spirit of Arkham: An Underrated Side Mission of the Batman: Arkham series

Since Batman: Arkham Asylum came out 17 years ago, it launched a new chapter in the continuing story of the Dark Knight and made its mark on video game history, proving that superheroes had a place among couches and controllers.

With each new installment of the Arkham series, Gotham City grew larger and increasingly chaotic. Iconic villains like the Joker, the Penguin, and the Scarecrow took turns spreading fear and panic across the streets, leaving a mess that only Batman could clean up.

For comic book fans, seeing these legendary antagonists brought to life was a dream come true. Mr. Freeze’s showdown in Batman: Arkham City was so brilliantly designed that players almost unanimously agree it’s the best boss fight in the whole series. When it comes to community debates, the runner-up is usually Deathstroke in Batman: Arkham Origins (still waiting on that remaster from WB Games).

Beyond the main story, the games threw in numerous side missions to keep Batman busy on his never-ending crusade. Encounters featuring Arkham’s more eccentric rogues like Man-Bat, Professor Pyg, and the Mad Hatter became instant standouts for their unique, memorable storytelling.

But I’m going to take things to the next level (gotta love a good gaming pun). There is a side mission in the entire franchise I believe does not get enough attention from fans: The Spirit of Arkham from the original game.

Secrets Within the Asylum

Arkham veterans will no doubt recall the hours, weeks, or even months of frustration spent solving the Riddler's challenges. Edward Nigma forced Batman, and by extension, the player to complete tasks like throwing Batarangs to smash chattering Joker teeth, scanning parts of the environment to solve riddles, and, of course, hunting down those notorious green trophies. (Side note, raise your hand if you still haven't recovered from the racetracks in Arkham Knight).

But alongside those collectibles in the first game, Batman also had to find and decipher the Chronicles of Arkham: a set of 24 stone tablets hidden throughout the asylum. These sinister logs tell the tragic story of Amadeus Arkham, the asylum's founder, and his slow descent into grief and madness. However, as the recordings progress, a chilling realization sets in. Something about the speaker’s voice feels strangely familiar, and the timeline of these recordings might be much closer to the present day than it appears.

After discovering 23 tablets, there is no objective or pop-up icon on your map to guide you to the final recording. Instead, the game makes the player think like the World’s Greatest Detective: you must recall a previous encounter, retrace your steps, and return to where Batman last spoke with a specific character to complete the mission.

The ultimate reveal is a genuine shocker, remaining one of the eeriest, most atmospheric moments in the entire franchise. Looking back, I only wish this brilliant plot twist had been carried over into subsequent games with further development, rather than being treated as a narrative afterthought.

I will now turn things over to you: What’s your favorite side mission from the series? Do you have any fond memories of playing the Arkham games, or just being a Batman fan in general? Let me know in the comments below!