Disclosure: This is a paid guest post. The author or an affiliated third party paid for its publication, and the article may contain promotional links. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of GameTyrant or its editorial staff.
Disclaimer: The following content contains references to gambling, casinos, and related topics.
The Joker is one of the – perhaps the – most recognisable comic-book villains. His influence extends beyond Gotham, with clown antagonists and unpredictable characters seen in various gaming genres. And developers use the Joker, and Joker-like characters, very differently.
The best ever Batman games
Rocksteady Studios’ Batman: Arkham City is maybe the biggest example of the Joker starring in a game. It takes the number one spot for the highest-rated Batman game with a Metacritic Metascore of 96 (on PlayStation 3).
Mark Hamill returned as the Joker, whose deteriorating health drives the plot. A review from IGN praised the game’s scope and combat, as well as the “amazing opening” and “unbelievable ending”.
Batman: Arkham Asylum (also developed by Rocksteady) has a Metascore of 92 (PlayStation 3). The Joker takes over the main setting and forces Batman through a series of traps. Hamill’s famous voice performance once again gives the villain that distinctive mix of humour and menace. Reviews praised the atmospheric setting and tightly constructed combat.
Batman: Arkham Knight received a Metascore of 87 on PlayStation 4. Although the Joker is gone before the main events begin, he’s very much on Batman’s mind. Shown in cut scenes, the Joker is more of a psychological obstacle rather than an enemy in combat.
Away from Gotham
Game developers don’t always have the rights to use Batman characters, of course. But outside of Batman adaptations, they often use playing-card imagery, clowns, chaotic behaviour and unpredictable features to evoke the Joker archetype.
In Persona 5 Royal, for example, Joker is the codename of protagonist Ren Amamiya, not Batman’s nemesis. The game uses the name, as well as a similar rebellious character and masks and theatrical presentation.
And of course jokers are popular in card games, including console and PC versions. Balatro uses jokers as collectible modifiers that change scoring rules and encourage players to build combinations.
Casino games also draw on the tradition of clown characters and jokers. Platforms like SweepSpot Casino feature the Fire and Roses Joker slot. In these cases, clowns are used for their symbology and aren’t characters that affect the action as they are in Batman games.
Last year, Hardcore Gamer rated the best ever clowns in video games. Kefka in Final Fantasy 6 was called “the gold standard”. The character provided comic relief but also contributed to the unpredictable storyline. An intriguing inclusion was Beppi the Clown in Cuphead, a game known for its boss fights. (The Joker in the Batman series was ranked only 7th on the list.)
Meanwhile in film, the Joker character has been a huge box office smash in recent years. The 2019 film Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix in a unique take on the character, held the record for highest-grossing R-rated for five years (until Deadpool & Wolverine). Reviewers generally appreciated the daring nature of the Todd Phillips-directed movie. Its sequel, however, was widely seen as a critical and commercial failure.
More recently, there were Joker-themed Easter eggs to be found in Clayface. The director James Watkins discussed the crew’s enthusiasm about using props from Batman (1989).
