The Batman: Arkham series includes some of the most popular superhero video games of all time, and it's down to creative use of the source material and fun gameplay. With an upcoming game focusing solely on some of the villains in the series rather than Batman himself, it is worth catching up on what's happened to all the major villains so far.
Undoubtedly Batman's most infamous foe is the Joker, and he appears heavily in the Arkham games. However, there is also a wide array of appearances from the other villains from the DC Comics universe. The developer takes great care in handling the villains of this series, and longtime Batman fans were excited to hear Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, voicing Batman and the Joker respectively, in the first two entries. Both of these voice actors, as well as Arlene Sorkin who voices Harley in the Batman: Arkham Asylum, are well remembered as part of the DC animated universe, and helped make the Batman: Arkham games as popular as they are.
The Joker
One of the most infamous comic book villains of all time, the Joker makes significant appearances in the Batman: Arkham games. As one of the main and reoccurring antagonists of the series, the Joker appears in Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Origins, and Batman: Arkham Knight. So cunning are the clown prince's schemes that they continue to wreak havoc in Arkham long after his death; the Joker dies in Arkham Asylum due to side effects from the Titan formula. This game also features a second Joker, who turns out to be Clayface in disguise.
The Joker is definitely dead in this franchise, though he has returned from the dead before. However, that is not the last appearance of the Joker. Batman: Arkham Origins was free to feature the Joker as much as it liked because it was a prequel game, but what is more telling of the Joker's legacy is his appearance in Batman: Arkham Knight. In this game, the Joker exists in Batman's mind due to Batman being poisoned with the Joker's blood. Eventually though, Batman regains control of his psyche and the Joker is trapped as an idea in Batman's head. That is the last appearance of the clown prince in this series, at least so far.
Harley Quinn
As Joker's second in command and a character that has only recently gained mainstream notoriety, Dr. Harleen Quinzel appears in Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Origins, and Batman: Arkham Knight. Unsurprisingly, Harley is left in an upset and volatile state after the death of the Joker, and vows revenge on Batman. The last time she's seen is at the end of Arkham Knight, where she's locked in a cell by Batman; this occurs following Harley assuming control of Joker's gangs and seeking to avenge him. Harley is set to reappear in the upcoming Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League game, which may transition Harley into an anti-hero role, as she has played in recent live-action DC films.
Aside from Deadshot, who makes brief appearances, Harley is the only member of the Suicide Squad that has appeared in numerous games in this series. A little of Harley's past as Dr. Quinzel is seen in Batman: Arkham Origins. All of this means Harley is set to be a central character in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, and it will be interesting to see how her character develops without the Joker in a story that doesn't focus around Batman.
Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, and the Penguin
Scarecrow is another major villain of this series, and his fear toxin frequently plays a big role in narrative events. He appears in all of the games except Batman: Arkham Origins, where only his name is mentioned. While his allegiances shift throughout the games, he is always acting in opposition to Batman, and the Scarecrow's fear toxin allows for some of the most imaginative segments in the games. At the end of Batman: Arkham Knight, Scarecrow has been exposed to his own fear toxin and is once again in custody.
Poison Ivy, everyone's favorite plant-lover, also plays a major role in this franchise. She is morally ambiguous throughout the games, as she's more dedicated to plants than humans. Like Scarecrow, she is only mentioned by name in Batman: Arkham Origins. Ivy is instrumental in stopping Scarecrow, as she is immune to his fear toxin. However, Ivy gives her life in order to stop the citywide spread of Scarecrow's fear toxin. Ivy's final words are "Nature... Always... Wins..."
While Penguin doesn't appear in Batman: Arkham Asylum, he does play a minor villain role throughout the series, and at the end of Batman: Arkham Knight he remains free in Gotham City. He appears somewhat disheveled in this game compared to previous titles.
GCPD Lock-up
As is customary at the end of any Batman adventure, most of the villains end up defeated by Batman and getting arrested. In the Batman: Arkham games, this includes Hugo Strange, Mr. Freeze, Two-Face, and the Riddler. These characters, and many more, play various roles throughout the series until they are ultimately locked up. The Riddler in particular added a fun element to the game in the form of puzzles, and so he hopefully will be making an appearance in future games - which is a possibility for any of these surviving villains. Clayface is also left incapacitated but alive at the end of Batman: Arkham Knight.
Two sometimes villains, Catwoman and the Arkham Knight himself, are still surviving at their last appearance in these games. Jason Todd has abandoned the Arkham Knight title and become the Red Hood, seemingly having found a better path. Catwoman has continually shifted between a villain and a hero, and the last time she's seen in this franchise is kissing Batman as he tells her goodbye forever. Considering she has a working relationship with both the criminals and crimefighters in Gotham, she could easily appear in any future Batman: Arkham games.