Gotham Knights was released on Oct. 21, 2022, and while some Batman: Arkham fans may lament that an actual Arkham title is still a long way off, players are already finding its world to have plenty of Easter eggs, references and hidden details to uncover. Even so, it will struggle to compare to the sheer number of hidden features in the Batman: Arkham games.
Redditors have spent years searching tirelessly for these hidden details in every title from Batman: Arkham Asylum to Batman: Arkham Knightand sharing their findings with other fans. These are some of their most interesting discoveries from the action-packed and detail-filled superhero franchise.
Crazy Quilt Shop Front (Batman: Arkham Knight)
The Batman: Arkham games are renowned for their rich open worlds that make the player feel like they're in a real, lived-in city and so it would be easy to dismiss a random laundromat with an interesting sign. Luckily, Redditor cweaver had their eyes open when they noticed one with a sign that said "Quilt's Laundromat" and "Crazy Prices."
They suggest this is a reference to the lesser-known Batman villain Crazy Quilt and, with the series' habit of referencing obscure heroes and villains from the series, it's very likely the case. As Crazy Quilt has yet to have a feature significantly in the games as a character, this hidden shout-out will have to satisfy fans.
Overheard Militia Soldier Dialogue (Batman: Arkham Knight)
While the Batman: Arkham series is hardly the only one to hide details and Easter eggs around its map and various location in the game, it's rare that a game also hides a lot of hidden details in dialogue that the player has to be in the right place at the right time to hear. That's why Redditor hyabusa691 comments that they "love hearing the thugs talk in this game."
In one instance, they noticed a militia soldier say they'd far rather take over Gotham than Keystone because it's at least possible to see Batman coming. Keystone City has been the home of multiple iterations of The Flash in comic books and this random bit of dialogue seems to hint that the hero exists in the world of Batman: Arkham too.
Starro The Conqueror's Appearance (Batman: Arkham Knight)
In order to find one of Batman: Arkham Knights's most fun hidden details, the player needs to have the Batgirl: A Matter of Family DLC and do some thorough exploration to find the hidden room between the Ferris Wheel and The Great White. That's where Redditor HaouLeo found "the giant Seastar monster thing" trapped in a glass tank.
That giant monster is Starro the Conqueror, an immensely powerful mind-controlling alien supervillain. Starro isn't the most obscure villain in DC Comics but its incredible powers and odd shape mean the developers would likely struggle to give it a major role in the game. This eerie nod to the character hidden in the DLC is the perfect way to still include it.
A Hidden Batgirl Costume In The Clock Tower (Batman: Arkham Knight)
Since Batgirl became a playable character in the Arkham Knight DLC, references to her existence in the universe might not be as rare or intriguing now but that doesn't mean they don't make for cool hidden details. Redditor ChronX4 says the "secret Batgirl costume display" in the Clock Tower was the "one that I really liked."
If the player is able to find the secret entrance at the top of the tower and unlock the display inside, a panel opens revealing her suit and newspaper clippings about Barbara Gordon's heroic moments. Those small details help give it the feel of place that was never meant to be discovered by outsiders, making finding the secret all the more thrilling.
A Robin Reference (Batman: Arkham Asylum)
Even from the very first title in the series, hidden details were a defining feature of the Batman: Arkham games. Over a decade after Arkham Asylum's release, Redditor Toniosw "recently found one where Robin is referenced." By going to the Visitor Center after defeating Harley Quinn, the player is presented with a video message from the Joker.
In this piece of dialogue, the Joker asks Batman how the hero treats his staff and specifically refers to a certain employee in a "saucy outfit," which seems like a clear nod toward Batman's red-suited sidekick. Batman and Robin have an interesting relationship and finding subtle nods to it in the games is always entertaining.
The Happy Unicorn TV (Batman: Arkham Knight)
Often the more obscure and out-of-place a hidden detail is, the more interesting the explanation behind it. However, Redditor IalwayswinFlash7 is one of many players that found the perplexing "Happy Unicorn!" television screen in Arkham Knight and "never figured out" the meaning behind it.
Hidden in an area of Chinatown, a secret switch activates a screen that shows a colorful unicorn along with the "Happy Unicorn!" message. Strangely, the switch to activate it doesn't seem connected to anything, and the fact that there's no obvious connection between unicorns and the world of Arkham Knight means it's something of an oddity.
Fake Joker Hints (Batman: Arkham City)
Some Batman: Arkham villains may have overstayed their welcome but few can deny Joker's role in Arkham City wasn't one of the best parts of the game. What makes it particularly great for fans who love finding hidden details is that there are a ton of subtle hints to foreshadow that the healthy version of the Joker who appears is a fake.
Redditor lavigta noticed that "if you hang around long enough before going into the next room" when Harley Quinn seals off the area of the Sionis steel mill where Joker is, she can be heard saying to him "it's not really you Mr. J, is it?" Once the player finds out the truth, this odd hidden interaction suddenly has huge significance.
John Constantine's Supernatural Detective Agency (Batman: Arkham Knight)
Sometimes referred to as Hellblazer, John Constantine is a fan-favorite character from DC Comics and the Arkham series could hardly go without at least a nod to the occult detective. Redditor wawaboy2 was happy that they "found John Constantine's supernatural detective business. It was pretty cool since there was absolutely nothing to show off that it was special."
In fact, it's incredibly easy to miss the apparently closed-down shop with "John Constantine Paranormal Investigator" painted on the metal-paneled front window for anyone not looking closely enough. It's the lack of fanfare for a reference to such a major character that makes it such a satisfying detail to find.
A Secret Batsuit In Wayne Tower (Batman: Arkham Knight)
If there's one thing that Batman fans know to be suspicious of, it's prominently-placed statues beside bookshelves. In the case of the bust in Wayne Tower in Arkham Knight, it's no surprise that the player can interact with it, and open it up to reveal a scanner that confirms Batman's identity.
Redditor rperez2009 discovered that doing so causes "a batsuit and some batarangs [to] come out in tubes from the floor." Batman is nothing if not resourceful, so it makes sense that he keeps spare suits hidden close to home, or work in this case. This isn't the hardest-to-find hidden detail, but it's one that adds to the game's grounded portrayal of the character.
Batman's Missed Calls (Batman: Arkham Knight)
Proof that some of the most interesting hidden details in the Arkham games are audio rather than visual ones, the player can find an extremely fun Easter egg if they listen to the messages on Bruce Wayne's answering machine in Wayne Tower. One Redditor found it and was surprised to find he's received "some missed calls from Batwoman and Lex Luthor."
That's not all either, though the messages from a concerned Kat Kane and a frustrated Lex Luthor are two of the most interesting, as there are also ones from Vicki Vale and even the mischievous Joker. The voice-acting in Arkham games is always top-notch so hiding more lines like this for the player to find is one of the game's best tricks.
Source:gamerant.com