Batman: Arkham City
Action Adventure
Batman: Arkham City has more replay flexibility than Asylum, but choosing Easy can still complicate a completion plan. Normal or Hard is needed to unlock New Game Plus, and one watcher-related trophy should be earned before finishing his side mission. Post-story Gotham remains available for most cleanup. Keep Batman's campaign goals separate from the additional character challenges bundled with some editions.
QUICK ANSWER
What is Arkham City's main first-run planning trap?
Start on Normal or Hard if you want New Game+, and earn Catch before completing the watcher's side-mission chain. The city remains available for normal post-story cleanup. New Game+ is a separate harder campaign with carryover, not unrestricted chapter replay.
Compare games with missables →SPOILER-LIGHT PLANNING
Choose the right first campaign before the replay
Use these checkpoints to protect the playthrough without revealing the story's outcomes.
Avoid Easy when planning New Game+
Arkham City unlocks its replay from a Normal or Hard clear. An Easy discovery run can still be enjoyable, but it does not serve as the same completion shortcut; choose deliberately before investing in a long first campaign.
Get Catch before the watcher disappears
The mysterious watcher appears during his side-mission chain. Use the remote-controlled Batarang interaction required for Catch before completing that chain, while the opportunity is still available.
Use post-story exploration for Riddler work
Many objects depend on gadgets acquired later. Return with the developed toolkit and use the in-game regional information rather than attempting a perfect collectible sweep before every story mission.
Keep campaign and challenge goals distinct
New Game+ revisits the campaign with a harder rule set, while Riddler's Revenge tests combat and predator rooms. Extra playable-character medals in bundled DLC are additional work, not a reason to restart every story objective.
Content reviewed 2026-11-07. Arkham City's Batman campaign and base completion; bundled character and story DLC have extra requirements.
Buying Batman: Arkham City? Check the edition before ordering.
Confirm the platform, included content and physical format in the listing. Available editions can differ between sellers.
QUICK ANSWERS
Before you start
PLAYTHROUGH PLAN
Before You Start checklist
Set up your save plan
Batman: Arkham City relies on checkpoints or autosaves; finish risky activities before leaving and never assume an older state can be restored.
Protect the completion route
Missable content exists in Batman: Arkham City. Recheck quests, collectibles or companion tasks before advancing major story milestones.
Know the last safe checkpoint
Batman: Arkham City has no major point-of-no-return trap in the normal route, so progress can be paced without hoarding every task for one checkpoint.
Choose difficulty deliberately
Batman: Arkham City has difficulty-linked achievements or trophies, so choose your target before starting and avoid changes that invalidate it.
Budget 40–70h base platinum estimate
Use Batman: Arkham City's 40–70h base platinum estimate estimate as a planning range, not a promise. Exploration, difficulty and optional goals can move the total substantially.
Spoiler-free warning
Finish the first campaign on Normal or Hard to unlock New Game+. Earn Catch while the mysterious watcher still appears; completing his side mission closes that opportunity in the current route. Use post-story free roam for cleanup, not a nonexistent story-chapter menu.
BEGINNER GUIDE
10 things I wish I knew before starting
The useful systems, early mistakes and easily missed details worth understanding before you commit dozens of hours.
Start on Normal if NG+ matters
Normal qualifies for the replay unlock without requiring the first journey to be on Hard. Decide this before starting an Easy campaign that cannot provide the same unlock.
Use the grapple and glide together
Traversal becomes more efficient when launches, dives and glides work as one route. Practise movement between objectives rather than repeatedly dropping to street level.
Interrogate useful Riddler informants
Information can reveal local collection goals. Preserve the marked informant until other immediate threats are dealt with rather than knocking everyone out indiscriminately.
Return with later gadgets
Some trophies and puzzles depend on equipment unlocked during the story. Continue the main route when the necessary gadget is clearly absent instead of forcing an impossible early solution.
Protect the watcher interaction
Catch depends on a specific encounter opportunity. Complete it before finishing the watcher's chain so a long completed campaign is not your only remaining save state.
Mix freeflow actions carefully
Combat rewards sustained rhythm and varied responses. Add gadgets and takedowns when they fit the enemy state instead of breaking the combo to force every move at once.
Read predator challenges before entering
A room can ask for particular takedowns or conditions. Knowing the medal requirements early is more efficient than clearing the arena first and discovering a missed condition afterward.
Use side missions to vary the campaign
Many optional chains can wait for postgame. Follow interesting leads naturally rather than interrupting every main mission to clear the entire city percentage.
Expect NG+ to change defensive habits
The harder replay removes familiar counter assistance and expects knowledge of enemy behaviour. Learn the animations during the first campaign instead of relying only on icons.
Separate bundled DLC from the base list
Additional characters and Harley Quinn content add their own requirements. Check the trophy group before assuming every included challenge is necessary for the base platinum.
- Status
- Verified
- Last verified
- 2026-11-07
- Official: WB Games — Arkham City platforms and game
- Official: WB Games — Return to Arkham contents
- Official: WB Games — Switch trilogy FAQ
- Guide: PlayStationTrophies — campaign and Catch planning
- Guide: XboxAchievements — Return to Arkham roadmap
COMMON QUESTIONS
Batman: Arkham City FAQs
Does Easy unlock Arkham City New Game Plus?
No. Complete the first campaign on Normal or Hard for the NG+ unlock rather than assuming any story clear qualifies.
Can Catch be missed during a campaign?
Yes. Earn it while the watcher still appears in his side-mission chain; finishing that chain closes the immediate opportunity.
Can you free roam after the ending?
Yes. The city remains available for substantial side-mission and collectible cleanup after the main campaign.
Is challenge select the same as story-chapter select?
No. Challenge maps revisit their own combat or predator encounters, not any completed campaign scene you choose.
Does the base platinum need New Game Plus?
Yes. Its completion route includes the harder replay alongside campaign, collectible and challenge requirements.