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Children of Arkham is a story-forward second chapter in Telltale’s five-episode Batman series. The review evidence points to a clear tradeoff: GameSpot reviewer Tamoor Hussain said the story advances while the gameplay takes a step back, specifically citing the absence of crime-scene investigation. That is one critic’s assessment, not a consensus. Whether the episode is worth playing depends in part on how much you value narrative momentum over that investigative element.
What is Children of Arkham?
Children of Arkham is Episode 2 of Batman: The Telltale Series, a five-part episodic game. Telltale frames the series around choices that determine Batman’s fate. The episode follows Bruce Wayne as he investigates his father’s ties to Gotham’s criminal past and encounters the Children of Arkham, according to the Telltale series page and the US PlayStation Store listing.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Batman: The Telltale Series (PS4) | $27.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Batman: The Enemy Within - Xbox One | $23.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Batman: Telltale Series Season 1 | $58.88 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Batman: The Telltale Series - Xbox 360 | $11.28 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Batman: The Telltale Series (Xbox One) | $21.41 | Buy on Amazon |
The five episodes are Realm of Shadows, Children of Arkham, New World Order, Guardian of Gotham, and City of Light. Telltale lists PC, consoles, and mobile among the series’ platform families; availability for this individual episode can differ by platform and region.
What do the reviews say?
PC critic scores
Metacritic’s PC critic page reports a 73/100 Metascore, classified as “Mixed or Average,” from 20 reviews in its displayed breakdown: 10 positive, 10 mixed, and none negative. This is a PC aggregate, not a score for every version. The same page lists GameSpew and DarkStation at 90/100 each, dated September 20, 2016. These are individual outlet scores, not the overall aggregate. See the Metacritic PC critic-review page.
#1 Best Overall
- Batman - The Telltale Series comes to retail as a Season Pass Disc, which includes Episode One, and grants access to the remaining four episodes in the season as they become available to download.
- Enter the fractured psyche of Bruce Wayne in this dark and violent new story and discover the powerful and far-reaching consequences of your choices as the Dark Knight. As Batman you'll encounter classic allies and adversaries, and as Bruce, you'll learn the true meaning of what it means to be the man behind the cowl.
- Enter the fractured pysche of Bruce Wayne in this dark and violent new story from the award-winning creators of The Walking Dead - A Telltale Games Series.
- The Season Pass Disc will give you access to a total of 5 episodes as they become available.
One reviewer’s gameplay criticism
GameSpot’s Tamoor Hussain rated the episode 6/10 and summarized his view: “While Children of Arkham pushes the story forward, it takes a step back in gameplay.” He points to the lack of crime-scene investigation compared with the previous episode’s Batman experience. That is a specific criticism from one reviewer; it should not be read as a universal verdict. The rating and assessment appear on GameSpot’s episode review.
Is Children of Arkham worth playing?
The episode is easiest to recommend to players who want the plot to continue and are comfortable with less crime-scene investigation than the previous chapter offered. Hussain’s review directly supports that contrast: he sees story progress alongside a gameplay step back. The available evidence does not establish a broader consensus about the range or consequences of this episode’s choices, or how its pacing compares across all five chapters, so those are useful points to judge for yourself rather than settled review findings.
Rank #2
- Batman: The Enemy Within - The Telltale Series comes to retail as a Season Pass Disc.
- The Disc contains episode one and will grant access to the four subsequent episodes as they become available for download.
- In this latest chapter from the award-winning studio behind Batman - The Telltale Series, both Bruce Wayne and Batman will be forced into precarious new roles.
- The Riddler has returned to terrorize Gotham City, but his gruesome puzzles merely foreshadow an even greater crisis.
As an episodic middle chapter, a practical way to assess it is to ask whether its revelations keep you invested, whether your decisions feel meaningful, and whether dialogue and action hold your attention when investigative sequences are absent. These are questions for your own playthrough; the cited review evidence does not establish definitive answers for every player.
Do you need Episode 1 to play Episode 2?
The US PS4 PlayStation Store listing says purchase of Episode 1 is required. That requirement applies to the cited listing; it does not establish the purchase or access rules for every platform or region. The listing identifies Children of Arkham as Episode 2 of a five-part series and gives its PS4 release date as September 20, 2016. Check the store page for the platform and region you intend to use: US PlayStation Store: Children of Arkham.
Rank #3
- Enter the fractured pysche of Bruce Wayne in this dark and violent new story from the award-winning creators of The Walking Dead - A Telltale Games Series.
- Batman - The Telltale Series on Nintendo Switch includes all five episodes of the first season on one cartridge.
How do players rate it on PlayStation?
The US PlayStation Store listing showed a player rating of 4.61 out of five from 7,361 ratings when observed on October 7, 2026. This is a platform-specific snapshot that can change; it is separate from critic scores and is not a universal audience verdict. The rating is displayed on the US PS4 store page.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Batman - The Telltale Series comes to retail as a Season Pass Disc, which includes Episode One, and grants access to the remaining four episodes in the season as they become available to download.
Rank #4
- The Season Pass Disc will give you access to a total of 5 episodes as they become available.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
