Editorials

Who Else Needs an Open-World Joker Game?

Heroes are fun, but villains are so much cooler.

Rumors are flying around on the internet about a new Batman Court of Owls game, but that’s not what we are here to talk about today (but we will at some point). Instead, I want to talk about an awesome concept that I think any Batman fan would enjoy, no matter if you know what the Court of Owls is or if you don’t even know Batman’s secret identity. Upon thinking about what DC has planned for this upcoming year, and in particular their Joker origin movie, I thought of a great video game idea. I want to explore Gotham as one of the greatest villains of all time – Joker.

Yes, you get to play as Joker in a few video games like the Injustice series or even a little bit in the Batman: Arkham series, but never has he had his own game. How cool would it be to get inside the mind of one of the most insane, interesting villains ever? An open-world Joker game would be such a fun thing to explore. In a style similar to Grand Theft Auto, you could have an entire world of possibilities at your fingertips, and wreak havoc on Gotham City like never before.

Paired with a rich story mode, this game could delve deep into the underbelly of Gotham City to places we have never seen and didn’t even know existed. The player could see the world the way the criminals of Gotham City see it, not Batman. You could have the opportunity to mug people, take out rival gangs and factions, and build Joker’s grasp of the city. There could be boss battles or alliances with other high-end criminals, such as Penguin or Riddler, all culminating with Batman trying to save the day. Even getting to see Joker’s hideout would be a satisfying experience.

Playing as heroes can be loads of fun, but villains are so much cooler. As a villain, you see everything in such a different perspective. While Batman’s job is to save the day, Joker’s is the total opposite. The more chaos, the better. There can be a money system, and you could try to rob banks, pull off heists, and even kidnap targets for ransom all while trying to avoid the cops and Batman’s clutches. The player could customize their Joker outfit, weapons of choice, and unlock new gadgets and torture devices as they level up and progress throughout the game.

Now Joker is a pretty dark character, and I understand that some may be concerned about a game glorifying all of the evil, cruel things he does. However, Joker is one of the most iconic characters in comic and cinematic history, and video games are a safe outlet that allows us to experience things like this character in a way like no other.

The Joker is so fascinating, and I think fans would love the opportunity to get to experience what it’s like to be him. Who knows, maybe even the video game could find ways to humanize him like we have never seen before, and have him make tough choices that weigh down on him. I doubt this project will ever come to fruition, but if it does, you can bet I’ll be playing that game non-stop until Joker is the king of Gotham City.

Grant Pfost, your gamer bro, enjoys long binges on the couch when he's not binge drinking like he's still in college. A connoisseur of tv and film, Grant hopes his articles will make you laugh, cry, and appreciate the little things in life.

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