Batman: Arkham Origins — Main Story
By Caleb Irvin / October 6, 2026 / No Comments
“Okay. We’ve survived Arkham Asylum, Arkham City, and Harley’s revenge. What could possibly happen next?”
Checks the calendar.
“Christmas Eve. Good. Maybe Gotham will take the night off.”
Eight assassins arrive.
“Apparently I’m the Christmas present.”
This guide covers the main campaign, boss fights, Most Wanted missions, and completion tasks to watch while playing. The individual Enigma datapack locations, challenge maps, and DLC need their own detailed sections.
Story spoilers follow.
1. Before leaving the Batcave
Start on Normal or Hard
If you want to complete the later modes, choose Normal or Hard for your first playthrough. Finishing on either unlocks New Game Plus. Finishing New Game Plus unlocks I Am the Night, where dying ends that run. shared.akamai.steamstatic.com
Normal is a sensible starting point while learning the bosses and managing the completion challenges.
Check the Dark Knight System regularly
Origins has four challenge tracks:
| Track | Focus |
|---|---|
| Shadow Vigilante | Combat |
| Gotham Protector | Traversal and protecting Gotham |
| Worst Nightmare | Predator encounters |
| World’s Greatest Detective | Investigations |
The ranks advance in order. Performing something required by a later rank does not automatically complete it before that rank becomes active.
Check your current objective before entering a new encounter, particularly an interior predator room. These rooms generally do not refill after you clear them. gamepressure.com
Three tasks to prioritise early
- Silent Knight: finish a predator encounter using only silent takedowns.
- Point Counter-Point: defeat Deathstroke without failing a counter.
- Worst Nightmare: advance this track throughout the campaign.
For Silent Knight, avoid turning a silent takedown into a Knockout Smash. The Final Offer provides an early opportunity. XboxAchievements.com
2. Combat and predator basics
Keep combat controlled
Strike deliberately, counter incoming attacks, and evade when your position becomes unsafe. Avoid repeatedly pressing attack while Batman is facing an enemy he cannot reach.
| Enemy | Reliable response |
|---|---|
| Ordinary thug | Strike and counter |
| Shield carrier | Stun, then aerial attack |
| Stun baton carrier | Evade over them; attack from behind |
| Armored thug | Stun, then beatdown |
| Blade wielder | Evade or use the appropriate blade dodge |
| Martial artist | Expect counter sequences and follow-up attacks |
| Gunman | Interrupt immediately |
When performing a beatdown, keep watching the surrounding enemies. You can counter interruptions rather than abandoning the attack entirely.
Plan predator rooms before thinning them out
Before your first knockout, identify:
- Your active Worst Nightmare objective.
- Any special takedown locations it needs.
- Dangerous enemies such as snipers or jammer carriers.
- An escape route.
If an objective needs several different takedowns, preserve enough enemies to perform them.
“HOW IS BATMAN NOT KILLING ANYBODY?! That man just hit the railing, the staircase, and possibly next Tuesday.”
3. Blackgate Prison — pursue Black Mask
Follow Black Mask’s trail through the prison. This opening teaches counters, traversal, vents, and basic gadget use.
When a doorway is blocked, check for an alternate route above or beside it. Detective Mode helps identify weak surfaces and usable objects.
Continue through the execution-chamber sequence and pursue the escaping criminals to the rooftop.
Boss: Killer Croc
Croc’s attacks are powerful, so fight around his recovery windows:
- Evade his attack.
- Stun him with the cape.
- Perform a beatdown.
- Move away before he recovers.
When Croc lifts a fuel tank, hit the tank with a Batarang. Watch him while dealing with the supporting thugs; becoming distracted by them can leave you exposed.
If he grabs you, follow the escape prompt. Continue the same pattern until the final tank attack ends the fight. gamepressure.com
“A giant crocodile man holding an explosive tank. Gotham really committed to the holiday decorations.”
4. Jezebel Plaza — find Penguin’s operation
At the Batcave, analyse the evidence and investigate the bounty.
Follow the arms-dealer objective to Jezebel Plaza. Deal with the escorts and interrogate the intended target.
When a jamming signal interrupts your work, follow the signal to its source and disable it. This introduces Enigma’s interference with Gotham’s communications.
Continue tracking Penguin’s communications and collecting the information needed to locate his ship, the Final Offer. gamepressure.com
Between objectives
Use the journey across Gotham to advance your currently available traversal challenges. Collect nearby accessible datapacks, but leave gadget-locked puzzles until you have the equipment they require.
Do not spend twenty minutes trying to solve a puzzle that clearly needs a gadget you have not received.
5. The Final Offer — Penguin and Deathstroke
Clear the armed enemies outside, enter the ship, and follow the route toward Penguin.
Boss: Electrocutioner
Approach and attack.
Yes, that is the fight.
“I prepared a strategy, upgraded my armor, and stretched. He apparently forgot to do any of those things.”
Predator achievement opportunity
During the ship’s interior predator encounter, use only silent takedowns on the enemies.
Stay crouched, watch patrols, and attack isolated guards from behind. Finishing this way earns Silent Knight; remaining unseen also works toward Anyone see that? XboxAchievements.com
Check your active Worst Nightmare rank before committing to an approach. You may need a different set of actions for the track.
Boss: Deathstroke
This fight rewards patience more than button speed.
Do not counter early during his cinematic attack sequences. Wait for the correct prompt.
| Phase | What changes |
|---|---|
| First | Basic attacks and counter exchanges |
| Second | Longer exchanges, gun attacks, and explosive-canister attacks |
| Third | Faster sword attacks and additional counter timing |
Counter his attack, then take the opportunity to strike. During the rapid defensive sequence, follow the repeated counter input, then perform the prompted beatdown.
When he attaches an explosive canister to Batman, counter it back toward him. Use the Batclaw to close distance when he threatens you with the gun.
Winning gives you the Remote Claw, which can create traversal lines between suitable anchor points. gamepressure.com
Point Counter-Point checkpoint
For the achievement, finish without failing a counter. If you know you failed, restart before completing the battle.
A successful ordinary victory does not guarantee the achievement. PlayStationTrophies.org
“WHO ARE THESE TIBETAN MONKS?! Because apparently their advanced class teaches you to counter a propane tank.”
6. Lacey Towers — reconstruct the murders
At the apartment, use the evidence scanner and examine the highlighted clues.
The investigation requires more than scanning the first two bodies. Follow the developing reconstruction, examine additional traces, and rewind or advance the scene to locate displaced evidence.
The clues include:
- The victims.
- Fire and impact evidence.
- Fingerprints and marks.
- Clothing evidence near the balcony.
- The phone.
Finish the reconstruction to uncover the next lead. gamepressure.com
When an investigation seems stuck
Look for a newly available clue after each reconstruction. Evidence can become identifiable only after Batman has established how an earlier part of the crime occurred.
7. GCPD — infiltrate the police station
Collect the Concussion Detonator at the Batcave, then follow the rooftop infiltration route into the GCPD.
Work through the station toward its servers. Treat the armed officers as predator enemies: separate them and avoid rushing directly into their firing lanes.
Retrieve the Disruptor
The blocked server access sends you toward the evidence locker.
Proceed through the holding-cell route, prioritising enemies with firearms. Use Explosive Gel to reach the derelict elevator shaft, climb upward, and use the Remote Claw traversal route to reach the evidence locker.
Collect the Disruptor, then return to continue the server objective. gamepressure.com
Escape the station and follow the sewer objective to establish the database connection.
Worst Nightmare checkpoint
Before finishing each interior predator room, check whether your active rank requires:
- Remaining unseen.
- Avoiding Detective Mode.
- A Sonic Batarang lure.
- A particular collection of takedowns.
These encounters are opportunities to advance the track before the bank.
8. Gotham Merchants Bank — the important completion checkpoint
Follow the investigation to the bank.
If Worst Nightmare Rank 6 is active, prepare its four takedowns before clearing the room.
You need:
| Takedown | What to arrange |
|---|---|
| Vent | An enemy within reach of a vent takedown |
| Explosive Gel | A weak-wall explosion knockout |
| Corner | An approaching enemy at corner cover |
| Hanging Ledge | The reverse takedown performed from above a target |
The wording “Hanging Ledge” is misleading here: use the reverse ledge takedown from above, rather than an ordinary pull while hanging below a walkway.
The bank is an important opportunity because its layout supports all four. Preserve a weak wall and enough enemies. The later Deadshot encounter can provide another opportunity if the required environment remains intact. steamcommunity.com
Finish the encounter
Continue the bank objective and the story reveal, then follow the investigation toward the Steel Mill.
“The bank has armed criminals, destructible walls, and ideal ambush positions. Whoever designed this building was expecting Batman.”
9. Sionis Steel Mill — Copperhead
Follow the route through the mill and its drug operation.
When Copperhead poisons Batman, scan the evidence and continue toward the antidote drop point.
Boss: Copperhead
Fight defensively against the hallucinated attackers. Clear the attacking copies and damage the real Copperhead when the fight exposes her.
Later, watch for the bright warning of her dash attack. Evade sideways rather than attempting to stand your ground.
Continue clearing the copies while avoiding the dash. Once the antidote arrives, collect it and finish the encounter. gamepressure.com
Completion checkpoint
Review Worst Nightmare before clearing the mill’s predator areas. They provide useful opportunities after the bank.
The Steel Mill also introduces the drug-stash work associated with Black Mask’s Most Wanted mission.
10. Gotham Royal Hotel — Shock Gloves and Bane
Track the electromagnetic signature to the hotel.
Enter through the parking area, work toward the security room, and continue through the building.
Collect the Shock Gloves
The gloves serve two purposes:
- Powering generators.
- Strengthening Batman’s combat attacks.
They charge during combat. When ready, activate them using the displayed input. While active, they let Batman attack through defenses such as armor, shields, and stun batons.
During traversal, use them on generators to operate shutters and machinery. Use the Remote Claw between suitable anchor points when the route crosses gaps. Neoseeker
They make fights easier, but you still need to counter and evade.
Boss: Bane
Your main attack sequence is:
- Avoid his charge or heavy attack.
- Perform a triple cape stun.
- Beat him down.
- Use the special takedown when available to disrupt his Venom supply.
During the terrace phase, evade repeated charges and the ground slam that follows. Do not assume one dodge ends the sequence.
Supporting thugs can help charge your Shock Gloves. Use the gloves when available, while continuing to watch Bane.
Follow the rescue prompt during the sequence after the fight. gamepressure.com
“I’m punching a man powered by chemical tubes while wearing electric gloves. This is either crime fighting or a very poorly supervised science fair.”
11. Investigate Bane’s trail
After the hotel and the following story sequence:
- Collect the Glue Grenade.
- Investigate the GCPD morgue.
- Follow Bane’s tracker.
- Continue toward the next major emergency.
Glue Grenades restrain targets and help solve traversal obstacles, including creating a raft where the game provides a suitable water route. gamepressure.com
Continue working on side missions and Dark Knight ranks as they become available.
12. Gotham Pioneers Bridge — Firefly
Respond to Firefly’s attack and work with Gordon’s objective.
The bridge sequence sends you through several bomb sites. Clear the guarding enemies and follow the hacking prompts, using the marked route through the structure.
Worst Nightmare checkpoint
If Rank 14 is active, inspect the predator area for a propane tank and an opportunity to hit three enemies with its explosion. Do not clear the room before considering the challenge. PlayStationTrophies.org
Boss: Firefly
Keep moving to avoid the flamethrower.
Your attack sequence is:
- Hit Firefly with a Glue Grenade.
- Throw Batarangs while he is restrained.
- Use the Batclaw when prompted.
- Follow the pull input.
Repeat between his attacks. Evade the explosive attacks rather than simply running through their impact areas, and follow the traversal prompts as the fight moves around the bridge. gamepressure.com
“A burning bridge, bombs, and a man with a flamethrower. Christmas dinner is definitely cold by now.”
13. Return to the Batcave
Follow the emergency objective, locate Alfred, and complete the rescue sequence.
Afterward, prepare for the return to Blackgate.
Before entering the final story encounters, review your active Worst Nightmare rank. If it needs a special environmental setup, plan for it before removing enemies.
14. Return to Blackgate — the finale
Follow the sewer entrance and work through the prison’s combat and predator encounters.
Treat each predator room as a completion opportunity. Preserve the enemies and objects required by your active challenge until it registers.
Boss: Bane, first phase
Use the approach you learned at the hotel:
- Evade the charges.
- Avoid the slam.
- Triple stun during a safe opening.
- Beatdown and special takedown.
- Use Shock Gloves when available.
Follow the subsequent story inputs.
Boss: TN-1 Bane
The second phase changes into a stealth encounter.
Do not attempt ordinary frontal combat.
Use the floor passages and side vents to move around him. Stay away from vent openings when he searches, and change position after attacking.
Approach from behind for the prompted surprise attack, directing him into the environment. Attacks that drive him into the electrified barriers deal substantial damage.
If discovered, escape using movement, smoke, or a Glue Grenade. At the end, use the Remote Claw on the indicated anchor points. gamepressure.com
Confront Joker
Follow the remaining route and complete the final confrontation.
The campaign ends, and Gotham becomes available for unfinished side activities.
“Main story finished. Surely now I can go home.”
Enigma’s checklist opens.
“Right. Two hundred reasons I cannot.”
15. Most Wanted missions
Enigma
The collection comprises 200 datapacks, organised into 20 extortion files, plus 70 network relays.
Interrogate data handlers to reveal datapack locations, regain communications access, destroy relays, and collect the files. The final Enigma cleanup involves returning to his headquarters. PlayStationTrophies.org
The full location-by-location walkthrough belongs in the Enigma section; the collection plan appears below.
Anarky
After leaving the Final Offer, meet his follower and start the bomb tasks.
Complete the three timed bomb runs, defeating each bomb’s guards before interacting with it. The timer continues during combat.
After the bombs, enter the Abandoned Courthouse in Park Row. Clear Anarky’s supporters, evade the explosives, and avoid trying to counter his electrical weapon. Attack during safe openings. gamepressure.com
Penguin — six arms caches
Barbara directs you toward the stolen weapons. Clear each location and use the Disruptor on the cache.
| Area | Where to investigate |
|---|---|
| Burnley | Behind the communications tower |
| Diamond District | Northern truck cache |
| Coventry | Northern cache |
| Sheldon Park | Armed balcony |
| Final Offer | Suspended shipping container |
| Bowery | Low tunnel near subway entrance |
For the ship’s cache, open the suspended container with the Batclaw. The Bowery cache requires access through a weak wall. gamepressure.com
Mad Hatter
Follow the invitation to the Hat Shop in the Bowery.
Clear the guards and enter the hallucination. Watch the electrical hazards, use Batarangs on the required lanterns, and follow the marked route through Wonderland.
In the repeating doorway section, choose the doorway identified by the character above it. Continue through the nightmare and complete the hostage rescue. gamepressure.com
Deadshot
Investigate the helicopter case and trace the evidence to his challenge. Meet him at Gotham Merchants Bank.
Remove his supporting guards, then damage Deadshot with brief attacks before retreating. Reinforcements introduce additional hazards, including thermal scanning, a jammer, and mines.
At the hostage phase, approach from behind and use the silent takedown. Avoid a frontal attack that risks the hostage. gamepressure.com
Black Mask
Destroy the marked drug stashes using Explosive Gel.
Some require an access puzzle first; the Coventry location needs the Shock Gloves to operate its generator. Follow the mission’s final lead to the church and complete the confrontation. gamepressure.com
Use the Most Wanted tracker to count the remaining targets, since the introductory Steel Mill destruction and later mission stages can make guide numbering confusing.
Shiva
Investigate the crying-baby lure in the Bowery and counter the ambush.
At the Shopping Complex, disable both generators before freeing the officer. Defeat Shiva’s fighters, rescue the officer, and follow the blood evidence.
The final encounter takes place at the Wonder Tower lobby. Watch the martial artists’ follow-up counters and evade blade attacks when necessary. gamepressure.com
Bird
Stop the gang battles in Coventry and Amusement Mile, interrogate the surviving targets, and examine the evidence.
Follow the lead to My Alibi. Clear the enemies, paying particular attention to the heavily armored attackers, then interrogate Bird. gamepressure.com
Escaped Blackgate prisoners
During post-story cleanup, Gordon asks you to capture 20 escapees.
Follow their markers, defeat their supporting groups, and complete each arrest. Use the mission tracker to find the remaining prisoners. gamepressure.com
16. Worst Nightmare — all 15 ranks
These are the requirements in order. Check the game’s active rank before attempting one.
| Rank | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 1 | Inverted, vent, and wall takedowns |
| 2 | Three silent takedowns in one encounter |
| 3 | Complete an encounter unseen |
| 4 | Sonic Batarang lure into a takedown |
| 5 | Complete a room without Detective Mode |
| 6 | Vent, gel, corner, and hanging ledge takedowns together |
| 7 | Complete an encounter without takedowns |
| 8 | No Detective Mode and remain unseen |
| 9 | Grate, inverted, Knockout Smash, and ledge takedowns together |
| 10 | High-threat encounter, unseen |
| 11 | Sonic Shock Batarang knockout |
| 12 | High-threat encounter; five different takedowns |
| 13 | Three eliminations during one Smoke Pellet |
| 14 | Three eliminations using a propane tank |
| 15 | Pull two enemies over a railing together |
Rank 15 uses advanced gadget techniques. Fandom
Protect your opportunities
For Rank 6, plan the reverse ledge action from above. For Rank 14, preserve the propane tank until you can arrange three targets.
If you miss a required room setup, further opportunities may exist in New Game Plus or I Am the Night. Do not assume an empty room will repopulate when you revisit it.
17. Enigma — collection route
Organise the extortion files by district
| District | Files |
|---|---|
| Park Row | 1–2 |
| Bowery | 3–4 |
| Amusement Mile | 5–7 |
| Industrial District | 8–10 |
| Gotham Pioneers Bridge | 11–12 |
| Coventry | 13–14 |
| Diamond District | 15–17 |
| Burnley | 18–20 |
Some files include datapacks inside buildings associated with their district. gamepressure.com
Use this cleanup order
- Interrogate available data handlers.
- Restore communications access.
- Destroy nearby network relays.
- Collect accessible outdoor datapacks.
- Return after obtaining the later story gadgets.
- Sweep interiors for remaining packs.
- Check each extortion file for missing pieces.
- Return to Enigma’s headquarters for the final cleanup.
Common puzzle approaches
| Obstacle | What to inspect |
|---|---|
| Weak wall | Explosive Gel access |
| Distant collectible | Batclaw retrieval |
| Security panel | Sequencer access and range |
| Timed switches | Order, travel distance, and projectile route |
| Steam | Glue Grenade interaction |
| Generator | Shock Gloves |
| Water passage | Glue raft and pulling points |
| Elevated gap | Grapnel or Remote Claw anchors |
A datapack marker tells you where to investigate, but it may be above, below, or inside the nearest structure. Check the district and interior map before assuming the marker is inaccurate.
18. Completion checklist
During the campaign
- Start on Normal or Hard.
- Check Dark Knight ranks before encounters.
- Complete Silent Knight.
- Attempt Point Counter-Point at Deathstroke.
- Prepare Rank 6 before clearing the bank.
- Preserve multi-target opportunities for later Worst Nightmare ranks.
- Interrogate Enigma data handlers when encountered.
- Collect accessible interior datapacks.
After the campaign
- Finish outstanding Most Wanted missions.
- Capture the 20 Blackgate escapees.
- Complete outstanding investigations.
- Collect all 200 datapacks.
- Destroy all 70 network relays.
- Finish Enigma’s headquarters objectives.
- Finish remaining Dark Knight ranks where opportunities remain.
- Complete New Game Plus.
- Complete I Am the Night.
This takes us through the main story and establishes the completion route. The next guide section is Enigma’s individual datapack locations, beginning with Park Row and Extortion Files 1–2.
“Christmas saved. Gotham still standing. Alfred probably furious.”
“Now let’s find the man who hid two hundred pieces of blackmail around the city instead of buying a filing cabinet.”