Batman: The Enemy Within is a strange case of a game that has some of good ideas but struggles to make them work. Telltale clearly wanted to do something different with Batman, focusing less on the superhero part and more on Bruce Wayne as a person, but in the process they often lose what makes Batman compelling in the first place.
One of my biggest problems is that the game rarely makes you feel like Batman. Instead of being the person who finds clever solutions, outsmarts his enemies, and maintains his moral compass even in impossible situations, Bruce constantly feels like a pawn being pushed around by everyone else. Waller, Harley, Catwoman, even Tiffany, and others always seem to be several steps ahead, while Batman is stuck reacting to events rather than controlling them. For a character famous for preparing for every possibility and finding a third option when there isn't one, this version of Batman feels strangely powerless.
The biggest issue with this is how the game handles choices. Telltale games are built around “difficult decisions”, but it often creates the illusion of choice rather than meaningful consequences, which again isn’t anything new, classic Telltale. No matter what you choose, things frequently go wrong, and the game seems more interested in making you feel guilty than allowing you to actually influence events. Instead of rewarding careful decisions, it often feels like the story is determined to punish you regardless of what you do.
That approach works better in something like The Walking Dead, where the entire point is that the world is cruel and sometimes there are no good outcomes. But for Batman, a character whose entire identity revolves around overcoming impossible situations, it creates a strange disconnect. A superhero story where the hero constantly loses control feels fundamentally at odds with the character.
Another major problem is the balance between Bruce Wayne and Batman. The idea of exploring Bruce outside the suit is actually a good one, and the first season handled this balance better. There, playing as Bruce and Batman felt like two equally important sides of the character. In The Enemy Within however, it feels heavily tilted toward Bruce Wayne, with roughly most of the game focusing on him rather than Batman. This wouldn't necessarily be bad if the Bruce sections were consistently engaging, but it means the moments where you actually get to experience Batman feel too rare.
This is especially disappointing because the Batman sections are the only semi-”strong” parts of the game. The new suit looks fantastic, the combat choreography is much better than the first season, and the QTE sequences feel more satisfying, even if it is repetitive. The detective mechanics were also one of the highlights of the previous game, so reducing them to almost nothing feels like a missed opportunity.
The characters are where the game becomes much more divisive. The new interpretation of Joker is probably the most interesting idea in the entire game. Making him someone who sees Bruce as a genuine friend is a creative twist on their relationship, and the idea of exploring how Batman's actions influence Joker seems genuinely interesting… Unfortunately, the execution does not always work. This Joker feels less like the unpredictable criminal mastermind fans know and more like a confused, insecure person searching for approval. Some people may appreciate this different direction, but for me it never fully captured what makes Joker such an iconic character.
Harley Quinn is another example of a risky reinterpretation. The idea of reversing the traditional dynamic between her and Joker is interesting, but her portrayal often feels exaggerated. Instead of being a chaotic wildcard, she sometimes comes across as someone who is simply written to always be the smartest person in the room. Similar issues appear with other villains like Bane, who lose much of their intimidation and end up feeling more cartoonish than threatening.
That is a bigger problem throughout the game: the dialogue and character behavior often feel too exaggerated. The childish banter, over the top personalities, and unrealistic reactions are common issues in Telltale games, but they stand out more when the setting is Batman. The world of Gotham can be dramatic and stylized, but it still needs to feel grounded enough for the characters to be believable.
The story also suffers from pacing problems. There is always a feeling that something major is about to happen, like the plot is building toward a huge payoff, but it never quite reaches that point. There are interesting ideas everywhere, Joker's relationship with Bruce, the Riddler's return, the conflict between Batman and Waller, but many of them feel underdeveloped or rushed.
That being said, the game does improve on the original in several ways. The visuals are better, the performance is smoother, and the choices do feel more reactive. Characters acknowledge your actions more often, and there are moments where you genuinely have to think about the consequences of your decisions. Episode 5, especially on the Joker villain route, is one of the strongest parts of both Batman Telltale seasons, and the new take on the Riddler is excellent despite him being removed from the story too quickly.
If you are looking for a traditional Batman experience where you feel like the world's greatest detective, this probably will not satisfy you. But if you are interested in a character-focused drama using Batman characters as a foundation, there is still something worthwhile here.
It is not a terrible game, and in many ways it is an improvement over the first season, but it feels like a missed opportunity. Telltale had the pieces for something great, a unique Joker story, meaningful choices, and a deeper exploration of Bruce Wayne, but the execution leaves the experience feeling frustrating rather than memorable.
5.9/10
