Batman: Return of the Joker

ダイナマイトバットマン (Dainamaito Battoman)NES1991

  1. JP1991
  2. NA1991
  3. EU1992
  4. RU—

Batman: Return of the Joker was released in Japan as ダイナマイトバットマン (Dynamite Batman); that title on the Japanese title screen is the only Japanese text in the game. The Game Boy game of the same name is a completely different platformer, and the Genesis got a remake, Batman: Revenge of the Joker.

Batman: Return of the Joker is Sunsoft's follow-up to its NES Batman. It was released in Japan on 20 December 1991 as ダイナマイトバットマン (Dynamite Batman) and in North America that same month. The designers were Yoshiaki Iwata and Tadashi Kojima, and Naoki Kodaka wrote the music.

Batman sets out to recover metals stolen by the Joker, one of them a toxic material for missile explosives. The story is self-contained and draws on modern comics, though the Batmobile and Batwing come from the 1989 film. The game is a side-scrolling run-and-gun platformer with seven stages, unlimited continues and stage passwords. Batman fights with a crossbow, Batarangs, Sonic Neutralizers and Shield Stars, and can slide to attack.

The Game Boy game of the same name is entirely different, and the Genesis received a remake, Batman: Revenge of the Joker, in 1992.1

Names and releases

RegionTitle on the boxPlatformDatePublisherSrc
NA Batman: Return of the Joker NES December 1991 Sunsoft 1
JP ダイナマイトバットマンDainamaito BattomanFamicom NES Dec 20, 1991 Sunsoft 1
EU Batman: Return of the JokerEnglish Wikipedia gives 19 November 1992 without a citation NES 1992 Sunsoft 1

Also known as: ダイナマイトバットマン JP1Dainamaito Battoman JP1Dynamite Batman JP2

Box art by region

  • Batman: Return of the Joker box art, North America release
    NA Batman: Return of the Joker
  • Batman: Return of the Joker box art, Europe release
    EU Batman: Return of the Joker

Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: libretro-thumbnails.

Version differences

  • TitleFamicom (JP)NES (NA)NES (EU)

    The Japanese title screen reads Dynamite Batman, the only Japanese text in the game; the US version shows Return of the Joker with a Nintendo of America license line, and the European one drops "of America Inc." from that line.2

  • ContentGenesis

    The Genesis version, Batman: Revenge of the Joker (1992), is a remake by Ringler Studios; a Super NES version was finished but never officially released.1

  • GameplayGame Boy

    The Game Boy Return of the Joker is a completely different game: a pure platformer with no shooting.1

Reception

Nintendo Power nominated it for Game of the Year. It has stayed on later lists: IGN ranked its final Joker fight third among the best Joker portrayals in 2019, and TheGamer called it the best-looking NES game in 2020.1

In lists

Sources

  1. 1en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2tcrf.net

Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13

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