Created for Batman: The Animated Series, and debuting all the way back in 1992, Harley Quinn has quickly become one of the most beloved characters in all the DC universe. Originally depicted as the Joker's crazed love interest, Harley Quinn has since grown into her own character, almost entirely independent of her origins. From being one of the Suicide Squad's core members, to working alongside Batman and the Justice League, to heading out on her own adventures with the Birds of Prey, Harley Quinn is an incredibly versatile character and easily one of, if not the best addition to the DC universe in the last three decades.
Rising to prominence during the dawn of the modern era of gaming, it's only natural that Harley Quinn has also had her fair share of video game appearances. While the vast majority of these video game appearances sideline Harley as just a secondary villain, there are a few truly great portrayals in the mix, with some rivaling even the greatest Harley Quinn comic book and animated stories.
Every Harley Quinn Video Game Appearance
- The Adventures of Batman and Robin
- Batman: Chaos in Gotham
- Batman: Vengeance
- Batman: Arkham Asylum
- Batman: Arkham Origins
- Batman: Arkham City
- Batman: Arkham City Lockdown
- Batman: Arkham Underworld
- Batman: Arkham Knight
- Gotham Knights
- Injustice Gods Among Us
- Injustice 2
- Mortal Kombat 11
- LEGO Batman
- LEGO Batman 2: DC Superheroes
- LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham
- LEGO DC Super-Villains
- LEGO Dimensions
- Batman: The Enemy Within
- Fortnite
- Infinite Crisis
- DC Legends
- DC Universe Online
- DC Unchained
- Suicide Squad: Special Ops
- Scribblenauts Unmasked
As of July 2023, Harley Quinn has had a major role in a total of 26 video games. Harley's very first video game appearance was all the way back in 1994, in the game The Adventures of Batman and Robin, a tie-in with the Batman: Animated Series, where she acts as a final stage boss, flying on a jet-powered armchair and throwing projectiles at the Caped Crusader below. Harley Quinn then continued to appear in other Batman animated show tie-ins, including the Game Boy title Batman: Chaos in Gotham, and the PS2 game Batman: Vengeance.
Of course, some of Harley Quinn's most iconic and beloved video game appearances are in Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham series, where she appears in every game in the series, including its lesser-known mobile spinoffs. In most of the Arkham games, players face off against Harley as a boss, and in Arkham Knight, players get to control Harley for a bonus level and some challenges. The Arkham games give Harley Quinn plenty of screen time, and Tara Strong's portrayal of the character is still considered to be one of the most iconic.
Harley Quinn also played a prominent role in both of NetherRealm Studios' Injustice games. Both entries in the fighting game series let players control Harley Quinn, complete with a moveset that utilizes the character's trademark gymnastics and staple weapons, including Harley Quinn's trusty oversized mallet. Harley is also represented as an alternate costume for Cassie Cage in Mortal Kombat 11. Harley has also been present in every DC LEGO game, appearing as a playable character in every LEGO Batman, and having a major role in the story of LEGO DC Super-Villains.
But that's far from the only games Harley Quinn has appeared in over the last few decades. Harley has cropped up in a number of DC multiplayer games over the years, most notably DC Universe Online, which featured the last appearance of Harley's original voice actor Arleen Sorkin. More recently, Harley has appeared as a crossover skin in Fortnite, with several different styles based on Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey, and the Rebirth DC comics.