Batman Returns on the Nintendo Entertainment System is a side-scrolling beat 'em up game similar to the Double Dragon and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, where players take control of Batman fighting against multiple adversaries such as the Red Triangle Gang in order to stop Catwoman and the Penguin from spreading terror across Gotham City.

[7][9] In a 1993 interview with Super Play, Kinoshita explained that the creation process for a game idea based on a license such as Batman or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is decided by the management at Konami.

[14] GamePro's Matt Taylor said that while the graphics were "sharp and distinct", they were "not even close to an 8-bit masterpiece", and felt that the audio "could be from any Konami action game".

's Julian Eggebrecht called it a solid game and praised its audiovisual presentation for making good use of the NES hardware, but criticized its unfair action, lengthy stages, and limited number of on-screen enemies.

[18] Joypad's Jean-François Morisse highlighted the music as the game's strongest feature, but nevertheless faulted its linear nature, strange use of colors, flickering sprites, and controls.

[15] Player One's Olivier Scamps compared it unfavorably with its Super NES counterpart, criticizing its aggressive color palette and flickering sprites.

[16] Megablast's Michael Schnelle commended the game's controls, but stated that the "run-of-the-mill graphics and the drumming sound won't knock a bat off the ceiling".

[21] AllGame's Skyler Miller gave the game favorable remarks for its above average graphics, soundtrack, enemy variety, and Batmobile and Batskiboat sequences, but noted that the Double Dragon-style gameplay can become repetitive.