LEGO games, especially those based on DC Comics, have a storied history across the last two decades. Starting with the first LEGO Batman game in 2008, which redefined how these games didn’t just need to be hilarious, LEGO reinactments of previous stories. Batman led the march for allowing the LEGO game franchise to have a stronger independent voice. Now, nearly 20 years later, the character is about to do the exact same thing again with LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight.
In some ways, Legacy of the Dark Knight can be viewed as a remake of 2008’s LEGO Batman: The Videogame. It has some of the same goals as that first game, like introducing new combat styles and telling a wide-ranging story that features a long list of villains from Batman’s rogues’ gallery. LEGO titles have long advanced since the original LEGO Batman game; the same goes for audience expectations. Although the original LEGO Batman game was revolutionary for its time, Legacy of the Dark Knight has to essentially reinvent the wheel to usher in a new era of exciting stories from TT Games.
Mixing Batman’s Greatest Hits Into One Hilarious Narrative
When LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight was first revealed to audiences back in August at Gamescom, the trailer was somewhat confusing on the story direction that TT Games was aiming for. While iconic villains like The Joker, Bane, and Mr. Freeze were adopting famous designs from previous Batman films, including Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy and Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin (1997), it did not make sense for this new game to be simply retelling the events of every Batman film. In actuality, TT Games is going for a “have your cake and eat it” approach, combining highly beloved elements from each Batman movie and weaving them into a wholly original plot.
Split into multiple chapters, Legacy of the Dark Knight gently guides players through Batman’s origins, all the way to the growth of the Bat-Family. From training with Ra’s al Ghul in an icy environment similar to that in Batman Begins (2005) to being dropped into the middle of the Falcone crime saga early in your vigilante career, like in Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022), there is plenty for DC fans to chew on here. The early steps of the game’s main campaign move rather quickly, but soon enough, it expands into an engrossing tale where you will quickly become invested in this interpretation of the Caped Crusader, in addition to seeing which movie reference will be woven in next.
Of course, it is not a LEGO game without any slapstick humor. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight benefits from being able to make hilarious audio and visual jokes in a manner that will satisfy gamers of all ages. Many will notice comical references to previous Batman films, but the humor throughout the cutscenes and dialogue is what ultimately allows the player to bond sincerely with each character.
A Bucket-Load of Puzzles
Fans were slightly disappointed when LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga relied too heavily on its revamped combat system. Puzzles were still present, but they felt like they were pushed to the wayside in favor of advancing the fighting style to a level that often became unfamiliar to what fans loved about LEGO games. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight swings the pendulum in the far opposite direction and introduces an abundance of varied puzzles. The new puzzles are never too difficult and never too easy, making this easily the most varied LEGO game from a gameplay perspective.
At the same time, the combat does get an upgrade over the classic LEGO Batman games. Legacy of the Dark Knight opts for a system akin to Rocksteady’s Arkham franchise, and even pays homage to Insomniac’s Spider-Man saga. The fighting methods are fluid and dynamic, not only exciting to play but also to watch unfold. There is criticism to be held, however: as you progress through the story and unlock more characters and puzzle adventures, the combat system never properly upgrades much.
This can frequently lead to a repetitive feeling in button-smashing, rather than being handed tools to discover improved ways to fight. Stealth is present and a fun tool to use when possible. Yet, it’s rather basic in its design, and there are surprisingly no consequences for choosing not to act in stealth mode.
Gotham City at Its Finest
Even after playing approximately 16 hours of the game, there are still various parts of Gotham City left unexplored. Split up into four sections, the map here is twice the size of Gotham from the Arkham games. It’s exciting to glide through the city, noticing various well-known landmarks from various Batman media before landing on the ground and seeing the vastly detailed alleyways and streets littered with NPCs on foot and in vehicles. Plus, taking the time to walk through the streets of Gotham reveals that buildings are littered with various Easter eggs for fans of all ages to recognize.
Gotham has truly never felt as alive and vibrant. The sheer amount of NPCs spread across the map adds to the game’s lived-in feel. Almost every corner you turn includes some sort of mission, collectible, or puzzle to solve — all of which slowly reveal themselves as the story progresses. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight allows for just as much, if not more, playtime value in completing various side missions and collecting trophies as it does for the main campaign.
Legacy of the Dark Knight combines elements of every Batman and LEGO game that you’ve adored before, mixing them in a near-perfect package. Players get to relive some of the most iconic moments from Batman’s cinematic history while carving out plenty of time to tell their own compelling story. Of course, the gameplay would not be effective without its addictive puzzles, thrilling combat, and an open-world Gotham City brimming with interactive opportunities at every corner. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight defines itself as one of the greatest LEGO games of all time with ease.
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight releases on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on May 22!
Release Date: May 22, 2026.
