I just finished Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight — and it’s my new favorite Lego game

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is the game I didn’t know I needed. That’s saying a lot, given how I’ve already played Game of the Year-worthy titles like Resident Evil Requiem and Pragmata, but Traveller’s Tales’ latest Lego adventure is truly something special. Even if you’re not a lifelong fan of the Caped Crusader, there’s plenty to love about this charming title.

Playing like a lighter, yet still engaging, version of Rocksteady Studios’ Arkham series of Batman games, Legacy of the Dark Knight lets you relive some of Batman’s most iconic moments — from that fateful night in Crime Alley to his eventual rise as Gotham City’s defender. While the game mostly draws inspiration from the various Batman movies and TV series, it also includes callbacks to the comics where the character originated.

Masterfully combining the Arkham-style gameplay with the colorful, brick-smashing chaos of the Lego games, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is an absolute winner and a game I recommend that everyone check out. It delivers on almost every level. Find out why in my full review!

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Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight review: The basics

• What is it? As its name suggests, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is a Lego game from Traveller's Tales that features the legendary Batman.
• Who is it for? For anyone who is a fan of Batman, Lego video games, or silly action-adventure titles.
• What's the price? Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight costs $69 for the standard edition and $89 for the deluxe edition.
• What other games has the developer made? TT Games has developed other Lego titles, such as Lego Star Wars, Lego Harry Potter, Lego Marvel Super Heroes, Lego Dimensions, and many more.
• What games is it similar to? Lego Batman is most similar to the previous Lego Batman games, Lego DC Super-Villains, and Lego Marvel Super Heroes.

Legends of the Dark Knight

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight retells Batman’s story in adorable Lego fashion. I won’t go into detail here, as anyone living in modern society already has a basic understanding of what to expect. However, it’s the way Traveller’s Tales combines the major Batman movies, TV shows, and comics that makes reliving the Caped Crusader’s iconic moments so much fun.

As the story progresses and we travel through the Dark Knight’s timeline, we get introduced to other playable characters. This includes Jim Gordon, Catwoman, Robin, Batgirl, and a handful of others. Naturally, you and your allies will have to defend Gotham City from the series’ Rogue’s Gallery, which includes Joker, Penguin, Bane, and plenty more.

Despite the dark source material, Legacy of the Dark Knight ensures that everything maintains the playful nature Lego games are known for. If you’re looking for a serious Batman plot, this ain’t it. I know some only view Batman as a super serious character, but considering how I grew up watching reruns of Batman ‘66 and the Super Friends, I enjoy the campy side of Batman — and this game has it in spades!

Knightfall

Like Lego Horizon, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is very combat-focused. To prove that point, there are three difficulty settings to choose from: Classic, Caped Crusader, and Dark Knight. The latter is the closest you’ll get to the challenge of the Arkham games, though even that is still very timid in comparison. I stuck with Caped Crusader since it offered just enough challenge while still letting me enjoy the fun gameplay.

Combat-wise, Batman and his allies have fluid attack chains, counters, over-the-top takedowns, and a full arsenal of gadgets to deal with the mobs. You can rack up a pretty high combo if you don’t take damage, which raises your Lego stud multiplier. You’ll also build a meter, which, when filled, allows you to unleash the aforementioned takedowns. Racking up a high combo is as addictive here as it is in the Arkham games.

You’re getting the full Batman experience, which means you’ll do more than beat up on costumed goons. For example, if you’re perched on a balcony, you can use batarangs to distract a foe so you can take them out silently. Other sections will have you looking for clues or using other gadgets to find your objectives. Batman’s friends all have their own weapons and tools, and you can only unlock certain secrets with them.

WayneTech chips are hidden across Gotham City, and collecting enough of them allows you to unlock certain upgrades at workbenches—with the most notable one being located inside the Batcave. You don’t actually need these upgrades on the standard difficulties, but I imagine they’d be more useful on Dark Knight. Regardless, upgrading gadgets for each of your characters is simple and enjoyable.

Boss battles are true highlights since they’re so wildly imaginative and let you see what each villain can truly do. And as you’d expect, boss battles don’t just have one phase, so don’t cheer too much after you’ve easily bested Joker or Poison Ivy, as they’ll come back for more.

I only played the game solo, so I can’t delve too much into how well local couch co-op works with this game. I wish there were an online mode for us adults who can’t always go visit friends, but this is one of the game’s few faults. You can have an absolute blast playing alone.

No Man’s Land

The Lego-fied Gotham City combines various versions of Batman’s fictional metropolis into a fun locale to explore. Gotham spans four separate islands, each of which you can fast travel to after completing a mini-game to unlock the “SubWayne” that connects all the areas. Areas like Ace Chemicals, Gotham Botanical Gardens, and Wayne Tower are all here and packed with plenty of puzzles and secrets. And since this is Gotham, there are always random crimes happening around every rain-soaked alleyway and rooftop.

There are many ways to get around Gotham, including zipping between buildings with the grapple launcher, soaring with the Batglider, or cruising the neon-drenched streets inside of various Batmobiles and Batcycles from all eras of Batman’s history. Gotham is brimming with secrets, so it’s in your best interest to explore the seedy streets to see what kind of rewards and trouble you can find.

Speaking of unlockables, there are dozens of different outfits and Batsuits to collect. You unlock a decent amount by just playing through the game, but you can also buy them with the studs you’ve collected at Bat-Mite’s shops across the city. Before you ask, yes, you can also unlock or buy outfits for your allies—all of which you can view at the Batcave.

On the subject of Batman’s famous lair, you can do more than just upgrade equipment. For instance, you can display trophies found during missions, review case files on the Batcomputer, and even customize the place with Lego furnishings, like your personal gym. Doing up the Batcave can become its own adventure.

Exploration is one of my favorite things to do in games, so it’s great that Legacy of the Dark Knight makes it so rewarding and enjoyable.

Gotham by Gaslight

I’ve always found the Lego games visually appealing, but I can confidently say that Lego Batman is the most stunning of them all. It strikes a beautiful balance between gritty comic-book noir and the vibrant Lego aesthetic. Whether it’s a seedy dark alley or a citizen trying not to get mugged, everything comes to life in fantastic detail.

Gotham City is effectively a cyberpunk dystopia, always dark and stormy, with gaudy neon lights illuminating the streets. This creates a moodier atmosphere than you’d see from a typical Lego game, but it fits the tone perfectly. The small details, such as dynamic lighting and reflective puddles, are just as impressive as the Lego-fied neo-noir architecture.

Characters in Lego games are always extremely expressive, even if they’re nothing more than plastic, and the same is true here. Given the sheer number of Batman allies and villains, it’s amazing how each one has a distinctive personality. Seeing the character’s eyes widen when something dramatic happens, or having them flail their little Lego arms when they’re excited, never gets old.

I played on the PS5 Pro, but at the time of writing, I'm not aware of any Pro-enhanced features. Graphics-wise, you can choose between fidelity and performance modes. I opted for the latter since I prefer smoother gameplay over 4K visuals. The game still looks phenomenal in performance mode anyway.

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight review: Verdict

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight reminds me of both why I love video games and why I love the Batman franchise. It keeps a grin on your face as effectively as Joker’s laughing gas, thanks to the brick-smashing Lego formula and deep respect for the source material. Don’t let the adorable visuals fool you — this is a genuine Batman experience for everyone.

If you’re a Batman fan or just want something fun to play, this one is an easy recommendation. I can’t yet say if this will be my surprise game of the year, but I’ll certainly keep it in consideration when the time comes. If anything, I can say this is now my favorite Lego game ever. Holy Batman, it’s that good!

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