This Is THE Batman Game for Batman Fans, but There’s a Catch

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It’s been a while since TT Games released a new Lego video game. They recently revisited the Star Wars universe with Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and now they’re tackling another beloved franchise – Batman.

As a huge Lego Batman fan, I was really excited to try out Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, and let me tell you, it’s massive! It feels a lot like The Skywalker Saga game in that it pulls in everything from Batman’s history – heroes, villains, gadgets, vehicles, and costumes – all the way back to the very beginning of DC Comics. It’s a seriously ambitious project, and from what I played at a preview event last month, they really nailed it!

Legacy of the Dark Knight Truly Has All Batman Stories

The game is divided into six chapters that vary in length. It starts with Bruce Wayne’s beginnings as Batman and follows his journey throughout his time as the hero. While it’s not yet known how far into his career the game goes, it definitely shows Bruce becoming Batman, building his team (the Bat Family), and facing off against classic villains like the Joker, Two-Face, Poison Ivy, and Mr. Freeze – who sounds a lot like Arnold Schwarzenegger.

During our session, we explored the beginning of the game, covering sections inspired by chapters 1 through 3. Batman’s backstory and training closely resemble the story told in the movie Batman Begins – it’s a well-known origin story that works well as a game. As the game progresses, the narrative shifts towards the style of Batman Returns, with elements of Batman Forever added in. The game also draws heavily from the Batman comics, especially the more colorful and over-the-top stories from the Silver Age.

Legacy of the Dark Knight doesn’t try to retell a single Batman story. Instead, it aims to capture the overall feel and spirit of Batman’s history. This approach extends to all the characters, not just Batman himself. However, because it’s a Lego game designed for families, some darker elements of Batman’s world had to be softened. A good example is Robin’s origin story. Instead of the tragic death of his parents, this version shows Dick Grayson making a mistake during a circus performance and choosing to leave. He then joins Bruce Wayne and becomes Batman’s sidekick.

The story in Legacy of the Dark Knight is genuinely enjoyable, like most Lego games. But as a Batman fan, this one is particularly engaging. If you’re familiar with a lot of Batman movies, shows, and comics, you’ll love seeing those iconic scenes recreated with Lego characters. There are even some clever, lesser-known references that will make you smile.

Arkham Definitely Inspired Lego Batman’s Combat

Based on what we’ve seen, Legacy of the Dark Knight seems heavily inspired by Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight films in terms of story, look, and overall feel. It’s fitting, then, that the gameplay draws strong influence from Rocksteady’s Arkham trilogy. While the combat has been tweaked, the core system of attacking, dodging, and parrying – first established in Arkham Asylum – is nicely replicated. Stealth is less emphasized in this game, but the rest of Arkham’s combat system is present and works very well.

The biggest drawback is the sluggish pace. If you’re accustomed to fast-paced combat, you’ll likely find it frustrating, as I did, especially during larger battles. For the most part, it’s acceptable and functions well for a Lego game. However, when facing many enemies at once – some with shields requiring blocking or jumping – the slowness becomes noticeable and irritating. It’s not a deal-breaker, and it doesn’t ruin the experience, but it definitely feels slow.

The boss battles are pretty basic. They mostly involve repeating the same pattern of attacking and dodging, and the one I fought, against Poison Ivy, was straightforward and predictable, relying heavily on area-of-effect attacks. I should have increased the difficulty setting, which is now available – you can go beyond the standard level to a more challenging ‘Dark Knight’ mode. It doesn’t turn the game into a super-hard ‘Souls-like’ experience, but it does make you face some actual danger. One person in my group remembered to switch the difficulty, and they found it noticeably more challenging, though still not overwhelmingly so – just a good step up.

Batcave, Batsuits, and Batmobile

A good Batman adaptation always hinges on three key elements: the Batsuit, the Batmobile, and the Batcave. These are crucial aspects fans evaluate. I was very impressed with the demo for Legacy of the Dark Knight and would be pleased if it released in its current state. The game features a huge variety of suits – over a hundred – for characters like Batman and Robin. Players can also unlock upgrades and customizations for each suit, including different color options. This allows for constant visual changes – you could switch costumes every few minutes and play through the whole game without wearing the same suit twice. However, you’ll need to unlock these suits first.

One of the coolest things is all the different Batmobiles you can drive! They’ve got versions from almost every Batman movie and show, including the one from The Batman. They all do pretty much the same job, but I really liked using The Batman‘s Batmobile because of its boost – it was a lifesaver during a timed challenge I tried out in Gotham. And if you need a break from the city, the Batcave is amazing to explore. You can see all the different suits and vehicles on display. We hadn’t unlocked everything yet, so I’m not sure what all’s in there, but I found this room with three platforms, each with a customizable Bat symbol. I have no idea what they’re for, but they feel like they’re meant for something major – maybe for launching aerial vehicles or something?

Beyond everything else, a great Batman adaptation needs a compelling Gotham City. In Legacy of the Dark Knight, Gotham is huge, covering several islands and a district that players unlock as they progress. The city is filled with things to do – tons of mini-games, puzzles, and chances to fight crime. Players can solve Riddler riddles similar to those in Arkham Knight, destroy owl statues hidden on rooftops (inspired by the Court of Owls), and investigate wanted posters for different characters. This is the most detailed and immersive open-world Lego game I’ve played, and it really captures the feel of Batman’s Gotham.

The Issue With Lego Batman Right Now

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight looks like a fantastic game, clearly made with love by DC and Batman enthusiasts. My biggest concern, though, is the lack of online co-op. Lego games are always best when played with friends, either on the same couch or online. While some recent games have dropped local co-op, it’s unusual – and a deliberate choice – for a game like this to skip online co-op altogether.

During a preview, TT Games explained that a key part of their games is local co-op – playing together on the same couch. They specifically design for shared, in-person experiences, like a parent and child or friends playing together, and don’t want to offer that experience online. This focus on local multiplayer has been a consistent part of their identity. While understandable in their older Lego games, the lack of online co-op feels more noticeable now.

As a gamer, it feels really strange that this new game doesn’t have online co-op. We’ve seen it done so well in other Lego games like Lego Horizon, and Hazelight has even made it a standard feature – you buy the game once and both players can jump in. To intentionally leave it out in 2026, especially when other Lego games had so many development hurdles to overcome, just doesn’t make sense to me. It feels like a weird design choice based on what the studio wants rather than what players would actually enjoy.

While it has some flaws, Legacy of the Dark Knight is still a game worth checking out. After playing for a couple of hours, I think any Batman or comic book fan would have fun with it. It’s packed with references for long-time fans, but also does a good job of introducing the world to new players. We’ll have a better idea of the game’s overall quality when it officially launches on May 22nd.

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2026-05-05 16:11