What do you call Batman after a scuffle? Bruised Wayne. And that’s pretty much what unfortunate Brucey is set to look like in Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight—except instead of ending up with a gory aftermath, you’ll be dealing with far more bricks and studs than you’d see in a typical street brawl.
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is the latest brick-based reimagining of Bruce Wayne’s story, covering everything from the heartbreaking events outside the theater on that unforgettable night, to training alongside the League of Shadows and going toe-to-toe with villains such as Poison Ivy, Bane, Two Face, and The Joker (just to name a few). The upcoming release draws from more than eight decades of Batman storytelling, as TT Games shared with me—pulling from films like Batman Begins and The Batman, as well as television series, graphic novels, comic books, and, naturally, other games featuring the Caped Crusader. Once again, the viewpoint is rooted in minifigures, but this time the game digs deeper into Batman’s larger-than-life legacy than ever before.
After recently getting my hands on Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight for the first time, my first thought was that this might genuinely be the definitive Lego Batman experience. Still, don’t assume the “Lego” label means you’re in for an easy ride. Alongside several difficulty options—each one introducing more opponents with stronger abilities and a limited life system that can lead to a game over when you fall short—this release also brings a more refined combat approach than earlier Lego Batman entries.
Honestly, I’d even call it “Arkham,” just in Lego form. Like those titles, Batman and his minifigure teammates will have to rely on more than just brawling—think detective instincts and tool-based gadgets like Whips and Foam Sprayers, which can be used for both combat and exploration. So, if you were picturing smashing through each stage by repeatedly pounding on a single button, you may hit a few unexpected moments. As executive producer Matt Ellison put it, “you’ll definitely need to exhibit more proficiency with the mechanics and all the gadgets at your disposal” if you want to come out on top.
I spent more than two hours getting into a range of missions from the full game, which gave me a real chance to see what Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight has in store. As soon as I took control of Batman, I immediately checked how breakable the Lego spaces would be—and I’m glad to say: very. Within minutes, I’d already smashed multiple dumpsters into a shower of studs, and it genuinely made me smile. Even so, I stayed focused on the actual preview. My first assignment was Carmine Falcone’s Iceberg Lounge, which takes its cues from The Batman movie.
Before long, I was moving from one nightclub to the next, like a location that keeps nesting inside itself—complete with disco-lit dance floors and an entertainment area anchored by a lively ball pit that made my Dual Sense controller vibrate in a satisfying way as I wandered through.
Once I pushed into higher sections of the same venue, I was able to drop in on unsuspecting thugs, pulling off stealthy moves that looked very much like classic Batman action, all while clearing areas without a single shot being fired at me. For this mission, Commissioner Gordon was a big help—he clearly noticed when I leaned into stealth and adjusted his approach right along with me. That said, there were also times when my stealth play wasn’t quite as sharp, forcing me to duck, weave, and evade incoming strikes while still landing plenty of hits to press deeper into this eclectic hideout. I also got the chance to roll over the top of shield-carrying enemies, which only became vulnerable when I approached from behind, and to switch between gadgets to keep momentum and finish the job.
The second mission centered on a heist with Selena Kyle, better known as Catwoman. Compared with the Iceberg Lounge, this part leaned far more heavily on puzzles, as I set out in search of a prized gem. That meant Catwoman using her whip to twist large yellow screws, or calling on her kitten (not sure how she manages to keep it on hand in that catsuit, but sometimes it’s better not to press too hard) to reach areas that were simply too tight for an average minifigure. These moments felt natural and pointed to some of the extra gameplay mechanics players can expect when Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight launches.
As a parent of two young kids, I liked that these puzzles weren’t so complicated they became a headache, but they also didn’t immediately spell out what to do in a way that made me feel like I was being guided every step. As Catwoman and Batman explored, they eventually offered comments such as, ‘it must be something to do with that bookshelf’—and while I was taking it all in, my first reaction, as someone who’s been gaming for more than 30 years, was to consider rolling my eyes. Then I took a step back
…to imagine my children going through this same stretch, the exchange…
…shifted away from condescension and landed exactly where it should for the moment.
After that caper (yes, it really was a heist, even with Catwoman trying to steer my perspective), I headed for Haly’s Circus, where I ran into Dick Grayson. This stop delivered a lively, action-packed platforming adventure packed with trampolines, tightropes, and trapezes—plus plenty of fire. I worked my way through the big top to disable a bomb Two Face had set dangling above the audience. And let’s be honest: Dick wasn’t the only unpleasant character in the building at that point.
Playing as Robin/Dick let me make good use of his Cable Launcher, a surprisingly smart bit of gear. With it, I could tie together certain circus obstacles to clear my path, or chart a different route over dangerous drop-offs (it should be said: both Batman and Dick have a knack for balance that I can only hope to match). Still, it wasn’t as simple as you’d expect from a Lego game. I had to nail the timing as I jumped from one platform to the next, dodging huge, pendulum-style hazards that were determined to knock me out of place. I also had to push through tight zigzags up ramps while barrels came rolling toward me.
Robin’s gadgets were especially handy during a later boss fight against Dr. Pamela Isley, aka Poison Ivy, and her aggressively evolved plants. They kept hosing me with acid and periodically bursting nearby with explosions. Swapping between Batman and Robin in this section wasn’t just for variety—I found it necessary if I wanted to come out on top. Robin had tools that could temporarily shut down Poison Ivy, giving Batman the opening to land some heavy hits. Knowing what each character can do is what makes the encounter work.
Outside of those contained missions, there was Gotham City itself—a dimly lit, and I mean that in the nicest way, open-world playground packed with crime for Batman to investigate. Moving through it felt much smoother than in earlier Lego titles. I could use my grapple to grab onto almost every ledge and jutting structure in view, then launch forward and activate my bat-wings (available to all characters, not only Batman) to glide in style over spots like Gotham Square Garden. The city was loaded with playful surprises, including Riddler puzzles to solve and brawls to jump into.
In fact, I liked roaming around the city’s many layers so much—whether I was cruising on one of Batman’s bikes, moving on foot, or flying between rooftops—that a member of the development team had to tap me on the shoulder to let me know I was getting too far outside the preview’s intended boundaries. So, reluctantly, I stopped launching myself from my bike into the sky like I was flinging Batman with a giant slingshot, and headed instead to the Batcave.
Ah, the Batcave. Even though it was still rather limited in the preview (throughout Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, the Batcave grows and develops, just like our protagonist, Bruce), it was obvious this space is set to become a goldmine for DC fans. Expect plenty of tributes to the franchise’s past. We’re talking Batsuits from the Dark Knight’s first films and comics, among other references. In the end, it’ll include Batsuits everywhere—roughly 100 total—along with Batmobiles and Batcycles pulled from across the saga. That’s a lot of gear to take in.
That said, I did miss a few features from earlier Lego games when playing Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. For instance, there are no minikits during the missions—they’re limited to the Batcave instead. Rather than that, each mission offers other collectables to track down, such as the different disco balls I broke with my Batarang during the Iceberg Lounge mission. A member of the development team told me that if I collected all the disco balls in that area, I’d earn a new item or trophy to decorate the Batcave with. Still, even knowing that, I caught myself searching for minikits out of habit. Old routines are hard to shake.
Another difference: there’s no stud bar you build up over the course of the missions. Previous Lego Batman games let players work toward rewards like True Hero or Super Hero. When I brought this up, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight’s executive producer Matt Ellison explained, “Something that’s slightly different in this game is that we don’t have the stud multipliers working in the same manner. To collect more studs in this game, you must gather a lot of them consistently, which will cause your stud meter to multiply, allowing you to accumulate more studs rapidly that way. The economy is simply different in this game.”
Putting aside those small gripes, I genuinely had a great time with Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, and I’m already looking forward to returning to the Batmobile to cruise through Gotham’s streets again—now with my children sitting beside me as co-pilots. The game blends deep Batman lore for dedicated fans with Lego’s signature brand of comedy, making it clear there’s something to enjoy no matter what kind of DC or Lego fan you are—there’s plenty waiting among the Dark Knight’s many capes and hoods.
To borrow the spirit of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, “I’m whatever Gotham requires me to be.” In this case, that means being a minifigure who can take to the dance floor like one of the leads from Dirty Dancing, while also knocking down opponents with a slightly oversized boomerang. And honestly? It’s not only Gotham that I’m thinking about right now—this is exactly what I need at the moment.