I’m going to raise my hands and admit I didn’t expect Lego Batman: The Legacy of the Dark Knight to be this outstanding—or to pack in so many wink-and-nods to the Caped Crusader’s huge body of lore as you make your way through Gotham.
Whether you’re just sprinting through the main campaign or you’re a longtime Batman fan, the game is loaded with instances that make you stop and think, “Wait a second—did I catch that?”. With that in mind, and drawing on my own background growing up steeped in Gotham stories (plus the time I’ve spent working on our extensive Lego Batman walkthrough and other guides), these are the references I’ve enjoyed most so far during my time as the Dark Knight.
Please be aware that this page includes spoilers for the plot, as well as for the references themselves.
After Hours with Conroy – The Voice of Gotham’s Knight
This ad tucked onto the side of one of Gotham’s many structures made me brake the Batmobile, get out, climb up to the nearest rooftop, and take it in for a moment. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve seen a range of performers lend their talents to Batman, but three still stand out for me—Kevin Conroy included.
Conroy is undeniably the most recognizable voice of Batman. When you picture the character, you can almost hear Conroy immediately. For me, it started with Batman: The Animated Series, and with the unforgettable moment of his Dark Knight facing Mark Hamill’s Joker—an element of my childhood that stayed with me until Conroy sadly passed away. Since Conroy also voiced characters in the Rocksteady Arkham Trilogy, it wouldn’t have made sense for the game not to include some kind of tribute. In a very real way, he was the voice of Gotham’s Knight.
Miller and Moore Poster
This advertisement for “Miller and Moore Accountants” shows up on the sides of buildings around Gotham, and the names might not instantly ring a bell unless you’ve been keeping up with the comics or graphic novels. The reference points to Frank Miller, the writer and illustrator behind the 1986 Dark Knight series and Batman: Year One (among other works). “Moore” is Alan Moore, best known for authoring the 1988 graphic novel Batman: A Killing Joke. It’s one of the first Batman graphic novels I ever owned, and it’s still my favorite today. Seeing both creators named in a Batman game just feels right.
Taken… Batman?
“I possess a very particular set of skills, skills that render me a nightmare to men like Falcone” – Ra’s Al Ghul
This is a layered reference that genuinely made me laugh. Liam Neeson played the notorious Ra’s Al Ghul in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy. His portrayal is among the most unsettling performances I’ve seen, and it highlights just how crucial Bruce’s choice to embrace becoming Batman is—because he could have easily fallen into the darkness the League of Shadows wanted for him instead. Neeson is also famous for his work in the Taken films, so this line lands as a clear nod to both.
Missing Cat Posters
All across Gotham, you’ll come across a range of Missing Cat Posters. Some of the cats’ names are callbacks to earlier Catwomen. One example is “Julie Mewmar,” where Julie Newmar was the first actress to take on Catwoman, beginning as the feline criminal in the 1960s Batman series. “Meowchelle” is another, referencing Michelle Pfieffer’s Catwoman role alongside Michael Keaton’s Batman. I’ve also spotted “Halle Purry” in the mix.
Turning the names into Missing Cat Posters? It’s purr-fect. (Sorry.)
I simply cannot tolerate any more of your buffoonery!
While you’re battling Two-Face’s henchmen at the Circus, this line comes out so fast that you might miss it—and that would be a shame. Based on a story involving Jim Carrey (who played the Riddler), this is a direct quote from Tommy Lee Jones (who portrayed Two-Face). Supposedly, Jones isn’t Carrey’s biggest fan…
This point was also mentioned ahead of launch, along with a reference to a rather amusing tweet from Michael Caine.
Tricorner Cinema Listings
Drop by the cinema in Tricorner and you can check the “now showing” board outside—chances are the titles will land as well with you as they do with me. Among them is “The Smiling,” which I read as a lighthearted twist on “The Shining.” Naturally, it’s also another movie moment where Jack Nicholson (my go-to Joker) shines.
Still, that isn’t the only thing on display. Next to the listings sits another feature called “Cop School.” To me, it feels like a wink toward one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s films—Kindergarten Cop. I do have opinions about the George Clooney Batmans, but I can’t ignore that Schwarzenegger was a standout Mr. Freeze. Later in the game, Mr. Freeze himself even adds another nod to his real-world counterpart, saying, “Is it movie time? Action films? They are my favorite.”
In Shreck’s Department Store – Selina’s Office
In Batman Returns, Selina Kyle becomes Catwoman after Shreck throws her out of the window in her office, prompting her to swear revenge. Honestly, I’d be furious too if my manager did that to me. Still, when you look behind the desk in her office during the “Mimes” Mission in Shreck’s Department Store, you’ll notice the broken window surrounded by police tape. It’s a quick snapshot of how this femme fatale began, the rough way.
Man-Bat the Musical
Right as I was chatting with Eurogamer’s Lottie about how surprised I was that this character hadn’t shown up yet,—BAM. There’s the poster, right in front of me. Now, I wouldn’t really call this the kind of musical I’d go out of my way to see, largely because Man-Bat unsettles me. For a quick rundown, Dr. Langstrom develops a serum intended to give a human Bat-like sonar abilities. Spoiler: it doesn’t work out, and instead he transforms into a feral creature—half human, half bat. I first ran into Man-Bat when I was a kid in the Animated Series, and yes, I hid behind my older sibling; I was not having a good time. Even so, I think this musical poster is a fitting tribute to one of Batman’s more frightening foes.
Ledger’s Legacy as the Joker
These posters don’t show up until later in the game, but they’re absolutely worth the wait. Ledger is one of my top three Jokers (alongside Jack Nicholson and Mark Hamill), and his unmistakable take on Gotham’s Clown Prince of Crime earns every ounce of praise it receives. The “Why so serious” posters sprinkled around are a salute to one of the most memorable elements of his performance.
On top of that, Ledger gave the Joker one of his most unforgettable little quirks, thanks to a costume problem. Licking his lips while he talks adds to the Joker’s unsettling vibe, somehow—but that habit actually traces back to Ledger having trouble keeping the prosthetic scar details around his mouth in place. If you pay close attention later when Batman confronts the Joker, you should notice that this version of the Joker copies the same behavior.
Flugelheim Partyman
When Catwoman and Batman track the Joker Cards to the Flugelheim Art Gallery, there’s a moment where the Joker dances through the Museum—turning it into, basically, Joker-style chaos. If that feels familiar, there’s a good explanation. This is a tribute to the museum sequence from the 1989 Batman film, where the Joker—played by the legendary Jack Nicholson—takes over Gotham Museum, while Prince’s “Partyman” plays throughout, and again through the boomboxes during the next mission. Yes, it’s a very clear homage to that scene, and you could call it a loose reference if you wanted, but I don’t mind at all; it genuinely made me smile.
Honourable Mentions
I couldn’t squeeze every one of my picks into a top ten, but to keep my thoughts all together, I’ve been allowed to add an “Honourable Mentions” section.
Catwoman and the Mannequins
When you first encounter Catwoman at Shreck’s Department store, she
she uses her whip to knock the head off a mannequin hidden behind which Batman is taking cover. This nods to Michelle Pfeiffer’s notorious moment from Batman Returns. What’s more, it’s widely known that she carried out the stunt herself in a single…
take, slicing the heads off four mannequins in quick succession and leaving both the cast and crew genuinely stunned.
Dependable Shark Repellent Spray
There’s a scene in which Batman has to rely on a Shark Repellent Spray to keep a Lego Shark from biting him. It brings to mind one of the episodes that stars Adam West as Batman—when he’s left dangling from a ladder above a ravenous shark, and, much to everyone’s surprise, escapes the threat by using a ‘Shark Spray’ pulled from a set of animal-repelling mists he just happens to have on hand. Nearly every installment from the 1960s Batman series featured quirky moments like this, but the shark sequence stands out as especially memorable.
The Shifting Bat-Signal
I’ll admit, it wasn’t until Chapter Five that I finally spotted this. The Bat-Signal changes from chapter to chapter, tracking along with your progress through the story. It doesn’t just look different—it also signals the particular period of Batman that each chapter is drawing from. For example, the Bat-Signal in Chapter Five mirrors the Nolan era. It’s these small touches that keep my excitement strong as I work to fight crime across Gotham.
There are plenty more moments I could highlight here—but doing so would spoil the fun for you. If you’re planning to play this weekend and want to dig deeper into the game, our Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight walkthrough has everything you’ll need.