Let me be the first to say it: I truly didn’t expect Lego Batman: The Legacy of the Dark Knight to be this standout, or to pack in so many nods to the Caped Crusader’s deep and storied past throughout your trip around Gotham.
No matter whether you’re rushing through the main story or you’re more of a casual Batman fan, the game is filled with moments that make you stop and go, ‘Wait—I’ve seen that before!’. Having grown up with Batman and spending a lot of time in the game putting together our full Lego Batman walkthrough and other supporting guides, these are the key references I’ve come across so far in my adventures as the Dark Knight.
Please remember that this page includes spoilers for the plot—and, of course, for the references themselves.
After Hours with Conroy – The Voice of Gotham’s Knight
This billboard perched on the side of one of the many buildings dotted around Gotham made me slam the brakes on the Batmobile, hop out, climb up to a nearby rooftop, and just linger there for a second to take it in. I grew up around a range of performers who brought their own talents to Batman, but only a few truly stuck with me—Kevin Conroy among them.
Conroy is arguably the definitive voice of Batman; when most people picture Batman, they can almost hear Conroy right away. For me, it was his work in Batman: The Animated Series, especially seeing his Dark Knight square off against Mark Hamill’s Joker—an impression that stayed with me throughout childhood until Conroy sadly passed away. And since Conroy also lent his voice to the Rocksteady Arkham Trilogy, it would have been surprising if the game didn’t include some kind of tribute. He was, quite literally, the voice of Gotham’s Knight.
Miller and Moore poster
This sign for ‘Miller and Moore Accountants’ appears on the side of a building in Gotham, and the names might not mean much unless you’ve followed the comics or graphic novels. It’s referencing Frank Miller, the writer and illustrator behind the 1986 Dark Knight series as well as Batman: Year One (among other projects). Moore points to Alan Moore, who’s best known for creating the 1988 graphic novel Batman: A Killing Joke. That’s one of the earliest Batman graphic novels I ever owned, and it remains my personal favorite. Spotting both of these names called out in a Batman game feels genuinely right.
Taken… Batman?
‘I possess a particular set of skills, skills that render me a nightmare for individuals like Falcone’ – Ra’s Al Ghul
This reference is a smart bit of wordplay that genuinely made me smile. Liam Neeson played the infamous Ra’s Al Ghul in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy. His take on the character is among the most unsettling I’ve seen, capturing the crucial decision Bruce makes to become Batman—because he could just as easily have ended up as dark as the League of Shadows wanted him to be. Neeson is also widely known for his work in the Taken films. Clearly, this line is paying attention to both.
Missing Cat posters
Across Gotham, you’ll find a range of Missing Cat Posters. Some of the cat names point back to earlier Catwomen. For instance, ‘Julie Mewmar’—with Julie Newmar being the first actress to portray Catwoman, starting as the feline criminal in the 1960s Batman series. Another example is ‘Meowchelle,’ which references Michelle Pfieffer’s casting as Catwoman alongside Michael Keaton’s Batman. I’ve also spotted ‘Halle Purry’ in the mix.
Turning those names into puns on a missing cat poster? It’s purr-fect. (Sorry.)
I simply cannot tolerate any further of your nonsense!
During a fight with Two-Face’s goons at the Circus, this line is delivered almost instantly, so quickly that it’s easy to miss—so it would be a shame to overlook it. According to a story connected to Jim Carrey (who played the Riddler), it’s a direct quote from Tommy Lee Jones (who played Two-Face). Apparently, Jones isn’t the biggest fan of Carrey…
This detail was spotted ahead of the game’s release as well—alongside a reference to a pretty funny tweet from Michael Caine.
Tricorner Cinema Listings
When you pop into the cinema in Tricorner and check the “now playing” board outside, you may well find the movies just as entertaining as I did. The selection features “The Smiling” — a name I read as a playful jab at “The Shining.” Of course, it’s yet another film where Jack Nicholson (my go-to Joker) truly shines.
Still, there’s more: right beside the listing you’ll spot another title, “Cop School.” I took that as a nod to one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s movies, Kindergarten Cop. I have opinions about George Clooney’s Batman, genuinely, but I can’t ignore that Schwarzenegger is a legendary Mr. Freeze. Even more, later on, Mr. Freeze himself points toward his real-life counterpart with “Is it movie time? Action films? They’re my favourite.”
In Shreck’s Department Store – Selina’s Office
In Batman Returns, after Shreck throws Selina Kyle out of the office window, she becomes Catwoman and swears she’ll get revenge. Honestly, if someone in charge tossed me out a window, I’d be furious, too. That said, during the “Mimes” Mission in Shreck’s Department Store, if you take a look behind the desk in her office, you’ll see the broken window ringed with police tape. It’s a brief reminder of how tough the start was for this femme fatale.
Man-Bat the Musical
Funny story: I’d just been talking to Eurogamer’s Lottie about how surprised I was they hadn’t included this character yet — and then, BAM. There it is: the poster, right in front of me. Now, this isn’t the kind of musical I’d choose to watch, mainly because Man-Bat gives me the chills. In short, Dr. Langstrom developed a serum that lets a human borrow a bat’s sonar abilities. Spoiler: it didn’t turn out well, and he ended up turning into a strange half-human, half-bat hybrid. The first time I met Man-Bat was when I was a kid watching the Animated Series, and yes, I hid behind my older sibling. I was not enjoying it. Still, I think this musical poster is a fun nod to one of Batman’s most unsettling foes.
Ledger’s Legacy as the Joker
These posters only appear later in the game, but they’re absolutely worth the wait. Ledger lands among my top three Jokers (right alongside Jack Nicholson and Mark Hamill), and his unmistakable take on Gotham’s Clown Prince of Crime deserves every bit of attention it gets. The “Why so serious” posters scattered around the walls are a tribute to the element most people associate with his version.
On top of that, Ledger gave the Joker one of his most recognizable tics, tied to a costume issue. While he’s talking, licking his lips only makes his threatening presence feel even more intense — for reasons I can’t quite explain — and it’s been suggested that the habit traces back to Ledger trying to keep the prosthetic scars near his mouth from shifting. If you watch carefully when Batman confronts Joker later in the story, you should spot that this Joker repeats the same behavior.
Flugelheim Partyman
When Catwoman and Batman follow the Joker Cards to the Flugelheim Art Gallery, there’s a moment where the Joker moves through the Museum, setting off his usual brand of chaos. If it feels oddly familiar, there’s a reason. It’s paying respect to the museum scene from the 1989 Batman film, where the Joker — again played by the legendary Jack Nicholson — takes over Gotham Museum and dances to Prince’s “Partyman.” That song runs through the whole moment and also shows up across the boomboxes during the mission that follows. Yes, it’s a very obvious echo of that scene, and you could call it a direct reference, but honestly, it made me smile.
Honourable Mentions
I couldn’t squeeze every one of my picks into a top 10, but to keep my thoughts organized, 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 uses her whip to behead a mannequin that Batman is hiding behind. It’s a direct nod to Michelle Pfeiffer’s unforgettable sequence from Batman Returns.
It’s also widely agreed that she carried out the stunt herself in just one take, decapitating four mannequins one after another and leaving both the cast and crew genuinely stunned.
Dependable Shark Repellent Spray
There’s a moment in which Batman has to rely on Shark Repellent Spray to drive away a Lego Shark that’s attempting to bite him. This echoes an Adam West Batman episode where Batman finds himself hanging from a ladder above a ferocious shark and, rather unexpectedly, turns to a “Shark Spray” from his lineup of animal-deterrent aerosols to slip free. The Batman episodes of the 1960s were full of odd little moments that have almost become memes, and the shark scene remains one of the most memorable.
The Evolving Bat-Signal
I’ll admit, I didn’t spot this until I started Chapter Five. The Bat-Signal changes step by step with each Chapter as you progress through the story. It doesn’t just get updated visually—it also signals the particular period of Batman that each Chapter takes inspiration from. For example, the Bat-Signal in Chapter Five points to the Nolan film era. Those small details keep my excitement high as I work to crack down on crime across Gotham.
There are plenty of other moments I could share here, but adding them would spoil the fun for you. If you’re planning to play over the weekend and want to dig a little deeper, our Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight walkthrough should offer plenty of help.