DaRmaZat Whenever TT Games or LEGO runs a well-known franchise through its trademark formula, you generally know what to expect beforehand: a hefty dose of goofy humor, tons of collectibles, and accessible gameplay. Still, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight feels just a little more ambitious right from the start. It tries to combine the familiar plastic charm with mechanics we’ve previously seen in more serious superhero games, including clear nods to the combat systems of the Arkham series and Insomniac’s Spider-Man. The result is a game that respects the legacy (hence the title) while daring to dream a little bigger.
LEGO Batman… is a Joker
Within the first few hours, it immediately stands out just how much humor has once again found its way into LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, bird and bat droppings included. Nevertheless, the opening half hour – essentially a summary of the formative years of our superhero-in-the-making Bruce Wayne – plays out quite tragically, as his thirst for revenge grows against the thugs of the badass Carmine Falcone.
After the latter and his minions tore Bruce’s family apart, he is eager to finally teach them a lesson once and for all. Before long, Bruce encounters Ra’s al Ghul and his mystical powers, for whom he first has to search for a blue flower atop a mountain before undergoing a trial to gain access to his League of Shadows. Alongside him is rival Talia, who makes it abundantly clear at first that she wants nothing to do with him with her funny French accent. Luckily, that changes quickly.
Taking and Dealing Blows
Initially, combat is fist-based and, while brawl-hopping from enemy to enemy is not quite as buttery smooth as in an Arkham entry, still feels solid. Alongside the usual dodge, stealth, and counter-based attacks, you also build up Focus to increase your hit counter. Once that Focus meter is full, you can perform an enemy takedown, which has very varied animations, most of them funny.
As mentioned, it is often hilarious to watch not only how your LEGO enemies behave toward you in the arena, but also how they explode into little bricks once you land that decisive hit. On top of that, the enemy AI is laughably dumb as well – intentionally so, of course. Nobody hears or notices what happens right next to them. That might scare off some veterans, but then again, I can understand this design choice from an accessibility standpoint for younger players. That said, the lack of a dedicated stealth button and proper stealth animations still feels like a missed opportunity.
Teaming up or Building Solo?
As is typical for a LEGO game, there are also quite a few puzzles in this one, none of them particularly difficult, some of which unlock modifiers. During these puzzles, it becomes very clear the game was truly designed around co-op play. While playing solo, you often have to take control of everything yourself during puzzles because your AI companion simply cannot be bothered to help, which is somewhat disappointing. The same goes for building cannons and vehicles to destroy parts of the environment in order to progress – you will usually end up doing all of that alone. So yes, playing this game together with your partner or a friend is the best choice for the puzzles alone.
Still, even while solo, within the first few hours you already get the option to switch between party members, and once you finally get to step into the shoes of the real – well, the blocky version of – Batman and start tearing through Gotham’s Tricorner area in the Batmobile, the gameplay starts to feel far less one-dimensional. Gotham’s open world is surprisingly large and invites hours upon hours of exploration. At that point, it also becomes clear that you genuinely need the other characters at times, since each comes equipped with unique tools and abilities that also prove useful during combat. Exploring is rewarding too, because the studs you collect allow you to purchase plenty of extra vehicles and costumes, or even customize your own Batcave hideout to your liking.
Gadgets and Gotham’s Finest
Of course, Batman would not be himself if he did not have access to a whole arsenal of cool gadgets. Even though he clearly does not enjoy swimming, there is always some way to overcome environmental obstacles with the help of his grapple hook, Batarangs, and the Batmobile’s many gadgets, naturally. Unfortunately, you do not have immediate access to Batman’s glide move, which personally felt like a missed opportunity right off the bat (pun intended), since you first need to complete a story quest to unlock it. Thankfully, traversal becomes so fluid afterward that you will quickly stop using fast-travel points altogether and simply make your way to objectives manually.
An iconic lineup of characters elevates the adventure even further, with extremely strong voice acting and tons of personality. Ra, Alfred, Jim Gordon, Harvey Dent – everyone is present and brings their A-game. Thanks to the inclusion of villains such as The Joker, The Penguin, and Poison Ivy, all showing up to wreak havoc, the universe feels fully complete. Naturally, the soundtrack is also exactly what you would expect from a title like this.
Visually, the game looks incredibly polished, with impressive reflections and richly detailed environments. The raindrops glistening across the LEGO brick environments are genuinely beautiful. Even the vehicles gradually become realistically dirty as you speed through the streets. Sure, alongside the occasional non-game-breaking bug, there are a few frame skips during some of the many cutscenes. Nothing major, but certainly something that could still be improved.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is the most genuine fun and laughter I’ve had with a game in months. It is partly a sharp parody of iconic superhero lore, partly pure fun, and at the same time extremely accessible for kids. While the gameplay occasionally borrows heavily from other major open-world games, the combination of a richly atmospheric Gotham, the frequent fun and giggles, improved combat, and insane attention to detail results in an exceptionally strong package overall. For both young and old alike, this is an incredibly enjoyable game that proves the LEGO formula is far from running out of steam.
Additional Information
Release Date: May 22, 2026
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency.
Developer: TT Games
Publisher: Warner Bros. Games
Relevant links: Available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version confirmed for later this year.
