Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Review (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, & PC)

TT Games have been hugely instrumental in pioneering the modern era of LEGO video games. Right from their 2005 debut of LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game to phenomenal entries like LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, LEGO Harry Potter, LEGO City Undercover, and LEGO Marvel Super Heroes. So many more LEGO TT Games you can play right now, thriving in frenzied brick-smashing for casual builders and immense replay value for open-world fans. 

But no other LEGO game has dared dip its toes into what LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight manages to accomplish. Every iconic moment across the various Batman media, whether film, comic books, or game adaptations, brought together into one package. All taking place in a massive open-world that borrows heavily from Rocksteady’s breathtaking Arkham universe, and while at it, borrowing the series’ brutal punching and combo-heavy parrying. But that’s not all. 

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight tops it all off with a satisfying dose of LEGO humor. Even with how demented Gotham can be, chaos and corruption deeming the streets unworthy of saving, you can’t help laughing out loud at the funniest moments. The writing is top-notch, balancing character depth with lighthearted surprises. Meanwhile, the gameplay makes room for kids and adults to co-op on puzzles and battles, without ever running out of items to collect and secrets to find. 

TT Games has released so many LEGO games over the years that I wouldn’t blame you if you’re on the fence about their new game. However, our LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight review should help clear things up. 

In Case You Missed It

Though I doubt Batman fans will have problems identifying the major plot points LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight references. Think of it like a compilation of all the iconic moments throughout Batman’s story, from when he was a billionaire orphan trying to make sense of his purpose in life to his rookie vigilante years, and evolving to leading the Bat-Family. That means that you’ll be meeting so many crimefighters, vigilantes, and allies within the Arkham universe who cross Batman’s path. Bruce Wayne leads the pack, and the Bat-family members like Robin turned Nightwing, Batgirl, Catwoman, and Commissioner James Gordon follow his command.

Now, if you’re wondering how in the hell LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight will manage to fit all of these complex stories into one game, and in the ten to 15 hours it takes to beat the game, you’ll be right on track with everyone else. Everyone but the dev team, who seem to have known something we don’t. Somehow, the story isn’t in complete shambles, despite featuring seven playable characters introduced throughout the main story, including Talia al Ghul. This isn’t like LEGO Star Wars, where playable characters were reskins that made sense for druids and all. The playable characters in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight are a core part of the story, and don’t only serve a gameplay role, but a canonical one, too.

Bane of Batman’s Existence

Commissioner James Gordon, Batgirl, Robin, and others each come into Batman’s life at certain significant moments. And they don’t just provide an alliance in fighting against rising crime rates in Gotham, but also have an impact on Batman’s life and the city. If LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight were to dig deep into each of its character arcs, we would have way too much to digest in one game. Not to mention that the timelines are haphazard and may not fit as they do in the independent films and comics. Adding villains to the story complicates things further. Of course, the Joker remains the bane of Batman’s existence. And speaking of Bane, he’s present, too, although sadly doesn’t deliver a performance as remarkable as in the films.

Other remarkable Batman villains like The Penguin, Scarecrow, The Riddler, Poison Ivy, and Mr. Freeze enjoy significant screen time that show off their best wits and tricks. You follow along their journey, culminating in exhilarating mini-boss and boss battles. One thing LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight thrives on is unique playable characters and villains. Every one of Batman’s allies has unique playstyles, gadgets, and skill trees. And these encourage switching them up, given that their unique weapons and skills come through in specific battle and puzzle-solving scenarios. I much prefer this to the hundreds of playable characters in LEGO Star Wars, many of which were reskins. In that case, Robin and Nightwing might as well have been one playable character because their skill sets are pretty similar. On the other hand, villains are largely distinct, and they’d better be given, they’re adaptations of Nolan’s, Burton’s, and Arkham’s universes.

Not That Serious

Many of the performances don’t quite deliver the dramatic effect you might expect. Even the Joker has some parts that fall flat. But it also feels like a downside to adapting The Dark Knight to LEGO. There’s only so much you can expect from bricks talking smack. I will say that the writing and some voice acting are stellar. Some iconic moments are exceptional and serve as nostalgic fandom moments. Others are purely for fun and laughter. Still, others feel out of place in the grand scheme of things and in the chapter-to-chapter story progression. Some story bits simply don’t connect and feel like they’re present for the sake of documenting the references to the Batman multiverse. And for that reason, some characters feel left out, especially characters like Catwoman in the build-up to the finale. 

You probably think you know how it’s going to end. But LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight surprises by telling an original ending. Expect twists that will blow you away. That’s the stronghold of the story, that even with its caveats, it still surprises you and leaves a lasting impression. In between the story missions, you’ll fight enemies and solve puzzles. Enemies are varied and serviceable enough to spearhead Arkham’s combat style. You’ll mix punches, blocks, and parries, exploring combo-heavy attacks and counters that make quick work of mobs. Don’t expect the same brutality and satisfying feel of Batman: Arkham, but as punchy as can be for a LEGO game. While adults will enjoy this, there’s still that lingering feeling of playing a kids’ game. Not that it’s a bad thing at all. Kids’ games can be enjoyed by adults, too.

Hush, Don’t Make a Sound

The bat is a creature of the night. He thrives in the shadows. So, stealth has always felt like a necessary addition to a Batman game. Unfortunately, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight doesn’t quite nail the stealth feeling of sneaking around in the shadows. When enemies are none the wiser of your presence or where you might strike next. It’s funny because all TT Games had to do was borrow from Arkham’s stealth mechanics, just as they did with the combat. Instead, all you do is sneak behind enemies, which is pretty easy given their cluelessness. You can perform takedowns, but when enemies are often in groups, you’ll eventually have to engage them in combat. I’d have loved to have gadgets that make me disappear or those that lower visibility. You know, something to really feel like a creature of the night.

At least on the puzzles end, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight absolutely nails it. There are so many Riddler and Cluemaster puzzles all around Gotham. And while some will take a minute to hack, most are pretty easy and fun. Another of LEGO games’ fun pastimes is collectibles, which are also plentiful and can keep you well-busy after the main story. Or you might prefer smashing bricks for rewards. When these side activities would grow tiring and repetitive in other LEGO open-world games, here, the Arkham-like universe looks and feels amazing to explore. You have the grapple hook that you swing onto ledges and dive down, covering large distances at a time. Or you can jump into your Batmobile, with different types available. Other playable characters have their own slick rides, too.

Verdict

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is an impressive collection of iconic moments from the Batman universe, told in a concise story that mostly makes sense. It may falter in places, the connective tissues wearing thin across its chapters. However, it always remains entertaining, thanks to so many fun and hilarious activities to engage in. Whether with a full-grown adult or kid by your side, the co-op action is fun, solving clever Riddler puzzles, taking down The Penguin and many more iconic villains, and smashing bricks just because you can. You enjoy every moment navigating the Arkham-like open-world, whether swinging across Gotham or speeding down the narrow streets in your Batmobile. The only thing not quite there yet is the stealth system, which could use more creative ways to mask your presence in the shadows and attack enemies when they least expect it.