Lego games often cover extensive narratives, such as Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, which encompasses content from nine films.
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight from TT Games aims to be an ambitious entry, moving beyond a series of movies to explore Batman’s entire life story. The game draws elements from the character’s 86-year history.
The narrative begins with a young Bruce Wayne at the cinema with his parents, guiding players through significant moments in Batman’s journey. TT Games describes its version as a blend of common story beats from decades of retellings, culminating in Batman’s role as the leader of the Bat-Family.
An example of how the studio merges various sources was showcased at Gamescom 2025, featuring Batman confronting Red Hood One at the Ace Chemical Processing Plant.
In the comics, Red Hood One’s identity is Liam Distall, and his fate at Ace Chemicals leads to questions about whether he was the Joker or was replaced by the individual who became the Joker.
The game’s depiction of the battle with Red Hood One concludes with him falling into a vat of chemicals, reminiscent of Jack Napier’s fall in the 1989 live-action Batman movie. After being knocked into the vat, Red Hood One’s mask falls off, revealing a resemblance to Jack Nicholson. He then utters a line from the 1989 film, “did you ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight,” and throws Joker cards as he descends, making the outcome less ambiguous.
The game will not feature a single Joker design, acknowledging the character’s many appearances over the years. TT Games states that as Batman’s story and look evolve, so too will other characters like the Joker and the Penguin.
Typically, Lego games are known for their vast rosters of unlockable characters. While TT Games has confirmed playable characters like Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Catwoman, Talia al Ghul, and Jim Gordon, alongside Batman, it appears these seven are the only playable options.
This approach is a notable shift, as previous Lego titles, such as Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, offered over 380 unlockable characters, excluding DLC.
Instead of a large character count, the studio indicates that players will collect 100 suits. These include numerous Batman outfits spanning his 86-year history, as well as alternate costumes for the other six playable characters.
Another significant feature is that this marks the first Lego Batman game to offer a true open-world environment, moving away from a series of linear stages. Players can freely navigate Gotham City by running, gliding, grappling, flying, and driving. This allows for stopping impromptu crimes, collecting items, and solving puzzles. Various Batmobiles from different eras, including the Tumbler, along with Batcycles and the Batglider, will be available.
TT Games does not frequently develop expansive open-world Lego titles, making Legacy of the Dark Knight a departure from its usual offerings. This change to the established formula aims to introduce new elements to the series.
