LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight PS5 Hands-On Preview. In an odd turn of fate, TT Games’ approach to designing licensed games has somewhat flipped the tables in terms of what exactly we can expect from these projects. Where once upon a time, LEGO games were rote approximations of their source material, it feels like – out of nowhere – these games have gotten exponentially more ambitious.
We saw it with LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and we see it again here. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight exists as a love letter to the entire Batman series, rather than picking any single story to adapt, and it feels like something special.
LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Hands-On Preview (PS5) – Arkham’s Looking a Bit Different These Days
Respect your Elders
Immediately after finishing my extended play session with LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, my first thought was how badass a younger version of me would find this game. I could also describe this game as “Arkham-lite,” and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible.
If you’ve played any of the Arkham games – Rocksteady, or no – you will feel shockingly at home with what Legacy of the Dark Knight is putting down. It exists as an almost paradoxical successor, trading out the brutal and crunchy combat in favour of more slapstick, snappy combat that scratches that same itch.
This continuity really clicked when I came across a shielded goon and employed the exact same strategy that I would have done in Arkham, to the same success. It’s abundantly clear that those games were the starting point for the combat here, and I’m interested to see how it evolves.
The inherent goofy comedy of previous Lego games feels a little more understated here, instead being used as an excuse for more comedic animations in lieu of Arkham’s brutal combat animations. (Seriously, Batman definitely broke more than a few ribs across those games.) I have no doubt that this game will have its fair share of comic moments, but this feels more earnest than other Lego projects so far, which is by no means a bad thing.
The Best of Both Worlds
My time with Legacy of the Dark Knight was split into two distinct sections; one half of the demo was spent exploring a portion of the open Gotham City, while the other was spent in a more linear stage with action elements.
Again, the open world channels the very best of what made the classic Arkham games so special. Even in the small section I was able to explore, it was chock-full of detail and gorgeous scenery to take in. Small-scale skirmishes to ease your twitching thumbs, and a confirmation that Riddler trophies will be making their grand return.
Supplemented with the inclusion of the Batmobile, it’s safe to say that returning fans (and new, younger fans) will be in for a treat once the ball gets rolling. The flying did feel a little bit more sluggish when compared to Arkham, but I have to wonder if that was just a demonstration quirk or if that might be an upgrade down the road.
The grapnel boost is back, at the very least.
Back to LEGO Roots
The second portion of the demo was spent playing through an early mission in the campaign, with linear objectives and combat scenarios to complete. In some ways, it feels similar to LEGO games of yore, with clear signposts and relatively simple environmental puzzles to solve across two playable characters.
However, the more dynamic movement systems of this game mean that there was a little bit more flexibility when it came down to seeing those objectives through. For instance, there was a big open space with three main objectives to complete, with each having a stealth scenario to complete. These could be completed in any order before descending into some more linear set pieces.
In my demo, I could swap between Batman and Commissioner Jim Gordon, both of whom interacted with the world in different ways, but still kept the fundamentals between the two. Where Batman had access to the Batarang and Batclaw, Jim had access to a slime gun and ricocheting bullets to hit switches.
This is where the LEGO DNA appeared in its most clear form, and I hope this isn’t the extent to which we can expect variety. Each character was essentially the same blueprint with some small details setting them apart; I want to see characters with some exciting diversity down the road.
It’s early days, but that’s something that stuck out to me.
Ultimately, this is a very promising first taste for a game that promises to be a fervent love letter to both Batman and LEGO fans. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is scheduled to release in 2026 for PlayStation 5.