LEGO Batman: The Arkham Legacy Game Unveiled at gamescom 2025

Traveler's Tales is once again unleashing a torrent of brick-breaking battles against bat-themed villains onto the streets of Gotham City. For two decades, the studio has largely adhered to its beloved, established formula of transforming major global media franchises into level-based action-adventures. This time, however, TT Games seems to be drawing inspiration not only from within its own walls but from elsewhere within the Warner Bros. family, delivering what fans have longed for: what is essentially a new Batman Arkham game in all but name.

The structure of Legacy of the Dark Knight differs somewhat from previous LEGO titles. Rather than a completely original tale, TT Games has immersed itself in the mythos of the Bat, weaving together distinct threads from the hero's most iconic comic book and film stories to craft its own narrative. Players will experience a young Bruce Wayne's origin story, seemingly inspired by Batman Begins if the trailer is any indication. Later, they'll encounter a Joker born from a vat of corrosive chemicals before he evolves into a version reminiscent of Heath Ledger's Oscar-winning portrayal for a chapter or two.

I had the chance to play a complete mission from the early story, set in an Ace Chemicals plant heavily styled after its appearance in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman film. However, the plot unfolding within those neo-gothic walls borrows directly from Ed Brubaker's one-shot comic, *The Man Who Laughs*, as Batman investigates the Red Hood. The context is established through the franchise's trademark slapstick LEGO humor, with the Dark Knight tasked with tracking three separate shipments of teddy bears to uncover the Hood's sinister plans for them.

This opening segment occurs outside the plant and allowed me to experiment with the instantly recognizable combat system. I punched thugs until their plastic limbs detached and countered whenever a telltale attack signal flashed above their heads. Fans of the Batman: Arkham series (and the many action games it inspired) will know precisely what to expect. Based on my brief experience, the combat mechanics don't appear to grow significantly more complex from this foundation.

The clear Arkham inspiration and the goal of bringing that experience to a broader audience was something Jonathan Smith, Head of Production and Strategic Director at TT Games, openly acknowledged. "You can't consider portraying Batman in a video game without recognizing the accomplishments of our friends at Rocksteady," Smith stated. "So, as we envisioned a rich, deep Batman combat experience, we naturally drew inspiration from that, while also introducing new approaches focused on accessibility."

While the punches, kicks, and throws are rooted in the combat style pioneered in 2009's *Batman: Arkham Asylum*, this remains a TT LEGO game designed for all ages. Therefore, intricate button combinations are unlikely to become a core feature. Slow-motion finishers add a stylish flair, enhancing that familiar Arkham rhythm. Overall, the brawling feels solid, if not quite as viscerally satisfying as in *Asylum* and its sequels—perhaps because impacting the synthetic sheen of LEGO bricks lacks the heft of striking flesh (and yes, I phrased it that way intentionally).

Of course, as much as the Caped Crusader relishes shattering cheekbones, stealth has always been a cornerstone of his games. Again, while the stealth design in Legacy of the Dark Knight isn't as robust as the Arkham series, it caters to the sneakier approach. High perches loom over enemies, easily reached with a grapple. From there, you can use a detective mode that functions more as an area-of-effect pulse than a toggleable X-ray vision to mark foes below. Stealth takedowns are then performed with signature LEGO humor; instead of a swift blow, Batman might land on an enemy with a minifigure-crushing thud from behind.

While combat is heavily inspired by Arkham, the rest of the mission unfolds like a classic TT adventure. Platforming involves moving platforms and swinging hooks, while puzzles require switching between characters (or coordinating with a co-op partner) to utilize their unique skills. On this mission, I was accompanied by Jim Gordon, equipped with a foam-spraying gun that fires blobs of goo to bypass obstacles. For instance, Ace Chemicals is, unsurprisingly, full of hazardous spills from broken pipes blocking your path. A blast from the Commissioner's cannon hardens to seal the leak. Further on, a locked door can be yanked down using Batman's grapple on an obvious point. This character-swapping and skill-based puzzle-solving has been the foundation of LEGO games since the first Star Wars adaptation in 2005 and retains its charm.

This does raise questions about mission variety and the range of puzzles we'll encounter. While navigating Ace Chemicals, I didn't get the strong "Metroidvania" feeling often associated with LEGO games—that sense of many secret areas being inaccessible on a first playthrough due to locked abilities. This might be because only seven characters will be playable in Legacy of The Dark Knight, drastically reducing the variety of powers and gadgets, especially compared to *The Skywalker Saga*'s roster of roughly 400. That treasure-hunting replayability is a major draw for many, so if this is the case, it's a slight concern. Perhaps that aspect of the experience is primarily reserved for the open world.

I spent only about ten minutes in a small outdoor section of Gotham City but found no shortage of activities. That Arkham muscle memory kicked in as I grappled to a rooftop, launched into the air, and spread my Batwings to survey the crime-ridden alleys below. In that short time, I stopped a crime in progress by thumping some goons, solved a Riddler trophy puzzle, and attempted a time trial in a Batmobile of my choice—options included The Dark Knight's Tumbler, the muscular monster from 2022's *The Batman*, and an accompanying Batcycle. Character outfits are customizable, ranging from Golden Age comic interpretations to modern movie looks. How these are unlocked remains unclear, but I wouldn't be surprised if collecting treasures scattered across the open world plays a key role.

Initial impressions that Legacy of The Dark Knight is an Arkham game in a LEGO wrapper are quite accurate. I settled comfortably into the satisfying middle ground between dynamic combat and collectathon puzzle-solving the series has perfected for years. My hour or so with the game left me genuinely hopeful. It seems like the perfect offering to tide Arkham fans over until Rocksteady—or another worthy studio—answers the call of the Batsignal once more.