There are certain expectations with any LEGO video game, but LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight somehow manages to blow those out of the water. It has the charm and humor we’ve come to expect from Traveller’s Tales, but it also has the dynamic combat, stealth, and open-world exploration that make it one of the best (unofficial) Batman Arkham games ever.

The premise alone is eye-catching: a Batman video game with Arkham gameplay that’s curated to a LEGO world. It might seem like the darker edges of the Arkahm games would clash with LEGO’s zany sense of humor, but Legacy of the Dark Knight manages to pull it off. Much like walking across skyscraper ledges in Gotham City, there’s a balance needed here. The result is a game that’s fun and engaging while being a love letter to the Caped Crusader. If there were a Venn diagram of Batman, LEGO, and Arkham fans, Legacy of the Dark Knight would be perfectly at its center.

Legacy Of The Dark Knight Is A Love Letter To Batman

In terms of Batman as a character, Legacy of the Dark Knight features great attention to detail. We get a story that plays like a Greatest Hits album from the movies, but still manages to feel original (and still has plenty of original moments). It’s honestly kind of amazing that the narrative isn’t a trainwreck. Instead, we have a storyline that manages to feel unique while paying homage to the countless Batman movies, comics, and shows that have come before it.

You don’t have to rewatch every Batman movie before playing the game like I did, but it’ll certainly help. There are so many references packed in that it really adds to the experience. Cutscenes, for example, might feature The Batman‘s Gordon interacting with Batman Return‘s Penguin, and then moments later, we’re getting references to the Prince song from Tim Burton’s first Batman movie. There are even some really nice references to the 1966 film.

And it’s not just the cutscenes. From subtle background dialogue to signs you’ll pass while gliding through Gotham City, there are enough Easter eggs packed into LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight to make your head spin. Batsuits and costumes for the other playable characters all come with fun trivia tidbits, and that’s not even mentioning the rogues’ gallery, which includes the iconic villains you’d expect along with some nice deep cuts too.

Arkham-Style Combat & Exploration Delivers

Depending on how you want to play, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight can offer a true Batman Arkham experience thanks to its three difficulty settings. While “Classic” will play more like a traditional LEGO game, the higher settings will make stealth more important, bad guys tougher, and require you to master combat and get upgrades.

The open world of Gotham City is massive, and anyone who’s played Arkham Knight will especially feel right at home. From Riddler Trophies to WayneTech Caches and Batmobile Trials, the map is covered with things to find and do. Legacy of the Dark Knight does a good job of introducing these a bit at a time, so you never feel wholly overwhelmed and are constantly encouraged to explore between completing more traditional levels.

You’ll be able to upgrade gadgets via workbenches, and you can improve abilities for characters and other typical LEGO upgrades like stud multipliers thanks to Skill Bricks. Bat-mite has shops spread around the city, which is where you can buy more outfits and decor for the Batcave, which has some nice customizability of its own.

Since this is a LEGO game, you can also play through Legacy of the Dark Knight with two players. I was initially cautious about what this would mean for the Arkham-style gameplay, but it works. Batman will almost always have a sidekick, and if you’re playing solo, you’ll be required to switch between characters in order to use their various abilities to solve puzzles, find secrets, and advance through levels. At no point does this ever detract from the experience, and I actually really liked the buddy movie vibes during the Batman and Gordon sections.

LEGO’s Humor & Heart Still Beat Strong

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight may sometimes have a more serious tone befitting its subject matter, but it never loses its humor and heart. There’s always a sense of fun pulsing through the veins of this game, whether through sight gags or quippy dialogue. Maybe you’ll fight some bad guys in a ball pit. Maybe you and Catwoman have to rock out on electric guitars. Maybe the evil tension created by a villain is undermined by a one-liner from some random LEGO NPC. There’s always surprises in store, and there are plenty of jokes catered directly to longtime Batman fans.

There’s really not anything negative to say about LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. Even performance problems, which have sometimes been an issue in LEGO games, aren’t a factor here. I’m used to LEGO games sometimes being glitchy or buggy at launch, but this one ran great on the PlayStation 5.

The end result is a fun, funny, and self-aware homage to the Dark Knight that is equal parts LEGO wackiness and phenomenal Batman Arkham successor. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is one of the best LEGO games of all time. Heck, it might just be THE best LEGO game ever. And it’ll certainly give your favorite Arkham game a run for its money.