Legacy of the Dark Knight's Playable Character Options Are a Double-Edged Sword

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight was announced at last year’s Gamescom, and it was huge news for both Batman lovers and LEGO fans. It’s been over a decade since the last mainline LEGO Batman game came out, and LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is already shaping up to be a welcome return for the caped crusader.

From the graphics to the gameplay, everything already looks like tons of fun. One big issue is probably going to upset a lot of longtime players; LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight‘s character list only features seven playable options. Many are bound to see this as a downgrade since it is a massive change from more extensive options in past LEGO Batman games, but the gameplay could also see some massive upsides because of this smaller character roster.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight’s Small Roster Allows for More Diverse Gameplay

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight‘s world is being teased as one of the franchise’s most expansive yet, and it’s only natural for fans to want to roam Gotham City with a massive cast. However, Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Jim Gordon, Catwoman, and Talia al Ghul are the only playable characters.

Confirmed Playable Characters

Batman
Robin
Nightwing
Batgirl
Jim Gordon
Catwoman
Talia al Ghul

Confirmed Villains and Side Characters

The Joker
Harley Quinn
Red Hood
Ra’s al Ghul
The Penguin
Bane
Mr. Freeze
Firefly
Riddler
Bat-Mite
Condiment King
Poison Ivy
Two-Face
Scarecrow
Clayface
Egghead
The Ventriloquist/Scarface
Alfred Pennyworth (ally)

Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.

Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)

TT Games Dev Explains the Reason Behind a Shorter Character List

Head of Production and Strategic Director Jonathan Smith recently sat down with IGN and discussed the smaller roster. He said, “The story is more focused on a tighter roster of characters that are now more differentiated with much deeper gameplay.” Fewer characters is the best approach to pave the way for more dynamic gameplay that is specific to each character. He added, “So you are constantly upgrading and developing new skills and opening up new abilities for each of those characters. Within the Batfamily as well, we really wanted to focus on making those characters really unique, making their personalities come across and their abilities very distinct.”

One of the most intriguing examples of personality-specific gameplay is with Catwoman. Not only does she use her whip, but she can also command groups of kittens to attack enemies via laser pointer.

The LEGO Batman games are known for their robust character lineups, but the gameplay hasn’t historically taken personality into account. In other words, improved gameplay is the trade-off for a smaller character roster. That doesn’t mean it won’t be controversial for longtime players, but it does mean developers are working to make LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight‘s gameplay the series’ best. If Legacy of the Dark Knight has truly stellar gameplay, it would help make up for the lack of character options.

There may not be as many characters, but Legacy of the Dark Knight is bringing players plenty of suits to collect, with Smith confirming that there are going to be over 100 suits throughout the game. This is a solid way to add more variety without having to build a massive character roster. On top of that, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight‘s pre-order bonus includes several suits to help players get a head start on their collection.

More Dynamic Gameplay is Great, But Making Up for Fewer Characters Will Be Difficult

Some fan-favorite characters are probably going to remain absent from Legacy of the Dark Knight, and that may prove hard for gameplay to make up for. Even with better combat, not having certain characters as playable options might feel like there’s a gaping hole at the center of Legacy of the Dark Knight. Of course, the only way to really know for sure is by playing the game, but it wouldn’t be surprising if this were a dealbreaker for some LEGO Batman franchise fans.

Between fewer playable characters and the fact that LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight doesn’t have online co-op, TT Games is making some surprising decisions. It’s important to note that LEGO games made by TT Games have a history of embracing couch co-op over online, but there are still gamers who are likely disappointed that they can’t play with friends online.

The DLC is called the Mayhem Collection.
It’s expected to launch in September 2026.
The expansion stars a playable Joker and Harley Quinn.

A DLC for Legacy of the Dark Knight has already been confirmed, and it’s clear that it’s going to add more playable characters to the equation. Even though there are only seven playable characters at launch, this DLC shows that TT Games is probably going to use expansions as a way to add more options. It still won’t reach the heights of past games and could prove to be controversial in its own right. After all, the LEGO Batman franchise is no stranger to DLC, but a lot of gamers are growing fatigued with the constant monetization of extra features. Only time will tell how much the DLC costs for players who don’t get it with the Deluxe Edition.

There is still always the chance that Legacy of the Dark Knight proves that a LEGO Batman game doesn’t need tons of playable characters to make for a great experience. LEGO Batman titles are some of the best DC games to ever be released, and it’s exciting that another one is on the way despite how much it plays with the tried-and-true formula.