Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight: PS5 Review

Developed by TT Games Studios
Published by Warner Bros Games
Platform: PS5

The Lego games franchise has always been a strong contender for pick up and play mentality that appeals to all ages.

But as the catalogue grew, along with the trademark humour of whatever it was apeing, TT Games showcased a deep love for whatever it was that they happened to be parodying. From Star Wars to Harry Potter, via Marvel and Lord of the Rings, the games have always been accessible, open and above all, fun.

This latest takes that love to the extreme as it follows the entire Batman franchise story, delivering a fair bit of unlockable content and free-flow combat that apes the Rocksteady Games franchise that proved to be so popular.

Yet it's also packed with Easter eggs and nods to the world of Gotham that makes it so enduring for fans - albeit not to the extent where it alienates non-fans of the Batman world.

While it does try something different with the combat, it doesn't veer away from the formula of smashing bricks, collecting studs and generally goofing around with the world that DC created for its hero and their villains. With large captions of screen each time you take down a villain, you'd be forgiven for thinking the game's mocking the 1960s Batman and its campy Adam West ways. But in truth, everything here is an homage of love.

Mixing stealth and also fighting combat, the game does occasionally feel a little repetitive, especially in some of its earlier missions and set up. But each level feels deep and expansive, a world that's deeper than perhaps some of the previous games have been and rewards longer investment within them.

It's still a winning formula - from seeking collectibles to smashing anything around, the game's not really veered away from what makes them great. Perhaps there are too few unlockable characters here though, something which will speak to a minor lack of depth.

But whether it's zipping through the air in Gotham or collecting WayneTech, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is the kind of game that's perfection to play for hours on end. You'll lose track of time thanks to this joyous homage to what makes the Batman tick and what makes the Lego games work.