For nearly two decades, LEGO video games have been known for one thing above all else: massive rosters of playable characters. From LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga boasting over 300 characters, to LEGO Marvel Super Heroes letting fans play as everyone from Iron Man to obscure comic villains, variety has always been a major selling point. That’s why it comes as such a surprise that LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is going in the complete opposite direction.
Developer TT Games has confirmed that the new title will include only seven playable characters: Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Jim Gordon, Catwoman, and Talia al Ghul.
A More Focused Approach
Rather than spreading the spotlight across dozens of side characters, the team is focusing on a handful of Gotham’s most important figures. Each hero (and antihero) comes with their own gadgets, abilities, and story-driven gameplay. For example, Batman uses his Batclaw to swing between rooftops, Robin has access to a line launcher for traversal, Catwoman can lash out with her whip, and Gordon makes use of his police-issued foam sprayer.
TT Games has explained that this decision is about depth rather than breadth. By cutting down the roster, the studio can build more tailored missions, refine each moveset, and give players a stronger sense of individuality with every character.
Why Only Seven?
For some fans, this shift feels like a step back. After all, LEGO games have traditionally thrived on sheer variety, letting you unlock obscure characters and experiment with unlikely team-ups. But others see this as an opportunity. With fewer options to juggle, TT Games can invest more energy into narrative pacing, character arcs, and detailed animations.
There’s also speculation that the “seven character limit” only applies to the campaign. Past LEGO titles have separated their story mode from “free play,” where additional characters often become available after missions are completed. Given the popularity of Gotham’s rogues gallery, it seems unlikely that villains like Joker, Penguin, or Poison Ivy won’t show up in some playable form down the line.
Gotham Gets Bigger
While the roster might be smaller, the scale of the game world is shaping up to be the largest in the series yet. TT Games has stated that Gotham City will be more expansive than Arkham Knight’s version, thanks to technology refined during the development of The Skywalker Saga. Players can expect a dense urban environment full of vertical exploration, puzzles, and side content to uncover.
On paper, a LEGO game with only seven playable characters sounds restrictive. Yet, if handled well, this could mark a bold new direction for the series. Rather than stuffing the game with filler, Legacy of the Dark Knight is aiming for a more intimate, character-driven experience.
Whether fans embrace this approach or long for the massive character lists of older titles remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Gotham has never looked this good in LEGO form.
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