LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is bringing TT Games' brick-built Gotham closer to the Batman: Arkham playbook, with a new hands-on preview outlining counter-heavy combat, detective tools, open-world activities and the series' usual family-friendly chaos.

The PS5 hands-on report confirms the game is still set to launch on May 22. Warner Bros. Games' official FAQ lists that date for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, with the Nintendo Switch 2 version still planned for later in 2026. The preview session was played solo, though two-player local co-op will be supported when players head into Gotham themselves.

TT Games is remixing Batman history

Legacy of the Dark Knight is not retelling one Batman story straight. The preview describes it as a comedic mash-up of comics, TV, animated series, movies and games, with TT Games twisting familiar moments without dropping the character's long-running history.

One example comes from Haly's Circus. Instead of the Flying Graysons dying and leaving Dick Grayson orphaned, the pair survive the fall, fire their son and leave Bruce Wayne to bring him into the Bat-family as Robin.

TT Games executive producer Matt Ellison said DC framed the project as a broad Batman celebration.

"DC Comics described this game as a remix of Batman's Greatest Hits. We want to make a unique story out of that and showcase him in a different way."

That approach shows up in references ranging from the Adam West era's red Bat-phone to a costume from Absolute Batman. The preview also says some character portrayals, including Catwoman and Commissioner Gordon, take influence from Warner Bros.' The Batman film.

Combat takes clear cues from Arkham

The biggest gameplay hook is the Arkham-style combat. The preview describes a system where players chain attacks with Square, counter with Triangle, dodge with Circle and spend a full Focus Meter on finishers using R1. Dodge timing matters against armored enemies, shielded goons and gunfire.

The game also borrows from Batman's detective side through Focus Mode. That should make Legacy of the Dark Knight feel more like a full Batman action game than a simple LEGO retelling, especially for players who grew up with Rocksteady's Arkham trilogy.

Gadgets remain a major part of the loop. During the preview, Batman, Gordon, Robin and Catwoman were playable from a wider roster of seven characters. Batman used familiar tools such as the Batclaw, while Catwoman could call in a feline helper to attack enemies and crawl into small spaces. Gordon's stranger kit includes a foam sprayer that can jam gears, block security cameras and trap enemies before they are kicked away.

Stealth is part of the structure too, though getting spotted does not mean an instant failure state. A sequence in the Iceberg Lounge involved rafters, guards, a nightclub crowd and a massive ballpit before slipping into open combat.

Gotham opens up before launch

The open-world Gotham shown in the preview includes vehicles, pedestrians, trains, crimes, puzzles, traversal trials and combat challenges. Players can summon the Batmobile with the Up button, or move around using a grappling hook and glider combo.

The humor is still very much LEGO. The report mentions Robin training near LEGO stud-shaped bat guano, Batman and Gordon breaking into a short rhythm-action dance sequence and villain banter aimed at older Batman fans as much as children.

The hands-on follows confirmation that LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight has gone gold, putting the base game on track ahead of release. TT Games' new Batman adventure launches for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 22, with the Switch 2 version due later. The latest preview makes its pitch clear: this is LEGO Batman, but with more Arkham DNA than the series has had before.