GameTimeline

Release & story order

LEGO Batman timeline

Use this page to decide how to play Traveller's Tales LEGO Batman—not which film to watch. Release and Story list the same four mainline games in ship order: The Videogame (2008), LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (2012), Beyond Gotham (2014), and Legacy of the Dark Knight (May 22, 2026). There is no theatrical chronology shuffle—these are mostly original brick adventures. In 2026, most households wanting one modern co-op night should start with Legacy; it does not require finishing the classic trilogy. Keep the 2008–2014 games if you want open-world Gotham nostalgia, voice-acted League crossovers, or Lantern-era levels. LEGO DC Super-Villains is a villain-focused spin-off covered in the FAQ, not a fifth Batman numbered entry. Prefer darker Batman stories? Try the Batman: Arkham timeline. More brick adaptations: LEGO Star Wars timeline.

Updated August 2026

Pick your path:

Legacy only Classic trilogy Full mainline Full release list Story order

Where to start

Choose Legacy only for the 2026 default. Choose Classic trilogy for 2008–2014 nostalgia without the reboot. Choose Full mainline when you want all four checklist titles in order.

  • Legacy is the modern default start for new hardware (PS5 / Series / PC / Switch 2)
  • If kids loved open-world stud collecting, prioritize LEGO Batman 2 inside the classic set
  • Super-Villains stays in the FAQ—not on Essentials—so this page stays Batman-branded mainline

Release order

US ship dates for the four mainline LEGO Batman games—from The Videogame (September 2008) through Legacy of the Dark Knight (May 22, 2026; Switch 2 edition follows later in 2026). Handheld-only ports and one-off DLC packs are not separate rows; use current-gen or PC editions when you can.

  • One modern night in 2026: buy Legacy of the Dark Knight and ignore the classics until you want more
  • Full brick history: The Videogame → DC Super Heroes → Beyond Gotham → Legacy
  • LEGO Batman 2 is the classic open-world highlight if you only sample one older title
  • LEGO DC Super-Villains is optional villain co-op—see FAQ; it is not LEGO Batman 4
  • Prefer serious stealth-combat Batman? Browse the Batman: Arkham timeline
Story order tips

Play order matches Release: LB1 → LB2 → LB3 → Legacy. Legacy is a soft-reboot scale Gotham adventure—film and Arkham Easter eggs appear, but you do not need trilogy lore to understand the plot. Choose Story when you want later titles spoiler-gated; choose Release when you care about launch history.

  • Classic tone: corridor Gotham (LB1) → open Metropolis/Gotham (LB2) → Lantern cosmos (LB3)
  • Legacy can sit alone at the end—or be your only purchase—without spoiling film watch order
  • Co-op friendly throughout; pick difficulty and character swaps for mixed-age sessions
  • On Story order, later games may stay hidden until you reveal spoilers

Timeline

0/4 played

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. LEGO Batman: The Videogame

    LEGO Batman: The Videogame

    PS3Xbox 360WiiPS2PSPDSPCLEGOAction-adventureGotham

    LEGO Batman: The Videogame (2008) opens the brick Gotham saga—hero and villain campaigns, dual-character puzzles, and the first original LEGO story that is not a film retelling.

    Overview
    Separate hero/villain story paths and free-play stud hunts that proved Batman could carry a standalone LEGO series.
    In-game setting
    Gotham-focused opener. Next: LEGO Batman 2. For non-LEGO Batman games, see the Batman: Arkham timeline.
    Should you play it?
    Series start. Still playable for nostalgia; most 2026 newcomers eventually jump to Legacy of the Dark Knight after sampling the trilogy.
    Release date
    US September 23, 2008 on PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS, and PC—use digital/current ports when possible.
  2. LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

    LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

    PS3Xbox 360WiiWii U3DSDSVitaPCLEGOAction-adventureOpen world

    LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (2012) opens Gotham and Metropolis to free roam—Lex Luthor and the Joker team up while the Justice League joins the brick roster with voice acting.

    Overview
    Open-world hubs and flying characters (Superman) expand beyond corridor levels. First fully voiced LEGO Batman campaign.
    In-game setting
    Justice League crossover scale. Leads into Beyond Gotham.
    Should you play it?
    Direct sequel after LB1. Often the fan-favorite of the classic trilogy for free-roam stud collecting—sample this one if you only replay a single older title before Legacy.
    Release date
    US June 19, 2012 multiplatform (PS3/360/Wii/Wii U/3DS/DS/Vita/PC)—the classic open-world highlight.
  3. LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham

    LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham

    PS4PS3Xbox OneXbox 360Wii U3DSVitaPCLEGOAction-adventureLanterns

    LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (2014) goes cosmic—Brainiac, Lantern Corps worlds, and a massive character roster including Adam West tribute levels.

    Overview
    Planet hubs and Lantern ring powers replace a single city map. Peak classic-era character count and DLC season pass.
    In-game setting
    Ends the 2008–2014 numbered trilogy. LEGO DC Super-Villains is a related spin-off—FAQ only.
    Should you play it?
    Trilogy capstone before the long gap to Legacy. Optional if you only want Gotham street stories.
    Release date
    US November 11, 2014 on PS4/Xbox One plus last-gen and handheld SKUs—peak classic-era roster.
  4. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

    LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

    PS5Xbox SeriesPCSwitch 2LEGOAction-adventureOpen worldMainline

    LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (2026) rebuilds Gotham in Unreal Engine 5—origin-to-legend story, Arkham-inspired combat, and the default 2026 LEGO Batman entry after a decade gap.

    Overview
    Modern open-world Gotham with Arkham-flavored combat jokes and current-gen co-op focus.
    In-game setting
    Fourth mainline LEGO Batman. Brick fans often continue with LEGO Star Wars timeline; serious Batman players jump to Batman: Arkham timeline.
    Should you play it?
    Start here for newcomers who want one modern game. Veterans play the classic trilogy first, then Legacy. Switch 2 version September 18, 2026.
    Release date
    US May 22, 2026 on PS5/Xbox Series/PC; Switch 2 September 18, 2026. Deluxe early access May 19, 2026.

FAQ

Legacy vs the classic trilogy, whether Super-Villains counts, Arkham vs LEGO tone, and which Essentials path matches your time and players.

Release order

Almost no order difference for mainline LEGO Batman: both tabs list The Videogame, DC Super Heroes, Beyond Gotham, and Legacy of the Dark Knight in ship order.

Use Story if you want later titles collapsed until you are ready. Use Release if you care about launch dates and platform generations. Neither tab invents a film chronology—these campaigns are mostly original brick plots.

One modern game: start with Legacy of the Dark Knight on current consoles or PC. It is built for today’s hardware and does not require finishing the 2008–2014 trilogy.

Full brick history: play The Videogame → DC Super Heroes → Beyond Gotham → Legacy. Skip obscure handheld-only ports if you already own the home editions. Short on time but curious about classics? Sample LEGO Batman 2 for the open-world highlight, then jump to Legacy.

Play path

No. Legacy of the Dark Knight tells an origin-to-legend Gotham story with film and Arkham-flavored jokes, but it does not gate progress behind LB1–3 plot knowledge. Play the classics for different level design, stud-collecting nostalgia, and League/Lantern variety—not because Legacy will confuse you without them.

Optional & related

LEGO DC Super-Villains (2018) is a villain-focused Traveller's Tales spin-off, not a numbered LEGO Batman sequel. Play it after Beyond Gotham or anytime you want a separate open-world Justice League story from the bad guys’ side. We keep it in the FAQ so this page stays focused on the four Batman-branded mainline titles.

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.