LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight takes a different approach from most LEGO games by keeping the playable roster tight. Instead of dozens of unlockable characters, you get seven core heroes, each with distinct gadgets, costumes, and roles. That focus is mostly a good thing, but it also means some characters carry far more weight than others. Here's every playable character ranked from least to most useful, based on their abilities, story presence, and how much you'll actually want to use them.
This ranking covers the seven main story characters only. Characters like Alfred Pennyworth, Lucius Fox, Joker, and Harley Quinn appear in the game but aren't included here because they aren't available as constant playable options after unlocking.
Who are all the playable characters in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight?
The full roster of main story characters consists of Batman, Catwoman, Jim Gordon, Batgirl, Nightwing, Talia, and Robin. Each one brings specific gadgets and abilities that the game uses to gate puzzles and collectibles, so understanding what each character does matters beyond just combat preference.
Full character rankings: worst to best
7. Robin
Robin lands at the bottom, and the game itself seems aware of this. The writing pokes fun at how annoying he is, which is a self-aware touch, but that doesn't make his finicky gadgets any less frustrating to use. His abilities require precise positioning to trigger correctly, and that fussiness gets old fast. The bigger problem is that Robin is effectively replaced by Nightwing later in the story, and the two share almost identical gadgets. Once Nightwing shows up, there's no practical reason to go back to Robin.
6. Talia
Talia appears early during Bruce's League of Shadows training sequences, then largely vanishes from the main story. Her absence for most of the game makes it hard to build any real attachment to playing as her. By the time she reappears, the story hasn't given her enough space to make that return feel meaningful. Her low placement isn't a knock on the character herself, it's purely a matter of limited availability and narrative sidelining.
5. Nightwing
Nightwing is genuinely cool to play, and the game earns points for including him. The problem is that he and Robin share nearly the same gadget set, making him feel like a reskin rather than a fresh character. He arrives later in the story, which limits how much time you spend with him. That said, he's considerably less annoying than Robin and carries more of the character's comic book appeal. If you're going to use one of the two, Nightwing wins every time.
4. Batgirl
Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) in this game skews younger, closer to the version from Batman & Robin than the more seasoned iterations seen elsewhere. She's tech-focused and useful, but her gameplay feel lands in middling territory. What keeps her at rank 4 is pure utility: Batgirl can unlock radio towers across Gotham City's map, which directly helps you locate collectibles. If you care about completion, she's not optional. She's just not particularly exciting to control.
Prioritize unlocking Batgirl's radio tower ability early if you plan to hunt collectibles. It saves significant backtracking later in the game.
3. Jim Gordon
Jim Gordon is a genuine surprise. The game leans heavily into Jeffrey Wright's portrayal from The Batman, and the early sections that pair Gordon with Batman play like a buddy-cop movie in the best way. His abilities center on foam shots and ricocheting rubber bullets, both of which solve specific puzzles and hold up well in combat. Gordon's presence gives the game some of its best story moments, and his toolkit is more satisfying to use than his ranking might suggest. He's only at 3 because the top two are just stronger.
2. Catwoman
Catwoman (Selina Kyle) blends Michelle Pfeiffer and Zoë Kravitz's portrayals into something that works well on its own terms. She functions as Bruce Wayne's love interest and confidante, which gives her real story weight. Her ability set is the most varied outside of Batman: she uses a whip, climbs walls, slices through glass windows, and sends LEGO cats into vents. The cats meow. It's worth mentioning.
Beyond the charm, Catwoman is mechanically essential. You need her to complete side stories in Gotham City and to crack safes. Of any character besides Batman, she has the most to do across the full game, which makes her the second-best pick without much debate.
Don't neglect Catwoman's side story missions in Gotham City. Several of them gate content that isn't accessible through any other character.
1. Batman
Batman tops the list, and no, that's not a surprise. The game is named after him. From the opening sections as Bruce Wayne through to the fully upgraded Dark Knight at the end of the main story, Batman has the deepest and most satisfying toolkit in the game. Grappling, gliding, Batarangs for stunning enemies and hitting distant objects, stealth takedowns: the list goes on. After testing the full roster across combat and puzzle sections, Batman is the character you'll default to whenever the game gives you a choice.
His gadget variety means he's useful in almost every situation, and the upgrade path makes him progressively more capable as you sink time into the game. Check out the stud farming guide to build up currency faster and unlock those upgrades sooner.
How do character abilities compare?
What's the best character for 100% completion?
For full completion, you need both Batgirl and Catwoman regardless of preference. Batgirl's radio towers are the fastest way to find collectibles on Gotham City's map, and Catwoman's safe-cracking and side story access locks content behind her specifically. Batman handles the bulk of everything else. The three of them together cover almost every ability check in the game.
If you're planning a full playthrough, our guide on how long it takes to beat LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight breaks down exactly what to expect from the main campaign versus full 100% completion time.
Robin and Nightwing share gadgets, so once Nightwing unlocks, you can effectively bench Robin without missing any puzzle solutions.
Playing with friends
If you're running through the game with someone else, character selection matters more since you'll want complementary ability sets rather than two players using the same toolkit. The co-op and multiplayer guide covers everything you need to know about local co-op setup and how split-screen affects the experience.
For more guides covering every system in the game, the full LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight guide collection has you covered from start to finish.