It is 2026, and we are currently staring down the barrel of LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. It looks sleek, it’s got that Arkham-style combat, and the graphics are honestly breathtaking. But you know what? Everyone is still talking about the LEGO Batman 2 roster. It’s kind of funny. You’d think a game from 2012 would be a fossil by now, but there is something about that specific lineup of 50 characters (plus those sweet DLC packs) that just feels... right.
I was playing it again the other night. The simplicity is the draw. Nowadays, LEGO games try to cram 400 characters into a grid where 300 of them are "Guy in Blue Shirt" or "Background Rebel #4." LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes didn't do that. It was the first time we saw the Justice League in brick form, and it felt like an event.
The Core 50: Quality Over Quantity
Basically, the main roster is a tight 50. That includes the heavy hitters and the weirdos. You've got the obvious ones like Batman and Robin, but the way they introduced Superman mid-story was a literal game-changer. Flying around Gotham as Clark Kent while that John Williams score kicks in? Still gives me chills.
Here is the thing about the roster—it wasn't just about the names. It was about the suits. Before every character had a unique "ability tree," we had the Hazard Suit, the Sensor Suit, and the Electricity Suit. It made the roster feel twice as big because Robin wasn't just Robin; he was a walking Swiss Army knife.
The villains were arguably the stars, though. Lex Luthor and the Joker running around with a giant robot made for a great central duo, but the unlockable rogues gallery was deep. You had:
- Killer Moth (Because who doesn't love a C-list villain?)
- Sinestro
- Brainiac
- General Zod
- The Mad Hatter
Most of these guys were found by exploring the open-world Gotham. You’d see a golden door or a boss fight icon on the map, beat them up, and then pay the studs to recruit them. It was a simple loop, but it worked.
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The "Hidden" DLC Gems
If you’re playing on the older console versions or managed to grab the digital bundles, the DLC is where the roster actually peaks. We got two packs: the Heroes Pack and the Villains Pack.
Honestly, the Heroes Pack is essential. It added Nightwing, Shazam, Zatanna, and Katana. It also gave us Damian Wayne, which was a huge deal for comic fans at the time. Nightwing’s animations were distinct enough to make him feel like more than just a "Blue Robin."
On the flip side, the Villains Pack brought in Bizarro, Black Adam, Captain Cold, Gorilla Grodd, and Black Manta. Playing as Grodd and just smashing through the streets of Gotham felt significantly different from the nimble movements of Catwoman or Harley Quinn.
Handheld Curiosities (The 80 Character Myth)
There's always been this rumor floating around—mostly on Reddit and old GameFAQs boards—that the iOS and DS versions have 80 characters.
Is it true? Sorta.
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The handheld versions (DS, 3DS, Vita) and the mobile ports had a different structure. They didn't have the massive open-world Gotham, so they padded the roster with "exclusive" characters to make up for it. You’d find guys like Azrael, Black Mask, and even Harvey Bullock in those versions. They also had a "Villain Hunt" mode where you could unlock characters like the Tropical Joker. It’s a weird bit of LEGO gaming history where the "smaller" version of the game actually had the "larger" roster list.
Why the LEGO Batman 2 Roster Matters for Legacy of the Dark Knight
The reason we're all looking back at this roster right now is because of the upcoming 2026 release of Legacy of the Dark Knight. Word on the street is that the new game is pivoting away from the "hundreds of characters" model.
Reports suggest the new title might only feature a handful of playable leads—Batman, Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, Catwoman, Jim Gordon, and Talia al Ghul. Each is supposed to have "Arkham-level" depth.
This has split the community.
One side loves the idea of a focused, high-quality experience. The other side? They miss the chaos of the LEGO Batman 2 roster. There was a specific joy in playing as a Mime Goon or a LexBot just because you could. It wasn't about "optimal builds"; it was about the toy box feel.
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Breaking Down the Unlock Tiers
If you're jumping back into the game to prep for the new release, keep in mind that unlocking the full roster is a grind of Gold Bricks and Studs.
- The Story Unlocks: You get the Justice League (Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Cyborg) just by finishing the campaign.
- The Map Bosses: Villains like Bane or Scarecrow require you to find them in the hub world and win a quick fight.
- The Gold Doors: These are the real "secret" characters. You need a certain amount of Gold Bricks to build the door before you can even see the character. For example, Martian Manhunter is usually the last one people get because he requires a massive amount of bricks (often cited around 175).
Final Thoughts on the Roster
Looking back, LEGO Batman 2 was the peak of "The Golden Age" of LEGO games. It wasn't too bloated, but it was big enough to feel like a DC Universe celebration.
If you want to experience the roster in its best form today, the PC version is your best bet. While it doesn't officially have the DLC packs on the Steam storefront in some regions, the modding community has basically fixed that, allowing you to inject the DLC characters into the character select grid.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your Gold Brick count: If you’re missing Martian Manhunter or Aquaman, you likely need to finish more side activities in Gotham North.
- Handheld Exploration: If you can find a copy of the DS or Vita version, it’s worth a playthrough just to see the "lost" characters like Black Mask and Azrael who never made it to the big screen.
- Archive your saves: With the 2026 game approaching, older digital storefronts for these titles might become less stable. Keep a backup of your 100% completion save so you don't lose that hard-earned roster.