[REVIEW] LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Mayhem Mode (Live, Laugh, Love Mayhem)

Welcome to EXPlay (Explain & Play) — the review series where we don’t care for scores. Instead, we tell it how it is with every game we get our hands on, while including lengthy gameplay so you, the reader, can form your own impressions and views while reading and watching.

In this explanatory review, we’re covering LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight’s new Mayhem Mode by developer, TT Games:

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Mayhem Mode (Nintendo Switch 2)

While Nintendo players had to wait until September 18, 2026 for the Nintendo Switch 2 release of LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, there was one thing we didn’t have to wait for — the all-new Mayhem Mode.

Starring Joker and Harley Quinn, this brand-new gameplay mode launched on all platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2, on the same day. Because it is completely separate from the main campaign, anyone who purchased the LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Deluxe Edition can dive straight in — even before finishing the prologue of the main game.

That said, Mayhem Mode is exclusive to the Deluxe Edition. If you didn’t buy the Deluxe Edition at launch, you’ll need to purchase the LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Deluxe Edition Upgrade DLC for $24.99 to access the full Mayhem Collection. The good news is that the upgrade also includes the Arkham Trilogy Pack, Batman Beyond Pack, Party Music Pack, and the Sinister Pack. Also releasing on the same day was the free Absolute difficulty for players who want an even tougher challenge in the main game.

To access the mode, simply select Mayhem Mode from the main menu (provided you own the Deluxe Edition or the upgrade). You’ll be taken to its own title screen and can start a new game from there. The opening mission drops you into the shoes of Dr Harleen Quinzel inside Arkham Asylum. She wants to interview the Joker — and her wish is about to come true in the most chaotic way possible. What follows is a deliberately theatrical breakout that feels like a love letter to Batman: The Animated Series. As a nice touch, some of the cutscenes even play in a 4:3 aspect ratio as a direct homage to the show.

During the opening, Dr Quinzel successfully helps free the Clown Prince of Crime, and the pair somehow still find time to throw themselves a festive going-away party complete with a sing-along. Familiar faces such as Poison Ivy, Mad Hatter, Solomon Grundy, Killer Croc, and Black Mask all make appearances during the Arkham Asylum breakout. Breaking free is only the beginning. Once Harley and Joker are loose on North Island, it’s time to set up a base at Amusement Mile. After the first hour or so of setup, Mayhem Mode finally starts living up to its name.

The core of the mode is a light roguelike experience set in a locked-down version of Gotham’s North Island. Each run is time-limited, with the goal of completing one of five major villain-build objectives while causing as much chaos as possible, playing as either Joker or Harley. You can play solo and swap between the two characters as needed, or jump into local co-op with split-screen. In co-op, one player can focus on the villain-build objectives while the other terrorises the city, completing bonus objectives that can be re-rolled at a planning table for maximum double-trouble devastation.

Completing a villain-build objective permanently changes Gotham. Joker signals, fireworks, parade balloons, and other structures remain in the open world even when you return to the main campaign. Coming back to the main game and seeing the lasting “damage” (or decoration, depending on your point of view) is one of the most satisfying parts of the entire DLC.

During a run you can steal from cash registers, loot shops, plunder ATMs, crack safes, spray graffiti, steal vehicles (including the heroes’ own), and destroy A.R.G.U.S. roadblocks. You can also spend your studs at a Joker-Mite shop on temporary power-ups — one of which reduces the studs you lose if you don’t make it back to a sewer grate before time runs out and the good guys intervene.

Speaking of the good guys, Amanda Waller deploys a random selection of four Task Force X members to hunt you each run, while Batman and Robin are also in pursuit. The combinations change every time, so no two sessions feel exactly the same. Among the 12 possible Task Force X members are Deadshot, Katana, King Shark, Captain Boomerang, Mongal, Deathstroke, Polka-Dot Man, Electrocutioner, Killer Croc, Javelin, and Bronze Tiger.

Combat is a clear shift from the base game. Instead of freeflow melee, Mayhem Mode leans into ranged, hit-and-run gameplay. Joker uses a Paintball Pelter and an extendable boxing glove, while Harley has a Confetti Fun Gun, a Bubblegum Gun, her hammer, and her hyenas Bud and Lou (who can fight, open areas, and unlock shops). Both characters can move freely while firing, and the old takedown system is largely replaced by the ability to summon a crew of trained henchmen.

The change feels fresh, though it can occasionally feel like a small letdown — it would have been amazing to see the Joker let loose with proper takedowns. Still, the henchman system rewards mobility and cheeky positioning rather than perfect combo strings. During each run you can rescue Arkham inmates. Back at base, The Henchmaster can train them, allowing you to recruit a customisable crew that fights alongside you — eventually up to ten at once.

Just like the Batcave, the Funhouse Hideout beneath Amusement Mile is fully expandable and customisable, with multiple areas to unlock and decorate using Joker- and Harley-themed props. There are also plenty of new outfits exclusive to the pair, unlocked through repeated runs, alongside hideout props, trophies, and permanent upgrades purchased with the studs you collect. Individual runs typically last between ten and twenty minutes, depending on your playstyle and whether you’re playing solo or with a partner.

The Absolute Mayhem achievement only requires five completed runs, but fully expanding the Funhouse, recruiting a full crew, unlocking every outfit, and leaving permanent marks across the city is clearly designed to keep you occupied for many more hours.

On Nintendo Switch 2, the Mayhem Collection performs much the same as the base game. Denser particle effects during runs can produce the same occasional stuttering seen in busy open-world sections, but the shorter, more focused nature of the runs means it rarely becomes a real problem. Overall, while the story content is relatively short and some players may wish more villains had been made playable beyond Joker and Harley, as a first major post-launch offering it delivers strong value.

If you already love the base game, you’re going to have an absolute blast with Mayhem Mode. It may be a little on the short side, but as long as you have a partner in crime (or are happy causing chaos alone), there’s plenty of replay value here. The mode successfully flips the fantasy from building Batman’s legacy to building a chaotic villainous empire, one stud-filled rampage at a time. Live, laugh, love mayhem. We know we did.

For our thoughts on the main game, that review is available here:

Game Specifications:

Developer: TT Games
Publisher: Warner Bros. Games
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 (Digital)
Genre: Adventure, Action
No. of Players: 1 – 2 (Single System)
Release Date: September 18, 2026
Price: $29.99 (as part of Deluxe Edition Upgrade)
File Size: 3 MB
Nintendo.com Listing