You’re hovering over the "Buy" button on the eShop, or maybe you’re staring at a physical cartridge in a bargain bin at GameStop, wondering if a game from 2017 actually holds up on a handheld. Honestly, it’s a fair question. Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 Switch is a massive, sprawling, and sometimes chaotic beast of a game that tries to cram an entire multiverse into a tiny plastic chip.
It’s huge.
Most people assume these Lego ports are just watered-down versions of the "real" console games, but that’s not really the case here. Developed by TT Games, this sequel ditched the traditional Manhattan hub world for something way more ambitious called Chronopolis. It’s basically a fever dream where 18 different Marvel locations—think Medieval England, 2099 New York, and Wakanda—are stitched together by Kang the Conqueror. If you've played the first one, the shift is jarring. You aren't just flying past the Empire State Building anymore; you're crossing a border from a Noir-inspired detective city into a futuristic desert.
The Technical Reality of Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 Switch
Let’s be real for a second: the Nintendo Switch isn't a PlayStation 5. When you launch Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 Switch, you’re going to notice some compromises. The frame rate isn't always a buttery 60fps. Actually, it rarely is. In handheld mode, the resolution takes a slight dip to keep things playable, which can make the smaller text a bit of a squint-fest if you’re playing on an original Switch or a Lite.
However, the OLED model makes this game pop. The vibrant colors of the different "time zones" in Chronopolis look incredible on that screen.
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One thing that drives people nuts? Load times. They are long. Like, "go grab a snack and check your phone" long. Because the game is loading a massive, seamless open world without the benefit of an SSD, you have to be patient. But once you’re in? It’s pretty seamless. You can fly from the bottom of the ocean in Lemuria all the way up to Attilan in the sky without a loading screen. That’s an impressive feat for a console that fits in your pocket.
The game features over 200 characters. No, that’s not a typo. We’re talking Spider-Gwen, Howard the Duck, and even Throg (the frog version of Thor). But there is a giant, elephant-sized hole in the roster: the X-Men and the Fantastic Four. Because of the licensing mess that existed back when the game was being made, Wolverine and Doctor Doom are nowhere to be found. It’s a bummer, especially since they were the highlights of the first game. To make up for it, the developers leaned heavily into the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Inhumans.
Why the Combat and Puzzles Feel Different
If you’ve played a Lego game in the last decade, you know the drill. Break stuff. Build stuff. Collect studs. But this one tries to spice it up. Characters now have "charged" abilities and more distinct combat animations.
It's still simple.
A toddler could probably beat most of the levels by mashing the Y button. Yet, the boss fights have actually improved. They feel more like actual encounters rather than just "hit the guy three times until he falls over." You’ve got multi-stage battles against Ego the Living Planet and a giant-sized Modok.
The puzzles? They're mostly "find the specific character with the specific power." Need to melt gold? Get Iron Man. Need to pull a heavy handle? Get She-Hulk. It’s a loop that works, though it can get tedious if you’re trying to 100% the game. Pro tip: focus on unlocking the "Attract Studs" Red Brick as early as possible. It saves you the headache of chasing every single silver coin that rolls off a cliff.
The Chronopolis Factor: A Love-Hate Relationship
Chronopolis is the star of the show. It’s also the most polarizing part of the game. In the first Lego Marvel Superheroes, Manhattan felt like a real place. You knew where the Helicarrier was. You knew how to get to Central Park.
In the sequel, the map is a chaotic mosaic.
You’ll be wandering through the Hydra Empire, turn a corner, and suddenly you’re in the Old West. It’s cool because you never get bored of the scenery, but it’s a nightmare for navigation. The mini-map is notoriously unhelpful. You’ll spend a lot of time flying around aimlessly trying to find where a side mission actually starts.
That said, the side content is where the personality shines. You’ll find Stan Lee in every level (rest in peace, legend) and he needs saving in increasingly ridiculous ways. The writing is genuinely funny, too. It’s that self-aware, "we know we're playing with toys" humor that TT Games perfected.
Performance Breakdown: Docked vs. Handheld
- Docked Mode: You get a more stable 1080p output. The shadows are sharper, and the draw distance—how far you can see before things start disappearing—is much better. If you're doing split-screen co-op, play docked. Just do it.
- Handheld Mode: It drops to 720p (or lower dynamically). It's perfectly playable, but in frantic 4-player combat or heavy explosions, you will see some stuttering.
- Co-op: This is the big one. Playing with a friend is the "intended" way to experience this. The "dynamic split-screen" (where the screen twists and merges) can be nauseating for some, so I usually recommend locking it to a vertical split in the settings.
Is the Deluxe Edition Worth It?
Short answer: Yes, usually.
The Season Pass adds a ton of content based on the MCU movies that were coming out at the time, like Black Panther, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Infinity War. You get new levels and characters that feel a bit more polished than the base game roster. Given how often Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 Switch goes on sale for under $10, getting the Deluxe version is basically a no-brainer.
Wait for a sale. This game is on sale almost every other month.
Things Most Players Miss
There’s a character creator that is surprisingly deep. You can mix and match powers, weapons, and capes to create your own hero. It’s not just cosmetic; you can actually assign specific abilities like "Telekinesis" or "Super Strength" to your custom build.
Also, the Gwenpool missions. Instead of Deadpool (who was the narrator for the first game's extras), you get Gwenpool. Her missions are weird, fourth-wall-breaking, and usually involve some of the funniest writing in the game. They’re hidden throughout the hub world, and unlocking them usually requires finding specific gold bricks.
Final Actionable Steps for New Players
If you're jumping into the multiverse today, don't just mindlessly smash bricks. Follow these steps to actually enjoy the grind:
- Prioritize the Story: Don’t try to collect everything in your first run. You literally can’t. Most secrets are locked behind powers you won't get until the final few chapters. Speed through the 20 main missions first.
- Unlock a Flyer Immediately: As soon as you hit the open world, find a character who can fly (Iron Man or Captain Marvel). Walking across Chronopolis is a chore; flying is a joy.
- The "Pink Brick" Hunt: Look for Gwenpool’s missions early. These unlock the "cheats" like 2x Studs or Fast Build. These make the late-game cleanup way less of a slog.
- Check the Map Filters: Use the map screen to filter for "Gold Bricks" or "Character Tokens." It cleans up the visual clutter so you can actually see where you're going.
- Adjust the Camera: Go into the settings and turn off "Camera Shake" if you get motion sick easily. The default settings can be a bit aggressive during flying segments.
Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 Switch is a massive love letter to Marvel comics. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s occasionally buggy, but it’s also one of the best "bang for your buck" titles on the console. It’s the kind of game you can play for 20 minutes on the bus or for 4 hours on the couch. Just don't expect it to be a technical masterpiece. It's a toy box. And sometimes, a toy box is all you need.
Crucial Note on Storage: Make sure you have about 10GB of free space if you’re downloading the digital version. It’s a big file for the Switch, and you’ll want a decent microSD card to ensure those load times don't get even worse. If you buy the physical cartridge, you still have to download some updates, so don't think you're getting away without a download entirely.
Key Technical References: * Platform: Nintendo Switch (Standard, Lite, OLED)
- Developer: TT Games
- Publisher: Warner Bros. Games
- Release Year: 2017
- Multiplayer: 1-4 players (local only)
The sheer volume of content makes it a staple for any Marvel fan's library. While the lack of X-Men hurts, the inclusion of the 2099 universe and the Noir versions of characters more than makes up for it in terms of pure variety.