You’ve probably seen the character grid in a LEGO game before. It usually starts small, then grows into this terrifying wall of icons. But LEGO Marvel’s Avengers is something else entirely. We aren’t just talking about a handful of guys in spandex. We are talking about 200+ base game characters and nearly 300 if you count the DLC.
It’s honestly a bit overwhelming.
Most people jump in expecting the movie cast. You get that, sure. You get Robert Downey Jr.’s snarky Iron Man suits and Chris Evans’ stoic Captain America. But the real magic of this specific game—the thing that separates it from the first LEGO Marvel Super Heroes—is how deep it digs into the weird, dusty corners of Marvel Comics.
The "Main" Roster vs. The Deep Cuts
If you only play the story, you’ll see the Avengers. Obviously. The game follows the plots of The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron, with some Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Thor: The Dark World sprinkled in.
But once you hit the hub worlds, things get weird. In a good way.
You’ll stumble across characters like Butterball. He’s a guy whose only power is that he’s completely invulnerable but also completely un-athletic. In-game, he basically just stands there taking hits like a champ. Then you’ve got Fin Fang Foom, a giant green dragon wearing purple pants. Why? Because it’s Marvel.
Why the Roster Feels Different
Unlike the first game, which had the X-Men and Fantastic Four, this one is strictly "Avengers-adjacent." Because of licensing drama back in 2016, Wolverine and Spider-Man (initially) were missing.
- The Movie Crew: You get every version of the Iron Man armor from Mark 1 to Mark 45.
- The Comics Crew: Characters like Blue Marvel, America Chavez, and the Jane Foster version of Thor made their LEGO debut here long before they were MCU staples.
- The DLC: This added huge chunks of content from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Black Panther, and Captain Marvel.
The Power Players: Who You Actually Need
Let's be real. You aren't going to play as 200 different people. You’re going to find the three or four characters who have every ability so you can 100% the levels without constantly switching.
Korvac is the undisputed king here. He’s a deep-cut cosmic villain, but in LEGO form? He's a Swiss Army knife. He can fly, he has super strength, he can mess with computers, and he can blow up shiny silver LEGO bricks. If you want to finish the game fast, find Korvac.
The Sentry is another one. He’s basically Marvel’s version of Superman but with a lot more psychological baggage. In the game, he’s invulnerable and hits like a truck.
Then you have the stealth specialists. Black Widow is the go-to for most, but Iron Man Mark 16 (Nightclub) is actually better for certain puzzles because he combines stealth with the ability to fly. It’s those little nuances that make the roster feel like more than just a bunch of reskins.
Character Ability Breakdown
Managing this many heroes is basically a logistics nightmare. You need a "Gold Heat" character to melt gold bricks. You need a "Silver Explosive" character.
- Captain America: Necessary for putting out fires and those Shield Switches.
- Ultimate Ultron: One of the few who can handle "Cosmic" LEGO bricks (those sparkly purple ones).
- Quicksilver: Vital for the treadmill puzzles. Without him, you aren't getting those gold bricks.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Missing" Heroes
There’s a common complaint that this game is "smaller" because it cut out the X-Men. I get it. No Magneto sucks. But what people miss is the density of the Avengers lore.
By focusing solely on the Avengers, the developers at TT Games were able to include characters like Count Nefaria and The Crimson Dynamo. These are characters that would never make the cut in a general "Marvel" game.
And Spider-Man? He actually is in the game. He was added as a free DLC pack later on, including Miles Morales and the Civil War version of Peter Parker. So, the "No Spidey" argument doesn't actually hold water anymore.
How to Actually Unlock Everyone
Don't just wander around Manhattan hoping for the best. You'll go crazy.
First, focus on the Red Bricks. Specifically the "Character Token Detector." It puts a little white arrow on your screen that points to where tokens are hidden in the hub worlds.
Second, pay attention to the Stan Lee in Peril missions. Rescuing Stan in every level and every hub world is the only way to unlock him. And Stan Lee is arguably the best character in the game because he can transform into LEGO versions of the characters he created, like Stan-Buster (his version of the Hulkbuster).
Quick Unlock Tips
- Finish the Story: You'll get the core Avengers for free.
- Visit the Hubs: Locations like Asgard, South Africa, and Barton's Farm have unique missions.
- Check the Helicarrier: A lot of the "purchasable" characters only show up in the character grid once you find their token in the open world.
The Actionable Verdict
If you're jumping back into this game in 2026, don't try to unlock everyone at once. It’s a marathon.
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Start by unlocking a "Flight" character and a "Strength" character. This lets you navigate the hubs easily. Grab Hulk and Iron Man early. Then, hunt down Korvac or Ultimate Ultron to handle the late-game puzzles involving Cosmic bricks.
The beauty of the LEGO Marvel Avengers characters isn't just the sheer number. It's the fact that you can fly around a LEGO version of Manhattan as a Victorian-era Lady Liberty or a giant dinosaur. It's ridiculous. It's chaotic. And that's exactly why it works.
To make progress quickly, prioritize the Sokovia and Washington D.C. hubs first. They have some of the easiest character tokens to grab, which will give you the variety of powers needed to tackle the harder puzzles in Asgard or Malibu. Once you have a character for every "ability slot," the rest of the roster is just icing on the cake.