You know that feeling when you finally unlock a character in a Lego game and they just... click? That’s Lego Marvel Superheroes Venom for most people. Honestly, while everyone else is busy flying around as Iron Man or smashing things with the Hulk, the real ones know that Eddie Brock is the secret MVP of the 2013 classic. It isn't just about the black suit or the tongue. It's the utility.
Venom is a powerhouse. He’s one of those rare "multi-tool" characters that saves you from constantly switching heroes in Free Play mode.
Why the Lego Marvel Superheroes Venom Mechanics Changed Everything
Back when TT Games released LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, they were still figuring out how to handle shapeshifters. Most characters had one or two powers. Then came Venom. He’s got the strength of a big-fig but the agility of Spider-Man. He can use spider-sense. He can pull handles. He can climb walls. But the real kicker? The transformation.
Holding the tag button to watch Eddie Brock swell up into the hulking, muscular version of Venom never gets old. It’s a seamless transition. You go from a standard-sized character who can interact with computer terminals to a behemoth that can rip the handles off a vault door. Most characters in the game are locked into one "size" class. Venom ignores those rules.
You’ve probably noticed that in the early levels, specifically "Sand Central Station," the game introduces you to the basic mechanics. But once you get into the open-world Manhattan hub, the Lego Marvel Superheroes Venom gameplay becomes a different beast entirely. He’s faster than the Hulk. He’s more versatile than Thing. If you're hunting for Gold Bricks, he’s basically a permanent fixture on your roster.
The Design Philosophy Behind the Symbiote
There is a specific aesthetic choice here that fans often overlook. This version of Venom is heavily inspired by the Ultimate Spider-Man comic run, specifically the Mark Bagley art style. You can see it in the large, wrap-around eyes and the way the white spider symbol looks slightly organic rather than painted on.
In the sequel, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2, they changed his design to be more "modern," but many purists prefer the 2013 original. Why? It's the simplicity. The animations for his tendrils are snappier. When he swings through the city, the "thwip" feels heavy. It feels dangerous.
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It’s worth noting that unlocking him requires a bit of a grind. You have to head over to the Marvel Social area after completing the main story "Explosive Vitality" level. Or, if you’re impatient, you can use the classic cheat code PE3B2Z, though honestly, earning him through the side mission feels more rewarding. You find him in the Oscorp building, and the boss fight is actually one of the better-designed encounters in the hub world because it forces you to use environmental hazards.
The Overlooked Abilities That Make Him Essential
Most players realize he's strong. Not everyone realizes he has a minor healing factor.
While it isn't as fast as Wolverine’s, Venom can tank a surprising amount of damage from those annoying Roxxon guards or the generic thugs in the street. Plus, he has access to the "Symbiote Power" which allows him to pass through certain black-and-white patterned grates. This is a mechanic he shares with Carnage, but since you usually unlock Venom first, he becomes your go-to guy for those hidden collectibles tucked behind walls.
- Super Strength: He can pick up cars and throw them across the map.
- Web Swinging: Faster travel than walking, obviously.
- Wall Crawling: Essential for those vertical puzzles in the Oscorp tower.
- Transformation: Switching between "Small Venom" and "Venom (Big-Fig)" at will.
The big-fig version of Venom is where the fun is. He has a ground-pound move that clears out crowds of enemies in a single hit. In a game where combat can sometimes feel like a chore of button-mashing, having a character that just deletes enemies is a massive time-saver.
Debunking the Carnage vs. Venom Debate
People always ask: "Isn't Carnage just better?"
Technically, Carnage is faster. He's got that chaotic energy. But Lego Marvel Superheroes Venom has better synergy with the game's physics. Carnage can't transform into a massive version of himself. He stays small. That means Carnage can't pull the green power handles that require a Big-Fig. If you’re playing as Carnage, you’ll eventually hit a wall where you have to switch to someone like Hulk or Venom anyway. Venom is the complete package. He’s the bridge between the "agility" characters and the "tank" characters.
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Also, let's talk about the voice acting. While the game uses a mix of original lines and some generic grunts, the "hungry" persona is captured perfectly. It adds a layer of personality that some of the more "stoic" heroes like Captain America lack in the Lego format.
How to Maximize Venom in the Manhattan Hub
If you want to 100% the game, you need a strategy. Manhattan is huge.
First, get Venom. Second, use him for any mission involving the Oscorp rooftops. There are several races and "find the citizen" quests located high up on the skyscrapers. Using a flyer like Thor is easy, sure, but the wall-crawling mechanics in LEGO Marvel are surprisingly sticky and precise. Venom can navigate the tight corners of the buildings where a flying character might feel too floaty or overshoot the platform.
Another pro-tip: Venom is immune to certain environmental hazards that trip up other characters. While he isn't totally invincible, his "suit" gives him a bit of a buffer. It makes him ideal for the more chaotic segments of the game where things are exploding every three seconds.
The Evolution into the 2026 Gaming Era
Even looking back at this game from the perspective of 2026, the mechanics hold up. We’ve seen newer Lego titles with more complex systems, but the simplicity of the original Lego Marvel Superheroes Venom remains the gold standard for how to handle a power-swapping character. Modern games often overcomplicate things with skill trees and cooldowns. Here? You just press a button. You become a monster. You win.
There’s a reason this specific minifig—the physical one that came in the sets around that time—is still a collector's item. The game version captured that "Venom-ness" better than almost any other piece of media at the time, excluding maybe the Spectacular Spider-Man cartoon.
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Actionable Steps for Completionists
If you’re currently staring at a 98% completion screen and can't figure out what you're missing, chances are there's a symbiote-specific interaction you've walked past.
- Check the Oscorp Basement: There are two gold bricks that require you to slip through a symbiote grate. You can't do this with Spider-Man or Iron Man. You need Venom.
- The Big-Fig Handles: Many of the "Large" handles in the city are actually located on high ledges. Instead of flying up with Iron Man and then switching to Hulk (who might fall off because he’s too big for the ledge), just use Venom. He can climb up as a small guy, then transform right in front of the handle.
- Master the Transformation Jump: You can actually initiate a jump as "Small Venom" and transform in mid-air to land as "Big Venom." It sounds useless, but it’s a great way to clear gaps while maintaining your momentum for a smash attack.
- Farm Studs in the Hub: Go to the construction site area in the middle of the map. Use Big-Fig Venom to smash everything in sight. The multiplier builds up faster because his attack radius is so wide. You’ll hit "True Believer" status in the hub world in minutes.
The most important thing is to stop treating him like a secondary character. He isn't a villain you just use for one mission. He is a utility king. If you haven't gone back to play the 2013 classic lately, do yourself a favor: load it up, enter the Oscorp district, and just spend twenty minutes causing chaos as the symbiote. It’s arguably the most "comic book" the game ever feels.
Finding the Last Secret
One last thing most people miss—check the water. Venom has a unique swimming animation compared to the other heroes. While he isn't an underwater specialist like Sub-Mariner (who isn't in the first game anyway), he handles the physics of the bay area around the Raft much better than the "flimsier" heroes. Use him to scout the coastline for the hidden boats and character tokens tucked under the piers.
Stop switching characters every five seconds. Just stay as Venom. It makes the game better.
Next Steps for Your Gameplay:
- Unlock Carnage to see the side-by-side speed difference in the "Maximum Carnage" mission located in the upper-west side.
- Locate the Symbiote Grates in the "Nuff Said" side mission to grab the elusive Stan Lee in Peril.
- Experiment with the "Venom Smash" at the top of the Empire State Building; the physics engine handles the fall damage differently when you're in Big-Fig mode.