You know that feeling when a sequel just tries too hard? It happens in movies constantly. Usually, it happens in games too. But LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is this weird, sprawling, chaotic masterpiece that somehow didn't collapse under its own weight. It’s been out since 2017, and honestly, playing it today feels like a fever dream in the best way possible.
The game didn't just give us more of the same. It took the first game's Manhattan and basically threw it into a blender with eighteen different dimensions.
TT Games had a massive problem when they started developing this. They didn't have the X-Men. Licensing drama at the time meant Deadpool, Wolverine, and the Fantastic Four—who were the literal heart of the first game—were totally AWOL. Most developers would have panicked. Instead, the team went deep into the "weird" side of Marvel. We got Cosmo the Spacedog. We got Howard the Duck. We got a version of Medieval England where the Avengers wear plate armor. It’s ridiculous. It’s also brilliant.
Chronopolis is the Open World We Deserve
Most open-world games give you a city. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 gives you Chronopolis. This isn't just a map; it’s a geographical headache that works. You’ve got Wakanda right next to a Noir-style New York, which is just a short flight away from an Egyptian desert and a futuristic 2099 cityscape.
It feels like a kid emptied five different LEGO sets onto a rug. That’s the point.
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The sheer scale of Chronopolis is what keeps people coming back. One minute you’re racing through the Old West as Ghost Rider (the cowboy version, obviously), and the next you’re underwater in Lemuria. The transition between these zones is seamless. Well, "seamless" in the sense that the game doesn't load, but it’s definitely jarring to see a Sphinx towering over a Hydra base. That’s the charm.
I’ve spent hours just flying around as Iron Man, listening to the ambient dialogue. The NPCs in this game are unhinged. You’ll hear a citizen in Manhattan Noir complaining about the lack of color while a Gladiator in Sakaar talks about his insurance premiums.
Kang the Conqueror is a Better Villain Than You Remember
We have to talk about Kang. Long before the MCU tried (and sort of stumbled) to make him the next big bad, this game nailed him. Voiced by Peter Serafinowicz, Kang is the perfect mix of arrogant and pathetic. He’s a guy who literally stole pieces of time because he wanted to be the boss of everything.
The plot of LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 revolves around his "Sword" spaceship and the way he’s merged these timelines. It’s a much more focused narrative than the first game’s "Silver Surfer broke his board, go find the pieces" vibe. Here, there’s a genuine sense of a multiversal threat, even if that threat is made of plastic bricks.
The story missions take you through some deep cuts. You aren't just fighting Doctor Octopus again. You’re dealing with the High Evolutionary. You’re going to K'un-Lun. If you aren't a hardcore comic reader, half of these names will sound like gibberish, but the game explains them with enough slapstick humor that it doesn't matter.
The Roster: Who Needs the X-Men?
Look, I miss Logan. Everyone does. But the character creator and the sheer volume of variants in this game are insane. You have over 200 characters.
The "Character Grid" is a massive wall of icons. You’ve got Spider-Gwen, Spider-Man 2099, Spider-Ham, and basically every other Spider-person you can think of. But the real stars are the obscure ones. For-Bush Man. Hit-Monkey. Hellcow. Yes, there is a vampire cow in this game.
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- The Ability System: It’s more complex than the previous titles.
- Team-Up Moves: Certain characters can perform specific combos together.
- Customization: You can basically build your own superhero from scratch, choosing their powers, weapons, and even the color of their capes.
The lack of Fantastic Four was a blow, but it forced the writers to get creative with the Inhumans. While the Inhumans show was a disaster, their portrayal in LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is actually pretty great. Lockjaw is a giant teleporting dog. What’s not to love?
Mechanics and That Infamous LEGO Jank
Let’s be real for a second. LEGO games have a specific type of "jank." You’re going to get stuck on a corner. A character might not trigger a switch when they’re supposed to. It’s part of the DNA.
However, the combat in this game took a step forward. It isn't just "mash Square until the thing breaks." Many enemies have shields or specific patterns. The boss fights are actual fights now. The battle against Surtur is a highlight—he’s huge, the music is epic, and you’re switching between teams to take him down.
The puzzles? They’re still mostly "find the silver shiny thing and blow it up with a rocket." But the game introduces "Rune" puzzles and time-manipulation mechanics that actually make you think for more than three seconds.
The DLC Was Actually Worth It
Usually, I tell people to skip the Season Pass. For this game? Get it. The Black Panther pack and the Infinity War content added levels that felt distinct from the main game. They also pulled in characters from the Runaways and Cloak & Dagger, which felt like a nice nod to the TV side of Marvel that often gets ignored.
The Howard the Duck level is worth the price of admission alone. It’s meta, it’s weird, and it mocks the entire concept of a LEGO game while you’re playing it.
Why It Still Holds Up in 2026
We’ve had LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga since then. That game changed the camera and the combat completely. Going back to LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 feels a bit retro now because of the fixed-ish camera and the classic hub-world style.
But The Skywalker Saga felt a bit empty in its planets. Chronopolis feels lived-in. There are so many side quests and "Gold Bricks" to find that it genuinely takes about 40 to 60 hours to hit that 100% completion mark.
It’s the ultimate "comfort game." You can put it on, fly around as Star-Lord while "Mr. Blue Sky" plays, and just forget about the world for a bit. There’s no stress. If you die, you just lose a few studs and pop right back in.
Common Misconceptions About the Game
People often think this is a direct sequel to the LEGO Avengers game. It isn't. That game followed the movies. This game follows the comics. The voice acting isn't the MCU cast, and that’s a good thing. It gives the game its own identity.
Another misconception: "It’s just for kids."
Tell that to the person trying to solve the puzzle in the Avengers Mansion that requires three different characters to pull levers in a specific sequence while being shot at by laser turrets. Some of these Gold Bricks are genuinely tricky to earn.
Mastering the Game: Pro Tips for Success
If you're diving back in or starting for the first time, don't just rush the story. The story gives you the basic roster, but the real fun is in the "Free Play" mode.
- Prioritize the Pink Bricks: These are your multipliers. Gwenpool replaces Deadpool in this game, and her missions are where you find the cheats. Get the "x2 Studs" brick as soon as humanly possible.
- Fly, Don't Walk: The map is vertical. Use a character like Thor or Captain Marvel to get around. Walking in Chronopolis is for suckers.
- Check the Map for Challenges: There are hidden challenges like "destroy 10 gold statues" or "rescue 5 trapped citizens" that don't show up as icons right away.
- Use the Character Creator: Some of the best abilities in the game can be stacked onto a single custom character, making them a "Swiss Army Knife" for puzzles.
The game is a massive tribute to Marvel history. From the Western era to the 2099 future, it covers ground that the movies will likely never touch. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it’s full of puns that are so bad they’re good.
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If you want to experience the full breadth of the Marvel Universe without having to watch 40 movies and 15 TV shows, this is honestly the best way to do it. Just grab a controller, find a friend for couch co-op, and start smashing bricks.
Next Steps for Players:
Start by unlocking a flying character immediately after the first mission. Focus your initial stud spending on the Attract Studs and Stud Multiplier pink bricks found in the Gwenpool missions located in the Avengers Mansion. This will significantly reduce the grind for later unlocks. Once you have a solid bank of studs, head to the Old West section of Chronopolis to find some of the easiest gold bricks to kickstart your collection.