In the game, you can switch between characters to access previously unreachable areas and collect all artifacts and bonus items. Destroying or building objects produces Lego studs, which you can use to buy additional characters and cheat modes in Barnett College, the main hub. You can also watch previous cut-scenes, examine treasures, enter codes, or explore the college at your leisure.
The game has a single-player campaign called Story Mode, where you follow the film's stories with two pre-defined characters and cutscenes. Once you clear the level, you can return in Free Play mode and play as any unlocked character, allowing access to new areas. There is also a 2-player co-op mode that allows two players to play Story Mode together, where the second player can enter the game at any time.