The LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure continues the players' journey through the Indiana Jones universe, this time focusing on the events of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull . The game's three campaigns retell the story in a humorous, light-hearted way, similar to other games in the LEGO series . The other three campaigns, however, reimagine the original three films with new scenes and levels that can't be found in the first game.
The gameplay itself is a third-person platform/action game where players take control of various heroes, including Indiana Jones and his son Mutt. Each character has unique abilities, fears, and weapons, such as Indiana's whip for pulling items out of reach or constraining enemies with it. The characters' phobias also play a role in their personalities, adding a layer of depth to the game.
The game's hubs are dynamic, meaning they change location throughout the story. Instead of returning to a central hub after each mission, the player must navigate new areas and unlock new locations by finding vehicles or characters. Studs, collected through destruction, building, and other activities, can be used to unlock these hubs and progress through the game. Completing levels and achieving 100% completion requires multiple playthroughs and the use of different characters to unlock secret items.
The game features an editor to create unique heroes from parts, as well as a level editor that allows players to spawn items and place them on the map. The two-player co-op mode returns, enabling two players to play through the game together, moving freely around each other's screens. This feature adds a new layer of gameplay and cooperation to the game.