The gameplay is similar to Lego's long-running series of franchise video games, with a focus on puzzle-solving interspersed with action. Players have to solve puzzles spread across the game environment to progress through levels. The game featuresNew York City as the main large open-world hub, but also, for the first time, includes seven other movie significant areas players can travel to, includingAsgard,Malibu,South Africa, theHelicarrier, the Bartons' farm,Washington, D.C., andSokovia.[5] These hubs also feature hundreds of side quests and bonus levels such as rescuing citizens in trouble and races. While the game's story is predominantly focused on the first twoAvengers films, there are single levels based onCaptain America: The First Avenger,Iron Man 3,Thor: The Dark World, andCaptain America: The Winter Soldier.
The game features over two hundred playable characters, with most characters (excludingFantastic Four andX-Men characters) returning from the previous game. While most of the characters are drawn from theMarvel Cinematic Universe, some comic book characters that had yet to appear as of the release of the game likeKamala Khan / Ms. Marvel,Sam Wilson as Captain America,Jane Foster as Thor, and theYoung Avengers membersWiccan,Speed,Hulkling, andAmerica Chavez are included as well. Director Arthur Parsons stated: "It's a celebration of everything about the Avengers. Comic books, movies, cartoons. It's everything you love about the Avengers in video games".[6][7]
Free PlayStation timed exclusivedownloadable content was announced. This included a character pack and a level based on the heist for theYellowjacket suit fromAnt-Man, which was released on April 6, 2016, and aCaptain America: Civil War character pack that was released at launch. A season pass was also available during launch, which gave players exclusive access to the "Explorers Pack", story levels and over 40 additional playable characters. These story levels were based on theAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D. television series as well as levels focused on the comic versions ofBlack Panther, theMasters of Evil,Captain Marvel, andDoctor Strange.[15] ASpider-Man character pack was released on May 24, 2016.[16]
Lego Marvel's Avengers received "mixed or average" reviews on all platforms, according toreview aggregator websiteMetacritic.[19][21]Game Informer's Andrew Reiner gave the game 7.75 out of 10.[23]IGN awarded it a score of 6.7 out of 10, saying "LEGO Marvel's Avengers is great fun, but unfortunately restricted by sticking to the Marvel Cinematic Universe".[25]Destructoid awarded it a score of 6 out of 10, saying "it's a fun mindless romp through a couple of interesting setpieces, but not a whole lot more than that when it comes down to it".[22]PlayStation LifeStyle awarded it 7.5 out of 10, saying "some technical hiccups and the occasional unclear objective can hamper your progress, but these can all be overcome in a game that exudes a fun-loving attitude throughout".[27]GameSpot awarded it a score of 7.0 out of 10, saying "if you've played a Lego game in recent years then you'll know what to expect: another familiar and fun adventure that you can enjoy with your kids".[24]Hardcore Gamer awarded it a score of 3 out of 5, saying "while a decent action-adventure title,Avengers does little to innovate or set itself apart from a vast library of superior Lego games".[28]PC Gamer awarded it a score of 52%, calling it "a half-hearted recreation of some fun movies, with almost nothing to offer over its predecessor".[26]
