Trine 2, like Trine before it, is a mixture of several different genres. It's equal mix puzzler, action, RPG and platformer, and involves the player controlling three separate and distinct characters, each of which has their own specific skill set (for example Zoya can grapple onto surfaces, Pontius can deflect projectiles, and Amadeus can create boxes and planks).

As with the first game, the 'Trine' has bound these three characters together into one common entity, so the player can only control one character at a time, although they still have separate life meters.

Utilising the different characters and their skill sets to overcome enemies and puzzles is a core part of Trine's gameplay experience.

Over the course of the game the player acquires magic vials, which in turn grant you skill points to spend on character abilities (see the next page for more details on this).

Trine 2 also supports up to three players in a cooperative mode. In this mode, each player controls one of the three characters, rather than one player controlling all three. If a character dies, the other players can revive them at the next checkpoint.