Trine 2 is the sequel to Trine, an action puzzle platformer. It features three characters – Amadeus, the wizard; Zoya, the thief; and Pontius, the knight – who must work together and use complementary skills to pass through levels loaded with adversaries and physics-based challenges. The game picks up the plot and reunites the three protagonists when the Trine is rediscovered. It sends them to an unknown place where they are watched over by a mysterious figure known as The Witch. Her true identity and goals are revealed later in the game. The plot also includes the Goblin King and his minions and the story of two princess sisters.
Players can freely switch between the three characters to face the environment-based tasks, much like in the first game. The knight is strong and best suited for close combat, while the thief is agile and has long-ranged attacks, and the wizard is an invalid character who manipulates materials with magic. Many of the original talents have not been lost. The wizard builds temporary platforms out of boxes and planks, the thief utilizes grappling with crossing wide gaps, and the knight can deflect bullets with his shield. The characters obtain new skills through a skill tree, and some new possibilities allow the wizard to chuck opponents around or the thief to modify her arrows with new enhancements. Locating vials earns you skill points. There is no longer an inventory containing goods obtained from treasure boxes for further upgrading. Instead, the chests contain poems that disclose snippets of the plot.
Three players can play the game cooperatively, each controlling a different character simultaneously. This can be done offline and online, which is new for this sequel. When a character dies, they can be resurrected at the following checkpoint. Two new gameplay options are immediately available. There is Game+, which allows players to replay the game with fully enhanced characters from the beginning. The second mode, Unlimited Character Mode, will enable players to form a group of any number of characters, such as three thieves. Game design constantly provides many solutions to overcome challenges. The PC versions have a 3D mode using NVIDIA 3D Vision.
The Windows version later received an upgrade that included a level editor.
