Pac-Man World 2 is a 3D platforming game, where the player controls Pac-Man and must navigate him to the end of each level. Pac-Man has multiple abilities including the Rev Roll, which can be used to launch Pac-Man over long gaps; the Butt-Bounce, which can press switches and attack enemies from above; and a jumping Flip Kick to strike airborne enemies. Eating special Power Pellets will also give Pac-Man temporary power-ups, such as turning him to metal, shrinking him in size, or allowing him to eat ghost enemies. Pac-Man possesses a health bar with only three segments; if his health is depleted, the player will lose a life and be sent back to the previous checkpoint. Each level features Pac-Dots and fruit to collect, which will increase the player's score for the level. After completing any non-boss level, the player can choose to replay it in Time Trial mode, challenging the player to reach the end as quickly as possible. During the time trial, fruits and other collectibles in the level are replaced by clocks, which will temporarily stop the timer if collected. If Pac-Man loses a life during the time trial, he must restart the level from the beginning.
The game features 25 levels: the Pac-Village tutorial level, followed by six different themed areas with four levels each. The last level of each area features a boss battle with one or more of the primary ghost enemies, who must be defeated to advance. Most levels feature one of 15 collectible Galaxian flagships, which will allow Pac-Man to play a bonus maze level in the style of the classic Pac-Man games. Non-boss levels also feature collectible arcade tokens. Eight are hidden in each level, while bonus tokens can be earned by collecting all the fruit and Pac-Dots in a level and completing time trials. By collecting certain numbers of tokens, players can unlock emulated versions of older Pac-Man titles in the Pac-Village arcade, including Pac-Man, Pac-Attack, Pac-Mania, and Ms. Pac-Man.[2] Collecting tokens will also unlock a jukebox, which enables the player to listen to the game's soundtrack, and a concept art gallery. The Game Boy Advance version does not feature any unlockable emulations.
For the game's Japanese PlayStation 2 release, the difficulty was rebalanced and made simpler compared to the North American and European releases, with certain levels shortened and bosses' health reduced.