Like its predecessors, Skylanders: SuperChargers is a "toy-to-life" video game in which players place toy figurines on the "Portal of Power", allowing them to play as the represented character in-game. The game introduces a redesigned "Portal of Power" with a larger and wider surface to accommodate vehicles, which are larger than typical characters.[2] SuperChargers introduces vehicles, which are divided into three classes; land, sea, and sky. Ground vehicles and water vehicles allow players to race on land or underwater on several different tracks, while the sky vehicles can be accelerated and decelerated and feature an "autopilot system" that can automatically guide players to their destination.
Each track is filled with obstacles, which players must evade, and have alternate routes which can help them reach the finish line faster. Players must defeat a boss before they reach the finish line and must solve a puzzle before they proceed.[4] Players can also collect parts for vehicles to upgrade them through a customization screen that automatically opens up after collecting a part. The player can also purchase mods to upgrade the vehicle using "Gearbits", which can be earned through completing missions and stages. Each character has their own matching vehicles, and using the correct combination causes the character to enter a "Supercharged" state, which grants the vehicle additional abilities.[4] The 117 characters introduced in the series since Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure are still playable in SuperChargers, but the game only includes 20 new figurines, due to the inclusion of vehicles. Returning characters, such as Stealth Elf and Trigger Happy, are reimagined with new abilities and upgrade trees.[5] Additionally, the Nintendo console versions feature guest appearances from Donkey Kong and Bowser of the Mario franchise, with their figures doubling as Amiibo figures for other games.
The game can also be played cooperatively with another player. Only one vehicle can be used, with one player driving while the other one defends against threats.[6]
The Skystones minigame returns, with traps collected in Skylanders: Trap Team adding a unique Skystone to play. As per previous iterations, a Starter Pack including a portal is available in shops, but consumers can download the title at a cheaper price and use their existing portal from Skylanders: Trap Team.[7]
