The gameplay has been described as containing "brawler-style combat and diverse driving sequences". There is a multiplayer function, both cooperative and competitive. Competitive modes include Brawl, Energon Match, and Emblem Battle, and up to 2 players can play at the same time, with 2 additional AI-controlled characters; the same character can't be picked up my multiple players, including the AIs.[4] The Wii version of the game featured motion controls while the Nintendo Wii U, 3DS and Nintendo DS featured touch-based input.[5]
The game's Story Mode features 13 stages, each with a varying number of segments. Though only the Autobot characters are playable in this mode, progressing through it unlocks the Decepticon characters for the multiplayer mode. There are a total of 11 playable characters: the Autobots Optimus Prime, Arcee, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and Ratchet, and the Decepticons Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave, Airachnid, Knock Out, and Dreadwing. Cybertronian Artifacts - relics resembling the Spark Extractor from the TV series - are hidden around the story mode levels and unlock pieces of artwork in the gallery once found.