Free Play Mode is one of the two (three in LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga) available modes to play a normal level as, the other two being Story Mode and Challenge Mode. Once you complete a level fully in Story Mode, you can then play it again in Free Play Mode and, in LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, Challenge Mode. Free Play stays true to its name; you are given a large roster of characters and can pick one or two of them. You are given at least one character for each ability. This is because one of the main purposes of Free Play Mode is to finish collecting collectibles such as Minikits or Power Bricks. Also, Free Play Mode sometimes removes the cutscenes that appear during Story Mode.
In LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game, vehicle levels could not be done in Free Play Mode, as there were only a few vehicles to choose from and all the collectibles could be grabbed in Story Mode. It does not appear in LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues in favor of Treasure Mode. In LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy, Free Play Mode was the only mode that could be played to earn a normal level's True Jedi Status for Free Play Mode. This also applied to the DS versions of LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures, LEGO Batman: The Videogame and the handheld versions of LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars and LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game.
When doing a level in free play, in most games you are required to begin on the start of the level. However, in LEGO The Hobbit, LEGO Jurassic World, LEGO Dimensions, LEGO Marvel's Avengers, LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens, LEGO The Incredibles and LEGO DC Super-Villains there is an option to start from any part of the level you want. In LEGO Dimensions, LEGO DC Super-Villains, and most handheld games, Free Play Mode is the only mode available when replaying a level. In The LEGO Ninjago Movie Videogame, Free Play Mode was removed and only Story Mode is available.