Story 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 Free Play Mode and Challenge Mode. At first, Story Mode is the only mode that can be played. Story Mode is very basic; there are a set amount of characters (minimum of 2 and a maximum of 8 to be played at a time and these characters are set in stone. In Story Mode, usually only a few of the game's hidden collectibles are able to be collected; for the rest, a rerun in Free Play Mode must be done. Also, Story Mode has a variety of humorous cutscenes that follow the story of the game to fit with the level being played. In LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game, vehicle levels could only be done in Story Mode, as there were only a few vehicles to choose from. And in LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy, Story Mode was the only mode that could be played to earn a normal level's True Jedi Status for Story Mode.
Once Story Mode was completed, Free Play Mode is unlocked as well as Challenge Mode in LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga.