The second new suite is the Rock Suit which, while wearing it, allows Mario to roll up into a rock ball, which will be necessary to complete some challenges or defeat certain foes. Mario's first new suit is the Cloud Suit, which allows him to create three safe but temporary cloud platforms. Galaxy 2 features further improvements in gameplay, with two new suits for Mario and the return of his faithful companion Yoshi.

The hub world of the original has been replaced with a spaceship, shaped like Mario's head, which can be used to travel between Galaxies, as well as discover hidden 1-Ups. To reach an end-level boss or open a bonus planet, you need to have discovered enough golden stars to unlock it. Unlike Super Mario Galaxy, Galaxy 2 features a more standardized level system, a number of galaxies split into smaller planetary levels that can only be reached by completing one planet, to open up the path to the next. Certain levels switch the perspective from 3D to 2D, mimicking the platform origins of the character, while others range from molten lava wastelands, ice caverns, or oceans.

The environment is a mixture of standard Mario stages filled with familiar evil characters and miniature planetoids with their own orbital gravity. The basic goal of each level is to collect the golden star, either by reaching an end goal, collecting a number of smaller star bits, or defeating an end-level boss. It's up to Mario once again to fight and defeat Bowser and Bowser Jnr, among numerous new villains and obstacles, to save Princess Peach. Mario returns to the stars as the everlasting villain Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach once more, this time while she was baking a cake.

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