Payday 2

PAYDAY 2 is a co-op shooter for up to four players. You join the original PAYDAY crew—Dallas, Hoxton, Wolf and Chains—in Washington, DC, taking on crimes ranging from convenience-store hits and kidnappings to cybercrime and major bank heists. You can also carry out political errands around the city.

Contracts and heists

CRIMENET connects you with local contacts and lets you choose from a wide range of dynamic contracts. These include Vlad the Ukrainian, the shady politician known as “The Elephant” and South American drug trafficker Hector, each with their own agenda and interests. Heists can involve random layouts or rare events, so no job plays out the same way twice.

Each job supports different approaches, from a slow, stealthy ambush to a direct assault. You choose how to reach the target, and each approach creates a different experience. During a job, you use weapons and can zip-tie civilians; choosing the right crew and skill mix matters when a heist begins.

Progress and customization

As the crew advances, jobs grow bigger and more rewarding. You earn money and develop your character, investing in any of five skill trees: Mastermind, Enforcer, Ghost, Technician and Fugitive. Each tree has its own skills and equipment, and you can mix and match them. You can also craft masks using a pattern and color of your choice, creating millions of possible combinations.

The arsenal ranges from sniper and assault rifles to compact PDWs and SMGs. Weapon modifications include optics, suppressors, foregrips, reticles, barrels, frames and stocks, which affect weapon performance. Purely cosmetic options include polished walnut grips.

Additional content

More than 70 updates have added heists, characters, weapons and other gameplay features, including the ability to drive cars and forklifts.