PAYDAY 2 Heists Better With Friends

Up to four players take on jobs together, wearing the masks of Dallas, Hoxton, Wolf and Chains. Playing with friends is a big part of the fun, and picking the right mix of skills for the job matters.

In practice, crew members cover different roles and support each other. Those shared runs often turn chaotic and funny.

You set the tone for each hit: keep it quiet and patient, or go loud with everything firing. The shooting and restraining civilians are mechanical highlights, and the audio and music stand out.

Runs stay different from one attempt to the next. Every scenario has random geometry and sometimes rare events, so a job can play out very differently depending on the choices made.

The crew runs a crime spree across Washington DC, taking work through the CRIMENET network. One evening brings a quick shop job or a kidnapping, the next brings bigger scores like cyber-crime and emptied vaults.

Contacts such as Vlad, The Elephant and Hector hand out jobs, each with their own agenda. Sticking with the crew opens up larger scores with larger payouts. There is a lot of content here, enough to keep a regular group busy for a long time.

There are five skill trees you can mix and match to shape your heister. Skills and perks let you tune a build to a chosen playstyle, quiet or loud.

You put together your own loadout, shaping guns and gear to your taste. The armoury runs wide, from long rifles to small rapid weapons, with modifications such as sights, silencers and similar parts available. Masks are personal too: pick a design and colours and end up with one look among millions.