Mafia II is an activity experience game set in an open world climate and played from a third-individual point of view. The vast majority of the game is set in the made up city of Empire Bay, in view of New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, and Detroit, during the mid-1940s and mid 1950s. 

The center ongoing interaction spins around shooting and driving; a restricted scuffle battle framework is likewise included, which consolidates punching and evading. There are 50 period exact vehicles in the game as well as authorized music.[11] Depending on the climate over the span of the game, vehicles handle in an unexpected way. For instance, during the early parts in winter, vehicles are bound to slip out and about because of the ice. Numerous guns from the past game return, for example, the Thompson submachine weapon and Colt 1911, as well as a siphon activity shotgun. New World War II-time weapons, such the MG 42 and the Beretta Model 38, additionally show up in the game.