Payday 2: Crimewave Edition

Payday 2: Crimewave Edition is a cooperative first-person shooter focused on planning and executing heists with a crew of criminals. This edition includes a collection of downloadable content from the original release, adding more missions, weapons, and cosmetic options. It also features improved visuals compared to earlier console versions.

Players assume the role of members of the Payday Gang, a notorious team of masked robbers operating in Washington, D.C. Jobs range from small-time store stickups to elaborate multi-day operations involving banks, armored cars, or drug cartels. The objective varies by mission, but the general goal is to secure money, valuables, or information and escape before law enforcement overwhelms the team.

Each heist can be approached with stealth or brute force. In stealth, players avoid detection by disabling cameras, restraining civilians, and silently eliminating guards while securing loot. If alarms are triggered, the mission shifts into open combat as waves of police, SWAT, and special units attempt to stop the robbery. Combat emphasizes teamwork, with players covering each other, defending chokepoints, and carrying loot bags while under fire.

Progression is tied to completing heists, which reward experience and cash. Experience levels unlock skill points that can be invested into distinct skill trees such as Mastermind, Enforcer, Technician, Ghost, and Fugitive, each offering specialized perks like leadership abilities, heavier armor, advanced gadgets, or stealth tools. Money earned funds the purchase of weapons, modifications, masks, and cosmetic customization, allowing players to tailor both their arsenal and appearance.

Crime.net serves as the central hub where missions are selected, displaying available contracts and their difficulty. Players can form crews of up to four, either with friends or online matchmaking, while AI teammates fill roles in solo play. Masks can be customized with patterns and colors, and weapons support extensive modding to alter performance.