PAYDAY 2 Thumbnail

PAYDAY 2 similar games & best alternatives

PAYDAY 2

PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, Linux • 2013

Related articles

Quick resume

PAYDAY 2 is an action-packed, four-player co-op shooter that once again lets gamers don the masks of the original PAYDAY crew - Dallas, Hoxton, Wolf and Chains - as they descend on Washington DC for an epic crime spree.

Global score

89/100

Genres

Action, Role-playing (RPG), Shooter, Tactical

Similar games

    Pros

    • Highly addictive cooperative gameplay
    • Extensive weapon and skill customization
    • Strong replayability with randomized maps
    • Active modding community
    • Good value with frequent sales

    Cons

    • Steep difficulty curve and learning curve
    • Large number of paid dlcs
    • Occasional bugs and technical issues
    • Toxic player behavior in public matches
    • Server and connectivity problems

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Status, Violence, Cooperation.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players have freedom to choose stealth or loud approaches, customize skills and weapons, and plan heists with teammates."

    • Competence
      4

      "Game requires skillful coordination, tactical planning, and mastery of complex mechanics and builds."

    • Competition
      -2

      "Focus is on cooperative play and personal progression rather than direct competition or leaderboards."

    • Continuation
      5

      "Highly addictive with hundreds to thousands of hours played, strong replayability and long-term engagement."

    • Cooperation
      5

      "Core gameplay revolves around 4-player co-op teamwork, communication, and coordinated heist execution."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Players customize weapons, skills, and masks; plan different heist strategies; modding community adds creativity."

    • Domination
      -3

      "Emphasis on equal team roles and cooperation; toxic behavior exists but is criticized by community."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use game as stress relief and immersive distraction from real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment, not obligation."

    • Experimenting
      4

      "Players try different builds, stealth vs loud approaches, and experiment with weapon mods and tactics."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Maps have randomized elements and players explore different layouts and secrets each run."

    • Expression
      4

      "Extensive mask customization and weapon skin options allow self-expression."

    • Fantasy
      2

      "Game is grounded in realistic crime scenarios but with some exaggerated elements and stylized action."

    • Fellowship
      4

      "Strong community aspect with friends and online players forming social bonds through co-op."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players learn skills, improve tactics, and develop builds over hundreds of hours."

    • Health
      -4

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with long sessions, little physical activity."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention and coordination during heists, not suitable for casual idle play."

    • Intimacy
      2

      "Some social interaction and friendships form, but mostly surface-level multiplayer connections."

    • Leadership
      2

      "Players sometimes lead teams or coordinate strategies, but generally shared decision-making."

    • Progression
      5

      "Strong progression system with leveling, skill trees, weapon unlocks, and infamy resets."

    • Relaxation
      1

      "Game can be thrilling and intense, but also provides flow and catharsis in successful runs."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Engaging audio-visual effects, music, and intense action provide sensory stimulation."

    • Status
      1

      "Some recognition through achievements and community status, but not a major focus."

    • Story
      1

      "Has a light narrative and lore for interested players, but story is not central."

    • Strategy
      5

      "Requires careful planning, tactical thinking, and problem solving in heist execution."

    • Thrill
      4

      "High tension and excitement from stealth and loud heists, risk of failure adds thrill."

    • Value
      3

      "Good value for replayability and content, though DLC cost is a common complaint."

    • Violence
      4

      "Gameplay centers on combat, shooting cops and enemies, with destruction and chaos."

    • Survival
      4

      "Players must manage health, resources, and avoid failure to survive waves of enemies."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026