Monaco 2 is like murder-free Hitman in the best possible way

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In 2013, Pocketwatch Games introduced one of the top cooperative stealth games, Monaco: What’s Yours Is Mine. Now, they are returning with a larger sequel titled Monaco 2. During Steam Next Fest in February 2025, the team showcased a substantial demo that included four fresh characters and early missions from the game, hinting at a promising new project.

In Monaco 2, eight characters will be playable at launch, though only four are featured in the demo. These characters, initially involved in petty crimes, find themselves tangled up in something much bigger after a mistaken theft. Despite having access to half of the playable characters, it’s clear that the type of heist can vary significantly based on the character chosen. I began with Cosmo and Gimlet, a pair consisting of a socialite and her small dog. Cosmo has the ability to send Gimlet to distract guards, which makes the overall experience safer. My second choice was Gibson, a scientist who specializes in technology. His unique skill allows him to control a drone to perform tasks while he’s elsewhere – perfect for picking locks or gathering extra loot without getting caught. The absence of the dog-based distraction made my mission much more perilous, with multiple close calls involving large groups of guards attempting to beat me unconscious. Other characters include Sake, who can swiftly evade guards, and Pockets, who can heal himself.

In Monaco 2, you have the ability to exchange characters at certain checkpoints, and luckily there were many of these throughout the demo stages. This feature offers several advantages: it allows for frequent changes in playstyle, and more importantly, if things go wrong, you won’t need to restart from the beginning. And trust me, something will go wrong eventually. Initially, Monaco 2 seems quite forgiving, but don’t let that fool you. If you’re being stealthy, you can often bypass guards even when they’re right beside you, unlock doors, snatch treasures, and generally do as you please.

Until you get to areas with a more spacious layout, the approach shifts towards strategic concealment. This involves determining safe moments to be visible, identifying the most effective escape routes in case of trouble, and swiftly adjusting your plans when you unexpectedly encounter a guard and disrupt your original plan.

In the spirit of a fervent admirer, allow me to share my thoughts on Monaco 2: Just like its predecessor, it restricts your view to what’s directly within your field of vision. However, you’re provided with hints about where guards might be lurking, thanks to faint ghostly footprints that appear. Unlike the original game, the map has been elevated to a 3D landscape, which adds an exhilarating improvisational flair to each infiltration. A blueprint may offer a general layout, but remember, it only reveals so much; the rest is a thrilling adventure of flying by the seat of your pants!

The anticipation is high, even just playing on my own. I imagine the real thrill will be strategizing with friends and experiencing the chaos when someone slips up, much like in the original game. Unfortunately, Pocketwatch hasn’t announced a release date yet for Monaco 2, but they plan to launch it sometime in 2025.

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2025-02-27 21:27