If you’ve ever wished you could step into Ryan Gosling’s scorpion jacket from Drive, the PlayStation Plus library has something right up your alley. Stylish, brutal, and drenched in neon, this game delivers the same adrenaline-fuelled atmosphere and hypnotic cool that made the 2011 cult film a classic – minus the awkward elevator scene.
A violent, cinematic fever dream
Available now for PlayStation Plus Extra subscribers, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number takes everything that made its predecessor legendary and dials it up to eleven. It’s a chaotic, pulsing descent into a world of masked killers, shifting perspectives, and relentless violence – all set to a pounding synthwave soundtrack that feels ripped straight from a Nicolas Winding Refn film.
The game tells its story through a fractured, mosaic-like narrative that jumps between characters and timelines. You’re never entirely sure who’s who or why you’re doing what you’re doing – and that’s the point. It’s less about clarity and more about immersion. One minute you’re a soldier lost in a drug-fuelled hallucination, the next a journalist chasing the ghosts of past massacres. Each level unfolds like a nightmare in neon, where every mistake splatters the walls in pixelated red.
Brutal, addictive, and impossible to put down
Published by Devolver Digital, Hotline Miami 2 builds on the series’ trademark top-down, room-by-room combat. Every encounter is a puzzle wrapped in chaos – you’ll need lightning-fast reflexes, surgical precision, and a lot of patience to survive. The rules are simple: one hit and you’re dead. But so is everyone else.
It’s violent, yes, but also weirdly rhythmic. The game’s momentum hooks you in; every death becomes a dare to do better, to get slicker, to find that perfect sequence where every move hits just right. And when it does? It’s pure euphoria.
Reviewers have praised the sequel for its striking visual direction, immersive sound design, and expanded content. The soundtrack, featuring artists like Carpenter Brut and Perturbator, does half the storytelling itself – pounding, haunting, and perfectly in sync with the action.
Not for everyone, but impossible to forget
That said, Hotline Miami 2 isn’t an easy ride. Its difficulty spikes can test your patience, and the sheer intensity of the combat can leave even experienced players rattled. Some critics found its story overly ambitious compared to the haunting simplicity of the first game. Where the original thrived on mystery, this sequel dives deeper into backstory – perhaps too deep for some.
Still, for all its excess, the game’s uncompromising style has earned it a loyal following. It’s become a cult favourite of the indie gaming scene, admired for pushing artistic boundaries and refusing to play it safe.
A modern classic reborn on PlayStation Plus
Seeing Hotline Miami 2 added to the PlayStation Plus Extra catalogue is a treat for longtime fans and a perfect entry point for newcomers. Ten years on, its visuals remain bold, its gameplay brutal, and its energy unmatched.
Whether you’re chasing high scores or just soaking up the electric vibe, this is one of those rare games that manages to feel both retro and timeless. So if you’ve ever imagined yourself behind the wheel of a getaway car, bathed in neon light and pulsing synths, this is the closest you’ll get without breaking the law.
