Monaco 2 - 3D Heist Fun with Co-op Chaos

• DEVELOPER: Pocketwatch Games
• PUBLISHER: Humble Games
• PLATFORMS: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
• GENRE: Co-Op Heist
• RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2025
• STARTING PRICE: 24,50€
• REVIEWED VERSION: PC

Monaco 2 arrives as the highly anticipated sequel to Monaco: What’s Yours Is Mine, the beloved 2013 indie hit. Retaining the series’ signature blend of stealth and chaotic multiplayer, the sequel introduces a bold 3D isometric style, procedural generated environments, and tighter gameplay systems. You must master strategy, adaptability, and cooperation in this top-down heist adventure, where every mission demands teamwork.

You control a crew of up to four thieves, each with unique abilities, tasked with pulling off heists in the city of Monaco. The game supports solo play, local co-op, and online multiplayer, with a campaign following a group of small-time crooks blackmailed into working for a crime boss after stealing a valuable violin. The core loop involves studying blueprints, infiltrating locations, grabbing loot, and escaping, often with plans going hilariously wrong.

Heist Planning and Execution

Before each mission, you access a detailed 3D blueprint map which allows you to scout entry points and objectives like stealing cash or campaign based. This planning phase is a major upgrade from the original’s fog-of-war exploration, giving you a sense of control. Once in action, you navigate complex levels filled with locks, laser traps, guards, and loot. Stealth is encouraged, with mechanics like hiding in plants or vents, but the game’s design ensures chaos is equally viable. For example, tripping an alarm might trigger a chase, but tools like smoke bombs or character abilities can turn the tide. Missions offer three playstyles: stealth, speed-run and loot-focused.

However, some objectives can feel repetitive, such as fetching items across big maps, which may drag on, especially when playing solo. Additionally, the game is extremely forgiving. The stealth mechanics are relatively simple, and you can often use environmental elements to easily navigate the maps and reach objectives. For instance, disguises allow you to walk past guards undetected but they do have limits. Some character abilities also feel overpowered, like Cosmo’s little dog, which effortlessly distracts enemies and doesn’t activate any traps. The linear structure of the game might also deter some players, particularly since solo play can become tedious after a while.

The game features eight playable characters, each with distinct skills that shape your approach. For example, as mentioned, Cosmo uses her Pomeranian to distract guards, Una punches through enemies, Sake dives to break line-of-sight, Gibson deploys drones for remote actions and so on. In solo play, you can swap characters at checkpoints, making it easier to adapt to challenges like locked doors or heavy security. This flexibility is a significant improvement over the original, where character switching was tied to deaths.

Procedural Generation and Replayability

One great feature is the “Unreliable Narrator” mode, which randomizes levels after you finish the main campaign. It mixes up layouts, guard patrols, and traps so each run feels fresh, while still keeping things balanced. The main story has set levels with cutscenes, but the real replay value comes from competing for high scores, unlocking trinkets (like shields that give perks at the cost of health), and trying preset challenge levels. That said, I have to admit, the game didn’t really pull me back in. I just mostly played through the campaign and moved on with missions, giving the aforementioned mode only few tries.

You collect coins in missions to buy tools like lockpicks, medkits, or disguises, and you keep them between runs. Unlike the original game’s ammo system, tools now unlock as you play, giving you more ways to escape tight spots. Optional challenges reward diamonds, which unlock trinkets, special upgrades that tweak your abilities but cost health.

I have mixed feelings about the gameplay overall. At its best, it’s genuinely fun, especially in co-op, where my friend and I breezed through missions together. But I’m not convinced it captures the same chaotic, hilarious spirit as the original. Some mechanics feel too forgiving; you can practically stand next to guards without being noticed. Even when detected, the ensuing chaos is surprisingly easy to manage, which might leave some players wanting more challenge. On the other hand, while regular guards are forgiving, their patrols can shift and complicate your route which adds some complexity. Elite guards, however, are a whole different problem, they’re relentless and sometimes feel unfairly strong.

Some Thoughts To Share

While you can play solo, it just doesn’t compare to multiplayer. The singleplayer experience grows stale quickly, grinding leaderboards isn’t exactly thrilling. Sure, weekly challenges and daily missions add some replay value, but the real magic happens in co-op. Multiplayer transforms the game completely. Instead of mechanically following waypoints, you’re coordinating simultaneously, hacking terminals while your partner distracts guards, or flanking enemies with unique abilities. Yes, singleplayer is more accessible than the original thanks to cleaner UI and character swapping. But without the chaos of friends improvising alongside you, those huge levels often become tedious, especially when you’re forced to backtrack across empty spaces alone.

Each location in the game has its own flair, like fancy hotels with chandeliers or casinos packed with slot machines. Characters stand out too, with memorable designs like Cosmo’s pink dress or Una’s tough-guy pose. However, I have another concern about the character design. While the diverse representation is clearly intentional, the execution sometimes feels forced rather than organic. The roster includes archetypes like an elderly Asian man, a German hacker, a conventionally attractive white woman, and a Black woman with afro-textured hair. While each character is visually detailed and distinct, their diversity feels more like checking boxes than developing naturally integrated personalities.

In the end, Monaco 2 is a great sequel that improves on the original. The heist gameplay is tense and fun, you’ll carefully plan your moves, then scramble when things go wrong, especially in co-op, where the chaos feels like a perfect heist movie. The colorful 3D visuals work well, and the random level layouts keep things fresh. That said, playing alone can feel overwhelming on big maps, and some missions get repetitive. While it’s already good, future updates could make it even better. Sadly, there’s no Steam Remote Play. This would have made the game easier to play with friends and brought in more players.

Review copy provided by the publisher

4