Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
A top-down shooter exploring the aftermath of a massacre spree.
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is a top-down shooter released in 2015 by Dennaton Games and Devolver Digital. Its story unfolds before, during, and after the first Hotline Miami game, exploring the origins and consequences of the massacres Jacket carried out against the Russian mafia. Players control multiple characters across the United States, seeing events from different angles. Each level demands that the player eliminate every enemy using whatever weapons or tactics they choose. The Steam version includes a level editor, letting players build and share custom stages.
Originally planned as downloadable content for the first game, it grew into a full sequel when its scope exceeded expectations. Designer Jonatan Söderström announced it on Twitter in December 2012. Dennaton intended it as the series' final entry, incorporating all leftover ideas from the first game's development. Abstraction Games handled the console ports. Announced at E3 2013, the game faced several delays before launching worldwide on March 10, 2015, for Linux, OS X, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Windows.
Critics generally received the game well, praising its soundtrack while offering mixed opinions on gameplay, level design, and the ending. A scene depicting sexual assault drew widespread criticism from media and led to Australia refusing classification. A localized version appeared in Japan on June 25, 2015, as part of the *Hotline Miami: Collected Edition*. The game was later ported to Nintendo Switch alongside the original in the *Hotline Miami Collection* (2019), then to Xbox One and Stadia (2020), and finally to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S (2023).
**Gameplay**
The game is a top-down shooter split into acts and scenes. In each chapter, players must defeat all enemies using melee or ranged attacks. They can also knock foes out with doors or perform finishing moves. Stages are large, open rooms with multiple enemy approach paths. Most chapters feature a different character, each with unique abilities—like dodging or non-lethal takedowns. Some characters can pick weapons or masks, which alter their abilities.
Both the player and enemies die from a single hit. To offset this, the player can instantly restart a stage after death, encouraging new strategies.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
- Developer
- Dennaton Games · Abstraction Games
- Publisher
- Devolver Digital
- Genre
- Top-down shooter
- Modes
- Single-player
- Designer
- Jonatan Söderström · Dennis Wedin
- Programmer
- Jonatan Söderström
- Artist
- Dennis Wedin
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number was conceived as downloadable content for its predecessor, but became a standalone sequel after its length surpassed it. The game was announced in December 2012 via designer Jonatan Söderström's Twitter. Developed as the final installment in the series, Dennaton incorporated all unused concepts from the first game's development. The game's console versions were developed by Abstraction Games. Announced at E3 2013, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number was delayed several times. It was released worldwide on 10 March 2015 for Linux, OS X, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Windows.
The game is divided into numerous segments presented as 'acts' and 'scenes'. In each chapter, the player is tasked with defeating every enemy with melee and ranged attacks. Additional methods include knocking out enemies with a door and finishing moves. Most chapters have the player take control of a different character, each possessing unique abilities like dodging or defeating opponents non-lethally. Both the player and enemies can be felled by a single attack, and the player can quickly restart the current stage after death. The Steam version includes a level editor, allowing players to create and share custom levels via the Steam Workshop.
Reader's Guide
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the soundtrack, but had diverse opinions on the gameplay, level design and ending. A scene depicting sexual assault triggered a mostly negative response from media outlets and caused the game to be refused classification in Australia. A localised version was released in Japan on 25 June 2015 as part of Hotline Miami: Collected Edition. The game was ported onto Nintendo Switch alongside the first game in the Hotline Miami Collection in 2019, which was later ported onto the Xbox One and Stadia in 2020 and the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2023. The game's narrative presents events out of chronological order, following multiple characters including Beard, Jake, Richter, The Fans, the Son, The Henchman, Martin Brown, detective Manny Pardo, and writer Evan Wright. The mysterious figure Richard appears to most playable characters as a representation of their fears.
Did You Know?
- The game was originally conceived as downloadable content for Hotline Miami before becoming a standalone sequel.
- A scene depicting sexual assault caused the game to be refused classification in Australia.
- The Steam version includes a level editor that allows players to create custom campaigns with cutscenes and dialogue.
- The game was released worldwide on 10 March 2015 for multiple platforms including Linux, OS X, and Windows.
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