Mafia II is a third-person action-adventure game set in the fictional American city of Empire Bay between 1945 and 1951. Players control Vito Scaletta through a story-driven campaign involving organized crime, navigating an open world on foot or by vehicle. Gameplay combines shooting, driving, and limited melee combat, with a wanted system that escalates law enforcement response based on criminal activity. The game features era-appropriate vehicles, licensed period music across multiple radio stations, and a cover-based combat system.