Let’s be real for a second. If you played Mafia 2 back in 2010—or even the Definitive Edition recently—you weren't just there for the gritty 1940s atmosphere or Joe Barbaro’s questionable life choices. You were looking for those glowing magazines on the floor. It’s one of the weirdest, most iconic collectibles in gaming history. 2K Games and Hangar 13 didn’t just throw in some generic "secret packages." They licensed 50 actual vintage covers and centerfolds from the Playboy archives. It was a ballsy move. It grounded the world of Empire Bay in a way that most open-world games fail to do.
Finding every Mafia 2 Playboy magazine is a massive pain if you don't know where to look. They’re tucked into corners of warehouses you’ll never visit twice. They’re sitting on the nightstands of guys you just whacked. The kicker? If you miss one during a mission, you often have to reload the entire chapter just to snag it.
Why the Mafia 2 Playboy hunt is actually genius level design
Most people think these magazines are just there for cheap thrills. Honestly, they’re actually a brilliant way to force players to explore the insane level of detail Hangar 13 put into the interiors. You’re in a basement in Sand Island, chasing a greaseball named Derek, and suddenly you’re looking behind a crate. Why? Because you know there’s a collectible nearby.
It creates this weird tension. You’re in the middle of a high-stakes shootout, bullets are flying, Vito is bleeding out, but you’re scanning the coffee tables. It’s immersion-breaking but also totally addictive. These aren't just random assets; they are historical snapshots. You’re seeing the actual aesthetic of the 1950s—the hair, the lighting, the photography style. It’s a time capsule.
The brutal reality of chapter-specific collectibles
Here is the thing that trips everyone up: the game is linear. This isn't GTA where you can just drive back to a location at the end of the game. If you’re in Chapter 3, "Enemy of the State," and you forget to grab the three magazines in the Federal Price Administration building, they’re gone. You’re done. You have to go back to the main menu and restart that specific chapter to get them.
It’s unforgiving. It’s old-school game design.
The first one you’ll likely find is in Joe’s apartment. It’s just sitting there on the coffee table. Easy. But then the game gets mean. In Chapter 4, "Murphy’s Law," there’s one hidden in the mall behind a gate that you can only get while the cops are actively shooting at you. You have to decide if the achievement is worth the lead in your back. Most of us decided it was.
A breakdown of the hardest magazines to track down
Not all magazines are created equal. Some are basically handed to you, and others require a detective's eye. Take Chapter 6, "Time Well Spent." You’re in prison. You have zero gear. You’re just Vito in a jumpsuit. There are five magazines in the yard and the laundry room. If you don't grab the one under the bleachers while Leo Galante is talking, you’ve missed your window.
Then you’ve got the 1950s era. Once Vito gets out of the slammer, the magazines change. The art style shifts. The world is brighter, the cars have more chrome, and the Playboys get more "modern."
The Chapter 14 nightmare
If you’ve played the game, you know the construction site. It’s a vertical nightmare of snipers and explosive barrels. This is where most people lose their minds. There are three magazines hidden here. One is at the very top, tucked behind a pallet. If you trigger the cutscene before grabbing it, the mission ends, and you’re back in the city. No way back up.
I’ve seen people spend three hours replaying this segment because they missed the one in the small office trailer at the entrance. It’s brutal. It’s "Mafia 2" at its most punishing.
Why the Definitive Edition changed the game (slightly)
When the Definitive Edition dropped, people hoped for a map marker. They didn't get one. The developers kept the original vision intact, which means the Mafia 2 Playboy hunt is just as difficult as it was in 2010. However, they did add the DLC magazines. Joe’s Adventures, The Betrayal of Jimmy, and Jimmy’s Vendetta all have their own sets.
If you’re a completionist, the total number jumps from 50 to way more. The DLC ones are arguably harder because the missions are more arcade-like and fast-paced. You don't have the narrative lulls that the main story gives you to explore.
The cultural impact of a digital magazine rack
People still talk about this. Why? Because it was authentic. Most games use fake brands like "Binco" or "Cluckin' Bell." Mafia 2 used real history. It felt like you were actually living in that post-war transition period. You’d find a magazine from 1953 and think, "Yeah, my grandfather might have seen this exact cover."
It adds a layer of "grown-up" grit that isn't just about violence. It’s about the culture of the time—the taboo, the glamour, and the underground nature of that kind of media in the 50s. It fits the theme of the Italian-American mob perfectly. These guys were living outside the law; of course they had the "naughty" magazines of the era.
Misconceptions about the "All Playboy" achievement
A lot of players think you need to find all of them in a single playthrough. You don't. The game tracks them across your profile. If you finish the game with 45 out of 50, you can just go back into Chapter Select, grab the five you missed, and the trophy/achievement will pop. You don't need to finish the chapter either—once the "saving" icon disappears after picking it up, you can quit to the menu.
Another big mistake? Thinking they are in the same place in the DLC. They aren't. Jimmy’s missions have entirely different layouts and locations for these collectibles. Don't use a Vito guide for a Jimmy mission. You'll just get frustrated.
Strategies for a 100% run
If you’re going for the full set, you need a plan. Don't just wing it.
- Check the floor, always. Most magazines are on the ground, usually near a mattress or a crate.
- The "Post-Shootout" sweep. Never leave a room until the music calms down and you’ve circled the perimeter.
- Chapter 3 and 15 are the danger zones. These chapters have some of the most easily missed magazines because the environments are huge or the action is constant.
- The back alleys of Empire Bay. In the open-world segments between missions, check the garages. Joe’s garage and Vito’s various safehouses often hide a few that aren't tied to specific mission objectives.
The legacy of the hunt
Mafia 3 tried to do something similar with Vargas paintings and more Playboy issues, but it didn't hit the same way. There was something special about the way Mafia 2 integrated them. It felt like a scavenger hunt through a movie set.
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Whether you’re doing it for the "Ladies' Man" trophy or you just want to see the 100% completion stat, the Mafia 2 Playboy collection remains the gold standard for collectibles that actually mean something to the game's setting. It’s not just "fluff." It’s a piece of the world.
Your next steps for a 100% completion
To actually finish this hunt without losing your mind, pull up a chapter-by-chapter checklist before you start your next session.
- Start with Chapter 2—there are only two magazines here, making it an easy way to get into the rhythm of searching.
- Focus on the Federal Price Administration building in Chapter 3; it's the first "locked" area where you can't return later.
- Keep a separate save file for the construction site in Chapter 14. If you miss one, you don’t want to have to replay the entire game to get back there.
- Check your "Collectibles" menu frequently to see which specific numbers you are missing, then match those numbers to the specific months and years of the vintage magazines to identify their location.
Once you've cleared the main 50, head into the DLCs. The magazines there don't count toward the main "Ladies' Man" achievement, but they are required for the 100% total completion of the Definitive Edition. Be methodical, stay behind cover, and keep your eyes on the floor.