Set within a retrofuturistic metropolis known as "Anywhere City", the game focuses on players taking the role of a criminal as they roam an open world, conducting jobs for various crime syndicates and having free rein to do whatever they wish to achieve their goal.

While the soundtrack and some gameplay elements, such as the gang loyalty system, were praised, the graphics, controls, and setting received a more mixed game response.

Like its predecessor Grand Theft Auto, the game focuses on players completing a series of levels, each requiring a set target score being achieved to progress to the next stage.

Grand Theft Auto 2's setting is unique for the series: a retrofuturistic metropolis referred to as "Anywhere, USA",[2] which is divided into three districts (Downtown, Residential, and Industrial) that players will switch between as they progress through the game.

Players can save their game during a playthrough of a level by visiting the church they start at, but must pay a set number of points to do so.

Other improvements include vehicles and pedestrians being more interactive with the game's environment—such as gang members engaging in fights with police—the presence of other criminals (such as muggers),[4] a health meter, garages that can modify vehicles with special improvements, a selection of side missions ranging from running a taxi to driving a semi-truck, and groups of 'hidden' packages to find across the level.

Grand Theft Auto 2 was developed by DMA Design in Dundee under the lead programmer Keith Hamilton.

[5] Grand Theft Auto 2 was released for the PlayStation and Windows on 22 October 1999,[6][7] and for the Dreamcast on 1 May 2000 in North America[8] and 20 May in Europe.

[citation needed] Each area features five radio stations from a pool of eleven, one of which is heard as the player drives most vehicles in-game.

People in charge of the musical content were Craig Conner, Stuart Ross, Paul Scargill, Colin Anderson, Bert Reid and Moving Shadow.

"[25] Edge highlighted the game's story development and inventive missions, stating that Grand Theft Auto 2 "manages to draw you deep into the complexities of its world".