If you played the original release back in 2010 or the Definitive Edition more recently, you know the deal. Mafia 2 isn't just about the Tommy guns or the way Joe Barbaro calls everyone "kid." It’s about the atmosphere. Part of that atmosphere involves hunting down 50 specific vintage collectibles. We're talking about the Mafia 2 all magazine locations, which features authentic Playboy centerfolds from the 1950s and 60s.
It’s a weirdly specific slice of Americana.
Hunting these down is honestly a chore if you don't know the maps. You can't just wander around Empire Bay hoping to stumble upon them. Some are tucked behind crates in a shipyard. Others are sitting on a nightstand in an apartment you'll only visit for three minutes during a shootout. If you miss one during a specific chapter, you’re basically stuck replaying the whole mission later because the game’s world changes as the years go by.
The seasons shift. The cars change. The magazines move.
Why the Mafia 2 All Magazine Hunt is So Infamous
Most games have collectibles that feel like busywork. In Mafia 2, it feels like a history lesson, albeit a spicy one. These aren't just random assets. They are high-resolution scans of actual magazines from the era.
Collectors love them. Completionists hate them.
The difficulty lies in the linear nature of the story. Unlike Grand Theft Auto, where you can usually go back to a shop or an alleyway whenever you feel like it, Mafia 2 locks certain areas after a mission ends. If you're in the middle of "The Buzzsaw" and you forget to grab the issue in the distillery, it's gone. You're looking at a Chapter Select screen and a lot of frustration.
The Early Years: 1945 and the Winter Chapters
Empire Bay in the winter is beautiful. It's also where the first few magazines hide. In Chapter 2, "Home Sweet Home," you’re introduced to Joe’s apartment. Most people just walk out the door to start the mission. Don't do that. There's a magazine right there on Joe's coffee table. It’s the easiest one to find, yet so many people sprint past it because they're excited to see the city.
Later in that same chapter, when you're at Mike Bruski’s Scrapyard, there’s another one. It’s inside the small office building. If you start crushing cars before grabbing it, you might get distracted and forget.
Chapter 3 is where it gets tricky. "Enemy of the State" takes you into the Federal Price Administration building. This is a stealth mission (or a loud one, depending on how much you suck at sneaking). There are actually three magazines in here. One is in the security guard’s booth at the very beginning. Another is in an office across from the Director’s room. If you trigger the alarm and start trading paint with the cops, finding these becomes a nightmare.
Navigating the Mid-Game Grind
By the time you hit Chapter 6, "Time to Kill," Vito is in the slammer. This is a restricted environment. You can't go explore the city. You have to find the magazines within the prison walls.
One is tucked under a bench in the yard. Another is in the laundry room.
The pacing changes here. The game slows down, and so does the hunt. Honestly, the prison section is a bit of a slog, but the magazines keep it interesting. You see the transition from the 1940s style to the early 1950s. The art changes. The photography changes.
The 1950s Transition
When Vito gets out, the world is different. Rock and roll is on the radio. The cars have more chrome. The Mafia 2 all magazine collection reflects this shift.
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Chapter 7, "In Memory of Francesco Potenza," is a favorite for many. You’re following Joe and Eddie, who are... well, they're drunk. Very drunk. While you’re dragging a body around and dealing with their singing, you need to keep your eyes peeled. There’s one in the hallway of Joe’s new apartment building.
It's easy to miss because the game is trying to make you laugh with the dialogue.
- Chapter 8 "The Wild Ones": Check the floor of the foundry during the big shootout. It's near some barrels.
- Chapter 9 "Balls and Beans": Look in the meatpacking plant. It’s a grisly place for a glamorous magazine, but it’s there near the waste disposal.
- Chapter 10 "Room Service": This is the big hotel mission. Before you set the bomb, check the laundry area.
The Hardest Magazines to Find Without a Guide
Let’s talk about Chapter 14, "Stairway to Heaven." This is a long, difficult mission with a lot of combat. You’re taking out a high-profile target (no spoilers, but you know who it is if you've played).
There’s a magazine on the roof of the building where you take your shot. Most players are focused on the getaway. They hop in the car and peel out. If you do that, you’ve missed it. You have to consciously stop, walk over to the corner of the roof, and pick it up while the sirens are getting louder in the distance.
Then there’s the one in the construction site later in the same chapter. It’s behind a pallet of bricks on a floor you have no reason to explore. You have to go out of your way, putting Vito in the line of fire, just to grab it.
That’s the essence of the Mafia 2 all magazine hunt. It’s about risk versus reward. Do you want that Platinum trophy, or do you want to survive the mission?
The Joys of the Definitive Edition
If you're playing the 2020 Definitive Edition, the magazines are still there. They didn't move them. However, the lighting engine is different. Sometimes, the glow that indicates a collectible is harder to see against the new textures.
I’ve found that turning up the brightness slightly helps.
The Definitive Edition also includes the DLCs: The Betrayal of Jimmy, Jimmy's Vendetta, and Joe's Adventures. It is a common misconception that these magazines count toward the main 50. They don't. The DLCs have their own sets of collectibles, usually posters or different magazine runs. If you're going for the "Ladies' Man" achievement, focus purely on the main story chapters with Vito.
Breaking Down the Final Chapters
Chapter 15, "Per Aspera Ad Astra," is the finale. It takes place at the Planetarium. This place is a maze of corridors and balconies.
You’ll find the final few magazines here. One is near the telescope. Another is in the projector room.
The tension is high. The music is swelling. You're about to finish Vito Scaletta's journey. But if you’re a perfectionist, you’re staring at the floor more than the enemies. It’s a weird way to play a cover-shooter, but it's the only way to get the full set.
Misconceptions and Errors
A lot of people think you can find these in "Free Ride."
Mafia 2 doesn't technically have a Free Ride mode in the base game. You’re always "in a mission." To get back to a magazine you missed, you have to use the Chapter Select menu. When you pick it up, the game saves instantly. You don't actually have to finish the entire chapter again unless you want to.
- Do I lose them if I die? No. Once picked up, they stay in your collection.
- Are they in the same spots in the original and the remaster? Yes, 100%.
- Do they do anything? Aside from the achievement and some "vintage appreciation," no. They don't give Vito stats or better aim.
Practical Steps for Your Collection Run
If you’re serious about completing the Mafia 2 all magazine set, stop playing normally.
Treat each chapter like a scavenger hunt. Before you cross a threshold that triggers a cutscene—like entering a boss room or getting into a getaway car—sweep the area. The game loves to put magazines behind doors that lock once you pass through them.
Check the corners of garages. Check the backrooms of diners.
Specifically, in Chapter 11, "A Friend of Ours," there’s a magazine in Leo Galante’s house. If you trigger the escape sequence too early, you can’t go back inside. You have to grab it while you’re "exploring" the house before the intruders arrive.
It’s these little windows of opportunity that make the hunt challenging.
Finalizing the List
To finish your collection, you need to be methodical. Open your menu and check the "Collectibles" tab. It will tell you which numbers you are missing. Since they are numbered 1 through 50, you can easily cross-reference which chapter you need to revisit.
If you're missing #27, you know exactly where to go.
- Open your game and go to the Gallery.
- Identify the missing numbers.
- Use Chapter Select to jump to the corresponding year (1945 vs 1951).
- Grab the mag and quit to the main menu once the save icon disappears.
This is the most efficient way to handle the Mafia 2 all magazine grind without burning out on the combat loops. It keeps the experience focused. You get to see the art, get your trophy, and move on to the next game in the trilogy.
The beauty of Mafia 2 is in the details. The developers didn't have to put 50 real-world magazines in the game. They could have used generic textures. By using real Playboy issues, they anchored the fictional Empire Bay in our real-world history. It makes the world feel lived-in, even if you're just there to shoot some mobsters and drive some fast cars.
Actionable Insights for Completionists
- Prioritize Chapter 3 and Chapter 14: These have the most easily missed magazines due to high-intensity combat and one-way doors.
- Check the "Gallery" frequently: Don't wait until the end of the game to see what you've missed. Checking every three chapters prevents a massive backtracking session at the end.
- Use the "Sprint" button sparingly in interiors: The magazine "glow" effect sometimes takes a split second to render. If you run through a room too fast, you might miss the visual cue.
- Focus on the 1950s: The bulk of the magazines appear after Vito is released from prison. The 1940s chapters are shorter and have fewer collectibles, so you can knock those out quickly.
By following this approach, you ensure that Vito's story isn't just a tale of crime and punishment, but a perfectly preserved time capsule of mid-century culture.