Look, let’s be real for a second. Most people playing Mafia 2—whether it's the classic 2010 version or the Definitive Edition—aren't just hunting for the Playboy magazines because they’re "completionists." There’s a certain nostalgia and, frankly, a bit of shock value in seeing real-world vintage photography tucked away in a digital 1940s Empire Bay. But if you’re trying to snag that "Ladies' Man" trophy, you’ve probably realized the game is kind of a jerk about how it hides them.
You can't just wander around in free-roam and pick these up whenever you feel like it. That’s the big mistake. Empire Bay doesn't have a post-game free-roam mode. If you miss a magazine in Chapter 3, it’s gone until you reload that specific chapter from the main menu.
The Missable Nature of Mafia 2 Magazine Locations
It’s honestly a bit stressful. There are 50 magazines in the main story and another 19 in the Joe’s Adventures DLC. The game spans years, from the snowy winter of 1945 to the sunny, rock-and-roll era of 1951. Because the world changes, the magazines change too. You’ll find yourself in buildings that literally don't exist or are locked off in later chapters.
Take the Office of Price Administration in Chapter 3. If you don't grab the three magazines hidden in that federal building during the heist, you aren't getting back in there. Period. You’d have to restart the whole mission.
Chapter 2: Home Sweet Home
This is where it starts. You’ve only got two to find here.
- Joe’s Coffee Table: Basically impossible to miss unless you’re sprinting. It’s right there in his living room before you even head out to see the world.
- The Scrapyard: Over at Mike Bruski’s place. Look for the three-car garage across from the car crusher. It's sitting on a shelf.
Chapter 3: Enemy of the State
This is the first "heavy" chapter for collectors. There are five here.
- Derek’s Office: Right outside the door on the floor.
- Maria Agnello’s Apartment: As soon as you enter the building (the one the lady takes you to), check the floor right behind the door.
- The Federal Building (Lobby): This one is risky. It’s on the security guard's desk. You usually have to wait for him to move or take him out quietly.
- The Federal Building (Basement): In the storage room near where you disable the alarm. It’s tucked between two shelves on the floor.
- The Federal Building (Office): Upstairs, across from the Director’s office where you get the keys. It’s on the windowsill.
Chapter 4: Murphy's Law
You’re hitting the mall heist now.
- The Bookstore: After the shootout starts, go up the first set of stairs. It’s in a box.
- The Second Stairwell: Near the locked front doors under the stairs.
- The Rooftop: In the small shelter on the roof while you’re running from the cops.
- Joe’s Building (Again): Don't go into the apartment yet! Go all the way to the bottom of the stairs to find it on the floor near the gate.
Chapter 5: The Buzzsaw
- The Apartment: When you’re following Henry and Joe, go up the stairs instead of down. It’s on the top floor.
- The Distillery: This is the one that ruins runs. It’s on a shelf in the small office on the first floor. You cannot go back for this because the building catches fire later in the mission.
- The Final Room: After the "Fat Man" gets what’s coming to him, check the floor near the wooden chairs before you leave with the injured Henry.
Why the 1950s Chapters Feel Different
Once the game jumps to the 50s, the vibe shifts, and the magazines get a lot harder to spot in the clutter. In the winter chapters, the white snow makes the colorful covers pop. In the summer? They blend into the brown and grey of the city.
Chapter 6: Time Well Spent
Prison life. You’ve got three here, and two of them are in the yard.
- The Yard (Sleeping Guy): Look for the guy napping behind the bleachers. The magazine is right by his feet.
- The Yard (The Shed): Behind a small grey shed near the basketball court.
- The Laundry Room: After you fight the big guy, grab it off the industrial dryer before you follow the guard out.
Chapter 9: Balls and Beans
This chapter is gross. You’re literally crawling through sewers.
- The Maltese Falcon: Right on the bar. Simple.
- The Sewer: After you get covered in... well, filth... look for a side tunnel on the left before you enter the slaughterhouse.
- The Slaughterhouse: Behind a scrap bin in the first room you drop into.
The DLC Factor: Joe's Adventures
A lot of people forget that Joe's Adventures adds 19 more magazines. These are actually a bit more "fair" because Joe’s DLC has a pseudo-free-roam structure. You can drive to most of these locations anytime, though a few are locked behind specific mission areas like the Cathouse or the Supermarket.
- The Dam: Check the southern tower. You can drive there anytime.
- The Drag Strip: On a table at the far end of the bar.
- Harry’s Gun Shop: It’s in the hallway on top of some crates before you enter the main room.
Expert Tips for the 100% Run
If you're going for the full collection, there are a few nuances that the game doesn't tell you.
First, check your collectibles menu constantly. The game assigns a "Playmate Number" to each magazine, but they are not discovered in numerical order. You might find Playmate 1, then Playmate 3, then Playmate 18. If you're following a guide and see "Playmate 2" is missing, don't panic; you might just haven't reached the chapter where it spawns yet.
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Second, the Definitive Edition is notoriously buggy. Sometimes a magazine won't appear even if you're standing right on top of it. If that happens, the only "fix" is usually restarting the checkpoint or the entire chapter. It's frustrating, but that's the reality of the remaster.
Finally, remember that the "Ladies' Man" achievement only requires the 50 from the main story. You don't need the DLC ones for the Platinum/1000G, but you do need them if you want the specific DLC trophies.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re currently mid-playthrough, here’s how to handle this without losing your mind:
- Don't finish a chapter until you've verified the count. If a guide says there are 4 in a chapter and you have 3, do not get in the car to trigger the final cutscene.
- Prioritize the Distillery (Ch 5) and the Federal Building (Ch 3). These are the most common "fail points" where players realize too late that they've been locked out.
- Use the Chapter Select. If you realize you missed one in Chapter 8 and you're already on Chapter 12, just finish the game first. It’s much less annoying to go back and "clean up" missed items after the story is over than it is to keep jumping back and forth.
Basically, just take it slow. The world of Mafia 2 is small but dense. If you rush through the gunfights, you’ll walk right past these every single time.