Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is a survival horror game where the player takes on the role of a night security guard at a haunted pizza restaurant. The player's goal is to survive from midnight to 6am for five nights (or more), avoiding being attacked by bizarre and terrifying mechanical beasts. The game requires observation, quick reflexes, and proper resource management to overcome increasingly difficult challenges.

The player has several tools to aid in survival, including a security camera system, a flashlight, and a Freddy mask. The camera fnaf 2 helps track the movements of the animatronics, and in particular, must always pay attention to Camera 11 to wind up the music box, otherwise "The Puppet" will appear and end the game. The Freddy mask is used to fool most of the animatronics when they invade the office, while the flashlight is used to slow down Foxy when he appears in the main hallway.

To survive each night, the player must prioritize winding the music box, checking the ventilation shafts and hallways frequently. Listening for sounds is important because it helps identify moving animatronics. In addition, the mask must be put on immediately when detecting someone in the room. The game will become more difficult each night, so concentration and practice are key to victory.