Stealing the money is only part of the objective in The Masterplan. Players must also organize an escape and make sure their crew survives the operation. This strategy game is set in the United States during the 1970s and focuses on planning robberies from a top-down perspective. Each mission involves controlling several criminals inside a building containing guards, civilians, valuables, and security equipment. The outcome depends on how players coordinate their characters and respond to unexpected events.

Robbery Locations and Objectives

The campaign follows a criminal crew attempting to build its resources through a succession of heists. There are 20 main locations, ranging from smaller establishments to banks and other protected targets. Each setting has its own layout, which influences where characters can move and how they approach the money. Players must consider entrances, restricted rooms, security measures, and possible escape routes. Although missions follow a campaign structure, individual robberies allow different methods of completion.

How to Organize the Crew

Before entering a location, players can prepare their criminals with weapons and equipment. During the mission, commands are issued from an overhead view. Characters can be moved separately, allowing several tasks to happen in different parts of the building. The slow-motion option helps when players need extra time to coordinate simultaneous actions.

The available gameplay options include:

•         Recruiting criminals for upcoming robberies.
•         Equipping crew members with different weapons.
•         Using threats to control witnesses and guards.
•         Moving bodies to prevent their discovery.
•         Entering restricted areas with disguises.
•         Disabling security systems before stealing valuables.

Not every robbery requires open confrontation. Players can use stealth to avoid attracting attention or rely on armed intimidation to gain control of a location. If someone calls the police, the situation becomes more dangerous. The crew may need to abandon its original plan and leave before being overwhelmed. This makes timing important, particularly when deciding whether to search for additional money or escape immediately.

Career Progression and Additional Challenges

Money obtained from completed missions is used to hire new crew members and purchase equipment. As the campaign advances, the player gains access to more locations and prepares for a larger robbery. The game also contains eight challenge maps with additional heist scenarios.

To progress, players must select a target, organize their team, execute the robbery, and escape with the collected valuables. Planning and adapting to changing circumstances remain central throughout the game.