Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (FNaF 2) players take on the role of a security guard who must survive the night shift at a fictional pizza restaurant without being attacked by the animatronic characters that wander through the building. The animatronics include remade versions of Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy from the first game, as well as their older, decrepit counterparts, plus a whitened version of the ghostly Golden Freddy. Two completely new characters are also featured, including a puppet-like character called the Marionette (or simply The Puppet), and a humanoid animatronic called Balloon Boy.

As in the first game - Five Nights at Freddy's (FNaF), the player sits alone in an office. They cannot leave, but can track the animatronic's movements via a network of security cameras placed throughout the building. The office has three entrances, a hallway, and two side vents through which animatronics can enter. Unlike previous games, none of these can be sealed off, but can be inspected by lights.

The Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (FNaF 2) game consists of five main levels referred to as "nights", gradually increasing in difficulty. Completing all five main nights unlocks an even more difficult sixth night, which in turn unlocks a seventh "custom night" upon completion. During the night, players can adjust the difficulty of each individual animatronic or play one of ten pre-set challenges.