The game unfolds across two islands: Ibiza, a Spanish territory in the Balearic Islands, and Oahu, returning from the first game. Both were modeled using satellite data and together provide over 3,000 kilometers (approximately 1,864 miles) of drivable road, with roughly two-thirds consisting of asphalt and the remainder being off-road routes. Oahu received graphical updates to differentiate it from its appearance in the original game. Both islands feature a full 24-hour day-night cycle and dynamic weather. Players travel between islands by driving to an airport, triggering a cutscene of the character boarding a plane, with instant-travel unlocking at player Level 10.
Vehicle categories are divided into three main classes: A for modern asphalt cars (subcategories A7 through A1), B for off-road vehicles (B4 through B2), and C for classic cars (C4 through C1). Motorcycles were available as downloadable content in an M category. Lower subcategory numbers indicate higher vehicle quality. Obtaining a racing licence for each class through school tests run by designated instructors is required before competing in that class.
The player character begins as a broke valet driver working in Ibiza for Tess Wintory, host of the fictional 2011 Solar Crown racing championship. After the player is offered entry into the championship, the narrative follows their progression up the competitive ranks. Money earned from races funds houses, cars, and clothing. Rival contestants challenge the player to one-on-one races with cars wagered. The championship eventually moves to Oahu, where Tess and her father Stuart Wintory attempt to rig the final outcome against the player. The game concludes with a time trial around Oahu that the player wins to claim the Solar Crown title.
Up to eight players could share a free-roam session simultaneously. The online environment allowed players to inspect one another's cars, demonstrate shortcuts from the passenger seat of another player's vehicle, and collectively engage in or flee from police chases — with other players able to join as either additional racers or additional officers.
The game included a paid downloadable content expansion called TDU2: Casino Online, featuring roulette, blackjack, slot machines, and other games playable with in-game currency converted to casino chips. Online servers went offline in November 2018, disabling both the multiplayer modes and the casino expansion. Community-developed private server projects — including TDU World, TDUniverse, and the largest effort, Project Paradise 2 — subsequently restored online functionality for the Windows version.
Test Drive Unlimited 2 suffered from significant technical problems at release, particularly on PC. Issues included server outages, dropped connections, inability to add friends in-game, and widespread failures in advertised online features. The studio temporarily disabled multiplayer entirely following launch. Among the more serious problems were corrupted save files that forced players to begin the game fresh under a new profile, losing all accumulated progress and assets. Multiple patches were released across all platforms, with Sony and Microsoft each receiving console patches for approval in the weeks following launch. Residual server instability was still being reported by players as late as October 2012.
The game received mixed or average reviews according to Metacritic. Reviews divided between appreciation for the game's open-world atmosphere and frustration with its execution. Eurogamer's Oli Welsh scored it 7 out of 10, calling it "fantastic escapism" while noting that "for a game so obsessed with image and lifestyle, TDU2 is hilariously, if endearingly, uncool." Game Informer's Matthew Kato awarded 8.5 out of 10, praising the cohesion of open-world and online interactions with single-player competition and arguing that "sheer quantity of features prevails." GameSpot's Jane Douglas gave 7 out of 10, finding the open world and online play "attractive" but noting the game did not excel in any individual dimension compared to more specialized alternatives. IGN's Ryan Clements was more critical, awarding 5.5 out of 10 and citing "ugly character models," repetitive voice acting, and imperfect driving. Destructoid's Destin Legarie gave 4 out of 10, describing the game as "surrounded by a bug filled world, glitchy gameplay, and a core mechanic that doesn't function."
Estimated worldwide sales reached approximately 1.8 million units as of December 2016, according to publisher BigBen Interactive.
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown, the third game in the Unlimited sub-series, was announced on 7 July 2020. Developed by Kylotonn and published by Nacon, it is set on Hong Kong Island with Ibiza added in a December 2024 seasonal update, and was released on 12 September 2024.