REVIEW – Mafia: The Old Country transports players back to the birthplace of organized crime: early 1900s Sicily. Here, we step into the shoes of Enzo Favara, a young local mafioso on his way to becoming the most loyal enforcer of a powerful Don. His path is stained with blood, tears, and ruthless killings, as he takes on daring missions to earn the respect and trust of both his comrades and his boss. And let me just say something bold right out of the gate: this might just be the best Mafia game ever made — and by the time the credits rolled, I was sure of it.

Back in 2002, I was writing about Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven for the print edition of GameStar. Released not long after Grand Theft Auto III, Illusion Softworks’ take on the crime genre resonated with me far more deeply than Rockstar’s open-world classic. Why? Because just like Half-Life before it, Mafia redefined narrative gaming. Where GTA III leaned on bare-bones mission structure, Daniel Vávra and his team brought cinematic storytelling to the forefront — an emotional rollercoaster of a plot that kept you glued to the screen until its powerful, unforgettable finale.

The sequel didn’t arrive until 2010, but it hit home for me just as hard. Channeling the spirit of Scorsese’s gangster epics, Mafia II delivered a gritty tale of betrayal, loyalty, and violent ambition — all wrapped in a beautifully directed, third-person, story-driven experience. Unlike GTA’s sprawling chaos, Mafia remained laser-focused on linear storytelling, and that’s what gave it its unique charm: it wasn’t trying to copy Rockstar, it was carving its own path.

That’s also precisely why Mafia III stumbled in 2016. In an attempt to lean into open-world sandbox systems, Hangar 13 bloated the game with repetitive, uninspired criminal empire management mechanics that stretched out the playtime but added little value. It felt like they poured cheap moonshine over what should have been a fine bourbon.

Then came 2020’s Mafia: Definitive Edition, a straight flush in my book. Yes, it had a few design shortcomings, but the remake brought Tommy Angelo’s story roaring back to life. (See our full review) So what does The Old Country do that made me crown it the best in the series? Enough with the preamble — let’s dive in, spaghetti first.

Where Sicilian Strings Stir the Blood

Let’s start at the top: Mafia: The Old Country is a full-fledged Mafia title. Make no mistake — despite its lower price tag and confusing pre-release messaging, this is the fourth main entry. It offers a deeper story than any previous game, a vast and explorable open world, and the highest production values the franchise has seen to date.

From the moment you hit the main menu, you’re greeted by a TV drama-quality theme song that’ll give you goosebumps. The main motif is haunting, the combat and travel themes are sweeping and powerful, and each location has its own musical identity. Cutscenes are more lifelike and cinematic than ever. The facial animations, clothing textures, and overall fidelity make it feel like you’re starring in a movie — only this time, you’re the lead.

And we haven’t even talked about Sicily yet. The game’s setting is stunningly alive. From temples and mines to vineyards and dusty villages, every inch of the map is explorable and fully realized. On a base PS5 running in quality mode, the game performed flawlessly. No floating cars, no teleporting enemies, and not a single immersion-breaking bug — aside from Cesare once taking off sprinting into the void for no apparent reason.

The world isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a living, breathing part of the narrative. It’s obvious the devs didn’t just rely on photo references; they clearly walked the island themselves. That level of authenticity bleeds through in every frame. The digital artbook and dev commentary included in the Deluxe Edition back this up — a must-have for fans who want to dig deeper.

Gameplay, too, has come a long way since Mafia: Definitive Edition. If you were worried about combat, don’t be. Gunfights are more responsive and satisfying, cover transitions are smooth, and traversal feels tight. The weapon variety is broader than ever, with new gear unlocking as the story progresses over the years. Driving — both in cars and on horseback — feels great and comes with excellent sound design to match.

Stealth is surprisingly rich. Fistfight executions require timed button combos, while knife kills are quicker but eat away at blade durability. You can sharpen your weapon at a whetstone — especially useful if you’ve been doing a lot of lockpicking or takedowns. Distractions like bottle throws and coin tosses are classic but effective, and melee finishers are beautifully brutal and varied. This is hands down the most fun Mafia has ever been to play.

And then there are the knife duels. What looked clunky in trailers turns out to be a highlight. Dodges, counterattacks, parries, guard breaks, and unblockables all blend into a tactical rhythm — and best of all, your mentor teaches you these techniques as part of Enzo’s journey.

Sicilian Tailoring and Horsepower

The attention to detail in vehicles, horses, weapons, architecture, and character models is borderline obsessive. For players who love to soak in the atmosphere, Free Ride mode makes a return from Mafia: Definitive Edition, letting you roam, collect, and explore without narrative constraints. New content is promised for this mode post-launch — we’re already curious.

Driving and riding are both deeply customizable. You can tweak models, colors, and yes — you can even pet your horse. Enzo himself can be customized head to toe: shirts, suspenders, suits, hairstyles, facial hair, hats, fedoras, trilbys — every classic gangster fashion element is here, unlocking gradually through the story.

Family Matters

The game opens with Enzo Favara, sold into labor at a mine by his father at age five. Fate leads him to the estate of Don Torrisi, where he quickly grows close to the Don’s daughter, Isabella. But with his lowly status, she’s out of reach — for now. Determined to prove his worth, Enzo does everything he can to earn the Don’s trust and, one day, Isabella’s hand. His journey is marked by loyalty, betrayal, and bloodshed, as he sinks deeper into the world of the mafia.

Isabella and Enzo’s relationship is the emotional core of the game, set against a world full of secrets, tradition, and danger. Their romance must be kept hidden from her father — and not everything goes smoothly.

Cesare is the first friend Enzo makes: initially distant, he quickly becomes a loyal partner in crime — the “Joe” or “Paulie” of this story. He’s witty, insecure, and constantly trying to earn the Don’s approval.

Then there’s Luca — Enzo’s mentor. He teaches you how to survive the brutal realities of Sicily. More diplomat than enforcer, Luca relies on cunning and unwavering loyalty. Longtime fans might recognize his last name…

Don Torrisi is the embodiment of power. He built his empire from nothing and will do anything to protect his daughter. To the villagers, he’s a benevolent patriarch. Beneath the surface? A dangerous man.

And finally, Tino, the family’s Consigliere: a sharp-eyed strategist who spots threats before they arrive — including a young caruso climbing the ranks a bit too fast…

Old Country, New Blood

The story is mostly linear but incredibly well written. If you’ve played previous Mafia games or you’re familiar with the genre, you might predict some of the twists — but that’s okay. Great storytelling doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel when the formula works. The cast, the conflicts, the balance of love and loyalty — it all feels right at home with the series’ strongest entries. Mafia: The Old Country stands tall as a standalone game, even if you’ve never touched the previous titles. But longtime fans will catch countless nods, familiar names, and clever callbacks. The acting, cinematics, and tech polish are next level. If you loved the Definitive Edition, this will blow you away.

One thing to clarify: despite what early marketing suggested, this is not a prequel about the mafia’s historical origins. It’s a personal story — a caruso’s rise through the family, much like Tommy Angelo’s arc in the first game. It’s a tale of obedience, vengeance, love, carrying crates, getting wasted, and yes… even peeing. That’s Mafia, baby. If we ever get a true historical origin story, it’ll have to go back to the 1800s. Maybe someday.

“Subblimi!”

Mafia: The Old Country is a masterclass in storytelling, worldbuilding, and technical execution — and quite possibly the best entry in the entire series. Prequel, sequel, standalone — it doesn’t matter. It nails every role. The production values are off the charts: narrative, cinematics, visuals, music, gameplay, customization — it’s all top-tier. Hangar 13 didn’t cut a single corner, despite the lower price tag.

If this is what they call a “small game,” I can’t wait to see what a “big” one looks like. On my end, the game ran flawlessly — no bugs, no crashes, just a clean, immersive experience that hit like a well-aimed tommy gun burst. Fans will debate where this entry lands on the franchise tier list. For me? It just stole the top spot from both the original and the sequel.

-Gergely Herpai „BadSector-

Publisher: 2K

Developer: Hangar 13

Genre: Action-Adventure, Third-Person Shooter, Narrative-Driven

Release Date: August 15, 2025