Welcome To MovieAnimeX ! As the sun sets over the rolling hills of early 1900s Sicily, Mafia: The Old Country invites players into a world of dusty cobblestone streets, sprawling vineyards, and the brutal underbelly of organized crime. Developed by Hangar 13 and published by 2K Games, this latest chapter in the Mafia series takes a bold step backward in time, exploring the origins of the Cosa Nostra in a linear, story-driven adventure. As a longtime fan of the franchise, I dove into this game with high hopes, eager to see how it stacks up against its predecessors and whether it delivers the cinematic mob experience we’ve come to expect. Spoiler alert: it’s a mixed bag, but one that’s still worth savoring for its atmosphere and ambition, even if it doesn’t always stick the landing.
Table of Contents
Ratings
- MovieAnimeX:- 8.9/10
- IGN:- 8/10
- Steam:- 9/10
- Metacritic:- 76%
A New Chapter in the Mafia Legacy
The Mafia series has always been about more than just guns and gangsters. From the 1930s grit of the original to the Vietnam-era turmoil of Mafia III, the franchise has carved a niche by blending historical authenticity with compelling, character-driven narratives. Mafia: The Old Country takes this formula to 1904 Sicily, a setting that feels both fresh and deeply rooted in the series’ DNA. You play as Enzo Favara, a young laborer escaping the hellish sulfur mines to join the Torrisi crime family. It’s a prequel that promises to uncover the roots of organized crime, and it delivers a world that’s as beautiful as it is brutal.
The game’s shift to a linear, story-focused structure is a deliberate return to the roots of the first two Mafia games, moving away from the bloated open-world experiment of Mafia III. At 12–15 hours, it’s a tighter experience, priced at $50, and designed to respect your time without overwhelming you with endless side quests. This focus on narrative over scale is refreshing in an era of sprawling, 100-hour epics, but it also comes with its own set of challenges, as we’ll explore.
A Sicilian Time Machine
Let’s start with what Mafia: The Old Country gets right—and there’s a lot to love here. The game’s setting is nothing short of breathtaking. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, the fictional town of San Celeste and its surrounding countryside are a visual feast. From sun-drenched vineyards to crumbling Roman-Grecian ruins, every corner of this world feels alive and meticulously crafted. The attention to detail is staggering: market stalls overflow with vibrant fruits, festivals transform the streets into bustling fairs, and the Sicilian dialect (available as a language option with subtitles) adds an authentic layer of immersion. I found myself pausing just to soak in the sights, whether it was the golden glow of a sunset or the weathered texture of a stone wall.
The environmental storytelling is equally impressive. Newspaper clippings and overheard conversations weave a rich tapestry of historical context, grounding the game in the real-world struggles of 1900s Sicily. The island’s poverty, exploitation, and distrust of authority are palpable, providing a sobering backdrop to Enzo’s journey. This isn’t just a mob story; it’s a meditation on the societal forces that birthed the mafia, from the sulfur mines’ brutal labor to the peasants’ rebellion against oppressive barons. Polygon nailed it when they said the game “contextualizes organized crime in Italian economic history,” and that depth elevates the experience beyond typical gangster tropes.
The narrative itself is a slow burn, but a rewarding one. Enzo’s transformation from a downtrodden miner to a trusted mafioso is compelling, even if it treads familiar ground. The supporting cast—Luca, the loyal underboss; Cesare, the hotheaded nephew; and Isabella, the Don’s daughter and Enzo’s forbidden love—brings heart to the story. While some characters, like Don Torrisi, feel like Godfather retreads (his Vito Corleone-esque delivery can be distracting), others shine. Tino, the consigliere, is a standout, stealing scenes with his chilling presence, while Luca’s arc adds emotional weight. The forbidden romance between Enzo and Isabella is surprisingly tender, offering moments of vulnerability that contrast with the game’s violence. As Xbox Wire noted, this love story tackles “real stuff that affects real people,” and it’s a bold choice that pays off.
Gameplay: A Double-Edged Stiletto
Where Mafia: The Old Country stumbles is in its gameplay, which feels like a relic of the early 2010s. The game leans heavily on stealth and melee combat, reflecting the era’s reliance on knives and sawed-off shotguns over Tommy guns. Stealth sections, where Enzo sneaks through camps or villas to choke out or knife enemies, are functional but overly simplistic. Distracting enemies by tossing objects is a breeze, and the lack of escalation in stealth mechanics makes these moments repetitive. As Game Informer pointed out, “it’s too easy, representing the most basic of what stealth games are capable of.”
Combat fares slightly better, especially in shootouts. The game’s cover-based shooting is satisfying, with revolvers and shotguns delivering a visceral punch. Horseback chases and vintage car escapes add variety, evoking a Western vibe that suits the setting. The melee system, which emphasizes parrying and dodging over button-mashing, is a highlight, turning knife duels into tense, tactical puzzles. However, these moments are undermined by repetitive mission design and predictable boss fights. Every knife duel feels like a rinse-and-repeat exercise, and the lack of dynamic setpieces—something the urban environments of past Mafia games excelled at—makes the action feel flat. IGN summed it up well: the game “doesn’t reinvent stealth” or cover shooting, but it’s “effective” if not groundbreaking.
The open world, while gorgeous, feels underutilized. San Celeste begs to be explored, but the linear structure limits your freedom. Collectibles like fox statues and newspaper clippings add some incentive to wander, but they feel tacked on and don’t justify the map’s potential. GameSpot echoed this sentiment, noting that “this wonderfully sculpted Sicily map is begging to be explored more and is sorely underused.” I couldn’t help but wish for a few more open-ended missions to let the world breathe.
A Tale of Tradition and Ambition
Mafia: The Old Country is a game caught between honoring tradition and chasing ambition. Its linear structure and focus on storytelling are a deliberate nod to the series’ roots, and in many ways, it succeeds. The narrative, while cliché-heavy, is engaging, with strong performances and a setting that feels like a love letter to Sicily. The game’s 75 Metacritic score reflects its “good but not great” reception, but I’d argue it’s a step above Mafia III’s open-world slog.
Yet, the game’s refusal to innovate holds it back. The dated mechanics and repetitive missions make it feel like a missed opportunity to redefine the series for a modern audience. Hangar 13’s decision to play it safe—likely a response to Mafia III’s mixed reception—results in a game that’s solid but forgettable, as Metacritic reviewers noted. Still, there’s something undeniably charming about its simplicity. At a time when every game feels pressured to be a live-service behemoth, The Old Country’s restraint is refreshing, like a “sawed-off shotgun tucked inside a crate of lemons,” as The New York Times put it.
Technical Performance and Accessibility
On the technical front, Mafia: The Old Country is mostly polished, though not flawless. Running on Unreal Engine 5, the game looks stunning on PC, with ray-tracing enhancing the Sicilian vistas. Console versions target 60fps in performance mode, and a PS5 Pro update is promised. However, some players have reported minor bugs, like occasional softlocks, though nothing as severe as past Mafia titles. The game’s accessibility is decent, with customizable subtitles and control options, but the lack of difficulty settings may frustrate players who find the stealth too easy or the shootouts too forgiving.
Is It Worth Your Time?
Mafia: The Old Country is a game for fans of the series and newcomers who crave a focused, story-driven experience. Its 12–15-hour runtime makes it an easy recommendation for those who don’t want a massive time sink, and the $50 price point feels fair. If you’re drawn to cinematic mob dramas like The Godfather or Goodfellas, you’ll find plenty to enjoy in Enzo’s tale and the Sicilian setting. The game’s visuals, voice acting, and historical depth are its strongest assets, making it a potent time machine to a rarely explored era, as IGN described.
However, if you’re expecting innovative gameplay or a revolutionary open-world experience, you’ll likely walk away disappointed. The repetitive mechanics and underused map keep it from reaching the heights of the series’ best entries. It’s a solid addition to the Mafia franchise, but not the bold reinvention Hangar 13 might have hoped for.
Final Verdict
Mafia: The Old Country is a love letter to the Mafia series’ roots, wrapped in a gorgeous Sicilian package. Its linear storytelling and immersive world make it a compelling journey, but dated gameplay and missed opportunities hold it back from greatness. For fans of mob stories and historical dramas, it’s a worthy addition to the canon. For everyone else, it’s a good, if unremarkable, adventure that’s best enjoyed for its atmosphere and heart.
Score: 8.9/10
Pros: Stunning visuals, immersive Sicilian setting, strong narrative, and authentic voice acting.
Cons: Repetitive gameplay, underutilized open world, and predictable story beats.
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release Date: August 8, 2025
Developer: Hangar 13
Publisher: 2K Games
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