From the very first announcement of Mafia: The Old Country, I felt both excitement and anticipation at the return of this long-dormant series, but the big question remained: where was the series heading? This new release finally answers that question, while raising new ones. Here’s our full Mafia: The Old Country review.
Story – A Classic Mafia Tale with The Godfather Vibe
Set in the early 20th century, the story begins with Enzo Favara, a young man forced to work in a mine in the Sicilian countryside, an area torn between two rival crime families: the Spadaros and the Torsis. Enzo escapes the mine and carves his own path in life, eventually rising within the Torsi family during an era marked by betrayal, blood, and war.
The narrative introduces a rich cast of characters, including Enzo, Don Torsi himself, and memorable figures like Luca and Cesare. Performances are outstanding and immersive, delivering some of the best acting I’ve seen in the series. What sets Mafia apart has always been its characters—stories told in a deeply human way that makes you empathize with criminals who, at their core, are still victims of their time. Enzo might be the best protagonist the series has ever had: a man torn between his desire to do good and the brutal rules of the world he was born into.
The story has its share of twists, though the final third suffers from rushed pacing, skipping over key character development moments. Personally, this made the ending less impactful, though some players may not notice the narrative leap at all.
Gameplay – Limited but Functional
The game lasted me about 18 hours, including some collectible hunting. Gameplay revolves around three core elements: cinematic sequences, vehicle travel (horses and early cars), and third-person combat, either through cover-based shooting or stealth.
There’s little innovation here, but that’s not necessarily bad—the game is story-first. Still, I felt there was potential for more variety, especially in stealth mechanics.
Combat encourages stealth by making direct confrontation risky, though stealth itself is fairly shallow. You can assassinate enemies or knock them out non-lethally, distract them with bottles or coins, and hide bodies in conveniently placed crates. AI is weak enough that hiding bodies often feels unnecessary.
Gunplay is satisfying, with strong feedback when enemies are hit, but firearms are unreliable—fitting for the time period, as recoil is heavy and accuracy low. The Sicilian knife, a traditional blade carried by every mafioso, plays a major role.
Boss fights are knife duels, requiring you to dodge, block, and read attack patterns. They’re tense and fitting for the setting, though limited in depth.
Overall, gameplay is enjoyable but repetitive. Think of it less as a traditional video game and more as an interactive mafia film.
Visuals and Audio – High Quality with Minor Flaws
Technically, performance is acceptable but not flawless. Even in performance mode, frame drops can occur, and visuals take a noticeable hit when targeting 60 FPS. Still, the graphical detail is rich—environments are atmospheric, with detailed Sicilian landscapes, villages, and period-specific architecture, even if world interactivity is limited.
Audio is where the game truly shines. The score perfectly captures the rural Sicilian mood, while voice acting is phenomenal, especially from Enzo and Don Torsi. This combination elevates the story’s emotional impact to another level.
Overall, visuals and audio deliver a strong, immersive experience—though a more polished performance would have been welcome, especially given the game’s linear design.
Mafia: The Old Country Review Final Verdict
Mafia: The Old Country stands out as one of the best story-driven games of 2025, and among the strongest entries in the series when it comes to narrative and characters. Its gameplay, while serviceable, suffers from repetition, giving the experience the feel of an interactive movie rather than a fully fleshed-out video game.
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