Mafia: The Old Country Reviews
Mafia: The Old Country strips back much of what weighed Hanger 13's previous entry down. While the story and gameplay rely solely on solid and well-trodden tropes in a much more linear design, the intense focus on great characters and a gorgeous Sicilian setting make this a leaner experience that's worth the lower price of admission. This Mafioso family has a long way to go to re-establish its place at the head of the table, but the beginnings of its criminal enterprise are promising.
Beauty alone can't carry a game, and here, it's doing the heaviest lifting. At this time, you could very well just watch a no-commentary playthrough over the weekend, saving yourself fifty bucks in the process. Like a perfect glass of wine served with stale bread, Mafia: The Old Country leaves you wondering how something so lovely can taste so forgettable.
The fact that Mafia: The Old Country does little more than what it promises is not a bad thing. It is a linear action-adventure game, where the story takes precedence. And although its romantic premise may not appeal to everyone, it is told in an interesting and quality manner. But in 2025, especially after the previous installments, one would expect more than just a "minimal viable product." The entire game is unnecessarily linear; the missions are often uninteresting, the gameplay is at times shockingly uninspired, and more often than we would like, we felt that the developers were making fools of the players. Mafia: The Old Country is, at its core, an entertaining average game with some production quality that elevates its quality, but it remains average nonetheless.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Mafia The Old Country comes across as an anachronistic work: it tells a well-written story in a fascinating world, but it also features a gameplay which is simply not on par with current industry standards. Nevertheless, it's still highly recommended for anyone who is a fan of the series.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Mafia: The Old Country largely follows in the footsteps of the first two installments in the series, possessing nearly the same strengths and weaknesses, but failing to deliver on its best aspects with the same level of brilliance. The story is good, but it doesn't live up to the brilliance of the previous installments, and the gameplay and mission design suffer from numerous issues, in addition to being another release riddled with the usual technical flaws of the Unreal Engine 5. All of this makes The Old Country a good experience, nothing more. It has its beautiful and enjoyable moments, but in return, it has a fair share of flaws.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Mafia: The Old Country impressed me in almost every respect. It wasn't just the rural setting of atmospheric Sicily that I really liked. I was also thoroughly entertained by the story of the miner who gradually works his way up in the mafia family and gets drawn deeper and deeper into their machinations. In addition to the impressive graphics, it was the melee combat system with a focus on knives, the thrilling horse races, and the open world that is fully dedicated to the story that impressed me the most. If there's anything to criticize about the game, it's the somewhat wooden faces in the in-game graphics, the lack of footprints in an otherwise near-perfect visual presentation, and the short playing time of well under 20 hours. Overall, however, Mafia: The Old Country is a bull's-eye and a worthy addition to the legendary trilogy.
Review in German | Read full review
Mafia: The Old Country is a formidable entry into the series, one with an engaging yet overly cliché and predictable story filled with beautifully crafted set pieces and great cast performances. While these are all great, the occasional knife fight or stealth sections stall the momentum of the experience at times.
Mafia: The Old Country transports players back to the origins of organized crime, immersing them in a richly detailed historical setting. The game features stunning cinematics that enhance the storytelling experience, accompanied by a breathtaking graphical presentation that captures the grit and glamour of the era. With a variety of gameplay styles available, players can engage in thrilling missions and explore the intricacies of mafia life. This combination of elements truly makes it one of my favorite gaming experiences this year!
In the end, Mafia: The Old Country feels like a natural continuation of the series—excluding Mafia III. It delivers a linear story, a non-open environment, and limited gameplay options. The experience is closer to Uncharted than GTA, yet at the same time, it’s the least diverse in mission design across the entire franchise. What carries the game is its story and characters, presented as one of the strongest narratives of the year, featuring truly memorable personalities. And if you’re a longtime fan of the series, this title is an easy recommendation.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Mafia: The Old Country is exactly what this franchise needed, a return to its roots. By focusing on story, characters, and atmosphere, it delivers an experience that feels both refreshing and classic. The combat, stealth, and driving systems all work together to create a varied, engaging gameplay loop, and the visuals make it one of the most cinematic games I’ve played this year.
Mafia: The Old Country. A cinematic triumph. Familiar tropes, executed flawlessly. Engaging, memorable, and masterfully paced. That is all.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Mafia The Old Country is a good game that I feel is missing just a little bit to make it great. I’ve played through the previous 3 and I think this sits in the middle with the first game for how it compares to the others. Where it lacks in gameplay, it makes up for in story and cinematography (for those wondering, 2 ranks as the best in my eyes and 3 is the lowest).
Mafia: The Old Country might seem small on paper, but it’s a larger-than-life title that dishes up a substantial story pitted with all the trappings of a classic Mafia tale.
Mafia: The Old Country is a journey back to the roots of the mafia that captivates with its setting and cinematic narrative. Its mechanics may be conservative and its world lacks gameplay depth, but as an audiovisual narrative, it's a worthwhile experience. It's not the triumphant return of the series, but it is a worthy and solid chapter that feels like good mob cinema played with a controller in hand.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
In the end, this stands as one of the best Mafia games yet, and a must-play for anyone who enjoys narrative-driven adventures.
Mafia: The Old Country knows what it wants to be – a period-authentic, gritty mob drama – and largely succeeds in its ambition. While some mechanical elements might feel a touch dated in their implementation or the pacing occasionally rushes you forward, these are minor grievances against a backdrop of intriguing world-building, compelling storytelling, and a deep commitment to its historical setting. Hangar 13 has delivered a potent reminder of why the Mafia series resonates with its unwavering focus on narrative, character, and an unparalleled sense of time and place. It’s not a perfect game, but it offers an experience that’s rich in atmosphere, brutal honesty, and thoroughly captivating from start to finish. For those who appreciate a well-told crime story with unparalleled historical flavor, Mafia: The Old Country is an offer you should accept.
Mafia: The Old Country is a return to its roots that fully embraces its narrative shift. Its compelling story, sumptuous environments, and impeccable voice acting make it a memorable experience. However, its overly cautious gameplay, occasionally shaky technical aspects, and lack of freedom to explore prevent it from reaching excellence. It's a game to be savored like a good television series. While not perfect, it's clear that Hangar 13 has understood what made the first games so successful. Here's hoping they'll have the opportunity to continue this franchise in the future.
Review in French | Read full review
The frankly beautiful environment, rags-to-riches/forbidden love story, and memorable characters lift up the game, while the popping-in and optimization, and lack of a true open-world let the finished game down. With a couple of patches, this could end up being elevated to the best of the franchise, but for now, it’s just on the cusp.
Wait for a heavy discount on this one and temper your expectations; The Old Country is an old dog with no new tricks.
Mafia: The Old Country delivers a competently crafted but ultimately underwhelming prequel that falls short of franchise expectations. While the early 1900s Sicilian setting offers visual appeal and the supporting cast provides memorable moments, the experience suffers from uneven pacing, a unconvincing central romance, and repetitive gameplay mechanics. Outdated enemy AI undermines stealth encounters, and the linear structure lacks the ambition of previous entries. Despite solid performance optimization and polished presentation, this mid-budget effort feels caught between being too safe and too limited, requiring series fans to significantly lower their expectations.