Mafia: The Old Country Reviews
Mafia: The Old Country is a compelling addition to the series, offering a narrative set in a rarely explored era. Its linear structure allows for a focused storytelling experience, and its visual and audio design create an immersive atmosphere. While the gameplay mechanics may not be ground-breaking, they serve the story well. The game’s compact length ensures that it doesn’t overstay its welcome, providing a satisfying experience without unnecessary padding. For those interested in the Mafia’s origins, Mafia: The Old Country is a title worth experiencing. Its delicious mix of storytelling, atmosphere, and character development makes it a series standout and a well-deserving recipient of the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
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!
Mafia: The Old Country continues in the story-driven style of Mafia 1 and 2, but serves as a prequel set in early 1900s Sicily. It follows the rise of Enzo within a local crime family, with a focus on narrative, grounded combat, and atmospheric world-building.
Review in Slovak | 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 tells you a story that you're going to experience firsthand, feeling like one more part of the plot with tense moments, memorable stories, and gameplay that won't make you put down the controller for a single moment. It's a reminder of why we fell in love with video games in the first place: not because of complex systems or impressive graphics, but because of their ability to transport us to other worlds and make us feel part of extraordinary stories. Just play it and enjoy an experience that you won't want to refuse.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Hangar 13 has managed to pay homage to the saga's origins without abandoning its own vision, and the result is one of those games that doesn't need to be huge to be memorable . Enzo Favara isn't Vito Scaletta or Tommy Angelo, but his story deserves to be told. And played.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Mafia: The Old Country is an excellent prequel to the Mafia series. There’s so much to like in the 10-15 hour experience, whether it’s the excellent writing, stunning cutscenes or the enjoyable moment to moment gameplay. While it has its flaws, Hangar 13’s latest is a well-crafted love letter to a series I’ve loved for many years.
Mafia: The Old Country may be far from perfect, but most of its apparent shortcomings are easily overshadowed by an emotionally told story of rise and personal growth, the importance of family, and forbidden love — a narrative to which most aspects of the game are skillfully subordinated.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Mafia: The Old Country delivers a deeply immersive experience that transports players back to the early 1900s with a compelling narrative, rich atmosphere, and polished gameplay. The blend of stealth, combat, and exploration keeps the gameplay fresh, and the sound design creates a unique atmosphere, which draws you into an immersive experience.
Mafia: The Old Country marks a definitive return to the series' roots, prioritizing a powerful, linear narrative over open-world freedom. Set in early 1900s Sicily, this prequel tells the gripping story of Enzo, a young man who joins the mafia for a chance at a better life. Despite some technical blemishes, its meticulously crafted world and focus on character make it a standout title and a refreshing change of pace in the crime genre.
Mafia: The Old Country is the crown jewel of the series. A story that makes you bleed, laugh, and curse in Sicilian all in the same breath. The graphics will blow your fedora off, the gameplay’s smoother than Sinatra, and the story’s got enough heart to remind you why family, no matter the sacrifice, always comes first. So pour yourself a glass of red, light a cigar, and remember… loyalty and ma familia above all.
Mafia: The Old Country is like the finest Italian feast. It doesn’t matter that some of the plates the dishes are served on are slightly scratched, as we leave the restaurant full, happy, and a little drunk. I’m truly glad the developers weren’t afraid to return to the roots of the series, highlighting what has always been its greatest strengths. The newest Mafia is a wonderful game that delivers many outstanding experiences and keeps you on edge until the very end. Without a doubt, it’s one of the contenders for Game of the Year.
Review in Polish | Read full review
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
Mafia: The Old Country isn’t the longest, flashiest, or most replayable game—but what it offers is clarity. This is a lean, linear mob drams focused on story, atmosphere, and character. It knows exactly what it wants to be, and it doesn’t waste your time getting there. If you’re after a grounded narrative with a clear creative vision, The Old Country delivers something memorable.
Considering the ending and the fan-service elements that cater to long-time fans, this is not only the best Mafia game to date, but also one of the best modern linear action-adventure titles.
Mafia: The Old Country is a refreshing story-driven adventure that delivers exactly what it sets out to achieve. Strong voice acting, stunning visuals, a cinematic score, and a well-paced plot come together to create a memorable experience that stands proudly alongside its predecessors.
Sure, Mafia: The Old Country has guns and cars, but the more important pieces are the awesome story, great performances, and beautiful setting. Cinematic in all the ways that most games only dream of, The Old Country delivers a nuanced and thoughtful story full of thrills. I couldn't tear myself away from it.
At first, Mafia: The Old Country swept me up straight away. Its stunning world, compelling story, and rich sense of place felt like an Italian holiday. As I played on, the simplicity of its combat and stealth stood out more, but that's not what I valued most. Not the most inventive action game, but one of the most immersive you'll play this year. This is a leaner and more focused Mafia game that trades scale for storytelling and worldbuilding, and in doing so, delivers something quietly special.
Mafia: The Old Country may not be the best installment in the series, but it is definitely one that should be played by fans of the first two installments of the franchise, as well as people who like gangster adventures full of twists and turns and a plot that keeps you in suspense until the end credits.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Mafia: The Old Country transports players to early 20th-century Sicily, following Enzo's journey from a sulfur mine worker to a rising figure in the Torrisi crime family. The game excels with its narrative design, filled with memorable characters, and authentic Sicilian soundtrack. However, the gameplay systems are basic, with rigid animations and limited exploration. Despite these drawbacks, the game's cinematic storytelling and dramatic impact make it a must-play for fans of Italian mafia thrillers. A fair price for a compelling narrative-driven experience.
Review in Spanish | Read full review