Mafia: The Old Country stands out as a third-person action-adventure game that transports players to the harsh underworld of 1900s Sicily. You step into the shoes of Enzo Favara, a young man escaping a life of forced labor by joining the Torrisi crime family. This title emphasizes a gripping narrative about loyalty, sacrifice, and the brutal realities of organized crime, all wrapped in authentic period details like stiletto blades, lupara shotguns, and early motorcars.
Gameplay
The core experience revolves around linear missions that blend combat, stealth, and driving sequences. You engage in knife fights for close-quarters duels or use period firearms like handguns, rifles, and shotguns for ranged encounters. Stealth mechanics allow ambushes and takedowns, while pursuits add tension during escapes. Driving involves chases and races, whether on horseback through cobbled streets or in turn-of-the-century automobiles along dirt roads. Some chapters offer optional exploration for side objectives, letting you interact with environments like vineyards, crypts, and opera houses. Mechanics include collecting protection money, substituting in horse races, handling kidnappings, and setting up ambushes, all tied to the story's progression.
Game Modes
The game focuses on a single-player campaign that follows Enzo's journey through a series of narrative-driven chapters. A post-launch update introduced Free Ride mode on November 20, 2025, which expands replayability with bonus missions and races outside the main storyline.
Factions and Mechanics
Several factions shape the conflicts, including the protagonist's Torrisi crime family led by Don Bernardo Torrisi, with key members like underboss Luca Trapani and caporegime Cesare Massaro. Rivals include the Spadaro family under Don Ruggero Spadaro, featuring underboss Damiano "Il Merlo" Bastoni. Bandits and authorities, such as guardie led by Major D'Amico, add external threats. These groups influence missions involving turf wars and vendettas. Core mechanics emphasize narrative choices in limited branches, with combat systems supporting pursuits and stealth infiltrations, like sneaking into stations for objectives.
Is It Worth Playing?
Released on August 8, 2025, for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, Mafia: The Old Country has earned mixed reviews, with Metacritic labeling it as mixed or average and OpenCritic showing 66% of critics recommending it. Famitsu scored it 34 out of 40. Critics highlight the strong narrative, memorable characters, effective combat, soundtrack, sound design, and detailed world of 1900s Sicily, but point out shallow mechanics and outdated design elements. The game sold better than expected and received nominations for awards like Best Storytelling at the Golden Joystick Awards and Best Writing at the New York Game Awards. A free update added Free Ride mode, enhancing its longevity. If you enjoy tightly paced, story-focused action-adventures with historical authenticity, this one delivers a compelling experience, though those seeking deep mechanics or high replay value might find it lacking. For fans of linear crime dramas, it remains a solid choice in the genre.
