Mafia: The Old Country delivers a gripping mob tale set in early 1900s Sicily, blending solid combat, stunning visuals, and a story that hooks you from the start. Developed by Hangar 13 and published by 2K, this prequel stands out as one of 2025’s strongest narrative-driven games, even if it took me months to dive in.
A Fresh Start in Sicily
I held off on Mafia: The Old Country for way too long, but jumping in now feels like discovering a hidden gem from this year’s lineup. This is my first full playthrough in the series—previous entries only got a quick spin years ago, and none really grabbed me back then. What pulled me in from the trailers was the bold shift to 1900s Sicily, channeling that cinematic adventure vibe reminiscent of Uncharted’s blend of action and exploration.
Combat That Packs a Punch
Gameplay splits into three pillars: brutal knife fights, third-person shooting, and stealth takedowns, creating a loop that’s familiar but executed with real punch. Melee stands tallest—those close-quarters knife brawls deliver bone-crunching animations, parry windows, dodges, and stance-breakers that make every encounter feel personal and desperate. They’re not constant, but when they hit, they steal the show, letting you chain combos or go for environmental kills without feeling scripted.
Shooting draws from Uncharted’s cover-based flow, solid but not revolutionary, while stealth offers viable alternatives to chaos, like slipping through shadows or silencing guards silently. You can ghost entire sections or unleash hell – both work, though the game shines when you mix them. Horseback traversal adds flavor during rural chases, and collectibles like holy cards encourage some light exploration without bloating the runtime.
It’s not reinventing the wheel – no groundbreaking mechanics – but the combo feels cohesive, ramping up from scrappy street scraps to full-on turf wars. On PS5 Pro, I hit minor frame dips in busy towns, but nothing broke immersion.
Visuals That Breathe Life into History
Graphically, Mafia: The Old Country is a feast, painting 1900s Sicily with naturalistic tones that scream poverty, labor, and looming danger. Unreal Engine 5’s Lumen and Nanite tech brings dynamic lighting to sun-baked plazas, shadowy alleys, and Mount Etna’s shadow, making every corner feel lived-in. Buildings show wear from decades of hardship, clothes hang realistically on NPCs, and the world pulses with detail – from market chatter to distant church bells.
You bond with the island over time: rival families’ haunts, workers’ shacks, even random villagers become familiar as Enzo’s web expands. It’s not peak fidelity for 2025—some textures pop less up close—but the atmosphere nails that era’s raw edge, turning visuals into storytelling tools. Performance holds steady at 60fps mostly, with UE5 flexing in wide shots of vineyards or stormy coasts.
Soundtrack and Authenticity That Immerses
The audio design elevates everything, from twangy period guitars during rides to realistic gunshots recorded with actual 1900s-era firearms. It recreates Sicily’s soul—folk tunes swell in cutscenes, tense strings underscore knife duels, and ambient mine clanks build dread. Vehicle sounds thump with historical accuracy, making joyrides (or pursuits) a highlight; I lost hours just cruising, snapping mental pics of the landscape.
Voice work commits fully to thick Sicilian accents, which threw me at first – like stepping into an old Ezio Auditore flick. But acclimating unlocked the magic: dialogue crackles with passion, betrayals land harder, and Enzo’s arc hits deeper. No wonder it feels like the best crime drama audio of the year.
Story That Steals the Show
At its core, this is a tale of loyalty’s cost, told simply but masterfully – no convoluted JRPG twists, just a mob origin yarn that grips like Godfather meets Gangs of New York. Enzo’s journey from desperate laborer to made man unfolds with characters you root for (or dread) right away: mentors with hidden agendas, treacherous rivals, and a family pulling every string. Beats feel earned, twists predictable yet earned through buildup, and the finale leaves you reflecting on ambition’s price.
It’s not complex philosophy, but the emotional payoff lands because everything serves the narrative – combat mirrors Enzo’s rage, stealth his cunning. That initial accent gripe faded fast; now, American-voiced games feel off. Shame it missed Game Awards nods – it outshines many 2025 narratives in raw impact.
Why You Should Play It Now
Mafia: The Old Country earns its spot as a top-10 game of 2025 for me, blending polished action with a story that lingers. It’s forgiving for series newbies yet rewards vets with series callbacks, all wrapped in Sicily’s unforgiving beauty. Hangar 13 played it safe post-Mafia III backlash, but that focus crafts a near-perfect mob flick you control.
Pros shine: melee intensity, world-building, Enzo’s arc. Cons? Shooting’s dated, scope’s linear, minor bugs linger. Still, at $50 standard edition, it’s a steal – grab it if you crave story over sprawl. Fingers crossed for DLC to revisit this world.
Final Score: 9.5/10
