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1 The Mafia series has quietly built itself into one of gaming’s best crime sagas by rolling steadily through the decades. It kicked off in the 1930s, cruised through the ’40s and ’50s, then shook things up in the ’60s. Fans naturally expected the story to move forward. Instead, Hangar 13 drags us back to the roots with Mafia: The Old Country, a linear, story-driven trip to early 1900s Sicily. It launched worldwide on 15th August 2025 and is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
This review covers the PS5 version, priced at around £54.99. So, does it sit solid like a family olive tree, or snap like a twig under a horse’s hoof?
Miniere Alle Spalle, Mafia Davanti
Mafia: The Old Country dives straight into the dirt. In 1904, young Enzo Favara escapes from the backbreaking hell of Sicily’s sulphur mines after a personal tragedy. The Spadaro crime family rules the pit with ruthless efficiency, but Enzo’s freedom shatters fast. Fate throws him into the path of their rivals, the Torrisi family. From there, he fights tooth and nail to climb the ladder from outsider to trusted soldier, every rung slick with blood and moral compromise.
The Torrisi ranks bristle with the kind of figures you expect in a mob epic; the soft-spoken but iron-willed Don Bernardo Torrisi, silver-tongued underboss Luca, the ambitious yet insecure Cesare, and Isabella — the Don’s fiercely independent daughter who knots Enzo’s loyalties. Series veterans will catch sly nods to past Mafia games throughout but don’t mistake this for nostalgia. This is a story of fresh faces, fresh betrayals, and a Sicily as stunning as it is deadly.
Mafia: The Old Country has some accessibility options. You can resize subtitles and tweak their background opacity, though visually impaired players might still find them a bit small. The HUD scales to your setup, and multiple colourblind modes keep everything readable. Controls are flexible: sprint can be toggled or held, and the Simplified Struggle feature spares you from brutal mashing button sequences. Aim assist, camera sensitivity, driving options, cover behaviour, and even camera shake can all be adjusted, so you can shape the game exactly how you like it.
Gameplay
Mafia: The Old Country keeps you locked on the story, ditching distractions like towers to climb or endless miles of map to unfog. There are collectables for the achievement hounds to sniff out, which add some world lore. I played on hard difficulty, which was a challenge, but not impossible as the enemies didn’t spam grenades or wear what seems like fifty layers of body armour. Speaking of enemies, shooting plays like a familiar cover shooter from the last decade, but with a 1900s Italian charm, so expect revolvers, repeaters, shotguns, and even the occasional horseback shoot-out to bring out your inner Clint Eastwood. The AI makes some comical errors at some points, such as leaving cover and walking towards Enzo, but it doesn’t really break the immersion.
The stealth is reliable. You can distract enemies with coins or bottles, and stash bodies in boxes, though inconsistent bottles make you grit your teeth, so I found myself using the coins a lot more. Knife combat adds flexibility with three different types of knife, each with their own special ability. However, they also have decreasing durability, so you’ll need to collect whetstones off defeated enemies. This forces you to balance stabbing with strangling to mix up your playstyle. A number of times throughout the game, you have knife duels; flashy one-on-one fights that move often into a formula. Cutscenes between each section, which refill your health, can unfortunately kill the tension of two warriors one cut away from death.
Mafia: The Old Country hooks you with its story, setting, and mood, while the gameplay supports the presentation without breaking new ground, and that’s perfectly fine.
Graphics
The visuals in Mafia: The Old Country absolutely stun. Early 20th-century Sicily feels alive and similar to something you would see on a wine label; sun-soaked hills, cramped alleys and every cobblestone and tiled roof drip with authenticity. Unreal Engine 5 doesn’t just make it look good; it makes the world feel real. HDR lighting truly makes scenes pop, flooding environments with richer colours and deeper shadows. It breathes life into textures, reflections, and surfaces, making every detail feel tangible and immersive. I found myself pausing just to take it all in.
Pulling you in just as effectively as its story, the audio shines. Traditional Sicilian music threads throughout, firmly rooting the game in its setting. Voice acting hits hard across the board, but Johnny Santiago as Don Torrisi steals every scene he touches. His voice carries authority and subtlety, making the crime boss feel both human and intimidating. There are ambient sounds such as horse carts clattering, church bells tolling, and the townsfolk chatting. This helps brings the world to life, leaving a lasting impression long after you set the controller down.
Longevity
Mafia: The Old Country delivers a tightly focused experience, with the main story wrapping up in around 10–12 hours. Unlike sprawling open-world epics that can feel padded, this game keeps the narrative lean and engaging. Free roam is available from the main menu after Chapter 3, letting you drive to your heart’s content. If you’re after a massive world packed with side quests, this game might feel restrictive. Anyone who values a polished story and cinematic pacing over filler content, this hits the sweet spot as each mission is well-designed, feels meaningful, and none of them are overly annoying (even the racing level).
Final Thoughts
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.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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