The name “Mafia” has always been a point of contention among gamers. Often, and wrongly, compared to the sprawling, sandbox worlds of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, the series was first released on the PS2 back in 2002, carving out a niche for itself that focused on a different kind of gangster story. While they may share surface-level similarities—cars, gangsters, and betrayal—the core of the Mafia series has always been its single-minded focus on narrative over open-world freedom. It’s a point that was muddled by the series’ third entry, but one that is thankfully reaffirmed by Mafia: The Old Country.
This fourth entry in the long-running series acts as a prequel, taking us back to the birthplace of the mafia itself: Sicily in the early 1900s. We step into the worn shoes of Enzo, a young man sold into the brutal sulphur mines as a child to pay off a family debt. It’s a harsh introduction, but one that immediately grounds the game in a stark reality and sets a different tone from the get-go. This isn’t a story about a gangster chasing fame and fortune; it’s about a young man desperate for a way out, and the dangerous path he chooses to take.
Mafia: The Old Country feels like a culmination of the best parts of several games, equal parts Red Dead Redemption and Uncharted, while retaining the distinct flavour of the first two Mafia games. The story is at the forefront of everything here, and that’s a welcome relief. Mafia III, for all its good intentions, received a well-deserved bad rap because it leaned too heavily into the GTA comparisons. The result was an entry that felt torn between its identity as a linear, narrative-driven experience and the expectations of an open-world sandbox. It was a game unsure of what it wanted to be, and it suffered for it.
The magic behind the Mafia games has always been the storytelling and the character development, not the vast, sprawling world that surrounds it. And while the Sicily of The Old Country is undeniably beautiful, with its warm, earthy tones and sun-drenched environments truly capturing the feel of rural Italy, the world serves the story, not the other way around. The small details—orange trees heavy with fruit, nuns crushing grapes with their bare feet to make wine—are there to immerse you in the culture and the period, to sweep you into the world, not to entice you into hours of aimless exploration. They create a sense of place and time that is essential to the narrative.
As I played through the game, I initially found myself trying to find all the ways The Old Country connected to the first three games. I was looking for the breadcrumbs that tied this prequel to the stories of Tommy Angelo, Vito Scaletta, and Lincoln Clay. But by the end, I sat back and allowed myself to be swept up by the new characters and the story they had to tell. And that’s a testament to the game’s strength. While there are a few familiar faces and nods to the established lore that I won’t spoil here, the focus is squarely on Enzo and his newfound associates. This allows the prequel to also function as a soft reboot or a refresh of the series, breathing new life into the franchise while still remaining a canonical part of the larger narrative.
Gameplay-wise, those expecting an open-world playground filled with side quests and distractions will be disappointed. In Mafia: The Old Country, what appears to be a sprawling world is, in reality, a meticulously crafted backdrop for the main events. You can take some time to explore after the prologue, but you'll quickly find that outside of the main areas and pathways, there isn't much to do. This is a design choice, not a flaw. Mafia is a story-driven game and needs to be considered in a different light from other crime-based titles that prioritize quantity over quality. The most you'll find outside of the main missions are a few optional collectibles, like fox statues and charms, along with various weapons and vehicles to purchase. These are entirely optional; the story provides you with more than enough firepower to see you through to the conclusion. The charms, in particular, are a neat addition. They are a collectible with a purpose, able to be equipped to provide Enzo with combat bonuses or increased payouts, offering a nice bit of customization for those who seek it out.
While the rustic Italian countryside looks stunning at first glance and the character models in cutscenes are fantastic, there is some noticeable jank and slowdown throughout the game. It’s frustrating because with a bit more polish, this game could easily hit a steady 60fps. The performance issues are most noticeable during the game's high-speed races or when entering a new area. While the game's budget pricing might be a factor, a lack of polish can't be excused. As I played the final retail release for this review, which includes all patches available on launch day, these issues persist.
For those just looking to experience the main story, around 12 hours of gameplay await. Getting 100% completion by finding all the collectibles will add a few more hours to that total. This may seem like a very short game, and in comparison to other franchises, it is. However, as pointed out, this is not an open-world game sprawling with side missions to take on; it's a story first and foremost, and for those 12 hours or so, Mafia: The Old Country keeps you as entertained as a high-quality TV show would, the writing and characters are that good.
Comparing our new protagonist, Enzo, to previous heroes like Vito Scaletta is difficult, but in a good way. With Enzo, it feels like we grow with him, becoming wrapped up in the crime family as he does. We're on this journey together. Vito, on the other hand, is a bit more world-savvy from the start; we meet him after he's already returned home from fighting overseas. This small but crucial difference in perspective makes Enzo's journey feel more personal and relatable. We aren’t following a seasoned veteran of conflict; we’re following a young man who is still finding his way in a brutal and unforgiving world.
Mafia: The Old Country is more than just a prequel; it's a love letter to the original games and a definitive statement about the series' identity. It serves as a powerful reminder of what makes the Mafia franchise so special: its focus on character, its commitment to a single, powerful narrative, and its ability to transport you to a specific time and place. While the technical issues are a slight blemish on an otherwise fantastic experience, they do little to detract from the game's overall quality. For those who do not like Mafia 1 or 2, there will be little here to sway your mind, as it is a refinement of the formula rather than a reinvention.
By going back to its roots—both literally and figuratively—The Old Country proves that the best way forward for this series is to look to its past. In a world full of bloated, open-world titles, Mafia: The Old Country stands tall, a masterclass in linear, story-driven game design that should not be missed. It’s a return to form for the series and a refreshing change of pace for the crime genre as a whole.
