Nine years after the last original entry in the series, Mafia: The Old Country arrives with the weight of high expectations. Following the well-received 2020 remake of the first game, developer Hangar 13 has taken a daring step—returning players to the early 1900s in Sicily, where the Mafia’s grip on society was at its strongest. The gamble pays off, delivering an ambitious mix of brutal storytelling, period-accurate gameplay, and classic mob drama.
A Story of Loyalty, Power, and Survival
Players take on the role of Enzo Favara, a young Sicilian laborer forced into servitude under the powerful Torrisi crime family. Determined to rise through the ranks, Enzo’s journey unfolds in a gripping 10–15 hour campaign filled with betrayal, alliances, and personal sacrifice.
The supporting cast adds depth to the narrative—Luca, the loyal underboss; Cesare, Don Torrisi’s ambitious nephew; and Isabella, the Don’s daughter and Enzo’s secret love interest. Their presence grounds the story in emotional stakes that feel worthy of a cinematic mafia epic. Hangar 13 carefully balances the brutality of the Sicilian underworld with a humanizing lens, showing both the cruelty and complexity of those who lived within it.
Not all characters shine, however. Don Torrisi, while pivotal, comes across as a cliché-ridden figure. Too many of his lines echo The Godfather, making him feel like an imitation rather than a standout boss. Still, the strength of Enzo’s arc and the supporting characters keeps the narrative engaging.
Gameplay Tailored to the Early 1900s
Set before cars became commonplace, the early hours rely heavily on horseback travel. The horse-riding mechanics, while not as fluid as Red Dead Redemption, feel authentic and weighty, giving the impression of riding a living creature rather than just “cars on legs.”
When automobiles do make their appearance, they reflect the era perfectly—heavy, sluggish, and difficult to maneuver on Sicily’s winding roads. Their clunky, physics-driven handling adds challenge but also immersion, reminding players how different life was before modern vehicles.
Combat has also been overhauled. Knife fights and handgun duels dominate, with melee encounters now functioning more like tactical puzzles than button-mashing brawls. Reading enemy stances, parrying, and countering attacks feels tense and rewarding, making each battle memorable rather than routine.
Stealth missions, however, are less successful. Some force players into rigid “don’t get caught or fail” scenarios, an outdated design choice that feels frustrating in a modern release. The addition of “Instinct Mode,” which highlights enemies through walls, removes much of the challenge, making stealth sections too forgiving and less rewarding.
Technical Performance and PC Issues
We tested Mafia: The Old Country on PC (Ryzen 3700X, RTX 3070). While interior areas consistently reached 60FPS and above, outdoor environments and crowded city scenes caused frequent stutters and, in some cases, severe framerate drops. One cutscene in San Celeste even dipped into single digits. Whether this is an Unreal Engine 5 optimization issue or hardware strain, PC players should be prepared for inconsistent performance. Console optimization remains untested at the time of writing.
Final Verdict
Mafia: The Old Country is a daring and often impressive entry in the Mafia series. Its Sicilian setting, grounded story, and authentic early 1900s gameplay bring fresh life to a franchise that could have easily played it safe. While clichés, stealth frustrations, and performance hiccups hold it back from greatness, the game still succeeds in immersing players in a brutal yet captivating mafia tale.
Score: 8/10 – An ambitious return to the roots of organized crime that Mafia fans won’t want to miss.
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