Mafia: The Old Country – A cinematic return to the mafia’s roots

GAMING NEWS AlexP - 12-Aug-2025, 1:16 pm - 33 comments

Since its release on August 8, 2025, Mafia: The Old Country has garnered a mixed yet generally positive reception, revitalizing the Mafia series with its narrative-driven approach. Set in the fictional Sicilian town of San Celeste in the early 1900s, the game has earned praise for its cinematic storytelling and immersive atmosphere, boasting an average score of 75-77 on Metacritic and OpenCritic. Critics have celebrated its Unreal Engine 5 visuals and authentic portrayal of Sicily's rugged landscapes and culture, with IGN awarding it an 8/10 for its ''moody and engaging'' historical immersion. Polygon highlighted its poignant depiction of economic hardship, but some reviews criticized its predictable narrative and unpolished gameplay, with outlets like Game Rant giving it a 5/10 for lacking the spark of earlier entries. Social media feedback reflects this split: some players rave about the production quality and gripping story, while others lament a slow start, a restrictive world, and technical issues like frame rate drops and PC optimization problems. Despite these critiques, the game's ''Very Positive'' Steam rating and strong series standing suggest it resonates with fans who value its focused, story-centric design over sprawling open-world ambitions.

Enzo's rise and game mechanics

Mafia: The Old Country centers on Enzo Favara, a Sicilian orphan rising from sulfur mines to join the Torrisi crime family. Set between 1904 and 1908, the linear narrative explores the Mafia's origins, weaving themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and betrayal with a romantic subplot for emotional depth. Gameplay blends third-person shooting, stealth takedowns, and distinctive knife duels, though the latter can feel clunky. Players navigate the semi-open Sicilian countryside via horseback or early automobiles, using period-appropriate weapons like revolvers and shotguns. The experience, lasting 10.5–13 hours, prioritizes cinematic storytelling over expansive mechanics, delivering a concise yet evocative mob drama.

Compared to Red Dead Redemption, Mafia: The Old Country shares a historical setting and horseback traversal but opts for a tighter, narrative-driven structure over vast open-world exploration, appealing to players who enjoy classic crime sagas with a focused scope. Use our price comparison tool to find the best prices for Mafia: The Old Country.

Gamer2021

13-Aug-2025, 6:03 am on dlcompare.fr

Mafia The Old Country is a fine resurgence of the saga, generous in atmosphere, narrative and visual reconstitution. Its linear structure and classic gameplay may, however, frustrate those in search of freedom or gameplay renewal. A title for fans of immersive history and interactive cinema, less so for fans of over-the-top action.

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myntaz

13-Aug-2025, 1:04 am on dlcompare.fr

This game restores the cinematic soul of the saga. The meticulous direction, chiselled dialogue and meticulous historical reconstruction give the impression of plunging into a masterpiece of film noir. More than a simple return to its roots, it's an invitation to experience the golden age of the mafia, when every look and every silence could decide a man's fate.

Elad

12-Aug-2025, 9:51 pm on dlcompare.fr

This game lacks open exploration, and even if the story is good, it's still a big disappointment, especially when you've played the previous opuses.

FisheyePlacebo

12-Aug-2025, 3:34 pm on dlcompare.fr

I've been following the development of the story via streams, and for the price it's really a pleasant surprise. It doesn't innovate in any way, but it's easy to watch. Beautiful panoramas of Italy, cars, weapons, clothes... I recommend it at a lower cost if the price puts you off a bit.

M0ЯĐRΕĐ

12-Aug-2025, 3:17 pm on dlcompare.fr

At last, a return to Mafia stories that focus on atmosphere, character and dramatic tension. We rediscover the dark elegance that made the great classics of the genre so strong.

Dlogger

18-Aug-2025, 9:54 pm on dlcompare.es

I value games that combine a rich and immersive world with engaging gameplay, ideally in a 50/50 ratio. In the case of Mafia The Old Country, these ratios are more like 70/30, sometimes even 80/20 in favor of atmosphere since the gameplay didn't appeal to me as much. Despite this, Sicily captivated me so much that I was able to overlook the (sometimes) bad gameplay. In any case, I highly recommend it.

PaLo

18-Aug-2025, 5:06 pm on dlcompare.es

Honestly, it's not as exciting as Mafia 3's Vietnam War, where the hero massacres his way through New Bordeaux. It's even more incomparable to the plot of Mafia 1 and 2. Phew, I've had my eye on the game since the first trailer, and the higher the expectations, the bigger the disappointment. I don't recommend buying it unless you've been a fan of the saga for a long time, as it's a real drag....

L3llo

17-Aug-2025, 6:23 pm on dlcompare.it

as written in the article are all divided in rating this work, the story lasts a short time however this is a cinematic experience has nothing to do with the gameplay of the previous chapters

SerYohoho

17-Aug-2025, 2:11 pm on dlcompare.es

I can't wait to sink my teeth into this new mafia and put in some good hours.

PhoenixAdi

16-Aug-2025, 9:24 pm on dlcompare.es

First of all, this is a classic Mafia, with a linear structure, something that I greatly appreciate. Enough of open worlds shoehorned in just because the financier on duty says they sell more. Another strong point is its duration. As in the games of yesteryear, it's around 12 hours: just enough to offer an intense experience without wear and tear, like a good series that you savor chapter by chapter.