Mafia: The Old Country

A linear action-adventure game set in 1900s Sicily where you drive horse-drawn carriages and engage in lupara shotgun shootouts while upholding family honor.

Last reviewed: May 1, 2026

Released Aug 2025 Singleplayer / Atmospheric / Family Sharing

Hangar 13 finally remembered what Mafia is — Old Country trades open-world bloat for tight 1900s Sicily linearity, and it's a real comeback.

7.5 /10

Strong

Previously an Editor's pick

For you if

You loved Mafia 1/2's tightly-paced narratives more than Mafia III's open-world Bordeaux.
1900s Sicily — period horse-drawn carriages, lupara shotguns, family honor codes — sounds like a setting you'll engage with.
A 12-15 hour story you can finish in a long weekend appeals more than 80-hour open-world commitment.

Not for you if

You wanted Mafia III's open-world scope back — Old Country is firmly linear, smaller, and proudly so.
Side activities and side missions matter to you — Old Country's catalog is thin compared to its peers.
You expect deep RPG mechanics in your crime games — this is narrative-shooter, not Yakuza-style sandbox.

What players love

The early 20th century Sicilian atmosphere and respectful Mafia storytelling are what long-time fans consistently praise.

What frustrates them

The short campaign length and occasionally clunky knife duels are common friction points among veteran players.

See the reviews behind this →

What critics say

8/10IGN
A conventional but effective return to the linear and tightly story-driven format of the original Mafia and Mafia II, with wonderful attention to detail.
Luke Reilly Read review →
3/5Eurogamer
A fascinating mix of beauty, efficiency and nuanced performances, though the design feels somewhat dated.
Alex Donaldson Read review →
45/100PC Gamer
A decent but cliched mob story paired with bland, frustrating gameplay make this the weakest Mafia yet.
Joshua Wolens Read review →

Before You Play

Refreshed monthly

What should new Mafia: The Old Country players prioritize?

Mafia: The Old Country doesn't have classes or builds — Enzo's loadout is fixed per chapter. Practical priorities: scavenge ammo aggressively (it's deliberately scarce), use Instinct Mode (lets Enzo see enemy positions through cover) before any stealth section, examine the environment for throwables and body-hiding spots, and adjust driving aids in settings — both vehicles and horseback are intentionally heavy by design, so most players benefit from enabling driver assists for at least the first few chapters.

Source: S4G Tips and Settings

What difficulty should new Mafia: The Old Country players choose?

Three difficulties: Easy, Medium, and Hard. Medium is the intended baseline — combat is satisfying without being punishing, and the linear chapter structure means you'll never grind. Easy is for action-game newcomers (not for players already comfortable with cover shooters); Hard pushes ammo scarcity and enemy aggression to the level where stealth becomes mandatory rather than optional. You can change difficulty mid-chapter from the menu without penalty, so adjust on the fly if a specific encounter chokes you.

Source: Game8 Difficulty Differences

Are any side missions or content missable in Mafia: The Old Country?

Almost nothing — the Chapter Replay feature unlocks after Chapter 2 and lets you re-enter every prior chapter to clean up collectibles, weapons, and missed actions. The one exception: the "Salvatore's Apprentice" trophy requires collecting all safe-combination notes during the FIRST playthrough; collecting them via Chapter Replay doesn't trigger the unlock. Otherwise, the game is forgiving — there are no traditional side quests to miss because Mafia: The Old Country is fully linear with no open-world side content.

Source: Game8 Missables List

Do I need to play earlier Mafia games before The Old Country?

No. The Old Country is a prequel set in 1900s Sicily, depicting the origins of the family/organized-crime structure that the original Mafia trilogy (1930s Lost Heaven, 1960s Empire Bay, 1960s New Bordeaux) explores. The story is fully self-contained and doesn't reference characters or events from prior games. If you've played Mafia I or II, you'll catch thematic resonance, but newcomers miss nothing. This is the chronologically earliest entry and a clean place to start the series.

Source: Game8 Mafia Trilogy Prerequisite

Is there post-game content in Mafia: The Old Country?

Limited. There's no traditional New Game Plus — instead, the Chapter Replay system lets you replay any chapter with your current equipment and collected gear without overwriting your main save. Explore Mode (unlocked after the Prologue) is a separate sandbox to free-roam Sicily without the chapter framing. Higher difficulties (especially Hard with the optional Classic mode for permadeath-style play) extend replay value. The 14-chapter campaign is around 15-20 hours; 100% completion adds maybe 5-10 more.

Source: Game8 New Game Plus Info