Mafia: The Old Country Review: A Gritty Return to the Roots of Organized Crime in 2025
Mafia: The Old Country, released on August 8, 2025, by Hangar 13 and 2K Games, marks a bold return to the linear, narrative-driven roots of the beloved Mafia series. Set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily, this third-person action-adventure game immerses players in the origins of organized crime through the journey of Enzo Favara, a young Sicilian rising from the sulfur mines to the ranks of the Torrisi crime family. With a focus on cinematic storytelling, authentic Sicilian voice acting, and a visually stunning world powered by Unreal Engine 5, Mafia: The Old Country delivers a 10-15 hour experience that blends gritty action with emotional depth. This article dives into the game’s key features, gameplay, narrative, and its place in the Mafia franchise, optimized for SEO with keywords like Mafia: The Old Country review and 2025 action-adventure games.
A Return to Linear Storytelling
Unlike the open-world sprawl of Mafia III, Mafia: The Old Country embraces the tightly focused, story-driven format of the original Mafia and Mafia II. This shift to a “wide linear” structure, as described by Hangar 13, prioritizes narrative over bloated side content, offering a curated experience that resonates with fans of the series’ early days. The game’s setting in the fictional town of San Celeste, previously seen in Mafia II, grounds players in a meticulously crafted 1900s Sicily, complete with cobblestone streets, lush vineyards, and dilapidated ruins. The decision to forgo a fully open world allows for a more intimate, character-driven story, making every mission feel purposeful and tied to Enzo’s transformation from a miner to a made man.
The Narrative: Enzo’s Rise in a Brutal World
The story of Mafia: The Old Country follows Enzo Favara (voiced by Riccardo Frascari), a young man escaping a childhood of indentured labor in Sicily’s notorious sulfur mines. Through a twist of fate, Enzo joins the Torrisi crime family, led by the stern Don Torrisi (Johnny Santiago), navigating a world of protection rackets, vendettas, and betrayal. The narrative weaves historical context into its fabric, highlighting the socio-economic conditions of early 1900s Sicily, where poverty and exploitation fueled the rise of the Mafia.
Key characters, including the noble enforcer Luca (Alberto Frezza) and the fiery Isabella Torrisi (Carina Conti), add emotional depth to the story. Enzo’s forbidden romance with Isabella is a standout, offering heartwarming moments that contrast the game’s violent undertones. The writing is praised for its natural character development, avoiding heavy exposition while delivering a tale of loyalty, sacrifice, and ambition. Critics note that while the story hits familiar mob tropes—such as the kindly mentor and the treacherous rival—it’s elevated by stellar performances and unexpected twists that keep players invested.
Gameplay: A Blend of Stealth and Action
Mafia: The Old Country offers a mix of stealth, third-person shooting, and period-authentic combat. Enzo relies heavily on knife-based stealth mechanics, allowing players to silently eliminate enemies with chokeholds or stiletto strikes. While innovative for the series, some reviewers find the stealth repetitive, with knife duels against bosses feeling predictable. Shootouts, featuring weapons like revolvers, sawed-off shotguns, and rifles, are more engaging but lack the complexity of modern action games. The game’s combat is enhanced by a rosary bead system for minor buffs, though it’s often underutilized.
Traversal is a highlight, with players galloping on horseback, driving turn-of-the-century automobiles, or navigating on foot through Sicily’s rugged countryside. These mechanics, combined with chase sequences and rooftop pursuits, add variety to the gameplay. However, the mission design can feel dated, with linear objectives that echo early 2010s action games. Critics note that while the gameplay is solid, it doesn’t push boundaries, making it feel like a “relic” compared to 2025’s more ambitious titles.
Visuals and Atmosphere: A Sicilian Masterpiece
Powered by Unreal Engine 5, Mafia: The Old Country delivers breathtaking visuals that capture the sun-drenched beauty of Sicily’s Valle Dorata and the gritty urban alleys of San Celeste. The game’s environments, from sprawling vineyards to crowded marketplaces, are rich with period-authentic details, such as fruit-laden stalls and bustling festivals. The Sicilian dub, a response to initial controversy over the lack of Italian voice acting, enhances immersion, though lip-sync issues persist when using subtitles. Reviewers praise the game’s optimization, with stable performance on PC (e.g., 60 FPS on a 3060Ti at medium-high settings), though console performance details are less clear due to limited pre-launch access.
The environmental storytelling is a standout, with San Celeste evolving to reflect the narrative’s progression. Historical references, like the sulfur mines’ brutal working conditions and Sicily’s economic struggles, ground the game in reality, making it more than a typical mob tale. However, the world feels more like a “museum exhibit” than an interactive playground, with limited player interaction outside main objectives.
Reception and Criticisms
Mafia: The Old Country has received “generally favorable” reviews, with a Metacritic score averaging around 75 based on 35 reviews. Critics praise its narrative, writing, and atmospheric world-building, with outlets like DualShockers calling it a strong contender for 2025’s best narrative titles. The Sicilian setting and authentic voice acting are lauded for immersing players in a rarely explored era. However, the gameplay draws mixed reactions, with GameSpot and Game Informer noting its shallow mechanics and repetitive mission structure. Some reviewers lament the lack of innovation, comparing it unfavorably to 2025’s more groundbreaking releases.
The game’s $49.99 price point and 10-15 hour length are seen as fair, positioning it as a budget-friendly AA title rather than a full-priced blockbuster. While it doesn’t compete with Grand Theft Auto’s scale, its focused experience appeals to fans of linear, story-driven games.
For SEO, Mafia: The Old Country targets keywords like Mafia: The Old Country review, 2025 action-adventure games, and Sicilian Mafia game. Its release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, along with cloud gaming support through NVIDIA GeForce NOW, broadens its accessibility. The game’s trailers, debuted at Gamescom 2024 and The Game Awards 2024, have driven significant online buzz, with gameplay footage showcasing stealth, combat, and driving mechanics. Pre-order bonuses, like the Soldato Pack, further incentivize early purchases.
FAQs About Mafia: The Old Country
What is Mafia: The Old Country about?
Mafia: The Old Country is a 2025 action-adventure game set in 1900s Sicily, following Enzo Favara’s rise in the Torrisi crime family. It explores the origins of organized crime with a linear, narrative-driven experience.
Is Mafia: The Old Country open-world?
No, it adopts a “wide linear” structure, focusing on story-driven missions with limited exploration, unlike the open-world Mafia III.
What platforms is it available on?
The game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, released on August 8, 2025.
How long is the game?
It offers a 10-15 hour campaign, making it a concise, story-focused experience.
Does it support Sicilian voice acting?
Yes, it features fully localized Sicilian voice acting for authenticity, alongside English, French, German, Spanish, Czech, and Russian dubs.
Conclusion
Mafia: The Old Country is a triumphant return to the Mafia series’ roots, delivering a gripping narrative and a visually stunning depiction of 1900s Sicily. While its gameplay doesn’t break new ground, its authentic storytelling, stellar voice acting, and focused design make it a must-play for fans of crime dramas and linear action-adventure games. At $49.99, it offers excellent value for a 10-15 hour experience that balances historical context with emotional storytelling. As a prequel that sets the stage for the Mafia universe, it’s a worthy addition to the franchise, even if it falls short of redefining the genre. Dive into Enzo’s world and experience the brutal, beautiful origins of the Sicilian Mafia in 2025.