Mafia: The Old Country Review
Mafia: The Old Country
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When Hangar 13 announced Mafia: The Old Country, fans of the franchise were curious—and maybe a little skeptical. After all, the Mafia series has always walked a fine line between cinematic storytelling and open-world ambition. This latest entry takes a bold step back from sprawling maps and endless side quests, instead delivering a tightly focused, narrative-driven experience set in the rugged hills of early 1900s Sicily. It’s a gamble, but one that pays off in ways that feel refreshing, even if not entirely flawless.
The heart of The Old Country is its story, and it’s clear from the opening moments that this is where the developers poured their soul. You play as Enzo Favara, a young sulfur miner whose life is defined by hardship and limited choices. His rise through the Torrisi crime family is a tale of ambition, loyalty, and betrayal—a familiar formula, yes, but one that’s executed with care and authenticity. The writing is sharp, and the voice acting, peppered with Sicilian dialect, adds a layer of realism that makes the world feel alive.
San Celeste, the fictional Sicilian town where most of the game unfolds, is a character in its own right. Its narrow cobblestone streets, sun-bleached villas, and rolling countryside create an atmosphere that feels almost cinematic. You can practically smell the sea air and hear the distant church bells as you walk through its markets and back alleys. It’s immersive in a way that few games manage, and for fans of mob dramas, it’s pure gold.
That said, the story doesn’t break new ground. If you’ve seen your share of gangster films, you’ll spot the twists coming a mile away. It’s a well-paced campaign, clocking in at around 12 to 14 hours, but some players might find that a little short for a full-priced release. Still, what’s here is compelling enough to keep you hooked from start to finish.
If you’ve played previous Mafia titles, the gameplay will feel instantly familiar. It’s a third-person shooter with light stealth elements and driving mechanics. Combat is functional but rarely exciting. Guns have a satisfying weight, but firefights lack variety, and enemy AI is about as sharp as a butter knife. Knife fights, a new addition, sound thrilling on paper but quickly devolve into repetitive counter prompts. Stealth sections lean heavily on trial and error, which can be frustrating when you’re trying to maintain immersion.
Driving fares better, thanks to the introduction of a first-person driving mode that adds a surprising amount of immersion. Cruising through Sicilian countryside in a vintage car, seeing the detailed interiors and feeling the road beneath you, is a highlight. Vehicle handling, however, still feels a little floaty compared to modern standards.
The developers have tried to spice things up with extras like Photo Mode, a black-and-white “Cinema Siciliano” filter for that old-school film vibe, and a Classic Difficulty setting that limits health regeneration and ammo. These additions are nice touches for replayability, but they don’t fundamentally change the core experience.
On Xbox Series X, The Old Country looks stunning. The game offers two modes: Quality Mode, which prioritizes resolution at 30 frames per second, and Performance Mode, which aims for a smooth 60 FPS with dynamic resolution. Performance Mode is the clear winner for gameplay, delivering a mostly stable frame rate with only minor dips during intense firefights.
The visuals are powered by Unreal Engine 5, and while there’s no ray tracing, the lighting and texture work are impressive. The Sicilian countryside is breathtaking, from the way sunlight filters through olive trees to the intricate details of crumbling stone villas. Load times are practically nonexistent thanks to the Series X’s SSD, which makes hopping between missions seamless.
If the visuals are a feast for the eyes, the audio is a symphony for the ears. Gunfire echoes realistically through narrow alleys, orchestral scores swell during dramatic story beats, and ambient sounds—like rustling leaves or distant church bells—make the world feel alive. The voice acting deserves special mention, particularly the use of Sicilian dialect, which adds authenticity and depth to the characters.
One of the biggest criticisms of The Old Country at launch was its lack of replayability. Once you finished the story, there wasn’t much reason to stick around. The Free Ride update changes that in meaningful ways. It introduces a sandbox mode that lets players roam San Celeste without the constraints of the main narrative, offering a more relaxed experience for those who simply want to soak in the atmosphere.
Free Ride also adds new activities, such as courier missions, assassination contracts, and collectible hunts, which give completionists something to chase. The inclusion of Photo Mode is a game-changer for fans who love capturing the game’s stunning vistas and period-accurate details. Meanwhile, the Cinema Siciliano filter turns your screenshots into black-and-white masterpieces, perfect for sharing on social media.
Perhaps the most impactful addition is Classic Difficulty, which ramps up the challenge by limiting health regeneration and ammo availability. For veterans who found the base game too forgiving, this mode brings back the tension and resource management that defined earlier Mafia titles. Combined with the first-person driving option, these updates breathe new life into the game and make it worth revisiting even after the credits roll.
Mafia: The Old Country is a love letter to classic Mafia storytelling. It’s a game that prioritizes narrative and atmosphere over gameplay innovation, and for the most part, that works. If you’re looking for a focused, cinematic crime saga that feels like a playable mob film, this is one of the most compelling experiences of the year. But if you crave deep systems, cutting-edge combat, or sprawling open-world freedom, you might walk away wanting more.
It’s not perfect—the mechanics feel dated, and the story plays it safe—but it’s undeniably beautiful, immersive, and full of heart. With the Free Ride update, the game now offers enough extra content to keep long-term players engaged, making it a more complete package than it was at launch.
Article By Adam
