Mafia: The Old Country Review

Mafia: The Old Country blends gritty Mafia lore, old-world charm, and classic action with a few rough edges, my full review.

Mafia: The Old Country pulls you back in time to early 1900s Sicily, where loyalty is fragile, betrayal is inevitable, and the series returns to its most cinematic roots yet. For someone like me, who grew up enamoured with sepia-toned mobster epics like The Godfather, Goodfellas, and Once Upon a Time in America, it hits a sweet spot.

"Mafia: The Old Country pulls you back in time to early 1900s Sicily, where loyalty is fragile, betrayal is inevitable, and the series returns to its most cinematic roots yet."

So naturally, I was eager to dive into this new chapter of the franchise. Mafia has always woven cinematic inspirations into video games, building on sweeping betrayals, family loyalty, blood oaths, and moral compromise. From Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven to the Definitive Editions and the more sprawling, imperfect Mafia III, there’s been both triumph and misstep.

With The Old Country, developer Hangar 13 attempts something both familiar and new: an old-school prequel, a story of the origins of organized crime. For me, that promise of tracing the roots of the criminal world, in an era before modern cars and automatic pistols, made it irresistible.

"I feel like this is the Mafia story I’ve been waiting for: raw and steeped in that old-world aesthetic."

I feel like this is the Mafia story I’ve been waiting for: raw and steeped in that old-world aesthetic. Let’s dive into my full review and see if the Old Country proves itself worthy or ends up sleeping with the fishes.

Mafia: The Old Country Details

Platform(s): PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, Xbox Series X|S and PC

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5 Pro

Developer: Hangar 13 

Publisher: 2K Games 

Genre: Action

Available modes: Single Player  

ESRB Rating: Mature 17+

Mafia: The Old Country Story

The Old Country’s story hooked me from the start. There’s something visceral about starting at the bottom, literally. The game begins with you in the sulphur mines of early 1900s Sicily, being dragged through hardship and fighting your way into the Torrisi family. You play as Enzo Favara, who is not some untouchable crime lord; he’s someone who must grow and learn, rising through the crime family ranks. I really enjoyed the setting and supporting characters. That said, I also felt some of the plot outcomes were predictable. You can see certain twists coming: betrayal between families, the rise to power, and moral compromise.

It didn’t surprise me in structure, though it creates interesting, smaller moments—dialogue, betrayals, and side characters who shine. While I sometimes found myself waiting for a moment of originality that never quite shattered the formula, what The Old Country does well, it does so with heartfelt and cinematic flair. The emotional arcs—loyalty, sacrifice, honour, guilt—are familiar but well-executed. Overall, the game had me up late more than once because I had to keep pulling on a story thread to see how things play out.

Mafia: The Old Country Gameplay

The Old Country’s gameplay has a decent variety on paper: knife fights, gunplay, stealth, driving, and exploration, but it does get repetitive. The idea of hand-to-hand combat in dark alleys, close-quarters fights in moonlit courtyards, and driving around dusty Sicilian roads gives the gameplay some edge. Yet, as much as I liked that, after a while, the cover-and-shoot pattern started to wear on me; it feels reliable, but not always exciting. The cover mechanics are solid enough, but don’t always reward creative play. Knife fights are fun, early, they are tense, dangerous, and visceral. But it becomes repetitive: the same stiff animations, similar enemy archetypes and no evolution to your skill set. The variety is there, but it feels stretched thin as the experience doesn’t change throughout the game.

On four legs and four wheels in Mafia: The Old Country

The old-timey vehicles, though, wow, I really enjoyed missions connected to vintage autos. Driving classic cars, with their weight, the roar of the engine, and the steering that fights back a bit - it’s an immersive experience that feels ripped out of the 1900s. Unfortunately, these are short-lived with missions, or skippable, going from point A to B.

Travelling on horseback is a nice addition to the action too; it captures a bygone era, which complements the slower pace, making each journey feel meaningful. For me, the gameplay is solid, good enough to carry the story, but it doesn’t reinvent anything; instead, it plays it a little too safe overall.

Mafia: The Old Country Graphics and Performance

Graphically, the Old Country is beautiful. The environmental detail, dusty roads, pastel Sicilian skies, and gracefully aging architecture have plenty of character. Textures are rich, character faces are detailed, clothing and weather effects pull you into the setting. Lighting is one of the strongest aspects: there are candlelit, moody interiors, and early dawns in the hills of Sicily, it felt like being on a vacation in parts. These moments struck me as postcard-worthy, and I often stopped for some screen captures. That immersion matters because the story lives in the details, not just big set-pieces.

In terms of technical performance, some minor stutters were present in heavily populated scenes. This was especially prevalent when shifting from gameplay to cinematic moments. But when it all works in concert, it’s absolutely stunning. You know, Hanger13 built a beautiful world, because it was just nice just to walk around and take in the scenery.

PS5 Pro Performance Mafia: The Old Country

On PS5 Pro, this game impressed me at every turn. Performance Mode on the base PS5 and Series X is targeting an average of 60 fps. But on the PS5 Pro, I felt smoother motion, especially during vehicle chases on displays like the Samsung Odyssey 3D , capable of high refresh rates. It supports 120Hz display output and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). Quality Mode on Pro gives sharper textures, more refined shadows, and cleaner ambient occlusion. Performance Mode feels very solid around 60 fps, with fewer dips in busy scenes than I saw on less powerful hardware. Overall, for someone like me who cares about both visuals and responsiveness, playing on the PS5 Pro with a good display made a noticeable difference.

Audio and Sound Design: A Soprano’s Song

The game’s audio shines with a well-balanced mix of voice acting, music, and ambient detail. The score leans heavily into classical influences, layering strings with dark brass and weaving in Sicilian folk flourishes that deepen the setting’s authenticity.

Don Torrisi, voiced by Johnny Santiago, is a standout in my books. He carries the weight of a man who’s lived through hard choices in his gritty portrayal. Torrisi’s character design, combined with Santiago’s performance, creates an immediately imposing figure.

Enzo’s performance, delivered by Riccardo Frascari, also resonates well. His voice convincingly charts the character’s arc from fear to ambition. While a few lines feel more functional than inspired, many crackle with authenticity. Together, the performances and the sound design elevate key story moments, giving the narrative real punch.

Final Thoughts on Mafia: The Old Country

In the end, Mafia: The Old Country is an imperfect experience, but one I thoroughly enjoyed. It does many things very well, and for fans of the Mafia genre (which I am, unabashedly), it scratches an itch that few modern games have. The story is compelling, even if somewhat expected, the setting is incredible, and the characters are memorable. If you go in wanting a tight narrative experience rather than an open-world sandbox, you’ll get your fill of blood oaths, betrayal, and brutality.

Mafia: The Old Country PROS

+Deep, believable setting—Sicily in the early 1900s feels alive and atmospheric

+Strong voice acting & sound design

+Excellent technical polish, especially on PS5 Pro

Mafia: The Old Country CONS

− Combat gameplay becomes repetitive; enemy variety and mechanics are limited

− Story arcs are well-told but sometimes predictable

− Limited replay incentive

Overall Assessment of Mafia: The Old Country

Gameplay	7.5 /10
Graphics	8.5 /10
Sound	9 /10
Lasting appeal / Replayability	6 /10

Overall Rating: 32/40 (80%)

The publisher provided a copy of the game to conduct this review.

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About the Author - Matthew "Dapper Tux" Rondina

Matthew has been involved in all things gaming since the 8-bit era. He is a video game and tech industry veteran who has been passionate about technology and gaming for over 20 years. In addition to being the Managing Editor of dappertux.com, he has bylines with Best Buy, Cineplex Entertainment, Mobile Syrup and Walmart. Follow Matthew’s gaming + tech adventures on multiple social platforms with the handle @dapper_tux via X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and join in on the fun!

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