The Mafia series isn’t dead! After the release of remastered versions of the first three games in 2020, Hangar 13 and 2K are coming together for the fourth instalment in the series. It will be called Mafia: The Old Country, and confirming previous rumours, it will be a prequel to the first game in the series.
What’s even better is that Hangar 13 is planning to release the game in 2025! That’s the same year Rockstar Games has chosen to release the highly anticipated GTA 6. God bless gamers. What a time to be alive!
For Mafia fans though, that leaves little time to do the homework. For a new game that’s supposed to be a prequel, fans need to go through all the video games in the franchise, inspired by cinematic works like Goodfellas and The Godfather, in their chronological order of release. Thankfully, new players can skip the dated Mafia 1 and head straight for Mafia: The Definitive Edition – a faithful recreation of the original game using modern-day graphics, animations and physics while retaining the storyline.
Then comes the fan favourite Mafia 2 – the most critically acclaimed instalment in the series that is still regarded to be better than the third game. Hangar 13 also released a remastered version of the same in 2020 as part of the Mafia: Trilogy.
In this story, we are going to take a look at all the Mafia games in order of their chronology and explore the storylines as well as the generational improvements. Note that we are going to skip the two spin-off mobile games that have no impact on the storyline of the main games and are no longer available to play on any of the mobile stores.
Without waiting any further, let’s don the Italian suits and tip over the hats as we explore the glamorous world of the undercover portrayed in the Mafia series.
Exploring the timeline of the ‘Mafia’ games and their release order
Mafia
Released in: 2002
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Mafia came at a time when game developers had limited tools at their disposal to create digital masterpieces. However, it proved that an emphasis on strong storytelling negates the need to infuse a video game with cutting-edge graphics and burdened with as many features as possible.
Mafia tells the story of Tommy Angelo, a hard-working cab driver who gets involved with one of the two Mafia families in Lost Heaven, Illinois. The game’s plot takes the player on Tommy’s journey through the ranks of the organised crime family and eventually making it to the top of the Don Salieri crime syndicate. However, every action has a consequence and Tommy eventually has to pay a price for betrayal.
Although Mafia is a narrative, the game lets loose the player in a period-correct fictional take on most American cities in the 1930s. From vintage cars to old-school arms and retro clothing, Mafia does its best in setting the mood. You could pay off the fines for overspeeding or get into a shootout with the police. The period music also earned this video game several accolades.
Despite lacking the open world free roam, Mafia set a gold standard in video game storytelling. The recipe was so good that Hangar 13 had to remake it using modern crafting techniques in 2020.
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Mafia 2
Released in: 2010
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Classic macOS
Mafia 2 came almost a decade after the first game and raised the bar for narrative video games that depict organised crime families. Although the plot was similar to the first one, the storytelling and the direction along with the far more detailed setting of the game made it the best Mafia game that we have ever seen.
You step into the shoes of Vito Scaletta, a small-time criminal in early 1940s America who was arrested after a robbery went bad. Instead of serving prison time, he decides to join the US Army and throughout his duty stumbles upon the lure of the Mafia in Sicily. Soon after he returns to the USA on a break, he gets involved in the world of crime with his accomplice and rises up the ranks of the flourishing Mafia scene. After facing endless betrayals and hardships, Vito emerges as a feared criminal.
The game’s setting in Empire Bay helped convey Vito’s story better. With period-specific car replicas and fashion, the gameplay experience improved drastically, especially with the new cover system and melee combat.
Fun fact: Vito is tasked with eliminating the retired Tommy Angelo from the first game!
Mafia 3
Released in: 2016
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, macOS
Regarded as one of the most lacklustre instalments in the series, Mafia 3 tried a slightly different approach to the core concept of gripping storytelling in a more modern world. Set in the 1960s, Mafia 3 addressed the concerns related to racial indiscrimination against the background of a flourishing New Bordeaux, a fictional take on New Orleans.
You join as Lincoln Clay, a war veteran who wanted to lead a peaceful life by finding a generic job but had to partake in criminal activities to help out his adopted family. After completing a bank heist for the local Mafia, Clay’s entire family is wiped out by the mob. Thus begins a story of revenge and retaking control of the streets. Unlike the previous Mafia games, Lincoln now has several crime bosses under him, one of whom is Vito Scaletta, the protagonist from Mafia 2.
Mafia 3’s setting is easily one of the most vibrant and highly detailed in the series. You get to see glamorous casinos, festivals, fast muscle cars roaring down the streets, alligators and a beautiful recreation of the 1960s New Orleans. Sadly, the repetitive nature of the in-game missions coupled with the new documentary-style storytelling meant that Mafia 3 didn’t find favour with the fans.
Mafia: The Definitive Edition
Released in: 2020
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming
After the dismal response to Mafia 3, Hangar 13 went a different route with the Mafia series by recreating the first game. The game, called Mafia: The Definitive Edition, stayed true to the scripting and the storyline of the first title.
However, the developers took advantage of the new game-building technologies and recreated Lost Heaven from scratch in exceptional detail. Look beyond the graphics, and the remastered version polished the character of Tommy Angelo and assigned him a new voice actor. The storyline was refined in certain areas to make it more seamless.
Certain gameplay mechanics, like the ability to take cover and use melee weapons, were added. Players could also get into a free-roam mode and explore the world. Unlike the original, Tommy could now find drivable motorcycles on the streets.
The release of Mafia: The Definitive Edition makes for a great entry point into the franchise before playing Mafia 2 and Mafia 3. So you can skip the first game and play this first if you are short on time.
Mafia: The Old Country
Releasing in: 2025
Platforms: Confirmed for Microsoft Windows (Steam), PlayStation and Xbox
And that brings us to Mafia: The Old Country. Set to be the fourth major instalment in the series, this game will be a prequel to the first game, documenting the beginning of organised crime families in Italy. So while this game is chronologically the first game in the series, we advise you to play it after the others to get better context and spot all the hidden references.
The game’s teaser trailer has shown a glimpse of the new protagonist and the setting. Instead of America, Mafia: The Old Country will take us back to Sicily in the 1900s. If the last three instalments are anything to go by, the fourth game could recreate a period-perfect world of people, cars and their lives, all set before the two World Wars.
It is definitely one of the most anticipated upcoming games of 2025 we’re looking forward to.
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(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Hangar 13 /2K via Steam)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There are three major instalments in the Mafia series and a remake. A fourth instalment, called Mafia: The Old Country, is coming out in 2025. Two spin-off games for the mobile were also released.
Mafia: The Definitive Edition and Mafia 2 are the best Mafia games to play on the PC.
Mafia: The Old Country is the upcoming Mafia game set to release in 2025.
Players should start with the Mafia: The Definitive Edition and follow it with Mafia 2 and Mafia 3.
