Mafia: The Old Country Walkthrough

“A focused crime drama that trades open-world freedom for cinematic storytelling”

Game Information

Category	Details
Platform	PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Developer	Hangar 13
Publisher	2K Games
Release Date	August 7, 2025
Price	$50 / £45
Playtime	10-12 hours
Genre	Action-Adventure, Third-Person Shooter

In an industry increasingly dominated by sprawling open worlds filled with repetitive side content and 100-hour campaigns, Mafia: The Old Country arrives as a refreshing anomaly. Hangar 13’s latest entry in the long-running crime saga abandons the bloated formula of its predecessor to deliver a tightly focused, narrative-driven experience that prioritizes storytelling over sandbox freedom. Set against the sun-scorched backdrop of early 1900s Sicily, this prequel explores the violent birth of organized crime with cinematic flair and historical authenticity. But does this leaner approach result in a more satisfying experience, or has the series sacrificed too much in pursuit of narrative purity?

A Tale of Blood and Honor in Sicily

“The game’s opening hours deliberately take their time, unfolding like a prestige HBO miniseries rather than a high-octane action game.”

Mafia: The Old Country transports players to 1902 Sicily, a world away from the urban American landscapes that defined previous entries. You step into the worn shoes of Enzo Favara, a desperate young man trapped in the hellish conditions of a sulfur mine, dreaming of escaping to America with his closest friend. When tragedy strikes during a catastrophic cave-in, Enzo’s life takes an unexpected turn, setting him on a collision course with Don Torrisi and the burgeoning Sicilian mafia.

The Narrative Approach

The game takes a deliberately slow-burning approach that won’t appeal to everyone:

• First few chapters serve as extended tutorials wrapped in narrative setup
• Character development takes priority over action sequences
• Patient storytelling rewards those willing to invest in the world
• Gradual integration into the crime family feels authentic and earned

Key Characters

The cast brings depth and nuance to this crime saga:

Don Torrisi
The patriarch radiates quiet menace while maintaining a facade of benevolence. His character embodies the complex morality of Sicilian power structures.

Cesare
Don Torrisi’s nephew brings youthful energy and recklessness to the family dynamic, serving as both ally and wild card.

Luca
The mentor figure provides emotional grounding that Enzo desperately needs as he navigates this dangerous new world.

Isabella
Perhaps most intriguing is Don Torrisi’s daughter, whose forbidden romance with Enzo adds layers of tension and stakes to an already volatile situation.

The narrative doesn’t break new ground in mob storytelling, following familiar beats of loyalty, betrayal, and the corrupting nature of power. If you’ve watched The Godfather or Goodfellas, many plot developments will feel predictable. However, strong performances, sharp dialogue, and genuine emotional moments elevate what could have been a paint-by-numbers crime story into something genuinely engaging. The game commits fully to its period setting, with the 12-hour runtime feeling appropriately scaled to the story being told.

A Visual Masterpiece Constrained by Design

“Powered by Unreal Engine 5, Hangar 13 has crafted one of the most beautiful game worlds in recent memory.”

Where Mafia: The Old Country truly excels is in its visual presentation. From rolling Sicilian hillsides dotted with vineyards to the oppressive darkness of sulfur mines, every environment demonstrates meticulous attention to historical detail.

Environmental Excellence

The game’s world showcases incredible attention to period authenticity:

• Rolling Sicilian hillsides dotted with authentic vineyards and farmland
• Oppressive sulfur mines that capture the dangerous working conditions of the era
• Period-accurate architecture reflecting early 1900s construction styles
• Authentic clothing and vehicles that ground you in the time period
• Mount Etna looming ominously in the distance as a constant presence

Technical Achievements

Character Models & Animation:

• Facial animations rival the industry’s best
• Hair physics demonstrate remarkable attention to detail
• Pre-rendered cutscenes elevate key story moments to cinematic quality

World Building:

• San Celeste transforms throughout the story with festivals and markets
• Historical elements like sulfur mining industry ground the narrative
• Real historical events incorporated seamlessly into gameplay

Audio Design:

• Orchestral soundtrack featuring period-appropriate mandolins
• Voice acting delivers strong performances across the board
• Ambient sounds create authentic Sicilian atmosphere

“The game frequently forces you into slow-walk sections through its carefully constructed environments, and while this pacing choice will frustrate some players, it’s clear these moments exist to showcase the artistry on display.”

The Beauty’s Bitter Truth

However, this beauty comes with a significant caveat: you can’t truly explore it.

Unlike previous Mafia games, The Old Country functions as:

• ❌ Not a true open-world playground
• ❌ Not a space for freeform exploration
• ✓ An elaborate movie set for scripted sequences
• ✓ A linear experience with occasional open areas

While you have access to horses and period-authentic automobiles, they primarily serve as transportation between mission objectives rather than tools for discovery. The world is designed to be admired through carefully controlled camera angles and scripted sequences, not organically explored.

Gameplay: Functional But Repetitive

“The gameplay mechanics supporting this narrative focus are best described as functional rather than innovative.”

Combat splits between three primary modes, each with varying degrees of success:

1. Stealth Sequences

The Good:

• Straightforward mechanics easy to understand
• Satisfying when you clear areas undetected
• Optional in most encounters

The Bad:

• Predictable enemy AI rarely poses challenge
• Familiar bottle-throwing and choking mechanics
• Lacks innovation seen in modern stealth games

2. Gunfight Combat

The strongest aspect of gameplay, featuring:

• ✓ Satisfying cover-based shooting mechanics
• ✓ Variety of period weapons (pistols, rifles, shotguns, grenades)
• ✓ Some genuinely exciting set-pieces
• ✗ Confined environments limit tactical options
• ✗ Can’t match urban playgrounds of previous games

3. Knife Duels (The Controversial Element)

“The game’s most controversial gameplay element is its insistence on knife duels as boss encounters.”

Why They Become Tedious:

1. Repetitive parry-dodge-strike formula
2. Appear too frequently throughout campaign
3. Lack variety between encounters
4. Predictable patterns by fifth or sixth fight
5. Don’t evolve mechanically as game progresses

Driving & Transportation

Improvements Over Previous Titles:

• Vintage automobiles handle smoothly
• Better physics than earlier Mafia games
• Period-authentic vehicle designs

Activities Include:

• Racing missions (though infrequent)
• Vehicular chase sequences
• Horseback riding across countryside

Gameplay Variety

The game attempts to mix things up with:

• 🔧 Crate-stacking minigames
• 🐴 Horseback exploration sequences
• 🚗 Vintage car races
• 🔫 Shootouts and stealth infiltrations
• 🗡️ One-on-one knife combat

While this variety prevents monotony, individual mechanics never achieve excellence. The game succeeds at keeping you engaged through constant activity shifts rather than mastery of any single system.

An Open World That Isn’t

“The beautiful world feels underutilized, more like a gorgeous backdrop you observe rather than inhabit.”

Perhaps the most divisive aspect of The Old Country is its treatment of open-world design. The game provides San Celeste and its surrounding countryside as a technically explorable space, but offers virtually no incentive to stray from the critical path.

What’s Missing

The game lacks traditional open-world elements:

• ❌ No meaningful side quests
• ❌ No collectibles to discover
• ❌ No random activities or encounters
• ❌ No reason to explore off the beaten path
• ❌ Limited use for earned money
• ❌ No character progression systems

The Philosophy Behind It

Addressing Mafia III’s Problems:

Mafia III Issue	The Old Country Solution
Repetitive open-world bloat	Focused linear experience
Endless forgettable side content	No side content at all
Diluted narrative impact	Constant story progression
40+ hour runtime	Tight 10-12 hours

What You Can Do:

• Purchase clothes (but why?)
• Buy weapons (missions provide what you need)
• Collect vehicles (limited practical use)
• Drive around empty streets (minimal interaction)

“At 10-12 hours for a complete playthrough and a budget-friendly $50 price point, the game represents a compelling alternative to the industry’s obsession with 100-hour epics.”

Has the Pendulum Swung Too Far?

Arguments For This Approach:

1. Respects player’s time
2. Maintains narrative focus
3. Avoids repetitive busywork
4. Better value proposition at lower price
5. No padding or filler content

Arguments Against:

1. Beautiful world feels wasted
2. Lack of player agency
3. Limited replay value
4. Missed opportunities for world-building
5. Restrictive compared to genre standards

Future Updates

The developers announced “Ride Mode” – free DLC that will add:

• New activities and gameplay
• Focus on driving missions (likely)
• Potentially more open-world content
• Could address current limitations

This addition might significantly improve the game’s longevity, though its scope remains unclear.

Technical Performance and Polish

Performance Overview

On High-End Hardware (PS5/Xbox Series X/PC):

• Generally smooth performance
• Occasional frame rate drops noted
• Visual fidelity maintained during action sequences
• Reasonable load times

Improvements Over Mafia III:

• ✓ No severe technical issues at launch
• ✓ Significantly better overall polish
• ✓ Stable experience across platforms
• ✓ Minimal game-breaking bugs reported

The Verdict: A Focused Experience That Sacrifices Freedom

Mafia: The Old Country represents both a return to form and a bold experiment for the series. By fully committing to linear, story-driven design, Hangar 13 has created a game that feels deliberately crafted in every moment. The narrative, while predictable, delivers emotional weight through strong performances and careful pacing. The visual recreation of early 1900s Sicily is breathtaking, demonstrating the artistic heights possible when developers focus their resources on specific, controlled environments rather than sprawling open worlds.

Yet this focus comes with compromise. The gameplay, while varied enough to maintain interest, never transcends competence to achieve excellence. Repetitive knife duels and simplistic stealth wear thin even across the modest runtime. Most significantly, the beautiful world feels underexplored, existing primarily as a stage for predetermined scenes rather than a living space for player agency.

The game will likely divide audiences. Those seeking a concise, narrative-focused experience reminiscent of early Mafia titles will find much to love. The $50 price point acknowledges the reduced scope while still delivering production values that rival more expensive competitors. Players expecting the freedom and content density of modern open-world games will likely feel disappointed by the restricted design.

Ultimately, Mafia: The Old Country succeeds at what it attempts to be: a focused crime drama that prioritizes story and atmosphere over mechanical innovation or sandbox freedom. It’s a refreshing alternative in a market oversaturated with bloated open-world designs, even if it occasionally feels too restrictive in its pursuit of cinematic storytelling. For fans of the Mafia series’ narrative strengths or anyone craving a tighter, more directed gaming experience, this Sicilian origin story delivers an offer worth accepting—though perhaps with some reservations.

Final Score: 7.5/10

Pros:

• Stunning visual recreation of 1900s Sicily
• Strong character writing and voice performances
• Focused narrative that respects player time
• Excellent historical detail and atmosphere
• Budget-friendly price point matches scope

Cons:

• Repetitive knife duel encounters
• Open world feels underutilized
• Predictable plot developments
• Simplistic stealth mechanics
• Limited replay value

Recommendation: Best for players who prioritize story and atmosphere over gameplay innovation, or anyone experiencing open-world fatigue looking for a more directed experience.