Mafia: The Old Country

Mafia: The Old Country is a crime drama from Hangar 13 (2K Games) set in Sicily in 1904-1907, long before the events of the rest of the series. It is a prequel to Mafia I (1930s), Mafia II (1940s-50s) and Mafia III (1968), and the earliest point in the franchise timeline.

Who Enzo Favara is. The main character is a seventeen-year-old sold by his father into mining slavery (the carusi system, a form of forced child labor in the Sicilian sulfur mines). When a mine collapse takes the life of his best friend Gaetano, Enzo stays alive, and the path to survival leads him into the hands of Don Bernardo Torrisi, head of the local mafia family. This is how a story of loyalty, betrayal and the price of honor begins.

The game world. The fictional Sicilian town of San Celeste is recreated on Unreal Engine 5 with cinematic precision: farmland, sulfur mines, aristocratic estates, markets and alleys at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The game does not claim to be a history textbook. It is an atmospheric interpretation of an era in which every detail of the costumes, architecture and dialogue works to create a sense of "another time".

Gameplay: a narrative structure, not an open world. Unlike Mafia III with its open New Orleans, The Old Country returns to the spirit of Mafia I and II: cinematic chapters and a focus on the story. Technically the game is semi-open: between missions you can explore the roads of Sicily on horseback or by vehicle, and within chapters there are optional zones with collectible items. Critics noted that these zones are beautiful but almost empty.

The combat system of the era. The focus is on stealth (quiet takedowns, knives, distracting guards) and melee combat, which fits the 1900s, when firearms were rare and a luxury. Fistfights and knife fights take a central place; firearms are scarce and heavy, and every shot feels like an event.

Russian voice-over is full. 2K Games localized the game with a full Russian dub, one of seven voice-over languages alongside English, German, French, Spanish, Czech and an authentic Sicilian dialect. Enzo Favara is voiced by Gleb Petrov (known for the dub of Ted Lasso and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales).

Critical reception. Metacritic PC: 73/100 (81 reviews). Steam: "Mostly Positive" (~70%). Outlets noted these strengths: the narrative, the characters, the visual presentation, the atmosphere of Sicily and the return to a narrative structure. The criticism: limited combat variety, empty open-zone areas and "outdated mechanics". The New York Times included the game in its list of the 10 best games of 2025. According to the Take-Two CEO, sales exceeded expectations.

Post-launch (all updates are free). Free Ride mode (November 20, 2025) is a full open-world sandbox of Sicily: races, combat challenges, side quests, 3 new weapons, 4 knives, 2 cars, 16 new outfits, Photo mode, first-person view, Cinema Siciliano and Classic Difficulty. There is no paid story DLC or Season Pass: the developer stated that the game is a self-contained narrative experience.

Editions. Standard ($49.99) is the full game. Deluxe ($59.99) adds two customization packs: the Padrino Pack (Lupara Speciale shotgun, Vendetti Speciale pistol, "Padrino" outfit, Eckhart Speciale limousine, horse accessories) and the Gatto Nero Pack (Bodeo Nero pistol, "Velocità" pendant, "Gatto Nero" outfit, Carozella Nero race car). These contain only cosmetics and weapons, with no story content. There is no paid DLC or Season Pass. All post-release updates are free.

Series chronology (for a new player): Mafia: The Old Country, Sicily 1904-1907 → Mafia I, USA 1930s → Mafia II, USA 1940s-50s → Mafia III, USA 1968. Each part is a standalone story, and knowing the previous games is not required.

A crime drama set in Sicily in 1904: Enzo Favara rises from mining slavery into the ranks of a mafia clan. Russian voice-over, Unreal Engine 5, and a narrative story in the spirit of the classic Mafia I and II.