Mafia

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,978 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Mafia Game Cover
Mafia brings players into the world of 1930s gangsters with fantastic visuals, a well-thought-out storyline, and stellar game play. On the surface, Mafia is similar to Grand Theft Auto 3: You assume the role of an entry-level criminal. By completing a series of missions in a large cityscape, you asc
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"Mafia" is a single-player, open-world game set in the 1930s, offering an intriguing story and pretty visuals. As cabdriver Tommy Angelo, you're drawn into the mafia world, with action-packed gameplay including mob hits, car chases, and shootouts. The game features an authentic atmosphere with era-inspired vehicles and weapons, creating a rich experience in the quintessential 1930s American city of New Heaven.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 2
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,978 reviews
story813 positive mentions
stability65 negative mentions
  • story2,164 mentions

    The story of Mafia is widely praised for its depth and engaging narrative, following the rise and fall of Tommy Angelo within the 1930s mafia world. Players appreciate the well-developed characters, memorable missions, and cinematic storytelling that evoke classic gangster films like "The Godfather" and "Goodfellas." However, while the story captivates many, some players find the gameplay mechanics frustrating and dated, leading to a mixed reception regarding the overall experience.

    • “The story is captivating throughout and the main character is not forced to look like a good guy.”
    • “The story is incredible, one of the best I've seen in any game.”
    • “The story, atmosphere, missions, and music are unforgettable and make this game a masterpiece.”
    • “The story wasn't terrible, but gameplay was. The game may have been famous back then, but as of 2024, the controls are awful. The gameplay is a bit frustrating that I gave up halfway through the story; this was unplayable for me.”
    • “The story is captivating throughout, but the mission design is frustrating. The infamous racing mission is a slap to the face in the opening parts where a game is supposed to grip you.”
    • “The story is solid, but the gameplay feels outdated and the missions can be tedious. The first mission is particularly difficult and frustrating, which can deter players from continuing.”
  • gameplay581 mentions

    The gameplay of Mafia (2002) is a mixed bag, with many players noting its dated mechanics and frustrating controls, particularly in driving and shooting. While the game offers a rich narrative and immersive atmosphere, the clunky gameplay and lack of modern conveniences can lead to a challenging experience, often requiring patience to navigate its quirks. Despite these issues, some players appreciate the game's realism and attention to detail, making it a nostalgic experience for those willing to overlook its flaws.

    • “Short: GTA, but at the rise of the mafia era with a heavy focus on story and realistic/grounded gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is solid.”
    • “The driving mechanics are both realistic and enjoyable, and gunfights are intense and challenging.”
    • “The story wasn't terrible, but the gameplay was. The game may have been famous back then, but as of 2024, the controls are awful, and the gameplay is a bit frustrating that I gave up halfway through the story; this was unplayable for me.”
    • “The gameplay is very hard, as the combat is unforgiving; however, the story is really well done.”
    • “The gameplay is outdated, yes - especially shooting, but you quickly get used to it.”
  • music523 mentions

    The music in the game is a significant highlight, with many players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of the experience. However, the Steam version lacks much of the original soundtrack due to licensing issues, leading to a recommendation for players to install mods to restore the missing music for a more authentic experience. Overall, while the music is celebrated, its absence in the current version detracts from the game's immersive qualities.

    • “The music sets the mood—part smoky speakeasy, part getaway car chase.”
    • “The in-game soundtrack by Mr. Šimůnek is an absolute masterpiece that sets the right atmosphere for this game.”
    • “The atmosphere, music, and most importantly the storyline are absolutely priceless.”
    • “It's sad to see, but this game aged like milk. 90% of the game consists of slowly driving around, the cops are annoying, the guns have awful recoil, enemies take a million shots until they die, and this version also has a big chunk of the soundtrack removed.”
    • “The music was removed from this version on Steam and needs to be modded back in; otherwise, your game will consist of silence and gunfire.”
    • “The atmosphere is partly ruined due to the removal of a lot of the game's original music, so I would strongly recommend a patch in order to restore the old music files.”
  • graphics499 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players acknowledging that while they were impressive for their time (2002), they now appear outdated and lack the polish of modern titles. Some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and atmospheric design, while others find the visuals difficult to overlook, often recommending community mods to enhance the graphical experience. Overall, the consensus is that the graphics may not hold up well by today's standards, but the game's strong narrative and immersive gameplay compensate for its visual shortcomings.

    • “Not only did the devs do a great job with characters, story, graphics, and dialogues, but they combined it all to create an almost 'living-like' experience.”
    • “The graphics are improved by a lot, along with the draw distance; guns feel punchy and powerful most of the time, especially in cutscenes.”
    • “For its time, the graphics were truly amazing, and because of the age of the game, I found it to be simply stunning.”
    • “Absolutely terrible performance and graphics, I was squinting the whole time trying to figure out what I was even looking at.”
    • “It's ugly graphics for today's standards, of course.”
    • “The graphics are obviously very outdated, but the game itself is still very good.”
  • atmosphere167 mentions

    The atmosphere of Mafia is widely praised for its authentic portrayal of the 1930s, immersing players in a richly detailed world filled with vintage cars, period-appropriate music, and a compelling narrative. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a strong sense of time and place, making it feel like a cinematic experience that captures the essence of organized crime during the Prohibition era. Despite some criticisms regarding outdated graphics and gameplay mechanics, the overall atmosphere remains a standout feature that enhances the storytelling and player engagement.

    • “Right from the first few minutes, I was captivated by its authentic 1930s atmosphere.”
    • “The game's atmospheric setting, detailed environments, and authentic portrayal of the 1930s contribute to an immersive experience for players.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game indeed feels like the 1930s.”
    • “The atmosphere is partly ruined due to the removal of a lot of the game's original music, so I would strongly recommend a patch in order to restore the old music files.”
    • “Just expect some badly aged aspects (the difficulty, oh lord), and the fact that if neither the atmosphere nor the story can click for you, the game may fail to meet your expectations.”
    • “Now for the good things... the story and characters themselves are pretty neat and the atmosphere (when it actually registers) is pretty good... but the visuals and voice acting are another thing from 2002 and do not hold up very much at all.”
  • stability69 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and game-breaking issues that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players describe it as "borderline unplayable" due to mission-blocking glitches and erratic AI behavior, although some acknowledge that community patches can alleviate some problems. Overall, while the game retains its charm, its technical shortcomings make for a frustrating experience.

    • “These points are generally well placed and were bug free.”
    • “Otherwise, the game runs great!”
    • “The game runs great on my modern rig (while not the best out there).”
    • “Hundreds of mission-blocking bugs and glitches force you to do constant save game reloads and make the game a frustrating, borderline unplayable mess.”
    • “Without being seriously modded and overhauled, this game is a buggy nightmare.”
    • “Get used to the game randomly crashing to the desktop, falling through the world, weird gameplay glitches, and a lot of general gameplay bugs/problems with the game world loading.”
  • grinding45 mentions

    The reviews consistently highlight that the game features excessive and tedious grinding, particularly in its driving mechanics, which many players find frustrating and outdated. The difficulty curve and clunky controls contribute to a sense of repetitiveness, making the gameplay feel like a chore rather than an engaging experience. While some appreciate the story, the overall sentiment is that the grind detracts significantly from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “A definite recommendation for old school gamers like me... when games used to have a story and weren't too grindy or visually very appealing.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The gameplay is tedious and the controls are clunky.”
    • “A great game is buried under this tedious mess.”
  • humor37 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of unintentional charm and dry wit, with players finding amusement in the game's outdated mechanics, glitches, and quirky character interactions. While some moments are genuinely funny, such as absurd driving physics and awkward AI behavior, the overall tone leans more serious, with humor appearing sporadically throughout the experience. Despite its flaws, many players appreciate the game's humorous elements as part of its nostalgic appeal.

    • “It's just funny and that's all!”
    • “The characters are also funny and interesting, and there's even a race car mission.”
    • “It's kind of funny that the cars in this old game have working turn signals while GTA 5 didn’t pull this off.”
    • “The English voice acting was terrible... not just unfunny, but genuinely awful.”
    • “The attempts at humor fell flat and felt forced throughout the game.”
    • “I expected some laughs, but the jokes were stale and uninspired.”
  • optimization25 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many users reporting poor performance, significant bugs, and graphical issues, particularly on modern systems. While some players have found success using the "community modpack v2.1" to enhance graphics and performance, the overall consensus is that the game is unoptimized and can be frustrating to play without modifications. Despite its nostalgic value and engaging gameplay, the technical shortcomings detract from the experience.

    • “Use community modpack v2.1 to improve graphics and performance on modern systems.”
    • “While its graphics may be dated, since it's a 2002 game, using the 'community modpack v2.1' mod for me resulted in improved graphics and performance on modern systems.”
    • “On a purely technical level, the game feels a bit more than competent next to other titles that were released around the same time, and even injects a few well-executed nuances that even modern games can't quite pin down well over a decade later, such as police that are capable of taking initially nonviolent action, and vehicle damage that, besides popped tires or outright destruction, actually influences the performance of the vehicles.”
    • “Absolutely terrible performance and graphics; I was squinting the whole time trying to figure out what I was even looking at.”
    • “This game is so poorly optimized I think I'd rather shoot myself than play this game.”
    • “Abysmal performance on a modern PC, less than 1 fps.”
  • emotional16 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its powerful storytelling, evocative music, and immersive atmosphere, which resonate deeply with players, often evoking tears and nostalgia. Many reviewers express that the narrative's exploration of themes like honor, respect, and loyalty, combined with well-developed characters, creates a gripping experience that leaves a lasting emotional impact. Despite some criticisms of gameplay, the emotional weight of the story and its conclusion are frequently praised, making it a memorable journey for players.

    • “I don't remember how the gameplay made me feel... I remember how the fantastic music, the accurate atmosphere, and the phenomenal story made me feel.”
    • “This game made me cry myself to sleep.”
    • “It focuses on telling a story which is well written, well paced, grounded, and most importantly has emotional weight.”
    • “The storyline felt incredibly boring and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
    • “I found the emotional depth lacking; it just didn't resonate with me.”
    • “The characters were one-dimensional, making it hard to connect with their emotional journeys.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is highly praised, with many players noting its engaging story and unlockable content that encourages multiple playthroughs. However, some reviews mention limitations due to its linear structure, which can affect the overall replay value despite personal enjoyment leading to numerous playthroughs.

    • “Incredible story, gameplay, and replayability through the roof.”
    • “On top of the great story and graphics, the replayability is second to none.”
    • “The storyline was clearly far better than Mafia II, but Mafia II was much more playable and I prefer Mafia II.”
    • “Replayability is somewhat limited because of the linear story... which hasn't stopped me, however, from finishing 8 playthroughs over the years and starting my 9th now, as it is finally back on Steam.”
    • “After doing everything, you can use your unlocked cars in freeride, so there’s a fair amount of unlockables and some replayability.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Overall, character development in the game is highly praised, with many reviewers highlighting its depth and effectiveness in enhancing the story. While some critiques focus on gameplay and graphics, the strong narrative and character arcs are consistently noted as standout features that elevate the overall experience.

    • “10/10 story, 3/10 gameplay, 10/10 plot and character development. The graphics are 5/10 for the year, even though the new one looks 10x better.”
    • “Still, those flaws can be forgiven due to the action and character development.”
    • “It has good story beats, excellent character development, and some of the best twists for the time of its release.”
    • “The character development is strong, but the gameplay leaves much to be desired.”
    • “I find the character design and development in the original much better than in the remake.”
    • “While the story and character development are impressive, the gameplay is lacking.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    Reviewers appreciate the absence of ads and microtransactions, highlighting the game's immersive experience and focus on gameplay rather than monetization tactics like DLCs. This approach allows players to fully engage with the game without interruptions or additional costs.

    • “There's no ads, and all guns have their own recoil patterns that you need to learn to control to master said weapons.”
    • “This isn't just a video game; it is a part of my life that I will never forget experiencing. Nowadays, it's very hard to find such games because of DLCs, microtransactions, and similar issues.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

65% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
16hMain story
21hCompletionist
3-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

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