People will always be inclined to break the rules, especially if there’s no fear of repercussions. That’s a sad aspect of human nature that we need to deal with. Therefore, the underworld represents a harsh reality of our society, and it has often been depicted in video games as well.
Have video games done a better job than the film industry when it comes to depicting gangster life? Probably not, but what’s for sure is that game developers are doing their best, which is why we’ve prepared a little list of some of the best video games that showcase the gangster life:
Mafia II
From all three major games of the Mafia series, we believe that the 2010 title, known simply as Mafia II, is the best one. The story is very complex and exciting, and it shows both a sensitive side and the harsh realities of the underworld in which even your best friend can betray you for a few thousand bucks.
Mafia II follows the adventures of Vito Scaletta, a war veteran who comes to Empire Bay from Europe in order to start a new life far from violence and death. However, he rapidly runs into more danger than before alongside his buddy Joe Barbaro.
The shooting and graphics are also top-class in Mafia II. Apart from the main story missions that are showcased as chapters, the game also has a few collectibles for you to gather: PlayBoy magazines and “wanted” posters.
GTA V
GTA V, the latest game of the Grand Theft Auto series, is perhaps the best one of the franchise as well. It practically takes everything GTA has done best to new heights: better graphics than ever, a compelling and complicated story that has three protagonist characters, and lots of fun gameplay.
The main characters in GTA V are Michael, Trevor, and Franklin. Michael is a retired bank robber, Franklin is a young fellow who’s willing to climb the ranks of the gangsta lifestyle, while Trevor is a pure psychopath who has no remorse after doing extremely bad things such as killing, cannibalistic acts, thefts, and so on.
L.A. Noire
If you play L.A. Noire, you will get to witness a mix of crime drama and detective work as you go across the streets of Los Angeles in the 1940s. You will get to step in the shoes of Detective Cole Phelps as he rises through the ranks of the LAPD by interrogating suspects, solving cases, and uncovering the dark underbelly of the glamorous facade of Hollywood.
Scarface: The World is Yours
You probably know that the famous GTA Vice City game was heavily inspired by the 1983 movie “Scarface,” which had Al Pacino in the main role of Tony Montana. But an entire game has been made after that legendary movie, and it is known simply as “Scarface: The World is Yours.” You can have a quick look at the plot of the “Scarface” movie in order to realize what the game is all about. A cocky and rowdy Cuban immigrant comes to the States in order to escape the Communist regime of his country. He rapidly gets involved in illegal activities with drug cartels and often needs to take what he sees as justice into his own hands.
Sleeping Dogs
Sleeping Dogs takes you to the streets of Hong Kong, where you will have to assume the role of undercover cop Wei Shen as he infiltrates the Triad organization. As a player, you will get to be positioned between law enforcement and criminal activities as you go through intense martial arts combat, car chases, and a narrative of loyalty and betrayal.
Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section!
Tim M. Hill helped bring Digital-Overload from a weekly newsletter to a full-fledged news site by creating a new website and branding. He continues to assist in keeping the site responsive and well organized for the readers. As a writer to Digital-Overload, Tim mainly covers mobile news and gadgets.