Seeing the Mafia depicted in video games doesn’t represent anything new, and we have to admit that developers and publishers have been pretty good at it. Notorious game series such as Mafia, The Godfather, Yakuza, and Grand Theft Auto had tremendous success in the gaming world and still do.
We’re proud to have established a little list of some of the best Mafia games ever made, so feel free to start taking notes:
Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven (2002)
Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven, or simply Mafia, is the very first game in the highly successful game series with the same moniker. This game sets the story in the fictional city of Lost Heaven during the 1930s, and it allows players to explore a world of organized crime. There’s an amazing story in this game, along with an authentic atmosphere that could make you swear that you’ve been teleported into the world of the Mafia. The graphics were clearly obsolete compared to what’s in the trend today, but that’s part of this unique game’s charm.
Mafia II (2010)
The sequel to the original Mafia game came out 8 years later, and it brings pretty much everything the first game did best to new heights. Mafia II is a true masterpiece of gangster games, and it takes players to the fictional city of Empire Bay during the 1940s and 1950s. The graphics are light-years better in the sequel, and the story can get you through a long list of emotions.
Words are useless at this point; just go ahead and play Mafia II ASAP if you like Mafia-themed games!
GTA Vice City (2002)
GTA Vice City is perhaps the most influential open-world game ever created and for good reasons. This game heavily involves mafia elements, although we cannot actually say that it’s exclusively focused on the Mafia. GTA Vice City offers a vast open-world environment filled with action, drama, and memorable characters played by great actors. The voices of the characters have been done by important names in the acting scene, such as Ray Liotta, Danny Trejo, Armando Riesco, and more.
The Godfather: The Game (2006)
The Godfather: The Game has obviously been inspired by the iconic film series directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and it gives players a chance to climb through the ranks of the Corleone crime family. It’s safe to say that this game is a faithful adaptation of the classic story from The Godfather movies.
GTA III (2001)
Grand Theft Auto III, or GTA III, is not specifically about the Mafia, but it still features various criminal organizations, such as the Leone crime family. This iconic game made the transition from a 2D open world to a 3D environment, which is why it has been hugely influential in the gaming industry. Nowadays, there are numerous open-world video games out there, and probably most of them got inspiration from GTA III.
Sleeping Dogs (2012)
Sleeping Dogs is a game set in Hong Kong and centered on the Triad, while it offers a compelling narrative that’s teeming with undercover operations, intense martial arts, as well as a captivating open-world environment. Sleeping Dogs is practically GTA on steroids, as it takes the fighting scenes to entirely new heights.
Yakuza 0 (2015)
Yakuza 0 is focused on the Japanese underworld, and it offers a deep dive into the world of organized crime. This game offers intense combat, a complex story, as well as a captivating open-world environment.
Which one of the games mentioned above has caught your interest the most and why? Feel free to tell us in the comment section, as we are always eager to check other people’s opinions!
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.