.webp?width=660)
Are you looking for some of the best classic mafia-themed games to try right now? If so, you are in luck. The genre that covers tales of the Mafia, crime, and the underworld has always fascinated gamers. You can say the thrill players experience while building an empire and handling shady deals and betrayals, of course, is unmatchable.
Over the years, many studios have experimented with this particular theme, but the fact is that only a few games have truly nailed the essence of the underworld. These games have successfully managed to balance storytelling, atmosphere, and gameplay in a way that makes players feel like they’re part of an epic crime drama. With this in mind, here we are presenting you with five of the best classic mafia-themed games you can still enjoy today.
The Mafia Series
If there is one game that immediately comes to our mind whenever we talk about this specific crime underworld genre, it is The Mafia Series itself. From the original Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven in 2002 to the newest release, Mafia: The Old Country, the series has set the gold standard for crime-driven storytelling games.
The very first game in this series followed the story of Tommy Angelo, a cab driver who became a mobster during the 1930s in the fictional city of Lost Heaven, USA. Despite being developed in the early 2000s, the game introduced some of the best damage physics, like real-time deformations and explosions. The city is big and offers much exploration with 12 km² of area to traverse.
Mafia II pushed the cinematic experience even further. Its protagonist, Vito Scaletta, is still remembered as one of gaming’s most well-written mafia leads. For anyone who wants the most authentic mafia gaming experience, this series is the perfect place to start.
The Godfather Series
When you base a game on one of the greatest films ever made, expectations are sky-high. The Godfather series (2006–2009) from EA may not have reached the heights of what the movie had achieved, but it did manage to deliver a solid mob experience that fans still remember to this day.
Developed from a third-person perspective, it was an open-world shooter game. The first game in this edition followed the story of our protagonist, Aldo Trapani, where he had to rise through the ranks of the Corleone family in 1940s New York. What really made it special was its introduction of the “Black Hand” control mechanism, which let you actually intimidate, beat up, or negotiate and deal with the shop owners. Yes, a much more mafia-like vibe.
Its follow-up edition in 2009, The Godfather II, shifted more towards the strategy elements of the game. For example, it lets players manage rackets and territories across multiple cities.
Though the series eventually faded, you can still find its influence in later adapted titles that shared similarities in themes.
Sleeping Dogs
At first glance, many might believe that Sleeping Dogs is nowhere near a classic mafia-themed game. United Front Games and Square Enix launched Sleeping Dogs in 2012, and to this day, it remains one of the most underrated open-world games of its generation.
You play as Wei Shen, an undercover cop investigating the triad group Sun On Yee - one of the most dangerous groups in all of Hong Kong. The gameplay combines hand-to-hand combat, shooting, and fun car chases. From time to time, you will need to make important decisions, like choosing between your cop duty and the growing loyalty to criminals you are supposed to betray, which adds emotional depth to the story.
Unlike the other crime titles, which focused heavily on gun combat, the martial arts aspect feels refreshing here. The sad thing is, despite building a loyal fan base and overseeing huge demands, it never got the sequel it deserved.
L.A. Noire
Here, Rockstar Games has flipped the script, as this time you are not going to endorse the crime, but you have to curb the underworld on the side of the law. As per the plot, you are Cole Phelps, a detective investigating cases that range from petty thefts to mafia conspiracies in post-war Los Angeles in the 1940s.
L.A. Noire focuses mainly on investigation-related tasks. You won't just shoot your way through missions here; you collect clues, interrogate suspects, and build a case. Here is an interesting fact: there is a facial animation feature, which means that while interrogating someone (mainly NPCs), you can read the suspect's emotions. Also, you have an option to either believe or doubt them. At that time, L.A. Noire was among the few games that used motion capture technology at its best.
The game plays in a third-person perspective with an open-world environment. Though its pacing wasn’t for everyone, L.A. Noire remains a masterpiece in storytelling and atmosphere.
Yakuza Series
Mafia may have defined the Western mob games, but you can say that Yakuza is its Eastern sibling. Developed by SEGA, the series has a cult following thanks to its mix of gritty crime drama combined with side missions that some of you might find unusual for such a serious genre.
The game features some of the actual locations and cities from Japan, like Kabukicho, a red light district. The storylines generally revolve around Kazuma Kiryu, a former yakuza who's been trying to break into a straight life but is unable to because of his past. Each game melds depth and emotional storytelling with over-the-top street combat. The entire Yakuza series has a total of nine main games, and all the subsequent games follow events from the previous edition in the series.
In recent years, the franchise has expanded globally, with remakes (Kiwami), prequels (Yakuza 0), and spin-offs (Like a Dragon).
For more like this, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com, the best website for gamers.