Mafia: The Old Country is finally here, and while its gameplay may not be the most innovative this year, the game's story and world have proven to be incredibly compelling. Set in the beautiful countryside of Sicily in the early 1900s, Mafia: The Old Country brings forth a strong prequel to the series, as protagonist Enzo works toward a life of crime and luxury.
Enzo is at the center of a classic rags-to-riches story, as he escapes his life as an indentured servant in the mines and finds himself becoming part of the powerful Torrisi crime family. Between the game's jaw-dropping setting and fantastic voice acting from the cast, Mafia: The Old Country may be shaking up one specific category at this year's Game Awards.
After Mafia: The Old Country, The Game Awards' Best Narrative Category May Be Filled With Tough Competition
Mafia: The Old Country Continues 2025's Storytelling Streak
Not every game that has been released this year has boasted a narrative focus. This year in general has featured a wide variety of games. From the intense role-playing featured in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 to the destruction-focused gameplay of Donkey Kong: Bananza, there has been a treasure trove of diverse titles for gamers to enjoy. However, there has also been an exciting return of compelling, well-written narratives, and Mafia: The Old Country definitely falls into that category.
Mafia: The Old Country's narrative-driven approach offers gamers a shorter experience, too. Most players can expect to complete the game in about 10-12 hours. This may not appeal to everyone, but for those who prefer a game's narrative over hours of content, Mafia: The Old Country's length keeps the story from overstaying its welcome.
Most Likely Contenders for Best Narrative at the 2025 Game Awards, At Least for Now
- Mafia: The Old Country
- Split Fiction
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Beyond these four games, there are still yet-to-be-released titles that could easily find a place on the nominee list. Ghost of Yotei is waiting on the horizon, and its revenge-fueled narrative is teasing something dark, yet beautiful. Upcoming games like Cronos: The New Dawn, Silent Hill f, Borderlands 4, Ninja Gaiden 4, Dying Light: The Beast, and Hell is Us all have the potential to surprise with their stories, too.
Of course, there's no way to know for sure which games will be nominated for each category, but titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Split Fiction definitely seem like some of the most likely possibilities for Best Narrative. As great as Mafia: The Old Country's story is, it's not exactly groundbreaking, and that could keep it from taking home the award, if nominated.
While Mafia: The Old Country is mainly a linear game, there is still a free roam option. Selecting Chapter Replay, then Explore, from the Main Menu will allow players to explore chapters more in-depth.
Mafia: The Old Country Closes Out the Summer With a Strong Crime-Fueled Tale
Although Mafia: The Old Country suffers from some performance issues and features derivative gameplay, its story has proven to be its saving grace. It's easy to lose oneself in the narrative and characters, as Enzo continues to dive deeper and deeper into Sicily's criminal underworld.
As of now, only time will tell what the nominations for Best Narrative at this year's Game Awards will be, but it would be surprising if Mafia: The Old Country wasn't at least nominated. It's not a perfect game, by any means, but it does a wonderful job at immersing players in Enzo's life. Each character in the story feels distinct and plays an important role in showcasing the highs and lows of giving one's life to a criminal organization, making it deserving of at least a few story-focused accolades.
Mafia: The Old Country
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 74 /100 Critics Rec: 66%
WHERE TO PLAY
Uncover the origins of organized crime in Mafia: The Old Country, a gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily. Fight to survive as Enzo Favara and prove your worth to the Family in this immersive third-person action-adventure set during a dangerous, unforgiving era.
Enzo will do anything for a better life. After a brutal childhood of forced labor, he's ready to risk everything to become a man of honor in the Torrisi crime family.
His oath to the Mafia, with all the power, temptation, and hardship it entails, is a burning reminder of this simple truth:
Family Takes Sacrifice.
This thrilling narrative is brought to life by stunning visuals, cinematic storytelling, and the authentic realism that the critically acclaimed Mafia series is known for. Enzo's story unfolds in a time when skill with a stiletto blade was a deadly asset, a lupara sawed-off shotgun was a go-to firearm, murderous vendettas raged for decades, and mafiosi patrolled their protection rackets on foot, horseback, or behind the wheel of turn-of-the-century motorcars.
