How to Play All Mafia Games in Order of Release – Augustman Singapore

The Mafia series is not dead! After releasing remastered versions of the first three games in 2020, Hangar 13 and 2K are coming together for the fourth installment in the series. It will be called Mafia: The Old Country, and, as previous rumors confirm, it will be a prequel to the first game in the series.

What’s even better is that Hangar 13 plans to release the game in 2025! That’s the same year that Rockstar Games has chosen to release the long-awaited GTA 6. God bless gamers. What a time to be alive!

For Mafia fans, that leaves little time to do the homework. For a new game that is supposed to be a prequel, fans have to go through all the video games in the franchise, inspired by cinematic works like Good guys And The godfather, in their chronological order of release. Fortunately, new players can check out the dated Mafia 1 and go directly to Mafia: The Definitive Edition – a faithful reproduction of the original game with modern graphics, animations and physics, while retaining the storyline.

Then comes the fan favorite Mafia 2 – the most critically acclaimed installment in the series and still considered better than the third game. Hangar 13 also released a remastered version of the same in 2020 as part of the Mafia: Trilogy.

In this story we will go through all Mafia games in chronological order and explore the storylines and generational improvements. Note that we are skipping the two spin-off mobile games that have no impact on the storyline of the main games and are no longer available to play on any of the mobile stores.

Without waiting any longer, let’s put on the Italian suits and hats as we explore the glamorous world of the undercover that is in the Mafia series.

Exploring the timeline of the ‘Mafia’ games and their release order

Mafia

Released in: 2002
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox

Mafia came at a time when game developers had limited tools at their disposal to create digital masterpieces. However, it proved that an emphasis on strong storytelling negated the need to pack a video game with cutting-edge graphics and as many features as possible.

Mafia tells the story of Tommy Angelo, a hard-working taxi driver who becomes involved with one of the two mafia families in Lost Heaven, Illinois. The game’s plot takes the player on Tommy’s journey through the ranks of the organized crime family and ultimately to the top of the Don Salieri crime syndicate. However, every action has a consequence and Tommy must ultimately pay the price for betrayal.

Although Mafia is a story, the game drops the player into a period-correct fictional view of most American cities in the 1930s. From vintage cars to old-school weapons and retro clothing, Mafia does its best to set the mood. You can pay speeding tickets or get into a shootout with the police. The music of the time also earned this video game several awards.

Despite the lack of open world free roam, Mafia a gold standard in video game storytelling. The recipe was so good that Hangar 13 had to recreate it in 2020 using modern crafting techniques.

Mafia 2

Released in: 2010
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Classic macOS

mafia games in order — Image Credits: Courtesy 2K via Steam

Mafia 2 came almost a decade after the first game and raised the bar for narrative video games depicting organized crime families. While the plot was similar to the first, the storytelling and direction, along with the game’s much more detailed setting, made it the best Mafia game we have ever seen.

You step into the shoes of Vito Scaletta, a petty criminal in early 1940s America who is arrested after a robbery gone wrong. Instead of serving a prison sentence, he decides to join the US Army and during his service he encounters the temptation of the Mafia in Sicily. Shortly after returning to the US for a break, he gets involved in the world of crime with his accomplice and rises through the ranks of the thriving Mafia scene. After enduring endless betrayals and hardships, Vito becomes a feared criminal.

The game’s setting in Empire Bay helped to better convey Vito’s story. With period-specific car replicas and fashion, the gameplay experience improved dramatically, especially with the new cover system and melee combat.

Fun fact: Vito is tasked with taking out the retired Tommy Angelo from the first game!

Mafia 3

Released in: 2016
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, macOS

Considered one of the most boring installments in the series, Mafia 3 tried a slightly different approach to the core concept of compelling storytelling in a more modern world. Set in the 1960s, Mafia 3 discussed concerns about racial discrimination against the backdrop of a thriving New Bordeaux, a fictional image of New Orleans.

You play as Lincoln Clay, a war veteran who wanted to live a peaceful life by finding a regular job, but was forced to turn to crime to help his adopted family. After Clay pulls off a bank robbery for the local mafia, his entire family is murdered by the mafia. Thus begins a story of revenge and taking back control of the streets. Unlike previous mafia games, Lincoln now has several crime bosses under his command, including Vito Scaletta, the main character from Mafia 2.

Mafia 3‘s setting is easily one of the most vibrant and highly detailed in the series. You get glamorous casinos, festivals, fast muscle cars speeding through the streets, alligators and a beautiful recreation of 1960s New Orleans. Unfortunately, the repetitive nature of the in-game missions combined with the new documentary-style storytelling meant that Mafia 3 was not a fan favorite.

Mafia: The Definitive Edition

Released in: 2020
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming

After the gloomy reaction to Mafia 3Hangar 13 took a different path with the Mafia series by recreating the first game. The game, called Mafia: The Definitive Editionremained faithful to the script and storyline of the first title.

However, the developers took advantage of new game-building technologies and created Lost Heaven from scratch in exceptional detail. Look beyond the graphics, and the remastered version polished up the character of Tommy Angelo and gave him a new voice actor. The storyline was refined in certain areas to make it flow more smoothly.

Certain gameplay mechanics, such as the ability to take cover and use melee weapons, were added. Players could also enter a free-roam mode and explore the world. Unlike the original, Tommy could now find rideable motorcycles on the streets.

The release of Mafia: The Definitive Edition makes for a great entry point into the franchise before you start playing Mafia 2 And Mafia 3. So you can skip the first game and play this game first if you are short on time.

Mafia: The Old Country

Release in: 2025
Platforms: Confirmed for Microsoft Windows (Steam), PlayStation and Xbox

And that brings us to Mafia: The Old Country. This game is the fourth major installment in the series and is a prequel to the first game, documenting the beginnings of organized crime families in Italy. Although this game is chronologically the first game in the series, we recommend playing it one after the other to get a better context and discover all the hidden references.

The game’s teaser trailer gave a glimpse of the new protagonist and the setting. Instead of America, Mafia: The Old Country takes us back to Sicily in the 1900s. If the last three installments are anything to go by, the fourth game could recreate a period-perfect world of people, cars and their lives, all before the two world wars.

It’s definitely one of the games we’re most excited for in 2025.