Mafia II

🎮 Steam ⏳ 16 hours ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Cinematic Crime Drama #

This title is a third-person, story-driven crime drama set in the fictional city of Empire Bay, a richly detailed world inspired by post-war America from the 1940s to the 1950s. The MC is called Vito Scaletta, a Sicilian-American war veteran who returns home after World War II, only to find himself entangled in the criminal underworld in search of money, power, and belonging. The narrative is the game’s greatest strength. It’s mature, cinematic, and grounded, focusing more on loyalty, betrayal, and family than over-the-top action. Vito’s journey, along with his hot-headed best friend Joe Barbaro, feels authentic and tragic, making the story feel like a playable gangster film.

Authentic Worldbuilding Excellence #

The dialogue is sharp, the pacing is tight, and the voice acting, especially from Rick Pasqualone as Vito, is top-notch. Visually, it remains impressive for its time. The attention to detail in the cars, fashion, and architecture of Empire Bay captures the era’s mood perfectly, if you are a car enthusiast you’ll fall in love with this game solely because of it’s driving experience. The licensed soundtrack, featuring artists like Buddy Holly and Dean Martin, adds a ton of personality and helps immerse you in the world. In many ways this title has a similar quality level to the GTA titles, despite it’s scale being very small in comparison, and also not having as good of a sandbox, it still retains the world building and mainline plot quality level.

Linear Yet Powerful #

As for the gameplay, however, it definitely shows its limitations. The gunplay is competent but formulaic, and the open world, while beautiful, is surprisingly empty. There are no side missions or meaningful activities beyond the main story, which makes Empire Bay feel more like a backdrop than a living city. Still, the tight structure ensures that the narrative stays focused, avoiding unnecessary filler. Overall, this title stands out for its storytelling, atmosphere, and cinematic presentation rather than its mechanics. It’s a game that values mood and narrative depth over sandbox freedom. This title is a stylish, emotional crime saga that feels like a love letter to classic mob cinema, beautiful, moody, and unforgettable, even if it’s more linear than open-world.