Developer: Hanger 13
Platform: PC / Steam

Old Country Creates A Stunning Sicily That Forgets To Let You Play

If a game builds a breathtaking Sicily but won’t let you live there, did it really honor the family?

I suppose this is the funny part: Mafia has always been about making you feel complicit; however, Old Country mostly lets you watch.

Set in 1900s Sicily with Enzo Favara under Don Torrisi’s wing, it’s cinematic gold—the kind of world you can smell and almost taste—yet the minute you grab the controller, you feel the rails.

What Works in Mafia: The Old Country

• Tone and place: The opening hours hum with confidence—sunbaked vineyards, stony villages, early motorcars groaning up dirt roads. The cutscenes are sharp, the performances lived-in.
• Combat texture: Knife fights and early firearms have grit. That slow reload and kickback? It sells the era.
• Period toys: The 1900s tech isn’t just window dressing. Tricky driving, clattering weapons, and horse riding set a distinct pace, even if the last one is underused.

Where the Game Slips From Its Roots

Shallow Stealth Systems: Coins, bottles, and an overly generous takedown animation drain tension. Guards fall for the same trick, and the “stealth” label starts to feel like marketing.

Big World, Small Play: Vineyards and towns sprawl, but level design funnels you through corridors. Collectibles? More like breadcrumbs. Horse riding teases freedom, then shrugs.

Time-Skipped Storytelling: Enzo’s rise is told, not lived. Time jumps skip the struggle that should define him—undercutting consequence and the series’ grounded identity.

Missed Opportunities in Sicily

• Rival family pressure that never materializes: No turf wars, no shipment interceptions, no midnight vineyard raids.
• Economic presence left on the table: Vineyards and quarries serve as backdrops, not systems of favors, debts, and kickbacks you can pull.
• Reputation and consequence: Townsfolk reactions, police heat, and Torrisi’s trust could’ve formed a living feedback loop. It’s mostly absent.

Why It’s Still Worth a Look

The Old Country is a beautiful procession through a time and place tailor-made for the series—but it keeps you at arm’s length. It’s good, sometimes very good, yet it loses its way by not letting you inhabit the life it romanticizes.

• If you buy it, stay on the main path. The pacing works better when you don’t hunt every collectible.
• Turn off some driving assists for a sweatier, era-accurate feel.

Did You Know?

• Early Sicilian motorcars used hand cranks and friction brakes. That longer stopping distance you feel in-game? It’s historically on point.
• Shotgun reports were likely mixed, with references to black powder, which is why they sound punchy but hollow.

FAQ

Q: How long is Mafia: The Old Country?
A: Around 10–12 hours on standard difficulty if you stick to the critical path.

Q: Is there post-game content or DLC?
A: Post-game content is minimal, and DLC seems unlikely given the closed narrative arc at launch.

Q: Is it open world?
A: It’s a large, scenic map with mostly linear mission design and light exploration.

Q: Is it worth it at full price?
A: If you value cinematic storytelling and period detail, yes. If you want agency, systems, and re-playability, wait for a sale.

Q: Does stealth matter?
A: It’s present but shallow. Encounters often play better leaning into the gritty combat.

If you enjoyed our deep dive into Mafia: The Old Country, you might also like our Super Mega Space Blaster Special Turbo review — the rare shooter that we rated a perfect 5/5 for its hand-drawn charm and addictive gameplay.