Mafia II
Mafia II is a third-person action-adventure game set in the fictional American city of Empire Bay between 1945 and 1951. Players control Vito Scaletta through a story-driven campaign involving organized crime, navigating an open world on foot or by vehicle. Gameplay combines shooting, driving, and limited melee combat, with a wanted system that escalates law enforcement response based on criminal activity. The game features era-appropriate vehicles, licensed period music across multiple radio stations, and a cover-based combat system.
What it feels like
A harsh, unflinching tone pervades the crime narrative and the brutality of mob life. The story treats its crime narrative seriously and sincerely without irony or parody.
What it's about
Organized crime, mob activity, and the criminal underworld are the central subject. Grounded in the post-WWII American period (1945–1951) with period-authentic vehicles and music. Vito's arc involves climbing the Mafia hierarchy and the moral costs of organized crime.
How it plays
Combat revolves around taking cover and using cover-based positioning in gunfights. Cover-based shooting with firearms is a core combat interaction throughout missions. Driving era-appropriate vehicles is integral to navigation, mission design, and the open-world structure.
How it looks and sounds
The camera follows Vito from behind throughout gameplay, defining the perspective. Grimy, worn urban textures and realistic detail define Empire Bay's visual tone. Multiple radio stations play era-appropriate licensed period music across the 1945–1951 setting.
How it's structured
Empire Bay is a large continuous explorable urban space that the player navigates non-linearly between missions. A bounded story arc following Vito Scaletta's rise in the Mafia from 1945–1951 with a definite narrative conclusion. Designed as a solo experience with no multiplayer component, focused on the single-player campaign.
Kindred games
Shares Crime & Underworld, Third-Person, Historical, Gunplay.
Both lean into Crime & Underworld, Single-Player, Campaign, Third-Person.
Shares Open World, Third-Person, Crime & Underworld, Historical.
Both lean into Open World, Third-Person, Single-Player, Crime & Underworld.
Shares Crime & Underworld, Open World, Third-Person, Vehicular Control.
Both lean into Crime & Underworld, Campaign, Open World, Third-Person.
Closest hidden gems
A lesser-known kindred — Gunplay, Third-Person, Gritty, Grim. 88% positive across 4,693 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Gunplay, Third-Person, Campaign, Grim.
A lesser-known kindred — Crime & Underworld, Gunplay, Cover Shooter, Stealth. 95% positive across 4,598 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Crime & Underworld, Gunplay, Single-Player, Cover Shooter.
A lesser-known kindred — Open World, Third-Person, Melee Combat, Stealth. 90% positive across 4,775 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Open World, Third-Person, Single-Player, Melee Combat.