If you’re a fan of gritty open-world crime games with deep, character-driven narratives, you’ve likely considered looking to buy Mafia: The Old Country after hearing all the hype from long-time series fans. I picked up my copy two months after launch, and I’m still finding new side missions and hidden lore details every time I boot it up, so I get why it’s stayed one of the most popular entries in the franchise for so long. This guide breaks down everything you need to know before you make your purchase, plus my top tips for getting the most out of your first 10 hours of gameplay so you don’t waste time fumbling through mechanics that the game never explicitly explains.
What to Check Before You Buy Mafia: The Old Country
First, make sure you’re buying the right version for your system. The PC version has optional 4K texture packs that take up an extra 35 GB of storage, so if you have a smaller SSD, you might want to grab the console version instead, unless you’re okay with storing it on a slower HDD. Loading times are only 10 to 15 seconds longer on HDD for most areas, so it’s not a huge downgrade if you’re short on fast storage space.
Always check if the version you’re buying includes the pre-order bonus DLC, even if you’re purchasing it long after launch. A lot of third-party sellers still include the exclusive Prohibition-era outfit pack and the 2-hour extra side mission for free, but some will sell it separately for $10, so it pays to read the fine print before you check out. If you already own other Mafia games, see if there’s a franchise bundle discount available. I saved $12 on my copy by bundling it with the Mafia 1 remake, which I’d been meaning to play anyway. The standard edition is more than enough for 90% of players, so don’t waste extra cash on the deluxe edition unless you really want the extra digital art book and soundtrack. I almost bought the deluxe edition on a whim when I first saw it, but I later realized the extra content wasn’t something I’d ever actually use, so I’m glad I stuck with the standard version.
Top Perks of Owning a Full Copy of Mafia: The Old Country
Unlike a lot of modern open world games, this one doesn’t lock any story content behind paywalls after you buy the base game. All post-launch free content updates are accessible to every player, no extra purchase required, so you don’t have to worry about missing out on new missions or character skins if you don’t want to spend extra cash. The devs have released three big free updates since launch, adding a full underground racing mode, new side missions, and a photo mode that lets you capture shots of the stunning 1920s Sicilian countryside.
The open world is fully explorable without any online connection required, which is perfect if you travel a lot or have spotty internet. I’ve played through half the story on long train rides without any issues, which I can’t say for most other big-budget games released in the last few years. You also get full access to the custom difficulty sliders, so you can tweak everything from enemy damage to police aggression to match your playstyle. If you just want to cruise around cobblestone village streets listening to vintage jazz without getting shot at every five minutes, you can set the difficulty to the lowest setting and do exactly that.
Common Mistakes First-Time Players Make After Purchase
I’ve talked to dozens of new players over the last year, and there are a few common mistakes almost everyone makes in their first few hours of gameplay that can ruin the early experience if you don’t know to avoid them. Most of these are easy to skip if you know what to look out for, so I’ve broken down the top ones to keep in mind as soon as you boot up the game for the first time:
- Spending all your early cash on weapons instead of safe houses. Safe houses let you save your game anywhere, skip unwanted police chases, and store extra weapons you pick up during missions, so they’re a far better investment than a fancy shotgun you’ll only use twice. You can pick up free weapons from fallen enemies during early missions anyway, so there’s no need to buy them upfront.
- Skipping side missions to rush through the main story. The side missions fill in huge gaps in the main plot, and many of them unlock exclusive perks like discounted ammo or permanent health boosts that make the final missions way easier to beat. Some of my favorite moments in the whole game came from random side missions I almost skipped to get to the next main story beat.
- Ignoring the notoriety system. If you commit crimes in front of too many witnesses, local gangs will start targeting you on sight, which can make even simple supply runs feel like a full-on combat mission. Lay low for a few in-game hours if your notoriety bar gets too full, or pay off a local cop to make the heat disappear instantly for a small fee.
That last one got me in so much trouble during my first playthrough. I robbed three liquor stores in a row in the same neighborhood, and I couldn’t go anywhere without getting shot at for almost two full in-game days. I had to hide out in a safe house in the countryside until things cooled down, which wasted almost an hour of real play time. So don’t make that same mistake, even if you’re tempted to make quick cash early on.
Is Buying Mafia: The Old Country Worth It for Casual Players?
A lot of people ask me this, especially if they’ve never played any other Mafia games before, and the short answer is yes, for most people. The game does a great job of explaining the lore and character backgrounds without forcing you to play the earlier entries to understand what’s going on, so you don’t need any prior series knowledge to enjoy it. The writing is tight, the voice acting is top tier, and the world feels lived-in in a way that very few open world games manage to pull off.
The main story runs about 25 hours long if you take your time, and you can easily get another 30 hours of gameplay out of side missions and free roam activities if you want to explore every corner of the map. That works out to less than $1 per hour of entertainment if you buy the game at full price, which is a way better deal than most movie tickets or streaming subscriptions these days. It also goes on sale for 50% off every few months, so if you’re patient, you can grab it for an even better price.
But if you only like fast-paced, action-heavy games with no slow, story-driven sections, this might not be the right pick for you. The game has a lot of long cutscenes and slow, dialogue-heavy missions that build up the story, so if you hate sitting through cutscenes, you’ll probably get bored pretty quickly. I’d recommend watching a 10 minute gameplay clip online before you buy to make sure the tone matches what you’re looking for.
At the end of the day, whether you’re a long-time Mafia series fan or just looking for a new open-world game to sink your teeth into, you’ll get a ton of value when you buy Mafia: The Old Country. Just remember to check the version details before you purchase, prioritize safe houses over fancy weapons in your first few hours, and don’t be afraid to slow down and explore the world instead of rushing through the main story. I’ve replayed the full game three times now, and I still find new little details every time, so it’s a purchase I’ve never regretted.
