If you’re a long-time fan of the Mafia franchise, or just love immersive open-world crime games set in eras past, you’ve probably been scrolling for mafia the old country reviews ps5 to figure out if the latest entry lives up to the series’ legacy. I spent 22 hours playing through the full campaign on PS5, testing everything from 4K performance to side mission variety, so I can give you an unfiltered look at what works, what doesn’t, and who this game is actually for. Don’t waste $70 on a title that doesn’t fit your playstyle—let’s break down exactly what you can expect when you boot it up on your console.
What Our Mafia: The Old Country Reviews for PS5 Reveal About Core Gameplay
First off, this is not the fast-paced, chaos-heavy open-world crime game you might be used to if you only play Grand Theft Auto. The Old Country leans into the slow, deliberate tone of the first two Mafia games, with gameplay that prioritizes story progression and world immersion over random mayhem. You play as Salvatore Costa, a young Sicilian farmer forced to work for the local mafia after his family’s land is seized, and every gameplay choice ties back to his journey through the criminal underworld.
Gunplay feels tight and weighty, with a cover system that actually works, unlike the janky mechanics from Mafia 3. You get access to a range of period-accurate weapons, from small pocket pistols to pump-action shotguns and even thrown molotov cocktails, each with distinct recoil and damage profiles. 60fps performance in the PS5’s performance mode makes every gunfight feel smooth and responsive, even when you’re facing off against 10 or more enemies at once. Stealth options are also surprisingly robust: you can sneak through vineyards to take out guards silently, bribe local police to look the other way, or distract enemies by setting off small explosions nearby.
Driving mechanics are intentionally clunky, since all the vehicles are 1920s vintage models that don’t handle like modern sports cars. It takes a few hours to get used to how they slide around on dirt roads or struggle to climb steep mountain paths, but it adds to the historical immersion. I found myself opting to walk or take a horse-drawn cart for short trips more often than not, just to take in the world around me. The 1920s Sicilian setting is rendered with incredible attention to detail, from the cobblestone streets of small coastal towns to the sun-baked vineyards and abandoned mountain villages you’ll explore during side missions.
Story and Character Depth: The Heart of This Mafia Entry
Anyone who plays the Mafia series knows the story is the main draw, and The Old Country does not disappoint. The plot spans 10 years of Salvatore’s life, from his first small jobs for the local don to his rise through the ranks of the mafia, and every choice you make has tangible consequences for the people around him. You’ll have to choose between loyalty to the mafia that gave him power, loyalty to his family who beg him to leave the criminal life, and loyalty to his own moral code as he sees the damage the mafia does to his hometown.
The characters feel like real people, not one-dimensional crime stereotypes. The local don, Don Moretti, isn’t just a cartoon villain—he’s a complicated man who came from poverty and sees the mafia as the only way to protect his community from the corrupt fascist government that controls the island. Salvatore’s sister, Giulia, is a teacher who openly criticizes the mafia, even when it puts her in danger, and her dynamic with Salvatore adds a lot of emotional weight to the story. Fully voiced Italian and English dialogue tracks let you choose how you want to experience the story, and the Italian voice cast in particular brings a level of authenticity to the setting that I haven’t seen in other games set in this era.
There are no “good” or “bad” endings here, just different outcomes based on the choices you make throughout the campaign. I played through twice to test different paths, and the second playthrough felt like a completely different story, with different side missions, character deaths, and final outcomes. Morality choices that change side mission outcomes mean you can replay the game multiple times without getting bored, and even small choices like whether to spare a rival gang member or turn him over to the police can have ripple effects hours later in the story.
PS5 Exclusive Features That Elevate the Experience
If you’re trying to decide whether to buy The Old Country on PS5 or another platform, the PS5 exclusive features make it the clear best choice for most players. The DualSense controller integration is some of the best I’ve seen in any PS5 game to date, with haptic feedback that changes depending on what you’re doing. Fire a shotgun, and you’ll feel a heavy, sharp kick through the controller; drive over a cobblestone street, and you’ll feel every bump and rattle of the vintage car’s suspension; even the feeling of pouring a glass of wine during a cutscene has a subtle, distinct vibration that makes the moment feel more real.
Adaptive triggers add another layer of immersion, especially when driving or shooting. The triggers get stiffer when you’re pressing down on the gas to drive up a steep hill, so you can feel when the car is struggling to gain traction. When you fire a gun, the trigger has a realistic pull weight that changes depending on the weapon, so pulling the trigger on a heavy rifle feels very different from pulling the trigger on a small pistol.
Load times are almost non-existent, even when fast traveling across the entire map. I tested fast traveling from the northern mountain village to the southern coastal town multiple times, and the load time was never more than 2 seconds, which is a huge improvement over the long load times from Mafia 3. 3D audio support also makes the world feel more alive: you can hear where distant gunshots are coming from, listen to street musicians playing around corners, and even hear the sound of waves crashing against the shore when you’re standing on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Activity cards let you jump straight to specific missions if you want to replay them to get a different outcome, which saves a lot of time if you’re trying to unlock all the endings.
Pros, Cons, and Who Should Buy This Game
No game is perfect, and The Old Country has a few flaws that might make it a bad fit for some players. After 22 hours of playtime, here’s my breakdown of the biggest advantages and drawbacks, plus who will get the most out of this title:
- Pros: Tight, responsive gunplay, historically accurate 1920s Sicilian setting, meaningful story choices that alter the campaign, 10+ hours of post-game side content, almost non-existent load times on PS5
- Cons: Intentionally clunky driving mechanics that frustrate players used to modern racing games, rare frame drops in crowded town squares during festival scenes, very limited character and vehicle customization options
- Best for: Fans of the first two Mafia games, players who prefer narrative-driven single player experiences over multiplayer chaos, history buffs who love immersive period settings
The clunky driving is the biggest complaint I see from other players, but it’s important to note that it’s an intentional design choice, not a bug. The developers wanted the vintage cars to feel authentic to the time period, so they handle much slower and less responsive than modern cars. It took me about 3 hours to get used to it, and after that it didn’t bother me at all, but if you prioritize smooth driving mechanics over story, you might want to wait for a sale before picking this up.
The limited customization is another small letdown. You can change Salvatore’s clothes and buy different guns, but you can’t modify your cars or change his physical appearance beyond a few different haircut options. It’s not a huge issue for most players, since the story is the main focus, but if you love customizing every part of your character and vehicles in open world games, you might be disappointed.
At the end of the day, our deep dive into mafia the old country reviews ps5 shows that it’s a solid, if slightly flawed, entry in one of the best crime game franchises of all time. It’s not perfect, but its heartfelt story, immersive setting, and smooth PS5 performance make it worth picking up if you’re a fan of the genre. If you prioritize tight driving mechanics over story, you might want to wait for a sale, but for everyone else, it’s a great addition to your PS5 library. Just don’t go in expecting a fast-paced, GTA-style chaos fest—this is a slow-burn, character-focused experience that rewards patience and attention to detail.
