Best Games Like Mafia

Summary

• The Mafia Trilogy offers a character-driven story set in the 1930s, 1940s-50s, and late 1960s, providing a unique period drama experience in the crime sim genre.
• Fans of the series can try other games like Yakuza 0, Narcos: Rise of the Cartel, and The Godfather 2 to satisfy their craving for similar settings and characters.
• For those who enjoy open-world crime games, Grand Theft Auto 4’s expansions, Red Dead Redemption, Cartel Tycoon, American Fugitive, and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City offer immersive narratives and engaging gameplay.

With the Mafia Trilogy available in its definitive form, it is the perfect time to get into the series and experience the saga at its best. Even though the games are set in an open-world environment, their main focus is telling a character-driven story with shocking twists and a powerful narrative.

In addition to being crime sims, the Mafia Trilogy is also a period drama set during the 1930s, the 1940s-50s, and the late 1960s. For veterans of the series looking to dive into another series with a similar setting or characters while they wait for the Mafia remake, this list includes games that fans may love in the meantime.

Updated January 28, 2024, by Michael Llewellyn: The Mafia Trilogy puts players in the shoes of gangsters, but even though they’re villains, the protagonists are complex characters with a sense of honor. They are crime dramas with great stories, and whether one is on the right or wrong side of the law, the Mafia Trilogy offers a unique experience compared to similar action games. Thankfully, several games offer compelling crime stories. This list is updated to include another game with an excellent crime story to immerse oneself in.

32

A Way Out

A Co-Op Prison Escape Drama

A Way Out is a prison escape drama and action-adventure game with excellent split co-op gameplay. The drama is set during the 1970s and captures the cinematography and tone of crime thrillers made during the time, like the prison escape drama Papillon starring Steve McQueen and police thrillers like The French Connection starring Gene Hackman. A Way Out features a lot of exploration and side content with varied mini-games that keep its gameplay from getting stale.

31

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days

A Third-Person Crime Story With A Pair Of Villanous Protagonists

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is a sequel that intensifies the experience with its gritty violence and utilizes third-person cover-and-shoot action. The over-the-shoulder camcorder footage viewpoint enhances the immersion with an artistic flair that has aged well since its launch in 2010. The game was developed by the same team responsible for the Hitman series and is deemed to be within the same universe, as evidenced by Kane and Lynch’s newspaper report in Hitman: Blood Money and their cameos in Hitman: Absolution.

The Kane & Lynch games are a lot more linear than Hitman, but they take players on a crime-ridden spree of action and violence from start to finish. After Lynch accidentally kills the daughter of a crime boss, both characters spend their time fleeing Triads and corrupt cops along the streets of Shanghai. Kane & Lynch 2 is playable on the Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X.

30

Saints Row: The Third Remastered

A Humorous Take On The Open Crime Genre

The Saints Row series is a tongue-in-cheek take on the open-world crime genre and offers fans of Mafia and Grand Theft Auto a valid alternative with its slapstick humor and silliness. A game featuring the late Burt Reynolds as the mayor of Steelport, playing himself, is certainly one to try. The gunplay, violence, and hand-to-hand combat are excellent for the genre and there are choice-based decisions that affect the narrative.

Saints Row The Third first launched in 2011 on the PS3 and Xbox 360, but thanks to the remaster, players get to experience a wonderfully polished experience on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. It features improved textures, lighting, and improvements to the frame rates. The third entry in the Saints Row series is one of the best and worth experiencing on modern systems if players want a reprieve from the serious tone of the Mafia games.

29

Battlefield: Hardline

A Gripping Tale Of Cops And Robbers

Flipping the script and putting the player in the role of one of the good guys is Battlefield: Hardline. This entry takes the war to the streets, and it’s one of the strongest entries in terms of its single-player story in the line of the Battlefield games. It was developed by Visceral who is behind terrific single-player experiences with Dead Space and the Godfather video games. The team brought in quality writers like Tom Bissell and Rob Auten to tell a compelling story that shines with Hardline.

Battlefield: Hardline puts the players in the shoes of a Miami cop, Nick Mendoza. Mendoza must deal with various factions of drug dealers, gangsters, mafia, and corruption. Hardline‘s episodic nature gives it the feel of an action-packed detective mini-series. Despite launching in 2015, Battlefield: Hardline is a great-looking title with stunning visuals, animations, and more importantly, an excellent script woven into the action.

28

Watch Dogs 2

Hi-Tech Open World Action

Watch Dogs 2 drops the somber tone of its predecessor, adding a bigger world, more fun, shenanigans, and a more engaging protagonist in Marcus Holloway. Marcus joins a hacktivist group called DedSec and is determined to bring down a corrupt computing network corporation called Blume and their ctOS, which is used to manipulate and harm its citizens.

As well as a corrupt corporation, DedSec is dealing with San Fran Frisco’s criminal element and gangs, putting an end to drug running, prostitution, and more. There are a lot of activities that help the world Watch Dogs 2 come to life. More importantly, the hacking-based gameplay, stealth, and action are accessible and fun.

27

The Darkness

A Supernatural Revenge Story

If fans of Mafia want a gangster tale with a supernatural twist, then The Darkness has them covered. It is based on a comic book series of the same name and places players in the shoes of a young mobster named Jackie Estacado who is marked for assassination by his mafia boss Uncle Paulie. During the assassination attempt, a demonic entity called The Darkness manifests from within Jackie’s blood and destroys the mobsters.

It’s a revenge story where Jackie uses his new powers to take down Paulie’s criminal empire, piece by piece. The Darkness is a first-person shooter with a super-powered twist and a grippingly dark story with outstanding performances from the A-Team’s Dwight Schultz hamming it up as Paulie, Faith No More’s Mike Patton voicing The Darkness, and The Fringe’s Kirk Acevedo as Jackie.

26

Hotline Miami

Take Down Gangsters In This Surreal 1980s Miami Shooter

Hotlines Miami is a retro-styled top-down shooter with a cleverly told and surreal story where the players are tasked with destroying the Russian Mafia. The story is unique, strange, and one of the most original and visceral in gaming. Equally visceral is the combat and expertly crafted levels that keep the action moving without getting stale.

Fans of the Mafia series will love the mature narrative and its throwback visuals reminiscent of the classic GTA games on the PlayStation. Hotline Miami challenges players to question their motives and offers depth beyond the dialogue. It’s a rich experience that crime fans will love.

25

Yakuza 0

An 80s Set Crime Drama With Great Character Development

The Yakuza series features several times on this list. However, fans of Mafia should start with the Yakuza 0. Its story is set in the 1980s and stars series lead Kiryu in his early days as a junior member of the Tojo Clan. Yakuza 0 also features Kiryu’s rival, Goro Majima, as a secondary protagonist as he tries to come to terms with being ousted from the Tojo and plans to find his way back in.

There is a complex narrative with betrayals, friendships, and scheming between the various families embroiled within the Tojo. However, the serious tone and drama are offset by some of the most humourous and worthwhile side content seen in an open-world crime sim. Of course, the quests are optional, but the streets of Kamurocho and Sotenbori come to life with their fantastic cast of characters.

24

Narcos: Rise Of The Cartel

XCOM-Style Strategy Game Based On The Narcos TV Show

• Released: 2019
• Platform: PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One
• Developer: Kuju

Narcos: Rise of the Cartel is a tactical strategy game similar to the XCOM series. It is based on the true-life Netflix crime drama Narcos, which focuses on the drug baron Pablo Escobar. It isn’t as complex or challenging as the XCOM series, but the gameplay is fun and stays faithful to the source material.

Players can take on the role of a Cartel or try taking them down as the DEA. It is an enjoyably low-budget strategy game, but it’s better played on the PC, as the controls for consoles feel like an afterthought.

23

The Godfather 2

Crime Drama Set Alongside The Events Of Iconic Film

• Released: 2009
• Platform: PC, PS3, and Xbox 360
• Developer: EA Redwood Shores

Like the first title, The Godfather 2 video game features a story that intertwines with the films. Although it does take some liberties here and there with the plot, The Godfather 2 is a solid mobster game where the main character is responsible for taking down rival families and running an extortion business.

The game features tactical missions called Crime Rings, which focuses on taking over criminal enterprises to strengthen the protagonist’s gang members. The tactical mechanics are arguably better than The Godfather 2’s central story mode. Moreover, the setting and themes are similar to the Mafia Trilogy, making it a worthwhile entry for fans.

22

GTA 4: Lost And The Damned & Ballad Of Gay Tony

Expansions With More Gripping Stories Than The Main Game

On its own, Grand Theft Auto 4 is a fantastic crime game with an interesting protagonist and a gritty storyline. However, criticisms were aimed at the pacing and repetition of events and side missions, most notably Niko’s cousin and his phone calls. The fourth entry in GTA came full circle with the Episodes From Liberty City expansions, The Lost and the Damned, and Ballad of Gay Tony.

The Lost and the Damned put players in the shoes of a high-ranking biker gang member called The Damned named Johnny in one of GTA’s darker stories. There is a greater emphasis on gang warfare, territories, and character development. The Gang Wars side missions show Johnny and his gang taking control of the city piece by piece. The Ballad of Gay Tony is a lighter and more colorful take on the drab yellow and brown visuals of GTA 4, making it somewhat reminiscent of GTA Vice City.

In Ballad, the protagonist is Luis, a bodyguard to a nightclub owner and ex-gangster. The player can take on side missions called Drug Wars, similar to Lost and the Damned’s Gang Wars content. The best side content is the Club Management missions, which see Luis as the head bouncer for the Prince Nightclubs. The Episodes From Liberty City are shorter, but the pacing and character development are better executed than in the main game. Moreover, they add value to Niko’s story as all three narratives are intertwined and cleverly told.

21

Red Dead Redemption

Deal With Outlaws And Villains In This Epic Western

Launched in 2010, Red Dead Redemption is a spiritual follow-up to the cowboy shooter Red Dead Revolver. Taking the series into a vast open world in the Wild West, Red Dead Revolver takes inspiration from some of the most iconic Westerns with a protagonist with more than a passing resemblance to Clint Eastwood, much like its predecessor.

As the protagonist, John Marston, players participate in shootouts, duels, and more as he must take down his old gang. Marston can either be an honorable gunslinger or an outlaw who causes citizens to run away in terror. Mafia fans will appreciate the character-driven story and a protagonist with realistic motives as a man forced back into the life of a gunslinger.

20

Cartel Tycoon

A Real Time Strategy Crime Sim

• Released: 2022
• Platform: PC
• Developer: Moon Moose

Cartel Tycoon is a real-time strategy game and a business sim set during the 80s and 90s narcos trade. Players who prefer to take control of the business aspect of running an empire of crime should give this crime sim a chance.

Where the Mafia games take inspiration from gangster movies like The Godfather, Cartel Tycoon is the perfect game for fans of the true-crime Narcos series on Netflix. The game has a sandbox mode that is procedurally generated for replay value and a story mode to unlock lieutenants and more.

19

American Fugitive

A Crime Sim Inspired By The Classic GTA Games On The PS1

• Released: 2019
• Platform: PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One
• Developer: Fallen Tree Games

Many gamers in the 90s were introduced to the crime genre with the original top-down Grand Theft Auto games. Even though the GTA series experimented with their critically acclaimed Chinatown Wars game for handhelds, the classic style has been forgotten in favor of the 3D open-world spectacles from GTA 3 onward.

Fallen Tree Games has created a love letter to the classics with American Fugitive. Players take on the role of a fugitive from the law after getting framed for his father’s murder. To survive, the protagonist must infiltrate and work with the criminal underground to find the actual killer and prove his innocence. Of course, it wouldn’t be a GTA clone if there was no carnage and crime of all descriptions to partake.

18

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Miami-Set Crime Drama With An All-Star Cast

First released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is still one of the most popular titles in the GTA series and one of the best mafia video games. The 1980s setting, the fully voiced characters, and the music made for one of the most iconic open-world games ever.

In terms of story and atmosphere, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is about as mobster as it gets for fans of the Mafia series. Goodfellas actor Ray Liotta stars as the protagonist, Tommy Vercetti, and is backed up by an outstanding supporting cast. Vice City also takes inspiration from films and TV shows like The Godfather, Scarface, and Miami Vice.

17

The Warriors

A Street-Level Crime Game Based On The Movie

First released in 2005, The Warriors video game is an action beat-em-up with more in common with coin-op fighters like Streets of Rage than it does the Mafia series. However, for a different take on gang warfare, The Warriors is an excellent alternative with a great story.

The story works as an expansion of the movie and follows the same script. However, it allows the characters of the 1979 movie more time to develop as the film is renowned for its relentless pace as a chase movie. The voice cast is excellent, with most of the original cast reprising their roles from the movie to make it feel as authentic as possible.

16

The Getaway

A British Crime Game Inspired By The Guy Ritchie Movies

Released on the PlayStation 2 in 2002, The Getaway was a Grand Theft Auto clone inspired by British gangster movies like Get Carter, Lock, Stock, Two Smoking Barrels, and Snatch.

Unlike the Grand Theft Auto series, The Getaway is set in modern-day London. As a result, the setting is a nice change of pace from the sometimes overused modern-day New York and Los Angeles settings. Furthermore, players will also have to deal with rival gangs like the Yardies, the Bethan Green Mob, the 14K Triads, and others.

15

Max Payne 3

A Character-Driven Action Game Dealing With Violent Gangs And Cartels

Released in 2012 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and the PC, Max Payne 3 is a third-person action shooter that once again puts players in the shoes of the iconic and titular Max Payne. Unlike the Mafia series, Max Payne is a linear shooter focusing on character development and keeping the story and its momentum moving.

However, it is very story-driven, and many fans have argued that the Mafia games should lose the open-world setting and employ a more direct and focused approach to the story. Visually, the game still holds up, and surprisingly, there is no remake, remaster, or 60FPS boost on the Xbox Series X/S.

14

Blood & Truth

A Cinematic British Crime Game In VR

• Released: 2019
• Platform: PSVR
• Developer: London Studio

Released in 2019, Blood & Truth is a first-person shooter created exclusively for PlayStation VR. It is an on-rails cinematic shooter. Stylistically, it is a different experience compared to the Mafia games.

However, the story is about London mobsters in the vein of a Guy Ritchie movie or the television series Gangs of London, which would appeal to fans of the story-driven games with narratives that have similar twists and betrayals seen in the Mafia series. The Cockney stereotypes and dialogue get a bit tiring, but the action in Blood & Truth is the closest players will get to star in their own action/gangster movie.

13

Sleeping Dogs

A Hong Kong Crime Drama With John Woo-Style Action

First released in 2012, Sleeping Dogs was eventually released as Sleeping Dogs: The Definitive Edition on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2014, with improvements to its graphics, framerates, and lighting. The game still stands as one of the best mafia video games available, and it is a Hong Kong movie-inspired thriller that martial arts fans love.

The game puts players in the shoes of an undercover Chinese-American cop, Wei Shen. He has infiltrated the Triads in Hong Kong. Unfortunately for Shen, many of his childhood friends are in the Triads, and he struggles to separate his job from his emotions.