Mafia: Definitive Edition is the remake of the revered 2002 game that became a cult classic thanks to its emotionally-charged narrative, authentic depiction of mobster life, and a strong focus on characters and world building. With its gripping story full of shocking twists and turns, it’s easy to see why so many gravitated towards this definitive edition of a beloved franchise.
If you loved sinking your teeth into the compelling tale of a mobster’s rise and fall in the criminal underworld, you’re probably looking for more games that can capture that same magic. The good news is there are plenty of great options out there for fans of Mafia: Definitive Edition.
This list will cover 10 games that emulate the best aspects of Mafia: Definitive Edition – the gritty stories, the memorable characters, and those richly-realized worlds that truly transport you. Let’s dive in!
01. Grand Theft Auto V
When it comes to expansive open-world games centered around a life of crime, few match the scale and detail achieved by Rockstar’s juggernaut Grand Theft Auto V.
Across the sprawling map of Los Santos and Blaine County, you’ll experience a scathing satire of modern American life while pulling off dangerous heists, engaging in mob turf wars, and customizing your characters. With three playable protagonists – Michael, Franklin and Trevor – you’ll see this world from varied perspectives too.
For fans missing the mobster antics of Mafia, GTA V lets you live out those fantasies in dramatic fashion. It may not have the same serious tone, but the stories weave together pop culture, crime and social commentary into one unforgettable package.
02. Red Dead Redemption 2
While not focused on traditional mobsters, the epic tale told in Red Dead Redemption 2 still scratches a similar itch. It pulls you into the boots of Arthur Morgan, an outlaw in the deadly Van der Linde gang as they fight to survive the death rattles of the Wild West.
With complex personalities shaping the gang’s trajectory, you’ll experience a memorable story of loyalty and betrayal worth of any mob epic. Few games craft such a believable open world, packing adventures into every corner of its rugged landscapes. Thanks to jaw-dropping graphics and incredible attention to detail, Red Dead 2’s America feels alive.
03. Yakuza Series
Of all the options here, Sega’s long-running Yakuza franchise may come closest to capturing the real mobster experience delivered in Mafia. While centered on Japanese crime syndicates rather than the Italian mafia, these games still weave engrossing crime dramas full of unforgettable characters.
Following stoic series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, the Yakuza games dive deep into the seedy underbelly of organized crime while humanizing its players. One minute you’re taking on ruthless gangsters in street brawls, the next you’re helping citizens in need. It balances gritty drama with hilarious escapades flawlessly.
04. Sleeping Dogs
This open world action game developed by United Front Games takes us away from the American mob and into the inner workings of the Chinese Triads in Hong Kong. You play as Wei Shen, an undercover cop infiltrating the Sun On Yee Triad organization.
What follows is a riveting crime story full of hand-to-hand combat, high-speed pursuits and plenty of moral dilemmas. Sleeping Dogs builds out a bustling Asian metropolis brimming with sights and sounds as gang factions vie for control. It captures the tense wire-walking act of an undercover cop torn between duty and brotherhood.
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05. L.A. Noire
Living the mob life involves plenty of run-ins with the law. For a different perspective, L.A. Noire puts you in the shoes of Detective Cole Phelps as he solves a string of cases in a hauntingly accurate 1947 Los Angeles.
Though not directly related to mob activities, the seedy crimes Cole must investigate offer a window into post-war America’s dark side. With groundbreaking motion capture used to read suspects’ faces for lies, L.A. Noire revolutionized detective work in video games for an experience unlike anything else.
06. Scarface: The World Is Yours
Fans of Mafia’s mob storytelling will feel right at home in this game inspired by Brian DePalma’s classic gangster film Scarface. Here, you take the role of Tony Montana with a chance for revenge after his movie demise.
The open world lets you seize control of drug operations, form alliances with other crime lords, and blast rival gangs away in signature over-the-top fashion. While the gameplay hasn’t aged too gracefully, the Scarface setting and mythos at the core still make this one an essential mob experience.
07. Mafia II
As the direct sequel to the original Mafia game, Mafia II is an obvious choice for anyone hungry for more of that Definitive Edition flavor. Set from 1945 to 1955, this entry whisks you away to the fictional Empire Bay as war veteran Vito Scaletta becomes entangled with the major crime families.
With its 1940s soundtrack and meticulously recreated cityscapes inspired by New York and San Francisco, Mafia II feels ripped right out of classic mobster movies. The narrative hits familiar beats but builds upon the first game’s foundation wonderfully.
08. Saints Row: The Third
For a much more outrageous open world crime game that parodies the mob aesthetic, Saints Row: The Third plops you into the city of Steelport as leader of the Third Street Saints gang. After a bank heist gone wrong, you’ll wage all-out war against rival criminal organizations for control of Steelport.
Don’t expect the same gripping drama as Mafia – Saints Row proudly embraces absurdity in every aspect, like weaponizing giant purple dildos as melee weapons. But its over-the-top take on mob life provides endless goofy fun compared to Mafia’s stark seriousness.
09. Max Payne 3
While not open world, Rockstar’s Max Payne 3 brings similar crime grit through its linear, story-driven action. Set nine years after the last game, an older Max continues his bodyguard work in São Paulo, Brazil only to get embroiled in kidnapping conspiracies.
Fans of the mob power struggles in Mafia will sink their teeth into Max’s efforts to protect the wealthy Branco family from a local mob faction. The game seamlessly blends cinematic gunplay with a dark narrative punctuated by Max’s wry hardboiled monologues.
10. The Godfather
For the quintessential interactive mob experience, look no further than this superb game based on Francis Ford Coppola’s legendary film trilogy. The Godfather puts you in the role of a rookie working for the Corleone family as you make your bones and become a made man.
Expertly blending movie story beats with new original content, The Godfather feels like a seamless expansion of the films with more opportunities for mob management. Extorting businesses, commanding your soldiers in mob wars never gets old, especially with outstanding voice acting from original cast members. Any mafia fan will be doing cannoli here.
Wrap-Up
Whether you want a grim crime drama or some outrageous open-world fun, these 10 games deliver memorable mob-flavored experiences for devotees of Mafia: Definitive Edition. From the seedy underworld of Grand Theft Auto V to the masterful storytelling of The Godfather, there are plenty more criminal empires left to build.
Just itching for more Mafia? Keep an eye out for rumored sequels on the horizon. But in the meantime, fans should find lots to enjoy in these titles spiritual successors until we return to Empire Bay or Lost Heaven again. Just stay on the right side of the law!
