Mafia: Definitive Edition

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Lore & Background

The game's open world allows players to explore Lost Heaven at their leisure when not completing missions, mostly in the Free Ride game mode. Free Ride and Free Ride Extreme are merged into one mode, with the latter's outlandish side missions incorporated as hidden secrets. Collectibles hidden throughout the world include period-accurate magazines and comics such as Black Mask, Super Science Stories, Dime Detective Magazine, and Terror Tales, along with fictional collectibles like the Gangsters Monthly comic series based on events in the game and cigarette cards featuring Mafia series characters and their backstories. A post-launch update in October 2020 added new activities to Free Ride, including taxi missions and a racing mode at the autodrome featured in the mission 'Fair Play'. The update also added 'Noir Mode', a black-and-white filter as a homage to film noir, and various HUD options.

In Their Own Story

In 1938, mobster Tommy Angelo meets police detective John Norman and offers to tell his story to secure his family's protection. In 1930, Tommy is a taxi driver struggling through the Great Depression. He is strong-armed by Salieri gangsters Paulie Lombardo and Sam Trapani into helping them escape a Morello family ambush. After two Morello gangsters destroy his cab in revenge, Tommy joins the Salieri family. Over the years, he rises through the ranks, marries Sarah Marino, and carries out jobs including destroying a brothel, killing a prostitute named Michelle (whom he spares at Sam's request), and assassinating corrupt city councillor Roberto Ghillotti. By 1935, Tommy is promoted to caporegime. After Salieri kills the traitor Carlo, open war with Morello begins. Tommy kills Morello's brother Sergio and later Morello himself. In 1938, Tommy assassinates Congressman Hank Turnbull. When Tommy, Paulie, and Sam discover heroin in a stash of cigars, Tommy and Paulie pull a bank heist without cutting Salieri in. Paulie is killed, and Sam ambushes Tommy. Tommy kills Sam, then tells his story to Norman. Tommy testifies against the Salieri family, serves eight years in prison, and is relocated to Empire Bay under witness protection. In 1951, two hitmen approach him; Tommy is shot and dies on his front lawn, surrounded by his family.

Reader's Guide

Mafia: Definitive Edition was developed by Hangar 13 and published by 2K. The gameplay builds upon 2016's Mafia III, featuring enhanced mission dynamics and the introduction of motorcycles. A 'Classic Difficulty' setting is included, changing mechanics like ammunition management and police response to bring the game closer to the original 2002 game. Outside the main story, Free Ride mode allows exploration without mandatory objectives. The game includes collectibles such as period-accurate magazines and fictional Gangsters Monthly comics. A post-launch update added taxi missions, a racing mode, and 'Noir Mode'. The game was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on September 25, 2020, both individually and as part of the Mafia: Trilogy pack, which also includes a remastered version of Mafia II and a lightly altered port of Mafia III with its additional story packs. It was released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on August 14, 2026, as part of the Omertà Collection. The game received generally favorable reviews, with praise for revitalizing the story, performances, and graphics.

Did You Know?

• Mafia: Definitive Edition is a full remake of the 2002 game Mafia, built from the ground up with new assets and an expanded story.
• The game introduces motorcycles to the series for the first time.
• A post-launch update in October 2020 added 'Noir Mode', a black-and-white filter as a homage to film noir.
• The game was released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on August 14, 2026, as part of the Omertà Collection.
• The English voices were recast for the remake, while some veteran Czech Mafia voice cast returned.