Parents' Guide to

Mafia: Definitive Edition

By David Chapman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Mob rules succeed in this remake of the noir classic.

Game Google Stadia , PlayStation 4 , Windows , Xbox One 2020
Mafia: Definitive Edition Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

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age 13+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Bill S.
Bill S. Parent of 13 and 14-year-old
February 13, 2023
age 13+

I would say 13+

There is language, but most teens have heard that kind of stuff before anyways, and for the violence almost every other game teens are playing these days have violence also.
JustYourAverage30YearOldGamer
JustYourAverage30YearOldGamer Adult
January 5, 2021
age 13+

Brutal, bloody shooter, not much else is a problem

VIOLENCE: (8/10) Violence is the primary concern, and rightly so, as there are frequent, bloody gunfights, and bloody fistfights, as well as some extremely brutal cutscenes, involving shooting someone point blank in the head. There is plenty of blood, casing bodies and the environment, though it is not excessive/over the top. LANGUAGE: (9/10) People mature enough to see the violence will be mature enough to hear the language, and swearing can only get so bad. Frequent uses of f--k and sh-t etc. SEX: (6/10) The character goes into what is called a wh*re house, where prostitutes attempt to seduce him while very scantly clad. There are plenty of sexual reference throughout the game's runtime, but nothing overly explicit, and sex and nudity are never actually shown. DRUGS: (3/10) Drugs are spoken about, drug trafficking is a large part of the mafia's dealings. However, you never see the drugs, or see anyone taking them, they are just frequently mentioned. IS IT GOOD: (8/10) Yes, this game is amazing, awesome storytelling and great graphics, surprisingly good gameplay even though the original is like, 18 years old. One scene has a race which may be rage inducing, but get over yourself.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 6 parent reviews

What’s It About?

MAFIA: DEFINITIVE EDITION is a remake of the original 2002 hit action/adventure game, Mafia. With new graphics, new voiceovers, and an expanded story and gameplay, the game spotlights the power and brutality of the mafia crime enterprises during the height of the Great Depression and the American Prohibition. Players take on the role of Tommy Angelo, a poor but hard-working cabbie who finds himself dragged into the middle of a turf war between two crime families. Leaving his old life behind, Tommy joins with the Salieri family and quickly rises through the ranks, carrying out the orders of Don Salieri and expanding the family's criminal enterprises. While mob life might be Tommy's ticket to a better life, what's he to do when the price gets too high? And more importantly, what happens when the mob comes to collect? This game can be purchased alone, or as part of the Mafia Trilogy package, which includes the definitive editions of Mafia II and Mafia III as well.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (10 ):

It's been eighteen years since gamers first experienced the Prohibition era criminal empire of the original Mafia game. With two sequels under its belt and two generations of consoles having come to pass, Mafia: Definitive Edition returns with a long overdue revisit to the fictional city of Lost Heaven. It delivers with sharp visuals, new voiceovers, and a few new tricks and gameplay elements. The result is a city that's more alive and characters that are more engaging than ever. As vibrant as the bump in quality is, it also makes the violence feel much more brutal. There's no sugarcoating things here. This is a world rife with bootleggers and button men, where gamblers and prostitutes are more common than businessmen and housewives, and where mafia kingpins give "mob rule" whole different meaning. It's a fantastic noir setting with an equally fantastic story that stands the test of time. But the same can't always be said for the gameplay.

Mafia: Definitive Edition has been rebuilt from the ground up, but that doesn't mean things haven't be recycled from the past. For starters, the game's engine borrows heavily from Mafia III. While this makes it less stiff than the original, it's still using a four-year-old system that wasn't exactly groundbreaking even at the time. It gets the job done though, allowing players more interaction with the environment. Combat feels a little sluggish, but somehow still fits the sort of gritty, street level violence. Driving through the city, whether in slick classic cars or the newly added motorcycles, can be a touch finicky. While players can go crazy flying through the streets in Free Roam, trying to play it safe to not draw undue attention can be a pain in Story mode. While there's no doubt that certain portions of the remake can feel a bit dated, especially by current standards, Mafia: Definitive Edition still manages to feel like a fresh take on a classic game that plays to its nostalgia without getting smothered by it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about violence in video games. Is the impact of the violence in Mafia: Definitive Edition affected by the fact that this is based on violence that happened in real life? How does the real-world violence of the Prohibition compare to the fictional representation shown in Mafia: Definitive Edition? How can more realistic portrayals of violence affect gamers compared to more exaggerated or cartoonish portrayals?

  • How did the Prohibition era of the United States first come to pass? What effect did the Prohibition have on the people of the time, and what led to its repeal? What sort of lasting effects did the Prohibition have on the country?

Game Details

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