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Parents' Guide to

Mafia II

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Gripping, violent, GTA-type mob story for mature players.

Mafia II Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 14+

Based on 21 parent reviews

age 12+

PG-13 (All sexual themes are avoidable)

The playboys are avoidable, you can take the playboy or leave it. The violence is over exaggerated for a game that is a decade old/the blood is low quality not violent. It teaches you a lot about how the Mafia worked in 1945 and 1951. The cursing is avoidable by turning off the setting. A lot of the reviews are over exaggerated. It is one of the best games I've ever played
age 9+

Okay, nothing with a normal game I saw the comments, but the violence is high

Okay, nothing with a normal game I saw the comments, but the violence is high

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (21 ):
Kids say (56 ):

Mafia II can be a very good game, but strictly for mature gamers who recognize this as interactive fiction. Older gamers who are looking for a gripping Grand Theft Auto-style mob story won’t be disappointed with this ambitious, gratifying, and stylized shooter. Mafia II is a big game: The fictitious Empire Bay (based on New York City and San Francisco) boasts 10 square miles of virtual landscape to explore, all rendered in high-definition. Mid-20th century architecture, cars, fashion, music, and advertising are all authentically reproduced. Equally as impressive is the lack of load times and nearly two hours of in-game cinematics (with characters that, while sometimes over the top, are well-acted). You can also go out on your own and walk or drive around this bustling city. Downloadable add-on missions extend the gameplay further. Despite its controversial subject, Mafia II is a thoughtfully-designed and well-"executed" adventure. Note: All three versions of the game are the same, except for downloadable mission packs.

Online interaction: There is no multiplayer component but gamers can download new episodes online, such as "The Betrayal of Jimmy," free add-on content for PS3 gamers.

Game Details

  • Platforms: PlayStation 3 , Windows , Xbox 360
  • Available online?: Not available online
  • Publisher: 2K Games
  • Release date: August 24, 2010
  • Genre: Action/Adventure
  • ESRB rating: M for Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
  • Last updated: August 30, 2016

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