MeinMMO author Cedric Holmeier plays Mafia 2 once a year and falls in love with the 15-year-old game all over again. You can now get it for 80% off on Steam.
I have a game that I replay every year and that fascinates me again and again: Mafia 2. The gangster film you play lets you take on the role of Vito Scaletta. A boy from poor circumstances in 1940s New York, who learns early on that life on the right side of the law is rarely fair. One dumb idea later, instead of going to jail, he goes straight into World War II, while the known world continues to evolve around him.
Just escaped from the war and back in his hometown Empire Bay, his best friend Joe Barbaro is already waiting. Joe is the daredevil who takes every opportunity to make quick money – and is also willing to cross the boundaries of legality.
Together, Vito and Joe dive deep into the world of organized crime, driven by the dream of wealth and a better life and the self-commitment to avoid ending up as poor workers like their own parents. But also with the knowledge that the rise can quickly end in a hail of bullets. The game perfectly captures the atmosphere of this era and immediately pulls you into a whirlwind of loyalty, betrayal, and the harsh fight for survival.
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High-level storytelling despite disappointing open world
What makes Mafia 2 so good is the storytelling. You experience Vito’s journey from an inconspicuous boy to an aspiring gangster up close. Similar to a coming-of-age story, our main character has to relearn and explore many things about the world. Throughout the game, there are also new technical innovations introduced, or we learn from NPCs and the radio what new developments are currently happening. Be it the idea of the first video game or the invention of television – which will definitely not prevail.
Mafia 2 cleverly shifts the perspective from glorified gangsters to a diverse view of the mafia by letting the player rise high before crashing down. Death is simply part of the life of a gangster. This emotional rollercoaster makes the story so gripping and unforgettable. You empathize with Vito, feeling his hopes and fears. Vito Scaletta is not a simple, ruthless killer.
However, the open world has always been disappointing in Mafia 2. It looks nice, but offers barely anything to do apart from some collectibles. More interesting are the original Playboy magazine covers from the era of the game. They can be collected on the sidelines of the main missions.
Outdated technology despite Definitive Edition
Alongside the open world, the driving feel of the cars, the controls, and the graphics are points that feel outdated today. Mafia 2 is already 15 years old in 2025. The Definitive Edition is supposed to help, released in 2020, making the game playable on newer computers. However, there are many complaints that playing the single-player game requires an account with 2K, but this requirement was removed by the publisher at the end of 2024. Mafia 2 still does not feel really modern despite the Definitive Edition.
Replay value without innovations
That I replay Mafia 2 every year is less about the game offering so much variety in the second, third, or fifth playthrough. It is more that the story is so well done that you develop the feeling that you are watching a gripping movie. Thanks to the believable character development and the dramatic twists, I always happily return.
Meanwhile, the DLCs like Joe’s Adventures are also well done and included in the new edition of the game. The main game itself takes about Howlongtobeat.com approximately 16.5 hours to complete. With the DLCs, a few more hours are added on top of that.
Mafia 2 is currently priced at Steam in the summer sale for just €5.99. If you also want parts 1 and 3, you can get the trilogy for €12.03. On August 8, the new installment “Mafia: The Old Country” will also be released, taking you to the origins of the mafia at the beginning of the 20th century in Sicily.
Mafia 2 delights MeinMMO author Cedric Holmeier every year anew. Do you also have games that you have to replay at least once a year? Let us know in the comments. A game on Steam can only be played once a year: New game can only be played once a year – if you fail, you can never play it again
