All Official Mafia Games, Ranked

The Mafia series stories are loaded with betrayal, ambition, and unforgettable faces. They chart organized crime across decades, cities, and shifting cultures. From the smoky streets of Prohibition to the volatile civil rights era, each game recreates its time with obsessive attention to detail. The series shifts between tight, linear crime dramas and broader open-world structures. But no matter the format, each game leaves its mark through atmosphere, music, and memorable missions. The Mafia series has fascinated players, and it keeps getting better. Here's how the six stand in order of their craft and impact.

6. Mafia III (2016)

Mafia III drops players in 1968 New Bordeaux. This is a city full of political unrest. You play as Lincoln Clay, a Vietnam veteran. He also happens to have elite combat training. After mob boss Sal Marcano massacres his surrogate family, Lincoln vows to dismantle the entire empire piece by piece. Every district you seize weakens Marcano's grip, but also forces you to manage underbosses. Each underboss has their loyalties and tempers. Combat is brutal. It includes stealth takedowns and shotgun blasts that carry real weight. Its repetitive mission design, which is raiding, interrogating, and burning, dulls the pacing. However, its set-piece missions like The Pruning keep tension high. Technical hiccups remain, yet the rawness of the story gives it lasting impact. The setting and atmosphere are unsettling. Nevertheless, it is ambitious and has truly memorable storytelling. The soundtrack, packed with hits from that period, deepens the immersion and nails the late-'60s vibe.

5. Mafia III: Definitive Edition

The Definitive Edition presents the whole New Bordeaux experience in one place, set in 1968. It jumbles racial tension, Vietnam War fallout, and organized crime drama. The city is vibrant yet hostile, with each district feeling alive. Faster, Baby! sends Lincoln into rural Sinclair Parish for high-speed car chases and billboard shootouts. Stones Unturned pairs him with CIA agent John Donovan for a globe-trotting arms race. Sign of the Times adds a slower, more unsettling tone as Lincoln investigates a Manson-like cult. There is a broader range of customization options for looks and weapons. Visual upgrades improve reflections and lighting in some versions, though performance patches vary by platform. Even with its familiar structure, the bundled DLC adds flavor and variety to New Bordeaux's streets. For players new to the game, it's the richest and most complete way to experience Lincoln Clay's revenge tale. The inclusion of all expansions ensures there's no downtime between intense story beats and side activities.

4. Mafia II (2010)

Empire Bay in Mafia II feels alive in ways few game cities did at the time. Snow crunches under tyres during the post-war winter of 1945. By 1951, jazz clubs gave way to rock ’n’ roll bars and neon diners. Vito Scaletta begins as a dock worker and becomes a mob enforcer. He is rooted in debt, friendship, and the pull of the American Dream. Chapters are tightly scripted, blending heists, shootouts, and quieter domestic moments that humanize Vito. Guns have recoil and heft, while cars demand careful driving on icy streets. The prison chapter midway shifts the tone, showing years slip away as the city changes outside the walls. Though its open world is more backdrop than playground, it serves the pacing. Each mission moves the story forward without filler. The remastered Definitive Edition updates visuals, controls, and cinematics. Undoubtedly, it ranks even higher than the original. It promises fun and adventure like you've never experienced before.

3. Mafia: Definitive Edition (2020)

This remake rebuilds every street of 1930s Lost Heaven with Unreal Engine 4 detail. There are wet cobblestones that glisten under streetlamps. Also, period storefronts display realistic signage. Tommy Angelo's climb through the Salieri crime family is expanded with new dialogue, giving more weight to his relationships with Paulie and Sam. Combat introduces better cover mechanics, weapon variety, and smoother melee options. AI allies flank smarter, while enemies push aggressively. Mission pacing improves with varied objectives, like the tense prison break and high-speed boat chase. Free Ride mode includes optional races, collectibles, and side tasks to encourage exploration. Even familiar beats, like the “Fair Play” race, benefit from modern physics and tighter controls. It captures the spirit of the original while shedding its rough edges, making it one of the most faithful remakes in gaming. 

2. Mafia (2002) Original

The original Mafia is slower and more methodical than later entries. Nonetheless, its attention to period realism is unmatched for its time. Streets follow fundamental traffic laws; if you run a red light, police give chase. Cars are heavy, underpowered, and prone to skids due to their 1930s engineering. Gunfights are tense, with Tommy peeking from behind cover while reloading revolvers that hold only six shots. Cutscenes are cinematic, using sharp lighting and close framing to mirror classic gangster films. Missions like A Trip to the Country mix eerie quiet with sudden bursts of violence, cementing its noir atmosphere. While checkpoint placement can frustrate, the authenticity of Lost Heaven's trams, bridges, and skyline keeps drawing players back. It brings players back because of its moody, 1930s Lost Heaven setting and deep storytelling. It has amazing gameplay that'll leave you longing for more after you complete it.

1. Mafia II: Definitive Edition

This remaster sharpens Mafia II's cinematic sheen. It virtually tops every ranking. The lighting overhaul makes Empire Bay’s sunsets and blizzards pop with warmth and depth. All story DLC, which is Joe's Adventures, The Betrayal of Jimmy, and Jimmy's Vendetta, is included. Thus, it lets players explore parallel stories and side conflicts. Interiors are more detailed, from smoky pool halls to lavish mob offices. The remaster keeps the original's tight mission flow, ensuring no sequence overstays its welcome. Driving feels smoother, and firefights benefit from clearer sound design. Vito's stakes, loyalty to his childhood friend Joe, debts to the mob, and dreams of a better life land harder with the improved presentation. It's a complete package, inclusive of narrative punch, style based on the era, and modern polish all in one. Mafia II's storytelling, soundtrack, and craftsmanship are outstanding. It's immersive and refined. One of the deepest Mafia narratives in gaming, without a doubt.