Mafia: The Old Country – Man of Honor Review (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, & PC)

You’ll need a copy of Mafia: The Old Country to play the new Man of Honor DLC package. Released only a year later, it adds significant story bits to an already deeply engrossing crime drama, along with new missions, side quests, weapons, vehicles, and more. Since The Godfather, organized crime in the ‘90s has always fascinated me. The way everyone knows their place, yet you can still find a way to climb the ranks and make a name for yourself. How, though, is the question Mafia: The Old Country poses when we meet Enzo, slaving his days in the sulfur mines. He doesn’t settle for less, working for Don Bernardo Torrisi as soon as the opportunity opens up. It’s not the moral choice, but it’s a good enough means to be free. 

The story has been the Mafia’s strongest suit. Throughout the four mainline entries released so far, you become heavily invested in intricately written character arcs and plot development that takes you through the highs and lows of the Mafia world. Mafia: The Old Country is the latest entry, released in 2025, and earned a stellar review of 9/10 from me, and the sentiment: “You enjoy exploring 1900s Sicily, discovering a culture that is a century gone. And powering a most engrossing organized crime story that weaves in mature themes of forbidden love, loyalty, and betrayal.” I had no reservations, then, exploring what Man of Honor has in store. Heading in with high expectations, and leaving pretty pleased by developer Hangar 13 and publisher  2K.

For your benefit, here are the highlights that I gathered from Mafia: The Old Country – Man of Honor.

Back Like You Never Left

I’ve always thought of DLCs as an add-on to an already excellent game. Two things to note there: “Add-on” and “excellent.” I want more of what I’ve already seen before. Otherwise, the DLC might as well be a new game if it’s proposing entirely new features. And excellent because it’s the only reason I’d want to extend my time with a game I’ve already finished. Mafia: The Old Country – Man of Honor checks these two boxes. It adds to the story of the base game. And not as an extension either at the end of the game. Instead, Hangar 13 chooses to slot the DLC in between chapters five and six. 

The story flows smoothly as well, from the base game to the DLC and back to the base game as well. If you’re just starting Mafia: The Old Country, you may not even notice the transition as the DLC is added seamlessly to the main menu’s story progression. And this is a major factor that sold me on the DLC. The fact that it offers more of what I’ve already seen before in the most seamless way possible. Granted, I did have to go straight to the DLC since I’d already played the base game. And then it didn’t make sense to continue with the base game because I already knew how Enzo’s story was going to end. But for newcomers, I imagine they will have a most splendid time. And well, anyone who wants to return to the game a few years down the line for a complete experience. 

A Young Salieri

As expected, the DLC is as excellent as the base game, especially in the storytelling format. It’s cinematic and really takes you through the motions during shootouts and car chases. It’s just as striking in its presentation of Sicily. A couple of new spots, like Salieri’s hideout, but overall, the same idyllic countryside and vintage cars. 

Very briefly, Mafia: The Old Country – Man of Honor picks up right after Enzo has earned his place in the Torrisi crime family. It’s a precarious position to be in, wanting to prove your worth to the Don. And so, when he sends you on a dangerous mission to help the young Salieri, you oblige. Yes, the same Salieri who moves to America to become Don Salieri, the primary antagonist in the first Mafia (2002) game. 

Fans of the series will have their interest piqued already to come along on Salieri’s past. He’s just been released from prison, and since he kept his mouth shut, he feels Don Terresi owes him a favor to reclaim his fortune from past rivals and move to America. It’s a good enough story. You know, strong writing and cinematic set pieces. I doubt you’ll come away unsatisfied by the storytelling’s structure. The content, however, may not fully satisfy your curiosity. Hangar 13 had to know that casting a young Salieri would come with a high expectation. The curiosity to understand what makes a powerful Don, and particularly, what shapes Don Salieri’s character. The calculating Don he is. Even the way he transitions from ally to a ruthless crime boss. 

Perhaps his young life could attest to some of his future decisions and paths. But Mafia: The Old Country – Man of Honor only partially explores these threads, instead focusing heavily on young Salieri’s personality. 

A Little Too Soon

The story paints his personality pretty vividly. An ambitious guy with a brazen goal in mind, and showing little care for how he gets there. Yet, he doesn’t make rash decisions, taking the time to plan his next move. He’s not fully the Don Salieri we know, but we can see how he gets there. 

So, what exactly is the issue with the story? Well, you are simply left wishing for more exposition into the early life of Salieri. Just when you begin to understand who he is, the two new chapters that Mafia: The Old Country – Man of Honor adds to the story campaign wrap up. 

In just about two hours or so, the story is over. Given the strong writing, I’m left wishing Hangar 13 gave us more content to indulge in, especially feeding into young Salieri’s past. If young Salieri was the main focus of the DLC, perhaps it would have been possible to give him more screentime.

Instead, you control Enzo, whose path crosses with other familiar characters from Mafia: The Old Country. Not that these aren’t interesting diversions. I quite enjoyed Enzo’s and Isabella’s digress. Plus, the interactions with your ever-present companion, Cesaro Massaro. Still, it’s never a bad thing when your only complaint with the story is that it ends too soon.

Roam Free

Fortunately, Mafia: The Old Country – Man of Honor offers more beyond the story. In the Free Ride mode, you’ll meet young Salieri at his hideout, ready to offer you side quests to complete for cash. It’s nice to see the Free Ride mode gain more meat on the bone. It’s now chunkier, with new jobs and challenges to take up across Valle Dorata. Some side quests are pretty fun, getting you caught up in car chases and rival standoffs. They should keep you busy for a good two hours or so, which is great for enjoying the beautiful Sicily map that Hangar 13 has created. Sometimes, all you need is an excuse to head out to the countryside. A reason to drive around the murram roads and ram into stuff, though that can be a bit annoying when the environment doesn’t react to your destruction. 

You get rewards for your efforts, which include new weapons, knives, vehicles, horses, and more. It’s always exciting to unlock a high-value vintage car and take it out for a test drive. Soon, though, it’ll get repetitive, especially because the gunplay isn’t the best. Combat has never been Mafia’s strongest suit. So, it doesn’t come as a surprise that it can still feel awkward to pull out your gun and aim at targets. It has gotten better, with the guns having more weight, and every shot feeling punchy with satisfying impact. With the bar that the story sets, though, I wonder how exceptional the series will be with tight and precise gunplay. And you still mix in stealth as always, although still modest. It’s more about sneaking up on enemies for a swift takedown and crouching behind cover than any sophisticated system better stealth games may offer.

Verdict

Mafia: The Old Country – Man of Honor thrives on the strong writing and the presentation of the Mafia series. Fundamentally, this DLC package looks and plays like the base game, and that is perfectly okay. It’s the add-on that those who can’t get enough of the series can indulge in. And the $9.99 price tag is also favorable, considering all of the additional story content, side quests, and rewards you’ll enjoy for about four hours or so. It may wrap up too soon, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing when you ultimately enjoy every second of your time here.