Mafia (2002)

Developer: Illusion Softworks
Publisher: 2K
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Action, Adventure
Rating: 4.4 of 5, 16,214 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 13 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A slow-burn, gritty drama set in a richly detailed 1930s city where you navigate a reluctant rise through organized crime with tense shooting and driving.

atmosphericstory richclassicviolentdramaticopen worlddifficulthistorical

What players say

Players praise the gripping crime story and atmosphere, but the gameplay, especially the tanky driving and punishing difficulty, is a constant frustration. Sentiment is split: some find the jank charming, while others say it is nearly unplayable without mods.

Screenshots

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More by Illusion Softworks

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.