Mafia: The Old Country Ditches Open World for Linear, Story-Based Gameplay on PS5

I think this will only benefit the game tbh. Not everything needs an open world

Tommy Angelo would be proud that it's a linear story. Mafia 3 being a open world made that game so tedious to beat, fun yet tedious at times.

Could have had it semi-open like Mafia 2. I find it weird that it's now looking more like Uncharted than Mafia. Looks interesting though.

Music to my ears- er, eyes, since I'm actually reading text.

Not every game needs an open world. Also at £45 cant complain at all

Of course not every game needs to be an open world.
But at the same time not every game needs to be linear.

Glad for the people that like the news, I just lost all my interest.

Day one for me - cheaper than I thought too, bonus!

Can’t wait for this. Day one for me

mafia 3 was a bad game such tedium open world bloat

The right call for sure. Very excited for this one!

I honestly think more companies should consider this approach if they aren't prepared to go all in on making the open world top tier (which is incredibly hard and costly to do)

That being said, I still hope they revive the Mafia 3 open world approach one more time, but eliminate some of the exhasuting elements. Mafia 3 was enjoyable and the location was great, but the gameplay didn't always work with it. The districts and the drive 50 miles to pick up a very slow truck and then drive that very slow truck all the way back again whilst being shot at side quests were not good at all.

But a smaller more manageable city that can contain a really interesting Mafia story... Something like Las Vegas from the 40's and in to the 50's 🤔

This is a pleasant surprise, and I’m happier for it. I’m ready to see a full gameplay trailer.

Yep happy with this personally. Have been enjoying non open world games more recently.

Mafia I & II had great stories. I expect this to be the same. I look forward to this title.

Now reviews will criticize that’s it’s probably only 8 or 10 hours long

I'm happy enough with linear. I played all of the old games and if you asked what I did in their open worlds I couldn't tell you. It's a complete blur. The stories however are crystal clear.

Welp this bumps the game up my list by a fair bit, might even be a Day Oner if it reviews well.

Good. Please bring back more Uncharted style action adventures.

Just looks like a win. A new Mafia on PS5 hardware, a linear story focus and £45 day one. What is not to like.
2025 has been good thus far and keeps getting better.

This just shot up my list, thanks!

Cool. Unchartered 1904. Looks quite good!

Great. Mafia 3 was Mafia game in a name only and sucked in general. I'm glad that Hangar learned from mistakes.

"Linear, story-based gameplay"

WE REJOICE. LONG LIVE THE PS3/360 GENERATION

That’s a shame, I really like the open world designs in the previous games

Disappointing. I was hoping it would be open-world.

Interesting. Ok well then sony needs to bring back the getaway now, no excuses.

I'm skeptical about AAA games for less than standard launch price, usually they end up missing of botching some parts.
Wait for reviews on this one.

The mafia games have always had excellent, cinematic narratives so I think this could be great.
It is an interesting, different setting so it’s a shame in some ways we can’t explore, but if they mix quiet moments with action, like The Last of Us, it could be really excellent.

Graphics and gameplay look a real big step up too.

Can understand why. The setting itself doesn't scream open world particularly.

Old Country. Focused Story. Under £50.

Yup, count me in. More of this please.

Its lk to be more focused, but preferably with gameplay innovations too.
A very basic, scripted, hard-coded game won't make me so curious and wanting.

That's a big BOOM from me 👍

So it's sort of like the first Mafia I take it?

Mafia Definitive Edition struck gold.

This is Day 1 for me.

I'm very up for this. Not every game needs to be open world. I like a more focused linear experience

The developers said it's technically like Mafia one and 2, an open world but the main focus is the story as the world is more of a set peice. You can still free roam but obviously there is little to do.

@Hyena_socks You can explore the map, there just isn't really much interaction like with mafia 1 and 2

@KillerBoy it's the same as mafia 1 and 2. Story is the main focus but you can free roam.

@darylb24 that’s great to hear, thanks dude! Mafia 1 and 2 were immersive while still being linear and story driven.

Booo. Just make a game like GodFather 2 already. We want to build a family and racketeer businesses freely