25 Years of Mafia Video Games: An Oral History

August 15, 2026 - 03:08

To mark a quarter-century of the Mafia series, IGN sat down with the developers who shaped the franchise from its gritty origins to its modern open-world ambitions. What started as a small Czech studio's passion project in 2002 has become a benchmark for narrative-driven crime games, and the people behind it have a lot to say about the journey.

The original Mafia was never meant to be a sandbox playground. It was a linear, story-heavy experience set in the 1930s, focused on the rise and fall of taxi driver turned mobster Tommy Angelo. The developers recall the challenge of building a believable city on a tight budget, using period cars and jazz music to sell the era. "We didn't have the tech for a living world," one lead designer admitted. "So we made the world feel alive through the characters and the weight of every gunshot."

The sequel, Mafia II, pushed the cinematic angle further, while the controversial Mafia III shifted to the 1960s and a story about racial injustice in New Bordeaux. That game divided fans, but the team stands by its ambition. "We wanted to talk about something real, not just another heist," said a narrative writer. The recent remake of the first game, Mafia: Definitive Edition, brought the classic back with modern visuals, letting a new generation experience the original's tight pacing.

Looking forward, the developers stress that the core of Mafia has never been about map size or side quests. It is about consequence. "Every bullet should feel heavy, every betrayal should sting," one veteran said. As the studio looks to the future, they promise to keep that spirit intact, even as technology changes. After 25 years, the family is still together, and the tommy gun is still loaded.