In the early era of copycat open-world crime games, Illusion Softworks’ Mafia stood out as a unique take on the fresh new genre. Instead of borrowing the balls-to-the-wall action and tongue-in-cheek tone that the Grand Theft Auto series popularized (as many other games did), Mafia took on a more subdued, simulation-like approach. The result was a crime adventure that felt far more grown-up than Rockstar’s blockbuster series, even if its more tedious elements deterred players looking for a more rambunctious good time.
