5 best open-world crime games to play while waiting for Mafia The Old Country

Mafia The Old Country is a highly anticipated open-world crime game that will be released on August 8, 2025. It is the fourth entry in the series and follows the story of Enzo Favara, a young Italian who rises through the ranks of the Sicilian mafia. Set during the early 1900s, it chronologically acts as a prequel to the first Mafia game, which was released in 2002.

With almost two months remaining before its launch, here are five great open-world crime games you can play while waiting for Mafia The Old Country.

Note: This list is subjective and reflects the author's personal opinion.

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The best open-world games you can play while waiting for Mafia The Old Country

1) Mafia: The Definitive Edition

Still the best Mafia game of all time, unless Mafia The Old Country can dethrone it (Image via 2K)

• Release Date: March 2015
• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Windows

Mafia: The Definitive Edition is the best crime thriller you can play while waiting for Mafia The Old Country. This is a remake of the first game in the series, made from the ground up with modern graphics and improved gameplay. However, the modern coat of paint doesn’t take away any of its old-school charm.

For example, this remake still retains the linear mission-based progression of the original game instead of dipping its toes in a fully explorable open world like Mafia 3. This linear progression works for the Mafia games since it does a better job at immersing you in its story and characters.

This game is set during the 1930s Prohibition Era and follows the rise of Tommy Angelo and his rise through the ranks of Don Salieri’s gang. Those who have played this masterpiece still tirelessly hail it as the best Mafia game of all time.

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2) Yakuza 0

Yakuza 0 is where it all begins (Image via SEGA)

• Release Date: September 2020
• Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox One, Windows, Nintendo Switch 2

If you wish to experience an open-world crime drama full of great characters in an engrossing setting, look no further than Yakuza 0, the so-called Japanese Mafia game. Yakuza 0 is a prequel to the first Yakuza game, showing us the origins of the protagonist Kazuma Kiryu and another main character called Goro Majima as they rise through the ranks of the notorious Yakuza gang during the 1980s. As such, this is the first game you must play to deep dive into the world of the Yakuza.

What sets Yakuza 0 apart is the over-the-top presentation and hilarious absurdities, cementing it as a beloved title in the community. Instead of featuring multiple driving segments and shootouts, the game makes you rely on Kazuma’s fists and kicks. Plus, it features some wacky side activities. Overall, this is a great game you can play while waiting for Mafia The Old Country.

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3) Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition

Sleeping Dogs has amazing hand-to-hand combat (Image via Square Enix)

• Release Date: October 2014
• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Windows, macOS

While the first two entries focus on America and Japan, Sleeping Dogs is set in modern-day Hong Kong. The game follows the story of undercover cop Wei Shen, who must use his martial arts skills to infiltrate the Chinese Sun On Yee Triad.

Sleeping Dogs' presentation resembles the Grand Theft Auto games, where you can fully roam around the city and perform main and side missions. However, since Wei knows kung-fu, you can use his fighting skills to eliminate enemies instead of shooting them in the head.

Out of all the games on this list, Sleeping Dogs has the best melee combat, which seems inspired by the Batman Arkham series. Overall, it’s a fun game to play while waiting for Mafia The Old Country.

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4) Grand Theft Auto 4 Complete Edition

GTA 4 deserves a remake (Image via Rockstar Games)

• Release Date: October 2010
• Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, Windows

While GTA 5 might be the highest-selling game in Rockstar's iconic series, and GTA San Andreas is the most memorable one, the gaming community still harbors tremendous love for GTA 4 — hailing it as arguably the best. It follows the story of Nico Bellic, an ex-Eastern European soldier who comes to the USA to pursue the American dream and soon gets engulfed in a life of crime.

While gameplay and graphics might not be its strong suits, especially if you are playing it in 2025, GTA 4’s story is undoubtedly the best in the series, featuring darker themes and a more morally complex storyline.

We recommend you play the GTA 4 Definitive Edition while waiting for Mafia The Old Country, as it also contains two acclaimed expansions — The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony.

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5) Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 might be one of the best games ever made (Image via Rockstar Games)

• Release Date: October 2018
• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Windows

The final entry on this list will be none other than Red Dead Redemption 2. Often hailed as Rockstar’s crowning jewel, this is undoubtedly one of the best games in history. You play as Arthur Morgan, an outlaw of the infamous Van Der Linde gang during the late 1800s in the Wild West, who must commit murder, armed robberies, and more to survive in a harsh and cruel world.

This game is now considered a landmark in this genre thanks to its gorgeously detailed open world, amazing characters, fun missions, exciting gunplay, and a focus on realism. Coupled with that, Red Dead Redemption 2 boasts one of the best video game endings of all time.

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