Mafia III

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Lore & Background

The development of Mafia III began soon after Mafia II's release, but initially had problems. 2K Czech, the developer of the series' first installments, oversaw restructure, with much of the development team assigned to the company's new studio, Hangar 13. After deciding on recreating New Orleans in 1968, the development team drew influence from the series' previous projects, and designed the game around Lincoln to replicate the core structure of its predecessors. Much of the development work constituted the open world's creation, and several team members conducted field research around Louisiana to capture footage for the design team. The game's soundtrack features several licensed songs composed by various musicians who were active during the time period. Upon release, the game received a mixed reception, with praise directed at its story, characters, setting, darker themes, and soundtrack. Many also praised the combat and driving. However, some of the gameplay mechanics and the presence of technical issues drew criticism. The game was a commercial success, selling seven million copies worldwide. In May 2020, to coincide with the remake of the first Mafia game, 2K Games released a version of Mafia III comprising all downloadable content packs titled Mafia III: Definitive Edition. This Definitive Edition was later included in the Mafia: Trilogy pack, released in September 2020. The next game in the series, Mafia: The Old Country, was released in 2025.

In Their Own Story

In 1904, 17-year-old Enzo Favara and his friend Gaetano are carusi working in the sulfur mines of Don Ruggero Spadaro. After a gas leak collapses part of the mine, burying Gaetano alive, Enzo scars Spadaro's underboss Damiano "Il Merlo" Bastoni in a knife fight and flees. He is rescued by Don Bernardo Torrisi and begins working for him under underboss Luca Trapani. Over the years, Enzo proves his loyalty by subbing in for a jockey in a horse race, rescuing the Don's daughter Isabella from bandits, and killing the traitor Girolamo Ludovici. He is inducted as a soldato and begins a secret relationship with Isabella. In 1907, war erupts between the Torrisi and Spadaro families, leading to the deaths of Don Galante and Luca. Enzo assassinates both Fontanella and Spadaro in Palermo, but becomes disillusioned as Torrisi grows mad with power. When Enzo tries to escape with a pregnant Isabella, he is confronted by Torrisi, mortally wounds him in a fight, and is fatally stabbed by Cesare. Isabella escapes, kills Tino, and boards a ship to Empire Bay, reading a letter from Enzo.

Reader's Guide

Mafia III is an action-adventure game set in an open world environment and played from a third-person perspective, in which the player assumes control of Lincoln Clay, a Vietnam War veteran on a quest to seek revenge for his adopted family, who are murdered by the local mob. The game is set in 1968 New Bordeaux, a re-imagined version of New Orleans, with the game world being larger than the Mafia and Mafia II maps combined. Mafia III's map is made up of ten districts: Bayou Fantom, Delray Hollow, Barclay Mills, Frisco Fields, Pointe Verdun, Tickfaw Harbor, Southdowns, River Row, Downtown, and the French Ward. The player can complete objectives using a variety of approaches. For example, they can use the weapons provided in the game, like shotguns and revolvers, to eliminate enemies, or call for allies, who arrive in a van and assist them. Alternatively, they can make use of stealth tactics throughout the entire mission without being noticed by enemies. The core gameplay revolves around gunplay. In addition, the player can also perform executing moves and engage in melee-combat. The game features a cover system, allowing them to take cover behind objects to avoid enemy gunfire or detection. The player can interrogate non-playable characters after defeating them in order to gain more information on their objectives, like scaring them while driving a car. The player can attack and overrun locations owned by the Italian mob, and assign one of their lieutenants to operate around the local area. The game allows them to drive cars from the era with realistic driving mechanics and sounds.

Did You Know?

• The game's map is made up of ten districts: Bayou Fantom, Delray Hollow, Barclay Mills, Frisco Fields, Pointe Verdun, Tickfaw Harbor, Southdowns, River Row, Downtown, and the French Ward.
• The game world is larger than the Mafia and Mafia II maps combined.
• The game's soundtrack features several licensed songs composed by various musicians who were active during the 1960s.
• The game sold seven million copies worldwide.