Mafia: The Old Country is a prequel in the series, so it links to the other games mainly by setting and story era rather than by needing the older games first. It returns the franchise to a more linear, story-driven style and focuses on the early Sicilian roots of organized crime, which makes it feel like the foundation of the wider Mafia timeline.

How it connects

  • It explores the earliest period of the Mafia universe, before the events of the later entries.
  • It follows a new lead character, Enzo Favara, so it is not just a retelling of Tommy, Vito, or Lincoln’s stories.
  • The game is described as part of the same franchise but with a “returning to roots” approach, meaning the connection is thematic and historical rather than a direct sequel chain.

What that means for players

  • You can play it without knowing the other Mafia games first.
  • If you have played the earlier games, you’ll likely notice shared tone: crime-family loyalty, betrayal, period detail, and a grounded mob-story style.
  • Think of it as a story set earlier in the same criminal world , not a chapter that depends heavily on prior plot events.

Simple version

It links up to the other games like a family origin story : same universe, same vibe, earlier point in the timeline.

Would you like a spoiler-free timeline of where it sits versus Mafia, Mafia II, and Mafia III?