Mafia Games has always been one of the most entertaining ones on the market, with many fans worldwide, whether because of the open-world aspect, the “coolness” of being in the “mafia,” or just the thrill of playing as a bad guy. There seemed to be a time in gaming when Mafia-like games were the thing on the streets.

The Mafia game itself received a lot of praise, and Mafia fans worldwide are still waiting for the fourth installment of the franchise. Whether it’s possible or not, let’s not forget that no one should abandon their dreams.

With the new editions of games such as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Liberty City, or just overall – all the games in the Mafia genre, we can assure you that a lot is coming regarding that particular narrative style. Nevertheless, in the history of gaming, we have seen many fantastic titles about organized crime, and we are going through all of them in this article! Enjoy!

• Release Date: October 2016

• Developer: Hangar13

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, macOS, Stadia

• Meta Score: 68

Mafia was a sensational game at its time. As Grand Theft Auto III was crowned by many as the best game ever, to make even better games, Rockstar Games needed competition. So, the 2K Czech studio created an action-adventure game set during the Depression Era and the third game, Mafia III, in 1960s Brooklyn. The game focuses on different relationships between mafia clans, with probably the most powerful crime boss in the history of gaming at the end of the road.

In Mafia III, you will experience gang wars, a dangerous world of criminals up close, some historical and fantasy elements of the Italian mafia, and the importance of childhood friends and family in your life. It’s not your every day kill cops and fight for the damned, like in many games on this list, but it tries to tell you a story about values.

In the third game, which we recommend, as the first two are pretty old for today’s standards, we follow the story of Lincoln Clay, a Vietnam veteran who came back to America, and a few events led him to the appeal of money and power that come with the criminal underworld. He does everything he can to find his revenge and create an empire of his own.

As a single-player game, there is a lot of story-telling and narrative-driven action. What is interesting about this game is how much the creator adheres to the most popular titles from the gangster movie genre in history, like Scarface, the World of Godfather series, and other classics. 

Additionally, you can use the wonderful world for exploration, fighting with everyone who comes your way, or just roaming the streets in the historical cars of the era. You will feel at home if you play any Grand Theft Auto game. Some people even suggest that it’s a GTA clone, but it’s definitely much more than that.

With that being said, let’s go over some of the similar games to the Mafia trilogy. We hope you will enjoy our picks, as there are plenty of different genres here, so look out for those!

For this list, we decided not to limit ourselves to the open-world murdering exploration known from Mafia games or GTA series, but rather games that can capture the world and feel of Mafia. You need a great story, a character worth playing, and crime families with some values, not only the need for money. So, if one game does not fit your standards, check out the second game, as there are plenty of those to spread around. That said, let’s go over some of the most notable examples gamers worldwide loved.

• Release Date: September 2013

• Developer: Rockstar North

• Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

• Meta Score: 97

GTA V is one of the most popular games in gaming history. Suffice it to say – people are still playing it, although it was released a decade ago. A DECADE! And that’s even after not so greatly welcomed Grand Theft Auto IV! So, why is it still popular, and what can we do to make it even more? Well, let’s dive in!

It’s much easier to point to what GTA V is not rather than what it is. Well, it’s not a race… Well, it has some racing in it. But it is not a sim… Well, a whole bunch of people are role-playing in this game, so it is kind of a simulation. But, it indeed is not a massive… You know what, let’s just get in with the descriptions.

Grand Theft Auto V was a phenomenon in the history of gaming. It’s big, full of surprises, and most importantly – it’s still being played.

The game takes place in Los Santos (AKA Los Angeles) with three protagonists that you can play. Michael De Santa, who used to rob banks and, after a job went wrong, spends his time arguing with his family in his mansion; Trevor Philips, also a bank robber, a former co-worker of Michael, also – a complete lunatic who lives in the desert and tortures people for fun; and finally – Franklin Clinton, definitely the sanest of the three, a young gangster from the hood, who is trying to find a better life for himself and his surrounding. 

During the game, you can switch between each one of them. It’s imposing if you need to do a specific job with coordination from all three. For example, if one is robbing a bank, the second takes care of the alarm system, and the third takes control of the cover with a sniper rifle.

You can do almost everything in this game, as the world is vast and full of possibilities. Regarding the design, it’s a living and breathing world full of NPCs who couldn't care less about you and your problems. You have many side-quests, stories to fulfill, side missions, and heists – there are many things you can do in this game, so be sure to take advantage of it all!

Additionally, we cannot forget the massive Grand Theft Auto Online aspect, where you can create your characters and participate in the most extensive gaming role-playing community worldwide. With hundreds of thousands of people online, you can be sure you will find someone interesting to talk to.

Grand Theft Auto has been one of the best games ever created. From the attention to detail, a fantastic satire on the American consumer culture, and one of the most heartbreaking moments in the history of gaming – this one is a sure bet for you to check out when thinking about games like Mafia. Rockstar Games released one of the best games Mafia series has ever seen.

• Release Date: August 2013

• Developer: Volition

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Stadia

• Meta Score: 86

Saints Row IV is another open-world action-adventure game on our list. In this case – you can be sure only of the unsureness of the world. There are dozens of ways to have fun in Saints Row. Still, the most important thing is that you, yes, you, play as the President of the United States, formerly the leader of the Third Street Saints gang. You’ll be fighting against an alien Zinyak who, well, tries to take over the world. If that plot is not exhilarating for you, then probably nothing will.

Saints Row is a series full of comedic elements, extraordinary powers, super abilities, and, most importantly, lots and lots of violence. 

The central concept is pretty simple. An alien invasion happens on US soil, and you are trapped in Steelport’s (the city from the previous game) online version that the aliens control. With that, you gain a lot of abilities in the process. You are super fast and super strong; you can move things with your mind and jump further than possible. In addition, you also have a whole arsenal to fight against aliens and save the country you have promised to serve.

In this game, everything can happen, so be open to all the absurdity and humor that comes with it. Regarding how it is similar to Mafia, it’s the same GTA/Mafia style open world genre, with dozens of cars to steal, hundreds of side-missions, and just overall – free-roaming mayhem that you can bring to this poor world of yours. The best thing about Saints Row is that it does not treat itself too seriously, and you should also not do it. It can only cause you to doubt the fantastic project of our dear lord President. And that’s against the law!

• Release Date: December 2013

• Developer: Haemimont Games

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Xbox 360

• Meta Score: 54

Next up on our list is Omerta: City of Gangsters. And – it’s something completely different. Omerta: City of Gangsters is a strategy game set in the Prohibition era in the 1920s. The most important thing to note here is that it’s essentially the same plot as the first Mafia game; hence, it’s spot on this list. The concept is pretty simple: you are a gangster trying to find your spot in the criminal world in Atlantic City. How will you do it? Well, there are plenty of ways!

For starters, you can go ahead and create your casino! Maybe try smuggling stuff? Whatever you are, keep an eye on the rival gangs, as they tend to be a little unhinged when fighting for control.

Omerta has received mixed reviews upon its release, but a decade ago, with so many patches, the game looked completely different, and nowadays – it’s a real gem! Here, you can assemble a team of real-time gangsters, each with skills that can create a feeling of running a real gang! As for the strategy element of it, it’s pretty well done. As it turns out, after some balancing patches, the game is working quite well, and you don’t feel like nothing is possible and you cannot do anything.

The best aspect of this game is the setting. Everything has been portrayed according to how those times looked so that you can see a lot of guys in long coats, hats, and American 20s architecture and music. It all goes together wonderfully, especially when combined with good gameplay. This game is worth recommending if you like strategy games and are a mafia games enthusiast.

• Release Date: January 2020

• Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Amazon Luna

• Meta Score: 89

Next, we have the famous Yakuza: Like a Dragon, also known as "Ryu ga Gotoku 7: Hikari to Yami no Yukue" in Japan. It’s part of the famous Yakuza games, known worldwide for the advanced storytelling, brawling combat, and incredible representation of Yakuza as an organization with honor and class.

The game features lots of humor and dramatic moments, as all Japanese culture tends to, but it’s a beautiful mix that critics have praised. Additionally, there is a big open world environment for you to explore, with dozens of characters to interact with and even more quests to fill.

You are Ichiban Kasuga, a member of the Yakuza lower tiers who just came out of prison after spending 18 years there. In his opinion, he was innocent, so he will try to take revenge on those who wronged him. The world has changed a lot in those 18 years, so he needs to adjust to what has happened, change how he understands the world, and finally – create an evil organization of his own and change how people treat him!

Regarding the gameplay, there are some changes to the previous titles. For starters, instead of real-time fighting, you have turn-based combat. You need to assemble a party with different abilities and skills to fight against the gangsters on the street. Additionally, there is a new Job System that can help you take other jobs requiring unique skills and abilities. There are many of them, so exploring it will take some time. 

Moreover, the city of Yokohama is a great place to find some activity, so be sure to travel wide and far, as there are a lot of dynamic and changing environments for you to explore. And finally, as some people seem to be obsessed with this aspect of Yakuza games, there are plenty of mini-games for you to have fun with, so be sure to check them out as well. 

Overall, Yakuza: Like a Dragon may not be the best introduction to the series, as it changes things up quite a bit, but it’s a great game nonetheless. If you want to have a Mafia-style fun game in a completely different place on Earth, this is as close as it gets.

• Release Date: May 2011

• Developer: Team Bondi

• Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

• Meta Score: 89

L.A. Noire is a neo-noir detective game that combines everything that was great about Mafia games and adds an element of narrative-driven storytelling to all of it. You are Cole Phelps, a police officer in the LAPD in post-World War II Los Angeles. You are investigating various incidents only to find out that, unfortunately, the real problem lies within the system itself.

L.A. Noire presents a wonderful system of deduction, allowing you to rely on your instincts rather than focus on the linear gameplay. There are plenty of ways to find out what happened in a particular situation, different interrogation methods you can use to find the truth, and just – a great dialogue system as a whole. In our experience, there have not been many games that did this better than the old and gold L.A. Noire.

Additionally, the setting looks absolutely stunning. The old cars, the way people talk, voice acting – everything is just on another level of greatness. The atmosphere of a world full of 1940s fashion and style is something to be seen. It gives another layer to everything that happens in the game. Especially considering the fact that all the elements are extremely well-done and realistic, so you can see what exactly it looked like back in the day.

Another aspect to keep in mind is definitely the storytelling. As you can imagine, in a game like this, it just needs to be on top of everything, and what a plot they have prepared for us! It’s just astonishing how well-drafted it was. In our opinion, it is one of the best games when it comes to narratives in history! Definitely worth checking out!

• Release Date: February 2016

• Developer: United Front Games

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS

• Meta Score: 83

And finally, we have the Sleeping Dogs. When it comes to fighting crime/doing the crime itself – you cannot go much better than this gem. It’s a big and fantastic open-world Hong Kong full of exploration, things to find, side-quests and most importantly, good undercover police work.

You play as Wei Shen, a cop who was tasked to get into the Sun on Yee Triad and find some dirt on them. As it is a Hong Kong world, it’s full of martial arts, a colorful world, and an even more engaging storyline.

The basic concept is pretty simple – have as much fun in this recreation of the free city as you can. Whether it’s going over some of the most iconic places in the city, exploring some petty street crime, or going over the markets – the city is full of wonders just waiting for you to explore all of them. The best thing, though, about this game is the martial arts aspect. Fighting is just astonishing, and as a trained officer, you can do a lot of acrobatics, for sure. Remember to use not only your fists, but all the objects around you.

Additionally, there is a lot of racing and driving in this fantastic city, so you can try and present your skills as a driver as well. High-speed pursuits are great in this game, so be sure to check this aspect as well.

In conclusion – it’s one of the best Mafia-like games, especially if you like an Eastern twist to it all. In our opinion, it’s a worthy contender to GTA games as well, so check it out!

And here we are, at the end of our road! As you can see, there are plenty of games like Mafia III (we highly recommend the Definitive Edition for sure) and the Grand Theft Auto series. More games mean more problems in some cases, but with this list – you will definitely find something for sure. Be sure to check out our great library of games. You can all of those on this list at a great price at RoyalCDKeys! 

Mafia, as a game series, introduced a lot of fantastic mechanics, and the original game really made some strides in the genre. Of course, building a criminal empire is never easy, so be sure to stay prepared for all possibilities. 

Those are not only the great games in the genre but also – some of the most interesting titles in the history of gaming. With classics like Sleeping Dogs, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and Grand Theft Auto, you will be able to enjoy a compelling narrative and power struggles in society. If you would decide to do something completely different, we have a strategy game there well, so – be sure to check it out!