- Hangar 13 just recently revealed that Mafia: The Old Country doesn’t feature an open world.
- Fans criticised Mafia 3 a lot due to the fact that its open world was bloated and boring.
- That is why the fandom is now relieved that the upcoming game in the series will feature a linear world.
Bloated open worlds in video games have become the norm, and gamers are now getting sick of it. Not every game needs to feature an open world. While this setting is a must for some games, not every developer should just push it into every single game.
Mafia 3, despite being an excellent game, was highly criticised due to featuring the bloated open-world formula. Fans even compared it to the Ubisoft games and reached the conclusion that this formula doesn’t belong in Mafia games. That is exactly why fans are relieved to know Mafia: The Old Country features a linear progression and world.
Why it matters: Fans were highly concerned that the upcoming Mafia would also feature an open world due to the latest game in the series. However, now they are celebrating the fact that there is nothing to worry about.

In an official FAQ page on Mafia: The Old Country’s website, one question was asked: “Does Mafia: The Old Country feature an open world?” The developer confirmed that it doesn’t, and that would be enough to make the fandom excited. The developer said, “No. Mafia: The Old Country is a linear, narrative-driven game.”
Story-driven game without an open world or multiplayer? That’s fine by me.
-A Fan Said
Mafia 2 is considered the best game in the franchise, and of course, that isn’t just because it features a linear world but also because it has excellent storytelling. Now, fans are speculating that a similar situation will be the case with the upcoming title.
The developer could have made the open world work with it, but we all know a Mafia game needs to be linear.
$50 with no bloated open-world bulls**t, I’m all in!
-Another Fan Said
While the majority of the fandom is celebrating this game’s linearity, some have shown disappointment. A fan said, “Disappointing. Using 9 years to give us a linear 6-hour-long game.” Needless to say, the user has attracted a lot of criticism in the replies.
What do you think about Mafia: The Old Country, featuring a linear world instead of the average bloated one? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or join the official Tech4Gamers forums for discussion.
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[News Editor]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over three years because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.