We’ve come to expect a lot fromtriple-Aand even double-A games nowadays. Whether they’re open-world affairs or more linear, narrative-driven experiences akin toThe Last of UsorUncharted, players demand a certain level of quality, for specific features to be included, and for games to be of a certain length. Of course, some of those expectations have changed over time to accommodate the rise in technological innovation, but the desire for a high-quality product never does.
Which is why it is so baffling that one of themost-anticipated games of 2025has ended up resembling one of the worst games of the year.While it falls short of completely replicating the many failures of 2025’s worst game, it does feature a specific aspect from it, one that feels as if it is becoming somewhat of a worrying trend. This new open-world game is far from being a truly terrible game, but it is a genuine shame it didn’t reach the greatness many were expecting it to.
Mafia: The Old Country’s World Isn’t Worth Exploring
There Is Nothing To Do In It
Many had hoped thatMafia: The Old Countrywould be a return to form for the series after the disappointingMafia 3left a bad taste in everyone’s mouths. In some respects, that is absolutely the case, asThe Old Country’sphenomenal performances, visuals, characters, and writing all help to elevate its narrative far beyond that ofMafia 3. However,when it comes to gameplay,The Old Countryfalls apart, as it barely meets the requirements to be a good game in 2025.
That’s not to say what is here is awful, but it is fair to say thatThe Old Countrywon’t ever be considered one of thebest games of 2025. From its lackluster stealth, lack of melee combat, and dull third-person combat, there’s little joy to be found inThe Old Country’sboring gameplay. However,the worst offender isMafia: The Old Country’sopen world. Not only are certain areas devoid of life when explored outside of missions set within them, but there’s nothing to find or do within them in general.
You won’t find collectibles, upgrades, side quests, or even quirky events like you would in, say,Red Dead Redemption. Of course, that has never beenMafia’sforte, as its worlds have always served as a backdrop for the larger narrative at hand, a way of grounding the story in a believable and living world. However, unlike the first game, which had a far more interactive world,The Old Country’sworld seems purpose-built to sell the illusion that it’s open in trailers and screenshots.
Mafia: The Old Country Is A Lot Like MindsEye
Both Share Empty Open-Worlds
In reality, you’re practically always in a mission - unless you play in the free roam mode - which means the game doesn’t want you veering too far from the chosen path. Should you attempt to explore, it’ll admonish you and tell you to get back on track. More importantly, because you’re supposed to be more or less driving towards the next mission location,only the areas on the way and your final destination will feel populated and alive.
Should you stray too far, you’ll find little of interest or consequence. It is this aspect ofMafia: The Old Country’sdesign that best resembles theworst game of 2025:MindsEye.Much like inThe Old Country,MindsEyehas players constantly in missions, forcing you to drive from one location to the next - only this time it’s in a fancy electric car rather than on the back of a horse. Perhaps more dramatically,MindsEyewill also fail the mission if you attempt to venture into the gorgeous yet completely empty open world.
Both games feature pretty backdrops that help to elevate their narratives, but do little else with them. Which begs the question: why bother in the first place? Of course, not every game has to be the mostimmersive open-world gameever made. Yet,if you’re to feature an open world, one that can be, at least, in part, freely explored, then why not do something with it?After all, after decades of open-world games, players have become accustomed to certain features and expectations when it comes to the genre.
More Games Need Smaller Worlds
It Is A Refreshing Change Of Pace
To be absolutely clear,I don’t believe that every open world needs to be sprawling and full of map markers to be checked off. In fact, the older I get, the more I begin to appreciate smaller, detailed worlds likeMafia: The Old Country’sand theYakuzaseries'. They’re more manageable and, in theory, filled with more interesting and curated content. I fully believe that we need more smaller open worlds and fewer that mimic the tired enormous worlds of theAssassin’s Creedseries.
For all of its faults,Star Wars Outlaws’impressive worldproved that there was a lot of value in not only having a smaller sandbox to explore, but also in making core aspects of progression and gameplay a collectible within said space.Mafia: The Old CountryandMindsEyeboth feel like they took the laziest option when it comes to designing an open-world space.They’re, in reality, linear games with pretty backdrops that do little more than tantalize the playerwho expects more.
Before launch, so many people were comparingMafia: The Old Countryto the likes ofGTA. Of course, we know now that the two are nothing alike. However, the fact that from trailers alone many assumed it would be aGTA-like experience proves thatplayers have come to expect a certain style of gameplay when they hear something is open-world. Unless you’re completely upfront about the utter meaninglessness of your world, trailers like The Old Country’s will feel misleading.
That’s why I sincerely hope that bothMindsEyeandThe Old Country’sbare-bones worlds don’t become a trend. I’m all for smaller, more detailed worlds likeThe Old Country’s, so long as they’re actually filled with enough stuff to make the openness of the world feel warranted. Expectations oftriple-Aand double-A games, whether developers like them or not, are here to stay, and, as a result, they must be met; otherwise, the likes ofMafia: The Old CountryandMindsEyerun the risk of feeling misleading.
