Mafia: The Old Country holds a special place in my heart, mainly for its decision to return to its roots, with a setting based in Sicily. With Sicilian heritage myself, and having been to Sicily only a month after the release of the game last year, it still stands as one of my favourite games of 2026.
As you can imagine, I needed no real convincing to return to this world with the release of Man of Honor, the latest expansion to the core experience, which tells a new story set between the events of the main game. Introducing Salieri as a new character was a great choice, and while it’s not that long or deep, it certainly begs fans to return for what’s on offer.
Old Country, Old Friends
Set in 1905 between chapters 5 and 6 of the main story, players need to have completed the game, or at least reached chapter 5, to access the Man of Honour DLC. What follows is a much shorter, contained story, which centres around a younger version of Ennio Salieri, the main Don seen in the original Mafia, or the newer Mafia: Definitive Edition.
Here, we see protagonist Enzo and friend Cesare follow Salieri around the Sicilian countryside as he essentially exacts revenge on those who have wronged him while he was away. Given that the Torrisi family owes him in some way, as an old friend, the story, which only lasts around 2-3 hours, is fast-paced, direct and doesn’t really overstay its welcome.
While this might sound a little short, I believe it’s the A$16.95 price tag that justifies its length, as it can be enjoyed to its fullest over the course of a weekend or so.
The real draw here, though, is Salieri. Watching this younger, much scrappier, energetic and downright ruthless version of the man who would eventually help build his own empire upon emigrating to Empire Bay in America is fascinating. Much like Don Vito Corleone from The Godfather films, namely The Godfather Part II, we do see that while the older, more relaxed version of that character seems harmless enough, they certainly have what it takes to make you fear them.
For as short as this story is, I still had plenty of fun with it, and really admire the shot in the arm that Salieri gives the broader narrative at this point in time. In hindsight, I would actually recommend that those new to the game deviate from the main story at this point in time, as it fits in quite well.
Things to See and Do
Beyond the new narrative, Man of Honor doesn’t really do much to reinvent the wheel when it comes to its mechanics. You’ll still be sneaking around, shooting guns and sharpening your blade; but it’s not such a bad thing.
Salieri’s exploits also bolster the open-world Free Ride mode, with new smuggling jobs that see Enzo hunting down stolen goods for cash. There are even some new assassination targets which see you sneaking into larger compounds with more hectic results. Finally, you’ll even be able to sneak into compounds to steal things like transport vehicles, and hold off waves of enemies in Standoffs.
There are also a few new racing challenges which include new Circuit Races and Road Sprints, the latter of which sees you driving from point-to-point as quickly as possible. Driving still feels a little stiff at times, but I admire the variety, as it’s not really forced upon you.
Between all this, you can use some hard-earned Dinari to purchase three new weapons: the High Capacity Pump Action Shotgun, Precision Special Rifle, and Modello Speciale. There are even 3 new knives with their own unique stats, some of which can be used to kill multiple enemies with a single knife throw.
Finally, there’s a selection of new charms for perks, including new outfits, classic cars and horses. These probably have the least amount of impact on the experience, but if you’re a completionist, they’re here for the taking.
Final Thoughts
Mafia: The Old Country – Man of Honor doesn’t breathe new life into the game, nor does it give those who maybe didn’t enjoy the initial experience a reason to return. But for everyone else, including fans of the base game and those interested in giving this a shot, I urge you to jump on board.
Its story is short but packed with action, humour, and wit, while the Free Ride mode is bolstered with features that make it feel fresh and more robust.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Story is brisk and entertaining; New Free Ride missions add depth; Great value
Lowlights: Won’t bring back players who didn’t enjoy the base game
Developer: Hangar 13
Publisher: 2K Games
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC
Available: Now
Review conducted on PlayStation 5 Pro with a code provided by the publisher.
Featured header image also provided by the publisher.
