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A returning war veteran and his friend work their way through Empire Bay’s Mafia with gunfights, car thefts, and chases.
Released 22 Mar 2011
Climb the Mafia Ranks
Steal Vintage Cars
Fight from Cover
Vito Scaletta has started to make a name for himself on the streets of Empire Bay as someone who can be trusted to get a job done. Together with his buddy Joe, he is working to prove himself to the Mafia, quickly escalating up the family ladder with crimes of larger reward, status and consequence… the life as a wise guy isn’t quite as...
Developed by 2K Czech · Published by 2K









You play as Vito Scaletta, a young man returning from war to Empire Bay. Alongside his friend Joe, Vito enters the criminal underworld and takes on increasingly consequential work as he tries to rise within the Mafia.
The story unfolds through missions featuring third-person gunfights, close-quarters combat, car thefts, and high-speed pursuits. You can travel around the city by car between assignments, with the campaign focused on Vito’s path through organized crime.
Empire Bay’s streets and interiors reflect changing decades, from the wartime period into the 1950s. Cars, clothing, architecture, and radio music help establish the setting as Vito’s circumstances and place in the Mafia change.
Players frequently praise the focused crime story, Vito and Joe’s relationship, and Empire Bay’s 1940s–50s atmosphere, often highlighting its winter streets, cars, and radio soundtrack. Reviews also appreciate the cinematic missions and driving. Some describe the open city as sparse and certain missions as repetitive; multiple reviewers report crashes or compatibility problems with the Classic version.
Vito Scaletta has started to make a name for himself on the streets of Empire Bay as someone who can be trusted to get a job done. Together with his buddy Joe, he is working to prove himself to the Mafia, quickly escalating up the family ladder with crimes of larger reward, status and consequence… the life as a wise guy isn’t quite as untouchable as it seems.
Action-Packed Gameplay: Intense gunplay, white-knuckle car chases and visceral hand-to-hand combat —it will take all that and more to become a “made man”.
Epic Gangster Story: Inspired by iconic mafia drama, the compelling characters and cinematic presentation will pull players into the allure and impossible escape of life in the Mafia.
Immersive World and Period: Enter the world of Empire Bay - World War II is raging in Europe and the architecture, cars, music and clothing all echo the period in stunning detail. As time passes, hot rod cars, 50s fashion and some of the era’s best music reflect the birth of a cool new era.
Illusion Engine™: 2K Czech’s proprietary Illusion Engine, allows gamers to explore Empire Bay’s 10 square miles of beautifully rendered outdoor environments and intricately designed interiors.
Soundtrack Reflects the Mood of the Era: Players will be immersed in the Golden Era of America as Mafia II features tracks from some of the era’s most influential artists.
| Platforms | Windows |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 67 |
| Age ratings |
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| Players | From 1 (maximum not specified) |
| Multiplayer | The provided store information identifies Mafia II (Classic) as single-player in the listed features. A Steam tag includes "Multiplayer," but no multiplayer mode, player count, or functionality is described in the provided text. |
| Multiplayer & mods | No information about mods or their effect on multiplayer is provided. |
| Controller support | Xbox |
| Controller required | No |
| Demo | View demo on Steam |
| DRM / EULA |
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| Content notices |
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| Metacritic | 77/100 View on Metacritic |
| Website | Official website |