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24 Narrative games like Mafia that you should try

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We filtered the 50 games similar to Mafia down to the 24 that fit the “Narrative” category. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, Hitman: Contracts and Ruiner top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Mafia.

NextGameLike81/ 100

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GenreShooterSubgenreFPSSub-subgenreArena FPS
Tags
NarrativeDarkSoloMultiplayer
Year 2002Dev Illusion Softworks

Quick answer

Within the “Narrative” category, the closest game to Mafia is S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl — scoring 73/100 on our similarity scale. Hitman: Contracts and Ruiner follow close behind.

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The best narrative games like Mafia

24 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Mafia. Each one has been evaluated across 17 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

1

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

73
NGL88
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
Closest overall match
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMultiplayerStealthMeleeNarrativeDarkHardcoreOpen WorldExploration
Year 2007Dev GSC Game WorldPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

What brings it close to Mafia is strong narrative focus, open world exploration and stealth mechanics, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and tone. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: post-apocalyptic world and a first-person view.

Released 5 years after Mafia.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Progression100World73Combat72
2

Hitman: Contracts

63
NGL81
Hitman: Contracts
Closest on combat
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloStealthMeleeNarrativeDarkHardcoreThird Person
Year 2004Dev IO Interactive · Eidos InteractiveOn PC · Mac

What carries over from Mafia is strong narrative focus, stealth mechanics and single-player focus. The common ground extends to a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is visuals: a first-person view.

Genre100Combat100Tone100Game mode80Visuals65
3

Ruiner

61
NGL83
Ruiner
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMeleeDarkHardcoreNarrativeThird Person
Year 2017Dev Reikon Games · Devolver DigitalOn PS4 · Linux · PC

The genre is the same as Mafia’s, and with it dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and single-player focus. Both also lean on a third-person camera. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is a cyberpunk setting and an isometric view.

Released 15 years after Mafia.

Genre100Tone100Game mode80Combat60Visuals31Setting0
4

Condemned: Criminal Origins

58
NGL81
Condemned: Criminal Origins
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMeleeNarrativeDarkHardcore
Year 2005Dev Monolith Productions · SEGAPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Xbox

The genre is the same as Mafia’s, and with it strong narrative focus, melee combat and single-player focus. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is ranged combat and horror setting.

Released 3 years after Mafia.

Genre100Tone100Game mode80Combat52Setting0Visuals0
5

DEADBOLT

57
NGL85
DEADBOLT
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloStealthMeleeNarrativeDarkHardcore
Year 2016Dev Hopoo GamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Apple Macintosh

The genre is the same as Mafia’s, and with it strong narrative focus, stealth mechanics and single-player focus. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is horror setting and pixel art.

Released 14 years after Mafia.

Genre100Tone100Combat87Game mode80Setting0Visuals0
6

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

55
NGL83
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMeleeDarkHardcoreNarrative
Year 2015Dev Dennaton Games · Devolver DigitalOn Xbox · PlayStation 3 · PS4

Shelved next to Mafia for good reason: dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and single-player focus. They part company on visuals and combat: this one brings pixel art.

Released 13 years after Mafia.

Genre100Tone100Game mode80Combat60Visuals0
7

Hotline Miami

54
NGL91
Hotline Miami
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMeleeDarkHardcoreNarrative
Year 2012Dev Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox

On paper it is what Mafia is — dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. Where the two diverge is visuals and combat: ranged combat and an isometric view.

Released 10 years after Mafia.

Genre100Tone100Game mode80Combat52Visuals0
8

Doom

54
NGL93
Doom
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMultiplayerMeleeDarkHardcoreNarrative
Year 2016Dev id Software · Bethesda SoftworksOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

On paper it is what Mafia is — dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and single-player focus — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: horror setting and co-op play.

Released 14 years after Mafia.

Genre100Tone100Game mode67Combat61Setting0Visuals0
9

SCP: Secret Laboratory

51
NGL91
SCP: Secret Laboratory
ShooterFPSArena FPS
MultiplayerMeleeDarkNarrativeHardcore
Year 2017Dev Northwood StudiosOn PC

On paper it is what Mafia is — dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and multiplayer gameplay — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: horror setting and co-op play.

Released 15 years after Mafia.

Genre100Tone75Combat54Game mode33Setting0Visuals0
10

Devil Daggers

50
NGL85
Devil Daggers
ShooterFPSArena FPS
SoloMeleeHardcoreDarkNarrative
Year 2016Dev SorathPlaytime ~1hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

It comes from the same genre as Mafia and shares punishing difficulty, melee combat and single-player focus. They part company on setting and visuals: this one brings ranged combat and horror setting.

Released 14 years after Mafia.

Genre100Tone100Game mode80Combat32Setting0Visuals0
11

Spec Ops: The Line

66
NGL88
Spec Ops: The Line
Closest on visuals
ShooterFPSTactical FPS
SoloMultiplayerMeleeStealthNarrativeDarkHistoricalThird Person
Year 2012Dev Yager Development · 2K GamesOn PlayStation 3 · Linux · PC

What carries over from Mafia is shooting mechanics, strong narrative focus and melee combat. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is setting: horror setting.

Released 10 years after Mafia.

Game mode100Visuals100Tone86Combat80Genre75Setting60
12

Red Dead Redemption

63
NGL89
Red Dead Redemption
ShooterFPS
SoloMultiplayerMeleeNarrativeDarkOpen WorldHistoricalExplorationThird Person
Year 2010Dev Rockstar North · Rockstar GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PC

It meets Mafia on shooting mechanics, strong narrative focus and open world exploration. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on world and combat: this one brings a sandbox world.

Released 8 years after Mafia.

Game mode100Progression100Tone86Genre75Setting72Visuals72
13

The Evil Within 2

62
NGL86
The Evil Within 2
Closest on world
ShooterFPS
SoloStealthMeleeDarkNarrativeOpen WorldExplorationThird Person
Year 2017Dev Tango Gameworks · Bethesda SoftworksOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

Its point of contact with Mafia is shooting mechanics, dark, oppressive atmosphere and open world exploration. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. The distance is in setting and visuals — its own ground is horror setting and crafting mechanics.

Released 15 years after Mafia.

Combat100World100Tone86Game mode80Genre75Progression69
14

Call of Juarez

58
NGL77
Call of Juarez
Closest on setting
ShooterFPS
SoloMultiplayerMeleeStealthNarrativeDarkHistorical
Year 2006Dev Techland · Ubisoft EntertainmentPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Xbox

Held in common with Mafia: shooting mechanics, strong narrative focus and melee combat. Both also lean on historical setting and single-player focus. The distance is in visuals — its own ground is a first-person view.

Released 4 years after Mafia.

Game mode100Setting100Tone81Combat80Genre75Visuals0
15

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky

57
NGL80
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky
ShooterFPS
SoloMultiplayerMeleeStealthNarrativeDarkOpen WorldExploration
Year 2008Dev GSC Game WorldPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

The common ground with Mafia is structural: shooting mechanics, strong narrative focus and open world exploration. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and multiplayer gameplay. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: post-apocalyptic world and a first-person view.

Released 6 years after Mafia.

Game mode100World100Progression100Tone87Genre75Combat75

More similar-games lists to keep going

Found one on the list you already love? Open its own list: the games that play most like it, ranked, with the reason for each.

Explore games similar to Mafia by category

If Mafia left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the adventure or the narrative that hooked you? There is a list of just that. And if you play on PlayStation and Xbox, filter by platform and skip the games you could not play anyway.

Rankings in the same genre

Sometimes what you want is not a Mafia look-alike but simply the best Arena FPS Games there are. That is what these rankings are for: no comparison to anything, just the highest-rated games. And if you feel like widening the net, the Shooter Games ranking is a good way to run into something you were not expecting.