Another Mafia 3 retrospective that I appreciated. Mafia 3 is probably not free when you read this, but it’s available as a “Definitive Edition”, which is an easy way to get the entire experience (with all DLCs) for cheap.

“I always like when there’s an excuse (we use the term “news peg” around here, thank you very much) to talk about a great game from the last couple of years. Mafia III, Hangar 13’s ambitious, laudable open-world crime game from 2016 has been free on PS+ this month, and will be for the next few days. If you haven’t played it, I encourage you to do so—it’s a good game, and maybe more pressingly, an important one, a rare example of a big budget game that says something, in a clear, powerful voice, about race in America.”

This was a great, thoughtful and complementary podcast on Mafia 3 that I deeply appreciated.

“We chat about everything from the game’s dynamic gunfights and cinematic car chases to its handling of race and history. We talk about the continuity of open world games that Mafia 3 exists in—yes, including Far Cry 2. We consider the impact the game will have on future designers—including on Gaynor, himself.We even dig into the secret post-credits ending, and talk about what implications about the future of the series that stinger holds.”