Many great gangster games are set during the American Prohibition era, with Mafia being some of the best. The Prohibition Era in the United States occurred from 1920 to 1933 and was marked by a ban on the production, transportation, and sale of alcohol. The first Prohibition law was introduced in Tennessee in 1838 and eventually led to a nationwide ban on all adult beverages.
With alcohol still in high demand from the general public, criminal enterprises quickly took control of the production and distribution of liquor in many major cities across the country. It took 13 long years for the sweeping nationwide ban on alcohol to be repealed. During this time, gang leaders like Al Capone and Dean O'Banion rose to power, both of whom are featured in Empire of Sin.
There is much that is alluring about the setting of 1920's America. The abundance of pristine classic cars combined with the culture and style of the decade provides so many areas for game developers to explore when building these worlds. Empire of Sin and Mafia combine these historical elements with engaging gameplay and storytelling, making them some of the best Prohibition-era games that focus on gangsters and crime organizations in iconic American cities.
Empire of Sin Offers An Immersive Mafia RPG Experience
Empire of Sin is a top-down strategy game that features heavy RPG elements. Developed by Romero Games and released in 2020, the game has players assume the role of one of several mob bosses inspired by real-life prominent figures from the Prohibition era in Chicago, each with unique traits and abilities. In order to take control of Chicago's criminal underworld in Empire of Sin, players must take over rival businesses, recruit new , and defend themselves from rival mob bosses as well as the law.
As a mob boss in Empire of Sin, players can assemble a crew of up to 16 . These assist in the management of the players' rapidly growing criminal empire and help manage brothels, casinos, and speakeasies. Speakeasies, the main source of generating income in the game, can be established to produce and sell alcohol as the player expands their reach into the surrounding Chicago neighborhoods. Alcohol can also be acquired as a reward for completing certain missions but its quality may vary, much like the substance that was crudely being produced in 1920s Chicago.
A well-developed turn-based combat system is vital for a top-down strategy game like Empire of Sin, and the developers at Romero Games have done an excellent job. Each crew member is given points to spend during combat. Some actions, like attacking, may cost 1 or 2 points while repositioning a crew member may cost 1 or even 0 points. The combat system in Empire of Sin is simple yet engaging, and Romero does a great job at walking new players through the mechanics. Players in search of a strategy-based title that fully embodies the Prohibition era will have a great time in Empire of Sin.
Mafia's Engaging Story Keeps Players Captivated In The Prohibition Era
Mafia sets players loose in the fictional City of Lost Heaven, Illinois, during the final 3 years of Prohibition in the early 1930s. The main storyline of Mafia follows two major families, the Salieris and the Morellos, who fight for control of the assets of a third crime family that recently met their demise. The game offers a more traditional and linear experience as players assume the role of Tommy Angelo, an immigrant new to America in search of opportunity. Through a chance encounter, Angelo crosses paths with the Salieri family, thus beginning his journey through the criminal organization.
The Mafia games series could be considered a period drama just as much as it could be considered a third-person action game. The powerful storytelling employed by the developers at Illusion Software makes the unforeseen twists in the story all the more shocking. Remastered and re-released in 2020 as a definitive edition, the updated version of Mafia looks better than ever and is certainly worth a playthrough for anyone interested in the time period. Fans of classic American cars will also be sure to enjoy this title as Mafia features over 50 vehicles modeled to be authentic for the era of Prohibition.
Omerta: City of Gangsters Is A Fun But Overlooked Mafia Game
Omerta: City of Gangsters is a top-down simulation game developed by Haemimont Games that was released in 2013. Omerta casts players into the role of D'Angelo, an Italian immigrant who recently arrived in Atlantic City looking to establish himself in a new country. Following a premise similar to Empire of Sin, players begin their journey as low-level bootleggers illegally transporting alcohol to and from various locations. Eventually, the player will build up their criminal career and be able to establish speakeasies and distilleries of their own. As the game progresses, players expand into the territory of rival gangs in a bid to become the most dominant gangster in Atlantic City.
Unlike similar titles in the genre, Omerta provides ways for players to earn money legally within the game. Apartment buildings and places of business can be outright purchased allowing players to collect rent from tenants, providing an extra layer of immersion. Additionally, Omerta is unique in that it was designed to be a historically accurate reproduction of Atlantic City during the Prohibition era. Haemimont included real buildings and landmarks from around Atlantic City when deg the 6 maps.
The Prohibition Era of the 1920s was a dark time in American history that will forever be associated with excessive crime and the rise of prominent gang leaders like Al Capone. The emergence of criminal organizations dedicated to the production and sale of alcohol ruled the decade while providing inspiration for titles like Omerta: City of Gangsters, Empire of Sin, and Mafia. With these games being so enjoyable, it would be great to see even more games in the coming years that focus on this era and offer even more great gangster-related gameplay to fans of the genre.
