15 Most Lively Open-World Games – 2023 Edition

Mafia: Definitive Edition

Mafia: Definitive Edition is an interesting candidate for such a list. On the surface level, Mafia’s world is pretty bland since there aren’t any side quests or significant activities that you can pursue apart from the main missions. But what makes its world so appealing is the depiction of Great Depression America alongside the many realistic systems at play. You can’t run over pedestrians like you would in most open worlds, and things like overspeeding and breaking traffic lights will come at the cost of police attention. Mafia: Definitive Edition is a great reminder that it’s the small things that matter, and this is what games should strive to do right.