Mafiais a greatopen-world crime seriesthat contains several main games and a few DLCs. The main entries all take place in the same universe, but they don’t directly follow on from one another. Each game has its own collection of characters, from protagonists to antagonists to supporting players.
The developers accomplish this smoothly by setting each title in a slightly different time period. Of course, the years the games are set aren’t drastically different. After all, you couldn’t set a Mafia game in the present day or in Roman times. So, each one takes place during an era when the American Mafia had significant influence. Here are all the games in chronological order.
9Mafia (And Mafia: Definitive Edition)
1930 - 1938
The first Mafia game wasn’t just the first released; it is also the first chronologically. The whole story, prior to the epilogue, is set in the 1930s. It follows a cab driver named Tommy Angelo, who has a run-in with some gangsters and ends up joining the mob himself. More specifically, he joins the Salieri Family and goes on plenty of exciting missionswith them.
This happens in 1930. Then, the game keeps jumping in time as you see Tommy ascending in the family and improving his reputation. You also see the gradual ramping up of the war between the Salieri and Morello families. The main tale ends in 1938.
8Mafia 2
1943 - 1951
Mafia 2 begins in the 1940s with protagonist Vito Scaletta fighting for the US Army in Sicily before coming home and finding out that his deceased father racked up a lot of debt. He initially tries to pay back the money through honest work, but he eventually joins the Mafia with the help of his buddy, Joe.
Vito’s early jobs as a gangster take place in 1945. However, he is then arrested and locked up in prison for six years. The man gets out in 1951, and the rest of the game takes place in that year.
7Mafia 2: Joe’s Adventures
1945 - 1950
Joe’s Adventures is a DLC for Mafia 2. It allows you to see what Joe Barbaro gets up to while Vito is in prison partway through the main Mafia 2 game.
It’s mainly set in 1950. However, there is an opening section that takes place in 1945, immediately after Vito’s arrest. The mission ends with Joe leaving the game’s main city, Empire Bay. However, time moves forward to Joe’s return to the area in 1950. He then does a bunch of jobs for people in the year before Vito gets out.
6Mafia 2: The Betrayal Of Jimmy
1950s
The Betrayal of Jimmy is a piece of Mafia 2 DLC. It actually exists in a different canonical universe than the main games and is more of an arcade experience than a story-focused one.
The main playable character in the DLC is a gun-for-hire named Jimmy. He spends the game doing dirty work for a couple of mob bosses. Based on the title of the DLC, you can probably guess it doesn’t all work out for the protagonist. This all occurs in the 1950s.
5Mafia 2: Jimmy’s Vendetta
Jimmy’s Vendetta is another Mafia 2 DLC set in the 1950s. It follows up on The Betrayal of Jimmy. The titular character begins the DLC locked up in prison.
However, he soon breaks out with the desire to get revenge onthe people who betrayed himand put him there. Like Jimmy’s other DLC, it doesn’t have any connection to the main games.
4Mafia 3
1968
Mafia 3 follows the exploits of Lincoln Clay following his return to his home city of New Bordeaux after serving in Vietnam. Once back, he discovers that his adoptive father is in a sticky situation with the mob. So, he lends him a hand, but things don’t go great.
This leads Lincoln to embark on a violent revenge mission as he attempts to bring down Sal Marcano and the entire Marcano Crime Family. This all occurs in 1968. However, there are cutscenes in the game featuring Lincoln’s ally, Donovan, talking to the Senate. Those scenes are set in 1971.
3Mafia 3: Faster, Baby!
The Faster, Baby DLC for Mafia 3 is set in the same year as the base Mafia 3 game, so the events take place in 1968. The story of the DLC is about Lincoln joining up with a woman named Roxy Laveau.
They attempt to take down a corrupt and racist sheriff who is causing problems in a small rural community on the outskirts of New Bordeaux. The evil man only wants white people in the area, so he creates issues for any people of color he finds.
2Mafia 3: Stones Unturned
Stones Unturned is another Mafia 3 DLC that is set in 1968. This one revolves around Linsoln’s buddy, John Donovan. It begins with a man the supporting character once knew named Connor Aldridge turning up in New Bordeaux.
If you think this is leading to a happy reunion, you’re sorely mistaken. Donovan and Aldrdige used to be war buddies until the latter betrayed the former. So, Donovan is looking for revenge. Therefore, Lincoln must take a short break from his own revenge mission to help.
1Mafia 3: Sign Of The Times
In Mafia 3’s Sign of the Times DLC, Lincoln and Father James encounter a strange and dangerous cult. The cult is a religious group that performs odd ceremonies around New Bordeaux. So, it’s a different sort of threat for Lincoln to deal with.
One location the cult used for its rituals was Sammy’s Bar, which belonged to Lincoln’s family. This is what started the issue between the protagonist and the cult. Their encounters take place in 1968.
