Compare this game
Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven

Review · Action · PlayStation 2 · PC · Xbox

Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven

Reviewed: 09 May 2026

PlayStation 2 · PC · Xbox

Illusion Softworks · 2002

Ludograph rating

C

Mixed

52 /100

Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven is a story-driven action game that builds hand-eye coordination and problem solving, but contains frequent, realistic violence.

06010030BenefitLow riskB 37 · R 13
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

37

Risk (RIS)

13

Daily limit

Age guidance

17+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.50
B2Social-emotional
0.17
B3Motor
0.65

Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven offers a rich, story-driven experience set in a meticulously recreated 1930s American city. Players engage in complex missions that require problem-solving, strategic thinking, and hand-eye coordination, fostering cognitive development. The narrative explores ethical dilemmas through the protagonist's journey, encouraging critical reflection on choices and consequences.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The game features frequent and realistic violence, including gunfights and physical altercations, which may be disturbing for some players. Strong language and references to illegal activities like bootlegging are present, reflecting the mature themes of organized crime. The narrative's focus on a male-dominated criminal underworld offers limited representation of diverse genders and ethnicities.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
1.00
R4.2Sexual Content
0.33
R4.3Language
0.67
R4.4Substance References
0.67
R4.5Fear / Horror
0.33

Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.

Regulatory design checks · DSAAssessed: meets criteria·GDPR-KAssessed: meets criteria·ODDSAssessed: meets criteria

  • DSA:What Ludograph checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects: plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes.: Estimated from review data. No dark pattern or child-targeting concerns found.
  • GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.: Estimated from review data. No privacy or child-targeting concerns found.
  • ODDS:What Ludograph checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea.: Estimated from review data. No paid random-reward mechanics found, so drop-rate disclosure requirements do not apply.

These reflect Ludograph's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria, not a legal compliance determination.

Parents ask…

Is Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven a rating of 52/100, recommended for ages 17 and up. It delivers genuine benefits but carries design risks that deserve a close look.

What age is Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 17+ for Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven?

We don't publish a daily session budget for Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven: its design-risk score sits in our highest band, where limiting time alone doesn't address the risks. For children we suggest choosing an alternative instead.

What are the main risks of Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven?

The game features frequent and realistic violence, including gunfights and physical altercations, which may be disturbing for some players. Strong language and references to illegal activities like bootlegging are present, reflecting the mature themes of organized crime. The narrative's focus on a male-dominated criminal underworld offers limited representation of diverse genders and ethnicities.