Xbox Game Pass Gets One Of The Best Open-World Games Ever August 13

Summary Mafia: Definitive Edition, a remake of a classic crime game, is coming to Xbox Game Pass on August 13.

The game offers a unique storytelling experience that covers interesting historical events in a fictionalized framework.

Mafia 2 and 3 have Definitive Edition follow-ups, but the first is still the most acclaimed in the trilogy.

Seeing what's coming to Xbox Game Pass each month can make the service exciting for subscribers, and the August Game Pass line-up doesn't look like it's going to disappoint. Some new titles like Core Keeper and Creatures of Ava will be available day-one on the service, making it easy to find something truly fresh to play. Classics can be even more exciting, however, and an open-world game that's earned a strong legacy over time might be the best addition to Xbox Game Pass in August.

As announced on the official Xbox Game Pass Twitter account, Mafia: Definitive Edition will be joining the service on August 13. The 2020 game is a remake of a 2002 title that took a period piece approach to the concept of open-world crime.

Although a subscription to Xbox Game Pass will be necessary to enjoy Mafia: Definitive Edition, a console isn't. The game will be playable across Xbox platforms, PC, and, in the case of Game Pass Ultimate members, Xbox Cloud Gaming.

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Mafia: Definitive Edition Is A Great Game Pass Addition

This Crime Game Has Always stood Out

In a time when every game wanted to be Grand Theft Auto 3, the original Mafia stood out thanks to a focus on the story and a largely serious tone that helped its narrative beats land. Following the character of Tommy Angelo in the fictional city of Lost Heaven, the game deals with events like the Great Depression, prohibition, and the dark world of organized crime.

Mafia: Definitive Edition maintains the core strengths of the original while expanding on those narrative heights, fleshing out the characters more deeply and improving a number of missions. It's not focused on free roaming in the way that Grand Theft Auto is, but even when jumping from mission to mission in a largely linear structure, the city is impressively compelling, and it can be explored at leisure through the Free Ride mode.

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It's still going to be some time before GTA 6 releases in 2025, so Mafia: Definitive Edition could be a nice game to tie Xbox Game Pass subscribers over in the meantime. It's not that much of a commitment — the main story can be completed in 10 hours if side content is being skipped — so there isn't much risk of the game overstaying its welcome. Anyone who falls in love with it can check out the Definitive Editions of Mafia 2 and 3 as follow-ups, although the first game remains the most acclaimed in the franchise, making it the perfect choice for Xbox Game Pass.

Source: Xbox Game Pass/Twitter