Game Review: Mafia Wars

Mafia Wars (or MW) is a Facebook application created by Zynga. This text-based game revolves around the player starting out as one of the local thugs, rising up the ranks and eventually organizing his own crime empire.

Setting/Storyline: 9/10

There isn't much of a story to the game, but it earns points for being based on the mafia. Everyone likes mobsters.

System: 7/10

Like most games, Mafia Wars has a leveling system and a stats system. There is currently no known level cap to this game, and it is highly likely that there isn't. Here's an overview of the available stats:


MW has both single player and multiplayer aspects, both of which contribute to experience points and other rewards. In single player, you can go around doing missions at the expense of energy (and other items if specified).

Doing a job.

Since this is a Facebook game, it focuses on utilizing your social network. This is where the multiplayer aspect kicks in. You can ask your mafia members (your friends) to help you out with almost any task, ranging from looting items to waging war with other players. You can also give items to your members, opening a potential market for the game.

The game features a "business" feature, which becomes your primary source of income. It's a steep climb at first, but eventually money becomes really easy.

The PvP aspect isn't very enjoyable. You can take out people in the hitlist for money (which will become meaningless as the game progresses, you won't be able to spend all your cash even if you tried). You can hit people who attack you or your members, or you can ask other people to help you attack them. Sounds good, but the downside is you don't really gain anything substantial by doing this nor do you hurt your opponents; only thing that moves are the statistics.

Player strength is determined by how many mafia members you have, the items you have, and your stats. These, along with the number of your friends, are the only things that matter in determining the outcome of any PvP match. No real strategies here.

The game has several expansions, which would keep you on your toes. It's on the third expansion right now.

Mafia Wars expansions

Gameplay: 5/10

Don't have much to say about this, like I said before there's not much strategy to this game. All you have to do is log in and click till your energy/stamina runs out.

Graphics: 7/10

Nothing much to see here, this is a text-based game. It's got decent images for items, etc. Problem is, because of the amount of information the interface tends to be messy.

Sample of the interface

Replay Value: 7/10

The game has several chapters that you have to finish in single player, depending on your character build this will take you quite some time (even the best build for doing jobs will take a while). The multiplayer option would keep you glued to this game if it is to your liking. MW has a tendency of getting old eventually, but the constant addition of expansions keeps "pulling you back in".

Overall Rating: 35/50

The game is worth trying, this will keep you busy for a while. Works especially well for fans of the whole mob scene.

Play the game here: Facebook link

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