Mafia City isn’t a perfect game, but it’s one of the few that looks at white supremacy as the established norm and rejects it. Art confronts us with the world from new perspectives. It’s both mirror and window, showing us how the world is and what it could be. At a time when those with the most privilege do the most whining, Mafia City feels important to those of us who have been told our entire lives to either be silent or know our place because of our skin colour.
Mafia City may be unremarkable or mediocre in many ways, but it is necessary in a world that for too long has catered to a core demographic – one that would rather spend time complaining that people of colour are talking about racism than tackling racism itself.
If city gangster games has one message it is: “Things don’t have to be this way.” Indeed, many point to the game’s depictions of history to say “look how far we’ve come” in terms of race relations; but there are those of us who then point out: “We’re not there yet.”
Mafia City’s in-game statement on its depiction of racism
Mafia City begins with a message to players that explains the game’s depiction of racism.
Our Ian is playing the open world gangster game now (watch how he gets on in the video, below), and spotted the in-game message that pops up before the action begins.
YOTTA Game Studio Related Links
English: Mafia City
Chinese Traditional: 黑道風雲H5