Gangster Games

The Smoking Gun

Gangster games are a very popular genre, and for good reason. Where else can you let loose and break the rules as much as you can when pretending to be a criminal? These games came about as a direct result of the popularity of the gangster movie genre, which first appeared in the 1930s and the early days of Hollywood. This era gave us films such as:

Scarface
Little Caesar
The Public Enemy

And later, after the abolition of the Hays Code in the 1960s, New Hollywood created famous titles such as:

Bonnie and Clyde
The Godfather
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia

You will probably recognize some of these film titles if you’re a true gangster games fan, as they have heavily influenced the games we love so much.

Some Kind of Gangster…

Many of the best modern gangster games let us play as some of the most dangerous and well-known gangsters on the planet. Listed below are some of those games; they are the most notorious, and therefore highest on the wanted list.

Based on famous films like Goodfellas, Mafia was one of the first gangster games to reach mainstream gamers when it was released in 2002. Even though it’s older than most, it remains one of the very best gangster games. Set in a fictional city in Illinois, you control a gangster called Tommy Angelo and complete levels which showcase his rise and fall in the gangster world of the 1930s.
The Godfather is a 2006 game developed by EA Redwood Shores, and is, as its title suggests, based on the famous 1972 film. The developers were even able to get the award-winning actor Marlon Brando to record new dialogue for the game. It introduces a character who does not exist in the film but does show famous scenes from the film at various points, this time from the perspective of the player’s character. This riff on a classic allows players to take over New York, district by district.
Scarface: The World Is Yours is a 2006 game that imagines a world beyond the 1983 film. It starts exactly where the film finished, so each player can effectively create their own sequel to a classic. The game also features the likeness of Al Pacino, though the character is not voiced by the star, as both he and the producers felt that his voice had changed significantly since the film. Players are tasked with rebuilding Tony Montana’s empire one step at a time.
The Grand Theft Auto series took gangster games in a different direction, giving players the opportunity to customize their experience. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas showed us Rockstar’s interpretation of gang life in a fake version of California. Players can even customize their own character and take part in hundreds of levels to maximize their power.

Core Components

What makes a good gangster game? Here are just a few of the things that you could get up to in the gangster games that we have here on GamePix:

Running red lights: If you have ever been frustrated by waiting in traffic, the ability to run red lights in a game is a freeing experience! Playing gangster games allows you to live out your fantasy of cruising past all the traffic without the danger (or police reprisal!) you would face in real life.
Street races: Do you like going fast? If you have ever had the urge to slam your foot on the gas and travel as fast as you possibly can, then you’ll love participating in street races in gangster games! You’ll get to see the city from a different angle as it transforms into your own personal racing track. The experience could not be further from being stuck in traffic in your real life!
Stealing cars: We’ve all seen someone drive past in a fancy car and thought, “Wow, I wish I had a car like that.” Well, when you’re playing gangster games, that dream can become a reality! In some gangster games, if you drive past somebody with a nice car, you are able to get out of your vehicle and steal it from them! Crazy, right? For a few hours when you’re playing as your favorite rogues, you can have any car you like the look of, for free!
Setting fires: If we’re being honest with ourselves, we all love a good fire. Humans seem to be conditioned to look at them, perhaps as a result of centuries of fires keeping us alive. In real life, it is frowned upon to set things on fire whenever we feel like it, and for very good reason! However, when you’re playing gangster games, the rules of our world don’t apply, because you’re playing as a criminal! Whether it’s a car, a building or a gas station, you’ll find that fire plays a large part in many gangster games.
Robbery: Because you are pretending to be a criminal, in gangster games you often find that your missions involve taking things that do not belong to your character. In the real world, of course, this is something none of us would do, but it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there in gangster games, and it’s up to you to accumulate as much wealth as you can! Often, that involves robbery. Whether it’s individuals, stores or banks, nowhere is safe from the wrath of players of gangster games!

Part of the Gang

Well, what do you say? Do you like the idea of playing some gangster games? If this sounds like your idea of a good time, then look no further! Join our gang here at GamePix, where you’ll find gangster games of every sort. Not only that, but they are free to play online! You wouldn’t get that kind of deal in many gangs, now, would you? All of our games run on every browser and every device. If it all goes south and you wind up at the bottom of a river, our gangster games will still work for you as long as you have a device with an internet connection. The best gangster games enjoy huge popularity because they’re easy to play, and each level provides a different challenge to test your skills. You can choose to relive a classic title or enjoy the best modern games. Either way, you’ll love taking over the city and building your own empire on GamePix.

FAQs

What is a gangster game?

Gangster games are games where the player gets to play as a criminal, whether that’s in a big organization, a mafia or individually. Players take part in a variety of missions to make as much money as possible and rise through the ranks!

Where can I play gangster games?

Good news, crime fans! You can play gangster games online, for free, here on GamePix! We have a variety of titles to choose from, so you’re sure to find one you love. Whether you’re on top of the food chain or swimming with the fishes, you can play gangster games here on GamePix as long as you have a device with an internet connection.