8 Video Games That Tackle Incredibly Polarising Subject Matter

For a game revolving around revenge, mobsters and violence, Mafia III is looking incredibly progressive. Set in a fictionalised version of New Orleans during the late '60s, Hangar 13's addition to the Mafia franchise is promising not just layered gameplay and a compelling narrative, but also a nuanced portrayal of the United States during a period of irrevocable change.

There is, however, much to be said based on what 2K have released thus far, with its most recent E3 demo being particularly telling, regarding some of the narrative elements at play during Lincoln Clay's tale of revenge.

Of course, Clay himself is a veteran of the Vietnam war, a conflict still firmly etched into the American psyche (for better or for worse), and one that has been characterised not just for its unparalleled brutality, but also because of the disproportionate impact the draft had on the young, poor and people of colour.

Clearly, these are elements that will propel Clay towards a life of crime, and it's already obvious that his military background will also hold some impact on the way gameplay and story progresses over the course of the game.

At its core, Mafia III is endeavouring to tell a tale of the Black Mob in the American South during one of the most violent periods in American history. Jim Crow, rather than having been eradicated, still held a painful legacy across Louisiana and beyond.

As the player will don the role of an African American (itself a progressive move) during this period, Clay's experiences will all be impacted by systemic racism, demagoguery and bigotry. It was the reality of the time, and anything other than a erudite examination of it could firmly halt Mafia in its tracks.