Empire of Sin
Pick Your Empire of Sin Edition
Empire of Sin – Deluxe Edition
Upgrade to the Deluxe Edition and receive access to the Mobster Pack which includes four recruitable and playable gangsters, the Golden Weapon Set that comes with three exclusive weapon skins plus “Romero” gun sound effects, and unique execution animation for your boss character – the Curb Stomp Execution.
Empire of Sin – Premium Edition
The Premium Edition grants access to all Deluxe Edition content – the mobster pack, Golden Weapon set and Curb Stomp Execution kill – plus two post-launch expansions and the stylish Al Capone’s Fur Coat costume.
About the Game
Empire of Sin is a new strategy game brought to you by Romero Games and Paradox Interactive that puts you at the heart of the ruthless criminal underworld of 1920s Prohibition-era Chicago. Slip into the shoes of one of the fourteen real and historically inspired mob bosses such as Al Capone, Stephanie St. Clair, or Goldie Garneau and assemble a rag-tag gang, build and manage your criminal empire, and defend your turf from rival gangs. It’s up to you to hustle, charm, and intimidate your way to the top and do whatever it takes to stay there – break a leg!
Roleplay: Choose one of fourteen unique bosses based on fictional and real-world gangsters, then set out to build and manage your criminal empire in Chicago’s infamous Prohibition era.
Empire Management: Build your Empire of Sin and run Chicago’s underworld economy with business savvy, brutality or city-wide notoriety. Strategically manage your establishments such as speakeasies, supply chains, casinos and more.
Turn-Based Combat: Assemble your gang and slug it out in turn-based combat to defend and expand your territory – or send a message to opposing gangs.
Game Discussion
Steam User 29
In 2026, Empire of Sin stands as a completed project. While the developers have moved on, the game is in its most stable state following the massive "Last Update" (v1.11) in late 2025. Adding the Make It Count DLC is generally considered essential by the community to move the game from a "combat simulator" to a "mafia tycoon."
Here are three ways to frame your review for the game and the DLC:
Option 1: The "Financial Empire" Review
Best if you enjoy the tycoon/management side of the game added by the DLC.
Recommended
Finally, a game that lets you be the Mob's Accountant.
If you played Empire of Sin at launch and hated the repetitive combat, the Make It Count DLC (paired with the free Precinct Update) is what saves the game. It shifts the focus from "kill every guard in Chicago" to "bankrupt your rivals."
Why the DLC makes it count:
Maxim Zelnick: He’s arguably the most interesting boss. His "Bolster the Ranks" ability is a life-saver in tough fights.
The Loan Shark Racket: This finally gives you something to do with your cash other than just upgrading speakeasies. It creates a "Blackmail" loop that feels actually mob-like.
The Fixer Class: These gangsters are game-changers. Being able to bribe your way out of combat or use Caltrops to control the battlefield adds a tactical layer the base game lacked.
2026 Status: The game is bug-free for the most part now. It's a solid "B+" strategy game. Don't play the base game without this DLC.
Steam User 23
This is a fun game. Reviews should be better. Not a perfect game, but fun nonetheless.
Kind of a mashup between a tactical RPG and 4x strategy.
Yes there are a few mission bugs, which are annoying. Often solved by a reload though. If you save often (you should) then your issues should be very minor.
I do wish:
1. dev was still active, but guessing it didnt sell well enough
2. modding community was more active
3. better options in the game such as being able to increase animation speed to make the battles go a bit faster once you are used to them
4. and of course fix those occasional mission bugs
Steam User 19
I love how its a strategy Action PACKED , Fun, LOVE , STORYLINE , MISSIONS ,Can OWN YOUR OWN BUSISSNIES On top of ALL THAT AN MORE . im a 29 year old woman been playing this isnce i was 23 . its because each chacter come with diffrient weapons diffrient Gifts .. i love this game !
Steam User 14
I really wish the devs would of cared for this game more. It's such a great mafia game, had so much potential.
Steam User 13
Empire of Sin is an ambitious strategy game that combines mafia management, turn-based combat, and city control in 1920s Chicago during Prohibition. Although the game had a bumpy launch, several updates and DLCs have improved the experience considerably. It's still not quite the mafia sandbox that many were hoping for, but it delivers a unique blend of XCOM , Jagged Alliance , and Crusader Kings -inspired crime strategy.
The combat is very similar to XCOM. Positioning matters a lot. There are over a dozen bosses. This gives the game high replay value. The economy is the game's strongest element. The battles have great variety.
1920s Chicago is beautifully rendered. The music is particularly strong.
Empire of Sin is one of the most interesting mafia strategy games on the market. It sets in an atmospheric version of Prohibition-era Chicago and combines city-building, economics, and turn-based combat in a way that few other games do. AI and diplomacy hold it back from greatness, but after several years of updates, it's a much better experience than it was at launch. Fans of City of Gangsters, Jagged Alliance 3 , XCOM , and strategy games with management elements.
8/10
DISASTER | BAD | MEDIOCRE | OKAY | GOOD | GREAT |AMAZING| MASTERPIECE
Reviewed on: Win11 Home 64-bit, Intel i5-11600K, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB PRIME, 32GB DDR4-3600 RAM, 2 x Kingston NV1 1TB M.2 NVMe SSD, Internet Broadband 1000/1000 Mbit
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Steam User 8
As a fan of gangster strategy games, I went into Empire of Sin hoping for a modern successor to the classic crime empire experience. After spending time with it, I'd say it's an enjoyable game that gets a lot right, even if it doesn't reach the depth of some older titles.
The atmosphere is excellent. The 1920s Chicago setting is full of character, the bosses are memorable, and building a criminal empire through speakeasies, breweries, and rackets is genuinely satisfying. The presentation, music, and overall style give the game a strong identity that helps it stand out from other strategy titles.
That said, I couldn't help comparing it to Gangsters: Organized Crime, a game that is over two decades old but still did some things that Empire of Sin doesn't fully capture. In Gangsters, there was a stronger sense of running a living criminal organization. Assigning crews to protection rackets, managing territory at a more granular level, dealing with information networks, and watching rival gangs operate independently made the city feel more dynamic and unpredictable.
Empire of Sin focuses more on turn-based combat and character-driven progression. While that's fun in its own way, I would have loved to see deeper organizational management, more meaningful police interactions, more complex criminal operations, and rival gangs behaving with greater strategic sophistication. Sometimes the city feels more like a collection of businesses to capture than a truly living underworld.
Still, despite those criticisms, I genuinely enjoyed my time with the game. The core loop of expanding your empire, negotiating with rivals, and developing your crew is entertaining. It also provides a solid foundation that could be expanded further through updates or future entries in the series.
If you're looking for a gangster strategy game with great style, enjoyable empire-building, and tactical combat, Empire of Sin is worth playing. It may not have all the depth and systems that Gangsters: Organized Crime offered years ago, but it's a strong modern take on the genre and a good starting point for something even greater in the future.
7.5/10 - Fun, stylish, and worth your time, with plenty of room to grow into the definitive crime empire simulator.
Steam User 10
As a person who enjoys classic television shows and movies, I like the idea and basis of this game. However, I can't recommend spending $40 on this game unless it's on sale. I feel like this game could have been something bigger and better than it is. It just feels a bit sluggish and unfinished the interface is also kind of cluttered. However, for what it is, I do enjoy it.