So, you’ve finished watching ‘Peaky Blinders’, you’ve smoked enough imaginary cigarettes to concern a doctor, you’re suddenly wearing a flat cap in an obviously hot weather, and the "Red Right Hand" riff is playing on a loop in your brain. You want more. You want to build an empire, look dapper in a three-piece suit with an overcoat, and occasionally engage in some 'talks' with a blunt knife.

 

The problem? The official gaming scene for the Shelbys is… as good as non-existent. We have 'Peaky Blinders: Mastermind', which is a puzzle game, and 'The King’s Ransom', which requires a VR headset. For the 'OG' gamers who want to sit on a couch with a DualSense controller and actually feel the weight of the gang, those fail to miss the mark. We’re looking for grit, blood, and the smell of gin and gunpowder. (Hello! top gaming studios...are you even listening?)

 

Until the moment they listen, let's take a look at some games like Peaky Blinders, that already exist :

1. The Mafia Trilogy : An Offer You Can't Refuse

If you want the closest possible experience to being a Peaky Blinder, the Mafia franchise is your thing. It’s the gold standard for period-piece organized crime. While the Shelbys were carving out Birmingham, the protagonists of Mafia were doing the same across the pond in Prohibition-era America.

 

The Vibe : 'Mafia: Definitive Edition' is a ground-up remake of the 2002 classic, and on the PS5, it is breathtaking. It captures that 1930s atmosphere perfectly - the jazz BGM, the classy overcoats, and the pure lethality of a Thompson submachine gun.

 

The Story : Much like Tommy Shelby, the protagonists throughout this series (Tommy Angelo, Vito Scaletta, and Lincoln Clay) are often men shaped by war, returning home only to find that the 'civilized' world is just as violent as the trenches they once used to be in.

 

The Latest Installment : 'Mafia: The Old Country (2025)' is a peak experience for gamers, as it brings to you a story that uncovers the origins of their gang. Unlike 'Mafia III' that was known for its extensive open-world setup, and 'racket management', this game is more linear. It’s an immersive, cinematic experience that understands that being a gangster goes beyond the shooting - it's about the family (yes, there are other people who worry as much about family as 'Dom')

2. Yakuza / Like a Dragon : Honor and Madness

The name itself carries enough weight. In Japan, the 'Yakuza' stand for a centuries-old tradition of organized crime, known by fabulous tattoos, strict hierarchies, and 'tough love'. If the Shelbys moved to Kamurocho, they’d fit right in - once they learned to appreciate karaoke (and maybe dance a little with the pretty women).

 

The Evolution : Recently, the franchise underwent a name change to 'Like a Dragon', aligning more closely with its Japanese title, Ryu Ga Gotoku (also the name of the developer studio). It showcased a shift from brawling action to turn-based RPG mechanics, but the heart of the story remains the same: men with hearts of gold doing 'very bad things' for the people they love.

 

The Latest Installment : ‘Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024)’ is the current heavyweight champion. While it’s set in sunny Hawaii and Japan instead of the misty, moist, and dark Birmingham shipyard, the themes of legacy and 'family business' are universal.

 

Why it works : Like Peaky Blinders, this series balances high-stakes drama with moments of absolute insanity. One minute you’re crying over a character's death, and the next you’re managing a real estate empire or helping someone find his lost pants.

3. Sleeping Dogs : The Man in the Middle

In Peaky Blinders, the line between the law and the outlaw is often just a matter of which side of the street you’re standing on. Sleeping Dogs takes that concept up a notch.

 

The Twist : Instead of a rising mob boss, you are Wei Shen, an undercover cop infiltrating the Sun On Yee Triads in Hong Kong. However, to keep your cover, you have to live the gangster life. You commit the crimes, you climb the ladder, and eventually, the lines start to blur.

 

PS5 Compatibility : While this is a PS4-era title, it is fully playable on the PS5 via backwards compatibility. The Definitive Edition runs smoothly and the neon-soaked streets of Hong Kong look incredible.

 

The Combat : If you enjoyed the bloody, brutal street brawls of the Shelbys, you’ll love the martial arts system here. It’s less of 'gunplay' and more of the environment - shoving a guy into a phone booth or using a meat cleaver to make your point. It’s raw, it’s wet, and it feels pretty dangerous.

4. L.A. Noire : The Moral Gray Zone

Maybe you don’t want to be the one breaking the law. Maybe you want to be  Inspector Campbell - 'minus' the creepy obsession with the Shelby family. L.A. Noire is a masterpiece of atmospheric storytelling.

 

The Tech : When it first launched, it earned a solid reputation for its facial motion capture. You have to look suspects in the eye to tell if they’re lying. On the PS5 (via the Remastered PS4 version through backwards compatibility), those performances still hold up.

 

The Setting : Post-WWII Los Angeles. The war is over, but the corruption is just starting to rot the city from the inside out. As Cole Phelps, you navigate a world of jazz clubs, back-alley deals, and Hollywood glamor.

 

The Connection : Like the best episodes of Peaky, the cases in L.A. Noire aren't always black and white. Sometimes the 'bad guy' is just a victim of a broken system, and sometimes the 'good guys' are the ones you need to watch out for.

Special Mention : The Godfather Franchise (The Lost Legend)

We have to talk about 'The Godfather' and 'The Godfather II' games. When they were released, critics lazily called them 'GTA clones', but they were so much more.

 

These games introduced a Hierarchy Control System (The Don's View) that was way ahead of its time. You didn't just run around shooting other gangsters, you managed a family. You promoted soldiers, assigned gang members to guard territories, and took over businesses by 'persuading' shop owners. It felt like a strategy game wrapped in a violent action shell. It gave you the true feeling of being the head of the table.

The Reality Check for PS5 Owners :

  • No Native Version : There is apparently no PS5 version.
  • No Backwards Compatibility : These are PS3-era relics. They are not on the PlayStation Store and won't run on your PS5 disc drive.
  • The 'Sure Shot' Way to Play : If you want to play these in 2026, don't look for a PS5 hack. Your only guaranteed path is PC Emulation or dust off an original PS3/Xbox 360 console and find a physical disc on eBay. It’s a bit of a 'business expense', but for a fan of the genre, it’s 100% worth the effort.

Bonus Mention : Scarface 2 (The Ghost)

Before we go, a moment of silence for Scarface 2. The first game (The World is Yours) was a cult hit that actually let you rebuild Tony Montana’s empire after the events of the movie (changing the ending so he survives). A sequel was in development, promised to be bigger and more badass, but it was tragically cancelled when the developer was acquired. It remains one of gaming industry's greatest 'What ifs' till date - a digital empire that fell even before the first brick was laid.

 

The Shelbys might be gone from our screens for now, but the spirit of the 'Small Heath Rifles' lives on in these titles. From running the streets of 1930s Empire Bay to infiltrating the Triads in Hong Kong, you have more than enough 'racketeering options' to keep yourself busy.

 

Besides, you’ll want to keep your blade sharp and your instincts sharper. With the Peaky Blinders movie officially on the edge, bringing Cillian Murphy back to the mud and blood of post-war England, you’ve got just enough time to carry out killings and build an empire. After all, death is a kindness (sometimes).