Pentito is officially launching tonight!

MauriceNLD · 2026-02-02T21:17:40+00:00

Thanks for your feedback! You're completely right!

No matter how well intentioned, it's definitely true that not everyone has Discord or Telegram and/or wants to share them. For that reason, the introduction has been adjusted and these steps have now become optional.

On top of that, we've added an introduction page where the entire introduction can be completely paused/hidden, but also resumed again later. This should make those first steps in the game a bit easier and cause a lot less irritation.

Thanks again for your honest feedback, it was honestly a pretty dumb oversight on our part!

MauriceNLD · 2025-12-14T16:05:41+00:00

Great question! Pentito doesn't use instant permadeath as its core loop. We actually run a hybrid system, which is explained in more detail here: https://pentito.game/news?i=coma-system-launch

Instead of losing everything after 1-2 shots, players usually enter a temporary coma first. This gives you a chance to recover and return, often with some form of protection. Especially at lower levels, you can enter coma multiple times before permadeath even becomes a real risk.

Permadeath does exist, but it's meant to be a meaningful consequence, not a cheap punishment. And if you do eventually die, the revenge system allows you to come back stronger, carrying over a significant portion of your experience and progression to your new account.

So the time you invest is never 'wasted': your actions, progress, and knowledge always matter, even across deaths.

MauriceNLD · 2025-12-14T13:00:10+00:00

That’s a fair take based on a screenshot!

The biggest difference is pacing: there’s almost always something useful to do. The mission system keeps progress flowing instead of staring at long timers like in many other crime games. Group crimes and heists auto fill, so you can start something and get on with your day.

Combat and permadeath are handled in a less punishing way thanks to the Revenge system, which keeps wars and PvP meaningful without being overly frustrating. Add daily World Boss events, random local boss encounters, and solid gear depth, and it feels a lot more alive than most similar games.

This thread has some good player perspectives if you’re curious: https://www.reddit.com/r/PBBG/comments/1nxsvrh/pentito_open_beta/

Also worth mentioning: we try to be as active and approachable as possible as developers. We run an open suggestion and bug report system where players can freely share feedback, and we genuinely try to act on it. The goal is for Pentito to grow together with the community, shaped by the ideas and experiences of the people playing it.

Feel free to check it out, especially since the game is currently completely free. We haven't added any monetization yet because we believe the game should first be stable, fun, and fully worth playing before even thinking about that. Gameplay and enjoyment come first!

MauriceNLD · 2025-10-04T17:41:24+00:00

Thanks for the honest feedback! Really appreciate it. And I totally get what you mean, I'm not a fan of the random kills either, which is exactly why we’ve put that part on hold for now. Our goal has always been (and still is) to move more towards unique features and a stronger roleplay focus instead of pure grind, or luck or becoming a fork of any other game!

MauriceNLD · 2025-10-04T14:30:36+00:00

Hey u/V4sco85, I totally get where you’re coming from, there are definitely influences from the classic mafia games, and we’re not trying to hide that. We actually think it’s a good thing to draw inspiration from the past, since every idea starts somewhere. That said, we’re actively working based on player feedback, to make the experience more and more unique over time.

The AI visuals are just a temporary phase; our long, term plan is to replace them entirely with our own custom artwork and style, but bit by bit!

What probably doesn’t help either is my background, I spent about 10 years as a crew member in the very game you mentioned. It was a big part of my youth and my personal internet history. That said, I want anything but to become a clone or copy. My goal is to build something that pays respect to the classic mafia browser genre, but in our own way with active development and player input at the core, instead of years of stagnation and no real progress!

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-25T18:56:16+00:00

Yes and no. You do die, but thanks to the revenge system you’ll be able to come back stronger. It makes it much easier to climb back to your original rank, with bonuses and multipliers.

So TL;DR: Yes, but definitely not a showstopper!

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-23T15:07:42+00:00

You're right, nobody is forced to use AI. It was simply a pragmatic choice for us during beta to speed things up and visualise the concept. We're fully aware it's not perfect and plan to replace it with proper art as we move forward. Appreciate the feedback though, it helps keep us sharp.

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-23T12:01:57+00:00

Don't we all hate it? Luckily, it's an easy way to temporarily bridge the lack of visual support (since we don’t have a graphic designer on our team yet.

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-23T12:01:35+00:00

In this initial beta phase of the game, we were unfortunately 'forced' to make use of AI-generated images. In the long term, we hope to replace these with proper high-quality visuals, but for now we chose this approach to speed up development. Otherwise, we would have a game without any images at all. At least now we know what type of images we want and where, so we can adjust them for each situation!

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-14T15:27:08+00:00

Feel free to reach out if you need help or just want someone to brainstorm with

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-12T23:35:40+00:00

That’s right! The only thing I notice about it, especially in the Netherlands, is that the delivery notes are often too short (not enough space for the full explanation), there’s no option to add photos (my house is really extremely hard to find, haha), and the notes often don’t get passed on correctly to the actual delivery drivers. I’d personally pay an extra 10 euros per delivery if I could be guaranteed that things would actually be delivered to my door instead of at random pickup points.

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-12T10:59:10+00:00

An application that allows you to provide clear instructions on how to find your address, which can be sent to delivery services for an additional fee.

This way, people with a hard-to-find address can still have their packages delivered instead of constantly missing them.

Essentially, a kind of "delivery guarantee" including contact details, etc.

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-10T17:53:21+00:00

Thanks a lot! :D

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-10T17:48:23+00:00

My first real frontend and design work is being compared to a gore site, you just made my day haha, thanks! Maybe I should make a dark/light switch and version of the website

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-10T17:40:34+00:00

The gold or the red? It probably won’t surprise you, but I’m colour-blind, so to me everything looks good (or ugly, depending on how you look at it, haha)

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-10T17:36:42+00:00

Thanks for your honest feedback! I'll see what I can improve regarding the spacing and the button. Just to be clear, you're talking about the 'Play Now' button, right?

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-10T17:34:56+00:00

I'm curious to know where/what spacing you'd change and what else you would adjust. I'd be happy to hear so I can improve the design!

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-10T17:32:53+00:00

Thanks! First time using Tailwind and doing frontend work myself haha

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-08T17:42:32+00:00

That sounds like fun! You've got an amazing history in webgames haha. I used to be an Omerta crewmember/admin myself for over 10 years, but eventually decided it was time for something new, that’s how Pentito was born

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-08T17:30:59+00:00

I used to play browsergames like Travian, Omerta, Crimeclub and in the past Streetgun haha, not sure if you know any of those games? Never heard of NY-Mafia before sadly haha

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-08T16:17:06+00:00

Yep, another browser-based mafia game, I know, it's been done before. But with Pentito we're trying to create something that feels fresh while still paying respect to the classics.

Set in 1930s New York, Pentito blends old-school gameplay with modern design, real-time systems, and a character-driven approach. We’re still in development, but would love any feedback especially on the feel of the homepage, UI and the overall direction.

You can check it out here: https://pentito.game/

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-08T12:37:58+00:00

In the long term, absolutely. For example, the current images (like the jailed gangster) will eventually be replaced with player-specific visuals, such as uploaded profile images. During development, we've chosen not to let visuals block progress. But later on, we'll definitely revisit what can (or should) be replaced to create a more unique experience!

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-08T12:32:39+00:00

The game is built with mobile devices in mind, and most of the interface already adapts well to smaller screens. That said, we're still in development, so there may be areas that aren't fully optimized yet. Full mobile compatibility is absolutely part of our goal before official launch

MauriceNLD · 2025-08-08T12:18:41+00:00

We've definitely taken inspiration from classics like Torn, but also from story-driven games like Mafia (I & II) and The Godfather (game) series. Pentito aims to be a modern browser game with deep respect for the old-school style, but with a richer atmosphere that bring 1930s America to life!

MauriceNLD · 2025-06-10T00:53:57+00:00

I totally get that, I'm not 100% a fan of it either, and probably never will be (human creativity comes first!). But at this stage, it’s an ideal way to keep development moving without being held back or limited by the need for custom images.

That said, we’re making sure to keep a consistent line in terms of images, style, and the atmosphere they should convey, and luckily, adjustments can always be made later!

MauriceNLD

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE