The new 'Mafia' game thrusts players into New Orleans during the Civil Rights struggle

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Video games have taken us to so many different times and places throughout history, from Renaissance Italy, to the beaches of Normandy (many, many times), all the way to the cocaine-fueled beaches of 1980s Miami. 

But one setting that big-budget games have generally avoided is the American South during the civil rights struggle. It would undoubtedly be an enormous challenge to depict such a tumultuous time in history with sensitivity, and games have had trouble with race before.

One of the bigger releases of this holiday season is taking that challenge head-on.

This is "Mafia III."

In "Mafia III," you are Lincoln Clay, an orphan who found a family in the black mob of New Bordeaux. After returning from Vietnam, Clay's adopted family is killed by the Italian mafia, setting off Clay's quest for revenge.

At its heart, "Mafia III" is an open-world crime game in the same vein as "Grand Theft Auto." But where the latter goes for a satirical take on American culture, this game wants to feel as authentic to its fictional version of New Orleans as possible.

That means you can walk around a fictional version of the French Quarter and see street performers, or encounter anti-war protesters near city hall in the downtown area. There are 10 districts (including the bayou), each with its own unique flavor.