Mafia III collectibles span several categories scattered across the districts of New Bordeaux, ranging from authentic period-era Playboy magazines and Alberto Vargas pin-up paintings to vinyl album covers, Hot Rod issues, and political posters. While collecting reading materials and album art primarily provides historical flavor and gallery viewing rather than combat upgrades, tracking them down is tied directly to the game's intelligence and wiretapping mechanics.
Wiretapping junction boxes reveals the exact locations of these items on your map, transforming an aimless search across Louisiana into a systematic sweep.
Mafia III Collectible Categories Overview
There are seven distinct types of collectible items distributed throughout the commercial, residential, and rural zones of New Bordeaux.
| Collectible Type | In-Game Content / Benefit | Primary Spawn Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Playboy Magazines | Viewable vintage issues, articles, and centerfolds in the options menu | Homes, back offices, bars, motels, and workshops |
| Alberto Vargas Paintings | Pin-up art pieces unlocking concept artwork | Mob offices, racket hideouts, and upscale locations |
| Album Covers | Vintage vinyl record artwork from 1960s artists | Record stores, bars, music clubs, and residential areas |
| Hot Rod Magazines | Classic muscle car automotive features and covers | Auto repair shops, garages, and gas stations |
| Communist Propaganda Posters | Political Cold War flyers and revolutionary art | Public walls, civic structures, and government buildings |
| Repent Magazines | Religious leaflets and pamphlets | Churches, neighborhood centers, and domestic porches |
| Junction Boxes | Interactive electrical boxes that reveal collectibles and enemies | Alleys, exterior building walls, and industrial hubs |
How Wiretapping Junction Boxes Reveals Collectibles
Finding every collectible without assistance is difficult due to the sheer size of New Bordeaux. Fortunately, the game includes an in-game tracking mechanism tied to the wiretapping feature.
After completing the early story mission "The Smack," Lincoln Clay unlocks the ability to wiretap junction boxes. There are 89 junction boxes located throughout the city, marked on your mini-map with a gray inverted "U" icon.
To wiretap a junction box, you must collect TL-49 fuses, which appear on the map as small green icons. Each junction box requires 3 TL-49 fuses to crack open. New Bordeaux contains far more fuses than necessary to wiretap every box, so you do not need to hunt down every single fuse on the map.
Once you wiretap a junction box in a specific neighborhood:
- All hidden collectibles in that coverage zone appear on your map as blue icons.
- Nearby enemy positions are highlighted through walls and radar, allowing easier stealth approaches.
- Collectible TL-49 fuses in the immediate vicinity are revealed.
- You gain the tactical wiretap intelligence required to recruit that district's racket boss instead of killing them, which increases your total racket income over time.
While most districts show junction box locations on your map as soon as story missions begin there, Bayou Fantom does not automatically reveal its junction boxes. You will need to explore the bayou directly to uncover those nodes.
District Locations for All 50 Playboy Magazines
Playboy magazines are the most prominent reading collectible in Mafia III, featuring 50 issues that can be browsed directly from the game's menu. Below are the verified locations for all 50 issues organized by district:
Delray Hollow (4 Magazines)
- Sammy's Bar: In the basement, sitting on top of a long storage cupboard.
- Everyday Laundromat: On a desk inside the rear administrative office.
- Residential Greenhouse: On a desk located in the living room area.
- Double Barrel Bar: Resting directly on top of the customer counter.
Bayou Fantom (5 Magazines)
- Waterfront Shack 1: Inside a rundown shack along the riverbank, sitting on a wooden table.
- Waterfront Shack 2: On top of a worn white dresser inside a riverside cabin.
- Boarded-Up Shack: Sitting on a wooden workbench inside a secured structure by the water.
- River Shacks Cluster: Placed outside on top of an exterior picnic table.
- Hilltop Cabin: On a wooden desk inside an isolated shack set back from the river up a small hill.
South Downs (4 Magazines)
- Pearl Diver Motel: On a table inside a second-floor guest room.
- Neil A. Arthur Stadium: Sitting at the top tier of the grandstand seats.
- District Greenhouse: Placed on a wooden cupboard inside the bathroom.
- Brick Apartment Building: Resting on the flat rooftop of the complex.
River Row (7 Magazines)
- Bayside Shipping Warehouse: On a wooden desk inside a fenced interior enclosure.
- Fresh Crab Shack: Sitting on a table in the restaurant kitchen area.
- Multi-Level Warehouse 1: Lying on the floor beside a metal folding chair on the second floor.
- Multi-Level Warehouse 2: Located on a second-floor office desk. Note that in certain releases of the Definitive Edition, room clutter objects may fail to render, leaving the magazine floating mid-air.
- Riverfront Shack: On a wooden table inside an old timber structure.
- Riverfront House: Placed on the floor of the rear porch.
- Baby BBQ & Beer Diner: Sitting on top of a filing cabinet inside the back manager's office.
Downtown (5 Magazines)
- Construction Site: Sitting on a desk inside the site office trailer.
- Riverfront Warehouse: Resting on a desk in the upper administrative office.
- Big Rick's Custom Shop: Located on a desk in the rear workshop office.
- City Monument Park: Lying on the soil among flowers at the base of a palm tree.
- Maintenance Sewers: Accessible from the riverfront entrance; follow the tunnel into the maintenance room to find it on the lower shelf of a workbench.
French Ward (4 Magazines)
- Apartment Courtyard: Down a narrow alleyway behind an apartment block, resting on a concrete barbecue pit beneath a pergola.
- Green Garage: On top of a workbench inside the garage.
- Brick Shed: Lying on the ground next to a patio lounger chair.
- Waterfront Shipping Warehouse: Sitting on top of an interior tool workbench.
Tickfaw Harbor (5 Magazines)
- Waterfront Office: Resting on an elevated interior storage shelf.
- Shipping Yard: On an office desk at the southern edge of the cargo yard.
- Blarney's Pub: Located on the flat roof of the neighboring building directly behind the bar.
- Train Yard: Resting on a desk inside a small brick service depot.
- Shooter's Bar: Fucked behind the main bar counter on the liquor shelf.
Pointe Verdun (7 Magazines)
- Police Station: Inside an outbuilding office situated in the rear vehicle lot.
- Lighthouse Hill: Resting on a concrete public bench overlooking the water.
- Small Garage: Lying on an old sofa inside the garage bay.
- Burke's Iron & Metal Salvage: On a tool bench inside the rear room of the northern main building.
- Weathered Greenhouse: On an old wooden table in the back room.
- Freeway House: Placed on top of an exterior dresser in a front yard located beneath the elevated highway.
- Industrial Warehouse: Located on the second floor, resting on top of a metal filing cabinet.
Frisco Fields (5 Magazines)
- Suburban Backyard 1: Underneath a garden pergola between two sun loungers.
- Two-Story Residence: Sitting on an outdoor table placed between two wooden patio loungers.
- Doghouse: Lying on the floor inside a backyard doghouse beside a pet bed.
- Cleavon Duvall State Park: Resting on an open stone ledge at the summit of the Duval Lookout.
- Rural Shack: Sitting on top of an interior wooden table.
Barclay Mills (4 Magazines)
- Central Shack: On a wooden table situated in the center of an old abandoned home.
- Shabby House: Resting on a blue outdoor patio table on the back porch.
- Hillside Home: Lying on the rear porch floor beside an armchair.
- Large Garage: Resting on a timber worktable at the back of the service building.
Are Any Mafia III Collectibles Missable?
Almost every collectible in Mafia III can be gathered at your leisure during free roam, either between district takedowns or after finishing the main storyline.
However, players should watch out for a single missable Vargas painting during the final casino story sequence. Because the game does not grant free-roam access back inside this specific casino interior after the final mission concludes, you must inspect the rooms and pick up the artwork before triggering the final objectives.
If you are pursuing 100% completion or platform achievements, keep the following rules in mind:
- Achievements and Trophies: Mafia III does not include a specific platform trophy or achievement requiring you to collect all 50 Playboys, album covers, or Vargas paintings. Wiretapping hideouts is necessary to recruit racket bosses, which is tied to achievements, but reading materials themselves are optional.
- New Playthroughs: Collectible records reset completely if you start a new campaign save. If you want a complete binder of vintage magazines and paintings on a single profile, collect them all before starting a fresh run.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do collectibles provide stat upgrades for Lincoln Clay?
No. Magazines, album covers, and paintings do not increase Lincoln's health, weapon handling, or stamina. They function as atmospheric collectibles, granting lore, concept art, and high-resolution vintage covers viewable in the menu. Junction boxes, however, provide direct tactical benefits by revealing nearby targets and marking icons across the map.
How do I see collectibles marked on the map?
You must wiretap the local junction boxes in that district using 3 TL-49 fuses per box. Once tapped, all hidden items within that junction box's sector will appear as icons on your map.
Can you view the full pages of the collected Playboy magazines?
Yes. By opening the pause menu and navigating to the collectibles section, you can inspect each discovered Playboy issue, including full nude centerfolds.
