The Must-Play Far Cry Games
For first-person shooter fans seeking sprawling worlds to conquer, exhilarating action, and unforgettable villains, one franchise stands tall: Far Cry. Since 2004, Ubisoft‘s open-world shooter series has taken players on wild rides through lush islands, rugged mountain kingdoms, prehistoric lands, and other exotic sandbox settings ripe for chaos. But with so many Far Cry games to choose from, which deserve a spot in your library? This comprehensive guide will break down exactly which Far Cry titles are most worth your time and why. For a fulfilling introduction to the franchise, start with the gripping tropical tale of Far Cry 3.
Far Cry 3 (2012) – The Best Place to Start Your Far Cry Journey
When it comes to recommended starting points for the Far Cry series, the consensus choice among critics and fans is clear: Far Cry 3. This 2012 entry struck the perfect balance between engaging storytelling and open-world freedom. Playing as Jason Brody, a tourist who must embrace his inner warrior to survive a lawless archipelago and rescue his friends, Far Cry 3 spins a riveting coming-of-age tale. Unlike later entries where the player character is already a trained fighter, Jason‘s transformation from spoiled rich kid to hardened jungle warrior is more relatable and keeps the narrative grounded.
The real star of Far Cry 3 is the psychotic yet charismatic pirate lord Vaas Montenegro, whose unhinged monologues and mind games with Jason fast became iconic. According to Metacritic, Far Cry 3 holds a metascore of 88/100, the highest in the franchise. It also has the most Twitch views among the series by a wide margin, showing its lasting popularity among fans. Simply put, Far Cry 3 is the quintessential gateway into the sandbox insanity the franchise is loved for.
The Original Far Cry Titles – More Historical Curiosities Than Essentials
The original Far Cry (2004) pioneered the open-ended FPS formula the series would build upon. Bringing a taste of sandbox freedom to linear shooters of its day, Far Cry let players strategize their approach with stealth, combat, and exploration across tropical islands. However, while its innovations gained acclaim at release, Far Cry has not aged gracefully.
With primitive enemy AI, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story, it‘s hard to recommend the original to modern gamers beyond historical curiosity. The same goes for its sequels like Far Cry Instincts (2005) which brought the series to consoles but little else new outside its mutant powers gimmick. These early entries laid crucial groundwork and have hardcore nostalgia value, but all except the most devoted retro FPS fans are better served starting with later, more refined titles.
Far Cry 2 (2008) – An Experience Demanding Patience, Not for All
Far Cry 2 took the series in a new direction, plucking players from lush jungles and dropping them into a gritty, morally ambiguous civil war in Africa. lauded for its immersive minimalist UI and survival elements like malaria and brush fire propagation, Far Cry 2 aimed for realism through mechanics like weapon degradation and no definitive "good" side to align with.
However, not all of the realism paid off. Critics noted the constantly respawning guard posts and repetitive treks broke immersion. Map design funneling players down similar paths limited the perceived freedom. Still, fans of hardcore FPS realism enjoyed the challenge and freedom to approach objectives creatively thanks to features like allowing any building to be destroyed. Per Steam, 70% of over 20,000 reviews are positive. For some, Far Cry 2 represents the pinnacle of free-form guerilla warfare. For most newcomers though, its aged quirks make it hard to recommend as your first Far Cry destination.
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon – A Funky and Brief Retro Romp
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon came out of left field in 2013 as an over-the-top retro-futuristic spinoff. Heavily inspired by the neon-drenched era of 1980s action movies, this alternative sci-fi take on Far Cry 3‘s map and mechanics is like nothing else in the franchise. Players step into the shoes of cyborg Rex Colt, spouting one-liners while annihilating waves of mutant creatures gone haywire on the cybernetic island of Blood Dragon.
With about 7 hours for a standard playthrough, Blood Dragon is short and sweet. For fans of 80‘s cheese who‘ve enjoyed the core Far Cry experience elsewhere, it‘s a funhouse remix worth visiting. But as a standalone entry point for newcomers to understand the appeal of Far Cry, it‘s too odd and brief to be ideal. Regard it as a supplemental treat for established fans rather than the main course of the series.
Far Cry 4 (2014) – A Refined Formula and Stunning Setting
After the breakout success of Far Cry 3, Far Cry 4 iterated upon that formula without taking huge risks. The setting shifted to the fictional Himalayan country of Kyrat ruled by despot Pagan Min. New traversal options like grapple lines and vehicle takedowns enhanced the verticality and freedom of this mountainous terrain. Signature abilities like wingsuit flying and autodrive let players rain down chaos in thrilling fashion.
However, while Pagan Min was an enjoyable tyrannical clashes with Far Cry 3‘s Vaas in terms of sheer charisma and impact. Still, exotic Kyrat proved a joy to explore with diverse biomes like snowy peaks, dense forests and spiritual shrines. Side activities like arena trials tested combat skills. Revamped co-op enabled friends to freely wander and light up the world together. While an iterative sequel, Far Cry 4 successfully expanded the scope of the sandbox slaughterhouse.
Far Cry Primal (2016) – A Refreshing Prehistoric Twist
As the only entry set in prehistoric times, Far Cry Primal struck out into bold new territory free of guns and modern trappings. 10,000 BCE during the Mesolithic era made for an immersive backdrop filled with primitive danger from packs of sabretooth tigers to aggressive tribal combat. With beast taming, tribal village building, and melee-focused combat, Primal remixed the Far Cry formula into a unique Stone Age survival experience.
Some critics found Primal‘s world sparse and repetitive compared to other entries. But its commitment to transporting players to an ancient era was widely applauded. Primal scored an average critic rating of 76/100 Per Steam user reviews, 86% of over 8,000 players rated Primal positively. For an authentic and unforgiving prehistoric playground that breaks from other entries, Far Cry Primal is a standout worth experiencing.
Far Cry 5 (2018) – The Apex of Open-World Mayhem
For many, Far Cry 5 represents the pinnacle of the franchise formula. Launching players into fictional Hope County, Montana, overrun by a fanatical cult, Far Cry 5 became a runaway success as the fastest-selling title in series history. While some criticized the narrative as less impactful than Far Cry 3‘s, the vibrant open world and smooth sandbox gameplay were universally praised.
Far Cry 5 realized the series‘ potential like never before with lifelike populations and ecosystems, customizable vehicles and weapons, companion characters with unique abilities, freely flowing progression without story gates, and dynamic events that kept the world unpredictable. With thoughtful quality-of-life upgrades, snappy moment-to-moment gameplay, and cutting-edge graphics, Far Cry 5 represents the pinnacle of the franchise‘s open-world craft.
Far Cry New Dawn (2019) – An Enjoyable Post-Apocalyptic Return to Hope County
Far Cry: New Dawn brought a colorful post-nuclear twist to Far Cry 5‘s Montana setting. With makeshift weapons, vehicle customization, and RPG-inspired gear tier loot progression, New Dawn remixed Far Cry 5‘s map and mechanics into a more scavenger-driven experience. While some found the reused map disappointing, New Dawn‘s fresh take on Hope County with its nuclear fallout environments, scrappy weapons, and expeditions mode won over many fans eager to revisit this beloved setting.
New Dawn also expanded co-op functionality with all story content playable with a friend. While not the complete reinvention some may have hoped for, Far Cry New Dawn succeeded as a madcap standalone adventure by building on strong foundations. It channels the spirit of earlier offbeat entries like Blood Dragon into a riskier swing outside the formula comfort zone.
Far Cry 6 (2021) – Beautiful, Polished, Yet Overly Familiar
As the latest entry launching in 2021, Far Cry 6 had high expectations to meet. Set amidst the guerrilla revolution in the tropical island nation of Yara, Far Cry 6 delivered cinematic set-pieces and stunning natural environments powered by cutting-edge tech. Customizable resolver weapons and gear engage player creativity. The core run-and-gun gameplay loop achieves a new level of responsiveness and fluidity.
However, Far Cry 6 played it safer narratively and structurally than some had hoped. The game‘s scope and systems tread familiar territory rather than breaking bold new ground for the franchise. Beloved features like map editing were cut, frustrating creative players. The new buddy companion systems felt undercooked. Technical issues like challenging mouse/keyboard controls also marred the experience for some on PC. While a visual showcase packing polished action, Far Cry 6 failed to evolve meaningfully on past triumphs.
- Far Cry 3 – Gripping narrative and iconic villain
- Far Cry 5 – Series‘ sandbox open-world apex
- Far Cry 4 – Gorgeous Kyrati playground
- Far Cry Primal – Unique prehistoric setting
- Far Cry 2 – Hardcore guerrilla survival
- Far Cry 6 – Beautiful modern polish and presentation
- Far Cry New Dawn – Fun post-apocalyptic remix
- Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon – Zany retro flash in the pan
For those new to the wild, chaotic, and undeniably fun sandbox of Far Cry, go with Far Cry 3 to experience the series at its storytelling peak. If you crave sheer open-world freedom and playability, Far Cry 5 is easily the best showcase of the franchise‘s signature strengths.
Veterans eager to revisit past heights should make time for Far Cry 4‘s pristine worldbuilding and gameplay evolutions. For something totally unique, embrace the primal struggle of Far Cry Primal in a Stone Age setting. Across jungle islands, African savannas, the Himalayas, prehistory, and the American Northwest, the Far Cry franchise has delivered memorable adventures chock full of mad characters, extreme sports, environmental beauty, and strategic guerrilla warfare mayhem.
While opinions vary on which entry stands above the rest, every fan is sure to find something spectacular in this world-class open-world shooter franchise. Just don‘t forget to watch out for those honey badgers. Good luck out there!