The Far Cry sequence has been certainly one of Ubisoft’s longest working franchises, providing gamers tight first-person shooter motion, sprawling open worlds teeming with missions to finish and dangerous guys to gun down, and an absolute bucket-load of weapons. Whether or not you need to go the silent, stealthy route, or make numerous huge, huge bangs, any and all approaches are welcome as you combat off in opposition to the sequence’ infamous villains. Alas, like numerous issues in life, not all Far Cry video games have been created equal. Some are nice, standing the take a look at of time over a decade later, whereas others… nicely, they’re higher off simply being forgotten. After spending dozens upon dozens of hours with the sequence at this level, we’ve put collectively our definitive rating of the greatest Far Cry video games from worst to first.
9. Far Cry
Credit score to the primary recreation within the Far Cry sequence for kicking issues off, however after what got here earlier than it, it could not solely stand the take a look at of time. Contemplating when it was launched, the unique Far Cry seems fairly nice and it bought the jungle setting very nicely. The enemy AI is usually clever, and the weapons have a great steadiness between them.
However once you have a look at the place the sequence has gone, the unique Far Cry doesn’t really feel fairly as proper. Regardless of being open-ended, many areas are trial and error, and are designed to be carried out in a manner that simply isn’t enjoyable. Enemies are painfully silly once you’re shut up, and the checkpoint system… nicely, the much less mentioned about that, the higher. There’s additionally the disappointing story, with characters that both weren’t likable or simply lacked character, and a protagonist with a really terrible wanting lau shirt.
8. Far Cry 2
The second recreation within the sequence is a marked enchancment over the unique Far Cry. Enemies are extra responsive, it seems much more attractive, and Africa is an ideal setting for the sequence. It was a singular departure from each the open world and shooter genres.
Sadly, the sport’s greatest stumble lies in its personal plot. When you select which badass mercenary to be, you go to Africa and get malaria…however you’re nursed again to well being by the very man you’re attempting to kill. So possibly calling you a “badass mercenary” is a little bit of a stretch. That’s actually about all you’ll get from the plot, which doesn’t provide you with a lot to work with more often than not. However even that doesn’t matter, because it’s so unimportant that you could possibly neglect issues as you go alongside.
The draw right here comes from the environment, however generally it will possibly go too far. At instances, Far Cry 2 may be so slavishly dedicated to realism that it makes the gameplay very not enjoyable. Contracting malaria each 20 minutes or having your weapons and automobiles jam is a tad overkill, and for console gamers, the save system didn’t assist issues a lot. It’s not a nasty recreation, however simply when it looks as if you’re having enjoyable, it feels prefer it’s placing you in hardcore mode earlier than you’re actually prepared.
7. Far Cry New Daybreak
Far Cry New Dawn was the speedy successor to the fairly incredible Far Cry 5. It came about in Hope County as soon as once more, however the map feels considerably smaller, and the gameplay largely focuses round having you repeating content material with out attractive sufficient rewards to warrant you truly desirous to do it.
The primary pull right here is that New Daybreak takes place in a post-apocalyptic model of Hope County, the place there’s an even bigger give attention to crafting and buying sources. Your weapons and their attachments are a hodgepodge of no matter you could find mendacity around the globe. However the post-apocalyptic vibe solely lasts for thus lengthy, once you notice there’s an odd abundance of ammo all over the place you go and sources aren’t truly all that scarce.
The massive bads of New Daybreak, the dual sisters Mickey and Lou are so inconsequential that it’s straightforward to simply neglect about them solely after some time. All the pieces about New Daybreak simply feels a little bit scaled again and restricted in its ambition. This one’s solely really useful for probably the most die-hard Far Cry 5 followers on the market.
6. Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon seems like one thing {that a} fanfiction author would consider whereas bored one afternoon: “Man, I actually dug Far Cry 3, however I really feel prefer it’s lacking one thing…I do know! It wants Michael Biehn, an 80s synth vibe, and big dragons!” Very similar to how Kingdom Hearts confirmed us that Disney and Sq. Enix was a significantly better mixture than we have been anticipating, so it goes with Blood Dragon.
Regardless of having the Far Cry 3 title, Blood Dragon has no relation to the bottom recreation, which is a bit baffling, to make certain. However whereas the title is a bit complicated, the sport itself is a blast, feeling like a contemporary recreation that was made for outdated retro recreation followers. Greater than the indie 2D video games that attempt to evoke nostalgia for Mega Man or Castlevania, Blood Dragon leans on that nostalgia issue exhausting, from the synth soundtrack to the CRT scanlines and mushy fuzz static. Biehn’s deadpan supply meshes properly with the 80s motion movie script, and it’s exhausting to not snigger at urgent the precise keep on with flip the chook or at strains like “Woman Liberty taught me that winners… don’t use medicine.”
Fortunately, Blood Dragon has the gameplay to again up its seems. Whereas it’s primarily a copy-paste job of the bottom recreation, there’s no denying the enchantment that comes from taking pictures Daft Punk with sci-fi rifles. The titular Blood Dragons add some hazard to issues, however whether or not or not it’s enjoyable to exhaust all of your ammo and explosives to keep away from getting was Kyle Reese’s Items goes to fluctuate. Nonetheless, for $20 (or much less these days), Blood Dragon is nice and reveals that the sequence doesn’t essentially have to lean so exhausting on gritty character tales of survival to work.
5. Far Cry 6
The newest entry within the Far Cry sequence can be probably the most disappointing. It’s not a dangerous recreation, and it’s nonetheless a darn sight extra satisfying expertise than the video games which have come earlier than it on this rating. However in 2022, followers have been anticipating a lot extra than what the sport provided, particularly when Giancarlo Esposito was plastered everywhere in the advertising and marketing as the primary antagonist, Antón Castillo.
To his credit score, Esposito did a fairly incredible job of portraying the fascist dictator of Yara, however he simply didn’t get sufficient display time to essentially make an enduring impression in the identical manner different Far Cry villains have.
Far Cry 6 simply didn’t do sufficient to essentially advance the sequence, both. 3 was the entry that set every little thing in movement with an unforgettable villain. 4 was simply downright entertaining, and 5 felt like probably the most intriguing by way of its story. However 6? It simply did an okay job in any respect of this stuff with out ever actually giving itself a standout function to write down dwelling about.
I did have loads of enjoyable with the Macarena gun, however there’s solely so many instances you’ll be able to hearken to the 90s traditional as you slice somebody by way of the neck earlier than you begin questioning what extra the sport has to supply.
For those who’re in search of probably the most trendy and generic Far Cry expertise, 6 is what you’ll need to try.
4. Far Cry Primal
Far Cry Primal will get a fairly dangerous rap in our eyes. Positive, there wasn’t an entire lot of story happening, there weren’t any standout characters, and the expertise felt very… gentle, so to talk, however the core mechanics have been robust and it provided a unique tackle the FPS sequence.
Taking us manner again to 10,000 BC, Primal solid apart the weapons and superior weaponry the sequence had change into synonymous with, and left you with the naked, stealthy requirements as an alternative. A bow, some throwables, and your pure intuition to take down your blissfully unaware foes.
Is Primal going to be for everybody? Completely not. However now, in 2023, after seeing Far Cry 6 provide simply extra of the identical typical Far Cry fare, Primal stands out as a half-decent effort to diversify the sequence. Even when all of the elements weren’t fairly there, it’s nonetheless value testing for die-hard followers all the identical.
3. Far Cry 4
Not many predicted simply how rapidly the sequence would develop after the discharge of Far Cry 3. Because the 12 months was winding down and everybody had determined what their favourite video games of that 12 months have been, Ubisoft slyly put it in at December. Individuals ended up latching onto it and because the outdated saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it”. Therefore Far Cry 4.
It’s unfair to check video games, however FC4 actually does really feel like FC3 with the Pacific Islander undertones swapped for Buddhism. The taking pictures, driving, stealth, and crafting system all really feel like they have been lifted wholesale from FC3 with little to no changes (which is okay, since they nonetheless work fairly nicely right here). Environments are nonetheless lovely, the extent development remains to be enjoyable to undergo, and there’s nonetheless some darkish pleasure in watching an enemy group get torn to shreds by a wild animal. Oh and driving an elephant? Yeah, that’ll by no means get outdated.
None of that’s dangerous, however that additionally signifies that Far Cry 4 can solely occupy the identical airspace as its predecessor as an alternative of elevating the sequence. There’s not loads that’s terribly new, and what’s new both makes issues extra annoying (animals may be extra of a problem this time round), or simply feels thrown in for the sake of it akin to gyrocopters that make tailing missions insultingly straightforward. Most noticeably, protagonist Ajay Ghale and his story of honoring his mom’s dying want on the island of Kyrat, fell flat in comparison with Jason Brody’s need to save lots of his kidnapped pals from pirates, regardless of having a reasonably stable Troy Baker because the sadistically entertaining Pagan Min. On the finish of all of it, Far Cry 4 isn’t a nasty recreation, actually it’s fairly nice, however it doesn’t fairly have the identical spark as earlier than.
Additionally, eagles. Screw eagles.
2. Far Cry 5
By the point Far Cry 5 rolled round, we very a lot knew what we have been getting from a brand new entry within the sequence. An enormous open world? Examine. A disturbingly evil villain? Examine. A number of outposts to clear and facet missions to finish? Double verify. And but, Far Cry 5 managed to do one thing even its successor and people video games earlier than it couldn’t. It offered one of many extra compelling narratives full with engrossing story beats and set-pieces that had us combating in opposition to the Seed household proper to the very finish.
Slightly than taking us to some distant international land, the combat came about in our very personal yard, too. It helped the occasions hit tougher, and the gorgeous, diverse terrain of Hope County simply made for some satisfying facet content material that we’d not had within the sequence earlier than.
Spherical that each one out with every of the Seed siblings’ varied areas and boss battles feeling distinctly totally different and Far Cry 5 was arguably probably the most gripping entry within the sequence since, nicely… the easiest recreation within the sequence.
1. Far Cry 3
Far Cry 3 is a rattling nice recreation, however it’s nice in a manner that’s virtually delicate when you consider it. Yeah, there’s all that enjoyable open gameplay and watching pirates get jumped by a tiger, however the draw can be within the Rook Islands and what it does to the participant, Jason Brody. The island is as a lot of a villain as Vaas is, serving to Jason shed his doughy privileged wealthy child pores and skin to change into a man prepared to run over animals and intestine dudes with out blinking a watch. Vaas tortures Jason’s thoughts and the island tortures his physique, turning the sport from sandbox mayhem to survival horror.
The enchantment within the gameplay comes much less from the fight and admittedly simplistic stealth design, and extra from how the sport permits you to play nevertheless you would like. You might go in weapons blazing with an LMG and rocket launcher to free the outpost and achieve a brand new piece of territory. Alternatively, you could possibly snipe everybody in sight with a silenced sniper rifle and launch a lethal tiger from a cage to do your soiled work. Or hell, simply wingsuit into the outpost and slice everybody’s necks open earlier than they know what hit them. Far Cry 3 doesn’t do an entire lot to revolutionize the open world style, however it positive as hell is aware of give gamers incentive to make use of what’s introduced earlier than them.
What’s your favourite entry within the Far Cry sequence? Tell us within the feedback under.
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