Far Cry is a successful first-person shooter franchise, published by Ubisoft. It has been an ongoing series since the release of the first game in 2004, and has published many spin offs, and main title games, of varying quality.
The Far Cry games are known for their memorable antagonists, action packed stories, and organic open-world exploration.
This article will take you through each major Far Cry installment from the beginning. Giving you the rundown about story, gameplay, and letting you know which ones are worth playing.
Far Cry -2004- (Great)
Far Cry Classic Launch Trailer
Play as Jack Carver, a former American special-operations operative and boat charter business owner, as he searches for Journalist Valerie Constantine. You must locate her after being hired to escort her to a chain of uncharted islands in Micronesia, and separated when mercenaries destroy your boat.
Throughout the game you will find yourself at the center of a dark conspiracy. Uncover horrific genetic experiments, and confront the mad scientist responsible. While Far Cry’s graphics were state of the art at the time modern players should seek out Far Cry Classic, a 2014 remake.Far Cry Instincts: Predator -2006- (Good)
Far Cry Instincts: Predator - Launch Trailer
Far Cry Instincts: Predator is a graphically enhanced version of Far Cry Instincts and Far Cry Instincts: Evolution.
Far Cry Instincts: Is a reimagining of Far Cry, in which Jack Carver is a former Navy service member with a history of selling illegal arms. Carver accepts a job to escort Valerie Cortez to the remote archipelago of Jacutan. Separated from his charge, and his boat destroyed, Carver must rescue Cortez.
After being captured and injected with an experimental serum, Carver develops feral animal-like abilities. He must work to uncover the extent of the genetic experiments, and shut the mad scientist responsible down once and for all.
Far Cry Instincts: Evolution: A sequel to Far Cry Instincts, which sees Jack Carver taking on another job in Micronesia. A woman named Kade hires Carver to help with an arms deal. Players will face seemingly insurmountable odds,dwindling allies, and enemies all around.
Far Cry Vengeance - 2007- (Worst)
Far Cry Vengeance (Wii) Trailer
A Wii exclusive reimaging of Far Cry Instincts: Evolution, with three additional levels. Far Cry Vengeance features a new story, in which Jack Carver agrees to work with Kade but then immediately gets detained, and discovers Kade’s involvement with the island’s rebel forces.
Many fans of the series were not impressed with the Wii controls, and NPC AI used. This game is short with a length of about 7 hours.
Far Cry 2 - 2008- (Great)
Far Cry 2 Trailer Official HD
Far Cry 2 is set in a fictionalized war-torn African country, in which you play as a mercenary that takes up arms to kill a notorious weapons dealer known as the Jackal. Things quickly go awry when you contract Malaria, and find yourself thrust into the midst of a civil war.
You must treat your Malaria, and get information on the Jackal’s whereabouts, through doing quests for the different factions. Survive ambushes, make hard decisions about who lives, and discover the Jackal’s true intentions. The ending is bittersweet, but certainly memorable.
Far Cry 3 -2012- (Best)
Far Cry 3 - Story Trailer
Far Cry 3 is set in the fictionalized archipelago of Rook Islands. Protagonist Jason Brody is a tourist/partygoer that has been imprisoned by pirates along with his brother and friends during a vacation turned disaster.
After a bloody escape, Jason, aided by the Rakyat (native people) must free his friends, and liberate the island from the pirate leader Vaas. This game is full of twists, incredible acting, and features 2 possible endings. Widely considered to be the best Far Cry game, with an incredible mix of an excellent villain, great shooting mechanics, and a memorable plot.
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon -2013- (Good)
Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon Launch Trailer [North America]
In Blood Dragon, Far Cry meets the ‘80s sci-fi action movie genre. Play as Rex, a cybernetic super soldier on a post-apocalyptic island, in which Blood Dragons rule the land. The dragons have extraordinary powers, unpredictable natures that are focused within their blood.
Face a mad doctor, liberate enemy bases, and fight the mighty Blood Dragons in your quest. This game is silly fun with twists and turns that’ll have you invested till the end. Far Cry Blood Dragon is definitely a must play extension pack game in the Far Cry universe.
Far Cry 4 -2014- (Great)
Far Cry 4 Reveal Trailer
Far Cry 4 is set among the Himalayan mountains in the fictional country of Kyrat. Protagonist Ajay Ghale is a Kyrati- American who has come to Kyrat to spread his mother’s ashes. Ajay becomes embroiled in a civil war between the country’s oppressive regime, and rebel factions.
Face capture at the hands of the country's violent and eccentric king, Pagan Min, choose to join him and end the game as soon as the adventure begins, or fight against him by escaping with the help of Sabal, a leader of the rebel group the Golden Path.
This game is fast paced fun, and the twists and turns will have you invested till the conclusion. You will shape the Golden Path’s future, and ultimately the fate of a whole country, while uncovering the truth about your mother’s past.
Far Cry Primal -2016- (Good)
Far Cry Primal - Story Trailer - PS4
Far Cry Primal is set in prehistoric times around roughly 10,000 BC, and follows the story of Takkar, a Wenja tribe hunter in the savage land of Oros. Your tribe is under threat from violent rival tribes, and you must fight to ensure your tribe’s lives, and freedom.
Play as a Beast Master, and tame nature’s creatures. Face fearsome foes, and fight for the future of mankind. Meet brave allies to aid in your fight, and help protect your tribe. Overcome slavers, quell the violence, and create a tribe that can sustain itself, and live peacefully.
Primal is an enjoyable adventurethoroughly outside of Far Cry’s usual setting. A unique experience, and well worth players taking a look.
Far Cry 5 -2018- (Good)
Far Cry 5: Official Announce Trailer - Ubisoft
Far Cry 5 is set in the fictitious Hope County, in Montana, USA. Play as a junior deputy sheriff drawn into a conflict with a doomsday cult called the Project at Eden’s Gate. Things quickly devolve into mayhem when you attempt to arrest the cult’s leader, Joseph Seed.
You are trapped in Hope County, and must work with resistance factions to regain control, by bringing the fight to the cult. This game is fun, and wild with memorable enemies, and quests that will have you facing religious zealots, mind-control drugs, and even the potential end of the world.
Far Cry New Dawn -2019- (Below Average)
Far Cry New Dawn: Official World Premiere Gameplay Trailer - Ubisoft
Far Cry New Dawn is a direct sequel and spin-off of Far Cry 5. Set seventeen years after “the collapse” you play as a security captain trying to assist survivors. You get ambushed by a group of highwaymen led by infamously ruthless twin sisters, and must scramble to help the nearby town of Prosperity.
Discover the fate of Far Cry 5 antagonist Joseph Seed, the deputy protagonist, and see what remains of Hope County after nuclear war. This game is a fun conclusion to Far Cry 5, but many fans felt it fell a bit flat, and could have been better.
Far Cry 6 -2021- (Below Average)
Far Cry 6 - Official Reveal Trailer - Ubisoft Forward
Far Cry 6 is set on the fictional island of Yara, a Caribbean nation ruled by dictator Antón Castillo. Play as Dani Rojas, a guerilla fighter attempting to topple Castillo’s regime. After an attempt to flee to Miami ends in tragedy, you must round up support, and take the fight to Antón.
You will face slavers, and seemingly insurmountable odds as you search for your captured friend. This game has impressive graphics, and gameplay but many fans feel that the story itself ends in an unsatisfactory way.
