As if we don’t have enough to play at the moment…we decided to finally get around to trying out Far Cry 5 recently. And doing so put us in a spiral about the entire series.

A series we’ve played so much of in the past, and then just kind of ignored in recent years. It’s been fun to look back, but also to drive around Hope County in a tractor with a pistol in-hand.

We fondly remember malaria, wildfire spreading like we’ve never seen in a game before. Massive open worlds, hunting animals, stalking outposts and climbing towers. Far Cry might not be as innovative as it once was, but there’s a lot to go at, for sure!

From a high-tech PC shooter about mutants on an island. To a globe-trotting, tyrant-toppling open-world formula. Ubisoft’s Far Cry series has defined the sandbox first-person shooter for two decades.

Far Cry’s identity is built on a foundation of three core pillars:

• A vast, exotic, and hostile wilderness;
• A charismatic, monologuing villain;
• The emergent chaos that erupts when the player’s best-laid plans go up in flames.

 

The Main Series

Far Cry (2004)

Plot

Players take on the role of ex-special forces boat captain Jack Carver. Jack is stranded on a mysterious tropical archipelago after his boat is destroyed.

While searching for the journalist he was escorting, Valerie Constantine, Jack uncovers a dark secret: the islands are a testing ground for Dr. Krieger, a mad scientist creating genetically engineered mutant soldiers known as “Trigens.”

Critical Reception

Hailed as a technical masterpiece at its release.

Developed by Crytek, the game’s CryEngine produced breathtakingly large, open-ended jungle environments and visuals that were light-years ahead of its time.

It was praised for its non-linear level design and its highly advanced, challenging enemy AI, which would flank, use cover, and call for backup. The mid-game sci-fi twist with the Trigens was more divisive.

Noteworthy Elements

• The CryEngine: Set a new benchmark for PC graphics.
• Open-Ended Sandbox: While not a true open-world, its enormous levels gave players unprecedented freedom to approach objectives.
• The Sci-Fi Twist: The shift from tactical shooter to mutant horror was a sharp turn that defined the original game.

 

Far Cry 2 (2008)

Plot

A complete departure from the original. The player chooses from a roster of mercenaries sent to an unnamed, war-torn Central African nation.

The mission: assassinate “The Jackal,” a mysterious and philosophical arms dealer supplying weapons to both sides of a brutal civil war (the APR and UFLL). The plot is a dark, nihilistic journey into the futility of conflict.

Critical Reception

Deeply divisive, and remains so today. Far Cry 2 is a “love it or hate it” game.

Praised for its “immersive sim” qualities, a grounded and hostile world, and its stunning Dunia Engine, which featured revolutionary fire propagation.

The game was also criticised for its “anti-fun” mechanics. Including a malaria system requiring constant medication, weapons that would jam and degrade, and infamously respawning enemy checkpoints.

Noteworthy Elements

• Immersive Realism: The malaria system, weapon degradation, and manual healing animations (like digging bullets out with a knife) created a gritty, desperate survival atmosphere.
• Dynamic Fire: The ability to start a brush fire and watch it realistically spread and burn down an entire outpost was a technical marvel.
• The Buddy System: Players could recruit “buddies” who would offer alternate missions and even rescue the player from death. Although they could be permanently killed, which was unheard of at the time.

 

Far Cry 3 (2012)

Plot

A wealthy tourist, Jason Brody is on vacation with his friends and brother, when they are kidnapped by pirates on the Rook Islands. They are held for ransom by the unhinged Vaas Montenegro.

Jason escapes and is rescued by the local Rakyat tribe. Who, under their priestess Citra, train him to become a warrior.

The story charts Jason’s transformation from a terrified victim to a remorseless killer. As he hunts Vaas and his boss, Hoyt Volker.

Critical Reception

A massive critical and commercial breakthrough. This game codified the modern Far Cry formula (or is it the Ubisoft formula?). Vaas, portrayed by Michael Mando, was universally lauded as one of the greatest villains in video game history.

The gameplay loop of climbing radio towers to reveal the map and liberating outposts was deemed incredibly addictive.

Its only significant criticism was its “mighty whitey” narrative, where a white tourist becomes the mystical savior of the native population.

Noteworthy Elements

• Vaas Montenegro: His “definition of insanity” monologue became an iconic moment in gaming.
• The Ubisoft Formula: The core loop of Towers, Outposts, Hunting, and Crafting was established here and would become the template for many Ubisoft games to follow.
• Descent into Madness: The story’s central theme, exploring whether Jason is saving his friends or just discovering his own love for killing.

 

Far Cry 4 (2014)

Plot

Ajay Ghale returns to his native land, the fictional Himalayan nation of Kyrat, to fulfil his mother’s dying wish: to scatter her ashes. He is immediately intercepted by the nation’s flamboyant and brutal dictator, Pagan Min, who claims a personal connection to Ajay’s mother.

Ajay is rescued by the Golden Path, a rebel movement his father founded, and is forced to choose between its two feuding leaders: the traditionalist Sabal and the progressive-but-ruthless Amita.

Critical Reception

Generally positive, but it was the first game to be heavily criticised for hewing too closely to the Far Cry 3 formula. The Himalayan setting was praised for its beauty and verticality. Pagan Min (Troy Baker) was a celebrated villain, though many felt he was underutilized.

The central choice between Amita and Sabal was noted for its moral ambiguity, as both paths lead to dark outcomes.

Noteworthy Elements

• The Secret Ending: If the player simply waits at the dinner table as Pagan asks in the prologue, the game ends peacefully in 15 minutes.
• Verticality: The addition of the grappling hook and the “Buzzer” (a small autogyro) made traversing the mountainous terrain unique.
• Riding Elephants: The ability to ride a war elephant into an outpost became a key marketing and gameplay feature.

 

Far Cry 5 (2018)

Plot

The player is a silent Junior Deputy, part of a federal task force sent to the fictional Hope County, Montana, to arrest Joseph Seed (“The Father”). Joseph is the charismatic, messianic leader of the Project at Eden’s Gate, a heavily armed doomsday cult.

The arrest fails spectacularly, stranding the player. The Deputy must help the local resistance liberate the county’s three regions, each controlled by one of Joseph’s “Heralds”: his siblings John, Jacob, and Faith.

Critical Reception

A mixed bag, but a colossal commercial success. The move to an American setting was a bold choice.

The “Guns for Hire” companion system was praised as a fantastic addition.

However, the game was heavily criticised for its severe tonal whiplash, constantly interrupting its dark, serious story with wacky side quests.

Its “Resistance Points” system, which forced the player into story missions, and its shocking, nihilistic nuclear-war ending were extremely controversial.

Noteworthy Elements

• Guns (and Fangs) for Hire: A robust companion system featuring 9 specialists, including Boomer the dog, Cheeseburger the bear, and Peaches the cougar.
• American Setting: The first game set in the United States, exploring themes of religious fanaticism and political division.
• “The Collapse”: The controversial ending where the player “wins,” only for Joseph’s prophecy of a global nuclear war to come true, devastating the world.

 

Far Cry 6 (2021)

Plot

Set on the fictional Caribbean island of Yara, heavily inspired by Cuba. The player is Dani Rojas (a fully voiced male or female protagonist), a disillusioned local trying to escape to America.

Dani is pulled into a modern-day revolution, joining the guerrilla group “Libertad” to topple the fascist dictator Antón Castillo (Giancarlo Esposito). Antón is trying to legitimize his rule by force while grooming his young son, Diego, to follow in his footsteps.

Critical Reception

The most “formula-fatigue” of the series. It was praised for Giancarlo Esposito’s menacing performance, the return of a fully voiced protagonist, and its beautiful, massive world.

However, it was widely criticised for its bloated, repetitive design and a story that played it safe, failing to meaningfully innovate on the Far Cry formula.

Noteworthy Elements

• Giancarlo Esposito: The Breaking Bad actor’s performance as the cold, calculating Antón Castillo was a major highlight.
• Resolver & Supremos: “Resolver” weapons are makeshift, creative guns, while “Supremo” backpacks grant the player a powerful special ability, like a rocket-launching barrage.
• A Voiced Protagonist: Dani Rojas was a fully realised character who participated in conversations, a welcome change from FC5‘s silent protagonist.

The Noteworthy Spin-offs

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (2013)

Plot

A standalone 1980s retro-futuristic parody. Players are Sergeant Rex “Power” Colt (voiced by Michael Biehn), a cyber-commando fighting a rogue colonel on a neon-drenched island.

Critical Reception

Critically adored for its humor, synthwave soundtrack, and loving satire of 80s action movies.

Noteworthy Elements

Its success as a smaller, standalone concept proved the franchise could successfully experiment with radically different tones.

Far Cry Primal (2016)

Plot

A full-priced, standalone title set in 10,000 BC.

The player is Takkar, a hunter who must unite his Wenja tribe against two rival tribes: the cannibalistic Udam and the fire-worshipping Izila.

Critical Reception

Praised for its unique concept (no firearms) but criticised by some as a re-skin of Far Cry 4‘s map.

Noteworthy Elements

The “Beast Master” mechanic, allowing the player to tame animals like sabertooth tigers and owls (used as a primitive drone), was a major innovation.

 

Far Cry New Dawn (2019)

Plot

The first-ever direct story sequel in the series, set 17 years after Far Cry 5‘s nuclear “Collapse.” The player (“The Captain”) helps the survivors of Hope County fight the Highwaymen, a scavenger gang led by the twins Mickey and Lou.

Critical Reception

A mixed response. The “superbloom” art style was praised, but the introduction of light-RPG mechanics (tiered weapons, health bars) was divisive.

Noteworthy Elements

It served as a narrative epilogue to Far Cry 5, bringing closure to the story of Joseph Seed.

Popularity, Sales, and Legacy

Sales Trajectory

The Far Cry series was a respected, mid-tier franchise until Far Cry 3 launched it into the stratosphere.

• Far Cry (2004): Sold a respectable 2.5 million copies.
• Far Cry 2 (2008): Sold 2.9 million copies, showing a dedicated following.
• Far Cry 3 (2012): The breakout hit. Sold over 10 million copies, setting a new, much higher baseline for the franchise.
• Far Cry 4 (2014): Matched its predecessor’s success, also selling over 10 million copies.
• Far Cry 5 (2018): Became the best-selling game in the series, shipping over 20 million copies by 2020.
• Far Cry 6 (2021): While Ubisoft has not released specific lifetime sales figures, the company stated in 2022 that the game’s launch and subsequent performance led to the Far Cry brand’s “best year ever,” confirming it as a major financial success.

Overall Popularity

As of March 2024, Ubisoft announced that the Far Cry franchise has surpassed 90 million unique players in its lifetime.

In summary, Far Cry transformed from a linear, tech-demo shooter into the definitive “one-man army” sandbox.

Its identity, forged in the fires of Far Cry 3, is a reliable, chaotic, and explosive formula: a beautiful, dangerous world; a captivating villain; and the absolute freedom to burn it all to the ground.

While recent entries face accusations of stagnation, we know know what we’re getting with Far Cry, and sometimes it’s just exactly what you need. Chaos, fun, and stunning exotic environments to ultimately master and take-back from whomever is trying to rule it.

Here’s to more of the good stuff and hoping that we see it become an innovator again, like it once was.