Updated at: 23-06-2023 - By: Leo Hall

Order of the Far Cry games have you baffled? Take a look at our catalogue as we progress through the years.

Ubisoft’s Far Cry series of first-person open world shooters debuted in 2004.

The flagship installment in this series debuted alongside other Xbox and PC games on March 23, 2004.

For your perusal, I present the complete catalog of Far Cry titles.

The History of the Far Cry Games

The Beginning (Far Cry, Far Cry Instincts, Far Cry Instincts: Evolution)

The original Far Cry was one of those games with goals so lofty that they inevitably went too far. While there were stealth mechanics, they were largely rendered useless when enemies could track your every move for half a mile through the thick, steaming jungle. Any player who tried to sneak up on the enemies rather than just running in and shooting them would have thrown their controller across the room in disgust.

The seemingly supernatural foes were actually a byproduct of the developer’s efforts to give the enemy AI some actual intelligence, much like in Half-Life; this aspect of the game was widely praised. Most reviews gave some passing mention to the game’s AI or visuals, if not both. It was hailed as “nearly perfect” and “quite possibly the best one-player, action-intensive shooter ever,” albeit in 2004.

An adaptation to film by the notoriously bad director Uwe Boll was in the works for Far Cry before the first game had even been released, which is one of the lowest honors a game can receive. We aren’t against the idea of a Far Cry movie, we’re just against the idea of Uwe Boll making a Far Cry movie, Ubisoft Montreal’s LP Pharand said after the film’s inevitable failure.

The good news is that this wasn’t the only change made. The Xbox couldn’t handle the large open world of Far Cry 1, so a slightly more linear version of the game called Far Cry Instincts made its way over to the console. The short sequel Evolution to Instincts was largely a rehash of the original. It’s not bad for a remake that received scores of eight or nine out of ten from critics.

The Rumble In The Jungle (Far Cry 2)

The gameplay in Far Cry 2 wasn’t much better than the first game. In this world, crossing a street intersection meant that armed men would begin pursuing your vehicle. Stealth technology that actually worked was still a long way off. Although the game’s strongest feature is its story, Far Cry 2 added the grimly realistic mechanic of your guns wearing out and eventually jamming on you during firefights.

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Far Cry 2 opted for a level of realism that went beyond ‘gritty’ and actually got pretty unpleasant in place of the B-movie monsters of the original. Heavily influenced by both the original Joseph Conrad novel and the loose film adaptation Apocalypse Now, you took on the role of a mercenary who had been sent into a war-torn African nation in search of an arms dealer only known as “The Jackal.” Since your firearms are your primary means of communication, you find yourself engaging in the civil war on both sides and socializing primarily with fellow mercenaries. Let’s just say you don’t present a very likable character. Among your many side missions will be the search for blood diamonds and the acquisition of antimalarials to combat your rapidly progressing infection.

Although the Jackal only appeared in a few scattered audio logs, he was the most memorable and compelling character in the game. Perhaps it is telling that the player character from the first Far Cry, Jack Carver, was not brought back for the sequel because players had forgotten about him. Perhaps this is inevitable in video games, where the protagonist is meant to serve as a placeholder for the player (though, oddly, protagonists who remain steadfastly silent, like Link from The Legend of Zelda or Gordon Freeman from Half-Life, tend to be more memorable than your average Jack Carvers). In any case, this created a need for more interesting characters that the antagonists have been happy to fill.

In contrast to the first Far Cry, which took place on a generic tropical island, the open world of the sequel was something players were eager to explore. With a massive map of 31 square miles, the game’s environments varied from barren desert to dense jungle. This is roughly the same size as Grand Theft Auto V, another game that came out five years later.

The critics (and anyone who played it) were quick to point out the game’s obvious annoyances, such as having to unjam your gun, take your medicine, and deal with an endless horde of enemies. Despite these problems, however, Far Cry 2 was met with the same enthusiastic reception as its predecessor; in fact, almost no reviews gave the game a score lower than eight out of ten.

The Tyrant On The Island (Far Cry 3, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon)

One could argue that Far Cry 3 marked the beginning of the series as we know it today. Combat progressed beyond “fire in their direction until they stop moving” now that they had the equipment to make stealth mechanics actually work. The odds of landing a headshot improved, and close combat was introduced.

A technical definition of close combat could be “swipe ineffectually at them with a knife that might as well be blunt,” which was already covered by the preceding entries. Starting with the very first mission, you’ll be able to sneak up on your enemies and hack them to pieces with a machete. You could hack down one enemy, then spring over to the next and slice them up too, or you could pull your victim’s sidearm and wipe out their friends. These methods became available as you progressed through the game. Cracked didn’t call Far Cry 3’s “freestyle murder system” the game’s best feature for nothing.

The plot of Far Cry 3 was big, bold, and stupid, with none of the pretense of illuminating the evils of war that we saw in Far Cry 2. Michael Mando’s Vaas stole the show as the obnoxious, over-the-top antagonist who was inherently more interesting than the bland hero or his tedious friends.

A feature of Ubisoft’s other blockbuster, Assassin’s Creed, which has seeped into far too many open world games was also introduced in Far Cry 3: a tower in the center of each sub-region, which you climb up to get a cinematic pan around the nearby landscape. This was a staple of the series for a while, but by Far Cry 5, it was being hilariously mocked.

Reviews for Far Cry 3 were generally very positive, scoring in the high nines out of ten, proving that all the series’s experimental fumblings in the first two games had paid off. Vaas’s “did I ever tell you the definition of insanity?” speech was singled out as a highlight, and the film won a dozen awards overall.

Like Grand Theft Auto, Far Cry didn’t really take shape as we know it until the third game in the series, and like GTA, the games in the series aren’t necessarily meant to be played in order of their release numbers. Next up was Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, whose story went from being mildly ridiculous to completely outlandish. It took on the neon-drenched, synth-heavy aesthetic that represents a fever dream version of the 1980s.

Also, “Blood Dragon” wasn’t just a name. Its excessive style was perfectly suited to the inclusion of giant, laser-breathing lizards among the usual predatory fauna. Although it was obviously a sideshow and not nearly as substantial as Far Cry 3, it was still universally praised as a fun little blast.

The Shouting On The Mountain (Far Cry 4, Far Cry Primal)

Not much had changed in Far Cry 4 since Far Cry 3. It was mechanically identical, feeling more like an expansion pack than a true sequel; however, it was a bloody good expansion pack, providing a lovely new locale (the definitely-not-Nepal fictional nation of Kyrat), lots more toys to play with, and not one but five hammy villains to shake your fist at. Far Cry 3’s success gave Ubisoft the opportunity to establish a foundation and begin making adjustments based on what they learned.

It also had a couple of minigames in the arcade style, one of which featured the game’s main villain, the flamboyant Pagan, commenting on your progress via radio like a Greek chorus. Just like Vaas before him, he managed to steal the show from the protagonists despite their lack of interesting qualities.

All critics agreed that Far Cry 4 was a good game. The most common complaint was that it didn’t do much to advance the series beyond Far Cry 3, but even among those who found little to praise in the game, the vertical exploration of Kyrat’s mountainous terrain was often cited as a positive addition.

The developers of Far Cry 5 likely saw how similar Far Cry 4 was to Far Cry 3, so they decided to completely revamp the series by setting it in the prehistoric era. Sticks and stones replaced firearms and explosives in Far Cry Primal, setting the action in what could have been central Europe some 10,000 years ago. Instead of using a quad bike or technical, you could train a saber-toothed tiger to carry you around.

Ultimately, Primal was more divisive than Far Cry’s previous entries, with players either welcoming it as a breath of fresh air or condemning it as a repetitive boondoggle. However, even the harshest critics gave it a three out of five, with many praising the game’s continuous primeval setting and the animal-training dynamic despite its implausibility. The public, too, found little to criticize, and the game was the top seller in the United States in February 2016.

Going Bananas In Montana (Far Cry 5, Far Cry: New Dawn)

Despite returning to a modern setting with all the guns and explosives that implies, Far Cry 5 eschewed the series’ usual exotic locales in favor of bringing all the same action to a rural region of Montana, here under the thumb of a doomsday cult who (much like Bioshock Infinite) go around swaddled in nakedly Christian imagery without ever actually invoking the C-word.

Some critics found Far Cry 5’s tired cultist characters uninteresting in comparison to the colorful ones like Vaas and Pagan, leading to some of the game’s most polarizing reviews. Either way, it broke franchise sales records, shifting over 70,000 copies in its first week, more than doubling the sales of Far Cry 4. This time around, it wasn’t just reviewers who praised Far Cry 5 for its impressive visuals and beautiful setting; Montana’s tourism board used the game as a promotional tool, and they seem to have taken the whole “they’re overrun by an evil cult” plotline in good humor. Enjoy the outdoors and fishing? You should do it in practice. However, try not to set off any explosions.

New Dawn, an unnumbered spinoff of Far Cry 5, took place in a post-nuclear wasteland, potentially spoiling the outcome of the game’s apocalyptic prophecies. Unlike the typical grimy, grey post-apocalyptic so beloved by, say, the Fallout games, New Dawn made the most of the opportunity to make its landscapes more lush than ever before, with nature reclaiming the wreckage of civilization.

Review aggregator EGM gave it a dismal 2%, pointing out that, like its own post-apocalyptic civilization, New Dawn was cobbled together from the discarded remnants of earlier works. Even in the more positive reviews, however, critics pointed out how similar it was to Far Cry 5, more so than with the minor spinoffs Blood Dragon and Primal.

The Future (Far Cry 6)

This year will also see the release of Far Cry 6, which will feature a new villainous and charismatic final boss played by recurring Far Cry baddie Giancarlo Esposito. We’ve established that Ubisoft has spent a lot of time honing these games down to their essential qualities. However, the fundamental formula of first-person shooters set in an open world appears to be here to stay for quite some time. Little improvements in quality of life here and there, but ultimately evolution rather than revolution (6 will have you rise up in revolt against Esposito’s tinpot dictator).

Far Cry 6 for Xbox One, PS4 & More | Ubisoft (UK)

Far Cry Games In Order

1. Far Cry Primal (10,000 BC)

Unsurprisingly, the first sequel to the Far Cry series is the first game on our list, Far Cry Primal. The 2016 release of Far Cry Primal marked a watershed moment for the franchise.

In the past, the hero was probably a banned firearm. Even though it was only one game, Primal managed to change all of that.

The game takes place in the Stone Age, and players assume the role of a Mesolithic hunter struggling against the elements. Instead of bows and arrows, there are AKs, and instead of saber teeth, there are thugs.

Ubisoft has even gone so far as to commission a team of linguists to invent an entirely new language to round out the Mesolithic vibe.

Because of Primal’s promise of animal taming, a 12-year-old’s secret wish to domesticate a wolf and ride it came true.

Wolves, bears, saber teeth, badges, and other animal parts were included.

The removal of firearms from Far Cry Primal was met with skepticism from fans of the series. However, at this time it is reasonable to assume that Ubisoft has called off the trip.

2. Hours of Darkness (1960-the 70s)

Hours of Darkness is a standalone downloadable content expansion for Far Cry 5 that reintroduces players to the Viet Cong conflict. You’ll put aside your political beliefs about the war and take on the role of a ‘Gun for Hire,’ assisting American troops.

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There is a whole arsenal of new weapons, but the DLC is all about luck. The main story of the prequel, Hours of Darkness, can be finished in under two hours, making it significantly shorter than the main series. The Vietnam War is only two hours long, but you learn a lot about it in that time.

3. Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (Dystopian 2007)

Another standalone piece of DLC in the Far Cry 3 series is Blood Dragon. The game’s setting was 2007, but the 2007 in the game and the 2007 you and I know are very different.

The directors of 1980s films are often held in high regard in 2007, you know. Consider the culture that has developed around the likes of Terminator, Predator, Rambo, and RoboCop.

In the timeline of the Blood Dragon, the world is a post-apocalyptic nuclear wasteland because the United States and Russia crossed the line.

You’ll take control of Rex, a prominent American cybernetic soldier, and do whatever it was that influential American cybernetic soldiers did in the nuclear wasteland.

4. Far Cry 2 (2008)

As we move on to number four on our list of far cry games in order, you may be surprised to learn that Far Cry 2 is, in fact, the first game in the main Far Cry series.

Even though it was released in 2008, Far Cry 2 is set in the Central African jungles and savannahs. In 2008, with the release of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, the video game industry experienced a period of great excitement as new and more powerful consoles entered the market.

Ubisoft took a risk when they made Far Cry 2, marketing it as the first game in the series despite its significant differences in plot, gameplay, and setting from the original. It paid off to take a chance, so now each Far Cry game stands on its own.

5. Far Cry 3 (2012)

In fact, Rook Island, so named in 2012, was our vacation destination in Far Cry 3. However, the main character Jason Brody’s holiday celebrations were cut short when kidnappers abducted several of his friends.

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The cover of Far Cry 3 was the first in the series to feature a psychotic but attractive criminal. The criminal Vaas Montenegro inspired future covers to feature volcanoes as the main attraction.

However, in terms of gameplay, Far Cry 3 builds upon the foundations of Far Cry 2, including free-roaming exploration, large outdoor areas, and hostile (but accessible) wildlife.

6. Far Cry 4 (2014)

Far Cry 4 is your ticket to a virtual vacation in the Himalayas and a virtual immersion in the war-torn Kyrat world. Originally planned as a direct sequel to Far Cry 3 featuring many of the same characters, development was halted in 2014 before it could be realized. Discarded.

Features that were integral to Far Cry 3’s success were kept and enhanced. This was a strange place with a cruel criminal who would leave an indelible mark on the hero’s memory, a pack of hostile wild animals, and some very mechanical guns.

In addition, Far Cry 4 was the first in the series to include a multiplayer mode, a map editor, and a role-playing component. Two non-independent add-ons were released for Far Cry 4: Escape from Durgesh Prison and Valley of Yetis.

The game is set around the same time as Far Cry 4, and Ajay Ghale continues to play the lead role.

7. Far Cry 5 (2018)

Far Cry 5 is for you if you enjoy games set in old, rustic, and fun American settings, but only if you’re willing to give up some of the fun.

Hope County, Montana, the location of Far Cry 5 in 2018, seems like it would be a great location for a Netflix series about an American high school.

The “Prophetic Father” Joseph Seed and his followers are implementing a systematic genocide in Hope County.

Due to his preoccupation with criminals, Ubisoft forgot to give Far Cry 5’s main protagonist a name and instead created three henchmen from the ‘Seedline.

8. Far Cry 6 (2021)

Far Cry 6 is the eighth installment in the series. The Carribien island nation of Yara is the subject of the next major article in the Far Cry series.

To learn the ranking of the pirates in the series, read:

The legendary Giancarlo Esposito was cast as El Presidente Antón Castillo after Ubisoft upped their villain game by hiring him.

9. Far Cry (2025)

Most people don’t realize that the original Far Cry took place in 2025, long after the ‘Wrap’ of the Far Cry timeline. In September of 2018, a global nuclear disaster known as “The Collapse” occurred in the Far Cry region.

Even though the original Far Cry is as stale as milk now, it was widely regarded as its “Disaster” sibling when it was released in 2004. After debuting on personal computers, the game was made available for download on game consoles.

The game established series staples like expansive forested or jungle areas, various types of vehicles, and fast-paced gunplay.

10. Far Cry New Dawn (2035)

Far Cry New Dawn rounds out our list of all the Far Cry games.

A small ‘Far Cry 5’ sequel and the standalone expansion Far Cry: New Dawn were both put on hold in 2035. Similar to Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, this game follows a similar formula.

It’s the same basic setup, but with a post-apocalyptic spin that turns the world purple and new protagonists.

What Order Should You Play Far Cry Games?

Since the stories and gameplay styles of the Far Cry games are different across platforms, it doesn’t really matter which platform you choose to play them on. For instance, if I had to choose, I would go with a different game because its plot and gameplay are superior. Games like Far Cry 3, Far Cry 4, Far Cry 5, (Far Cry 2 is also okay) etc., are examples of both good and bad games.

Chronological Order of All Far Cry Games - Xfire

Which Far Cry Should I Play First?

I hope you’ll find Far Cry 3 to be a good place to kick off your adventure. After playing Far Cry 3 for so long, that’s all I can say about it. Built from the ground up on a winning formula, Far Cry has become an AAA powerhouse and features one of the series’ most compelling narratives.

How Are All The Far Cry Games Connected?

Regarding continuity between games, Farcry 5 has two supporting characters, but no main characters from previous games (Farcry 3, 4, or 5) (though I cannot tell if they have any connection to Farcry 3).

Is Far Cry A Far Cry First Primal?

Far Cry Primal, released in 2016, is a first-person shooter developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. This is a spin-off of Far Cry 4, out of a total of ten games in the series.

Are Far Cry Games Connected?

Whether it’s a stray character or a preexisting storyline, each Far Cry game usually has some significant connection to the others. Even though it’s a long shot to get to 6, there’s no reason we can’t try for 8. On October 7, 2021, it will be available for purchase on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Are Far Cry 5 And 6 Connected?

“While there is an uneasy relationship between these games, both stories deal with the Yara Revolution set in the present and Dani and Libertad fighting Anton’s regime,” the developers said, implying that the games would explore the same plot. That means spectators shouldn’t participate, either.

Do You Need To Play Other Far Cry’S In Order?

You won’t be dealt another old one if you play them, so there’s no point in doing so. There is no end to the fun that can be had while following one’s own path through a long cry. You may be surprised to find that all of the DLC from Far Cry 2, 4, and 5 is included in the season pass.

Can I Play Far Cry In Any Order?

All throughout Far Cry 6, you control a character with complete freedom to roam the open world. Far Cry 6 has been described as having the “most expansive Far Cry play area to date.” In order to help Giancarlo Esposito, the player must follow Antn Castillo and discover Yara.

Do You Have To Play The Other Far Cry Games In Order?

There’s no harm in giving them the old school treatment. Sometimes, familiar faces will get together to play a few games, but every far cry has its own history.

Should I Play Far Cry In Order?

Since each installment in the Far Cry series is a separate game, the latest one has a unique story from the previous two. While the gameplay mechanics of every Far Cry game are essentially identical, that’s about all there is to it.

What Far Cry Game Should I Play?

We think Far Cry 3 is the best of the Far Cry games for a number of reasons. Far Cry 3 doesn’t stray too far from the formula, and it usually does a better job overall because it doesn’t lean too heavily in any one direction.

Are All The Far Cry Connected?

The History of Far Cry Several major events in Far Cry’s timeline can be considered, and alternate realities can also be taken into account. For the most part, Far Cry has lived up to its billing as an anthology game, a collection of missions that share a common theme but otherwise stand on their own.

Are The Far Cry Games In The Same Universe?

There are multiple Assassin’s Creed games, Watch Dogs games, and Far Cry games. Jason Brody’s side quest in Far Cry 3 involves tracking down a document created by Abstergo Industries. Aiden Pearce is also seen murdering Abstergo Industries employees in Watch Dogs in an effort to gain entry to The Throne.

Are Far Cry Games Sequels?

Initially planned as a direct sequel to Far Cry 5, it instead adopted a standalone storyline similar to the rest of the Far Cry games.

Is Far Cry Primal A Full Game?

Ubisoft has confirmed that “Far Cry: Primal” will be released in its entirety.

Is Far Cry Primal A Prequel?

Despite how intriguing and unexpected it may sound, Far Cry Primal is actually an indirect prequel if the rest of the series follows suit.

Is Far Cry Primal Different?

Primal is definitely one of a kind, even if it does spend a lot of time on a single day cycle. Not quite 5K, but with the same basic structure, emphasis on outposts and weapon crafting in a more survival-focused atmosphere, and an even gloomier vibe than the original.

Conclusion

Finally, do you recall how disheartened you were to discover that a slew of Far Cry games had been released out of sequence?

But, wasn’t that fantastic? But do you know the most recent one that came out? What’s the most efficient way to consume them all at once? This article will help you place the various Far Cry games in order. Take a closer look, and take pleasure in it.

Complete collection of the Far Cry games, beginning with the original and ending with the most recent installment. The history of the Far Cry series and its evolution will be the subject of our discussion.