TheFar Cryfranchise is one of Ubisoft’s most popular game series, known for its sandbox world and FPS gameplay. More recently, the franchise has been pairing a protagonist in an unfamiliar setting with memorable (occasionally over-the-top) antagonists — and that’s theFar Cryformula.
That said, some titles in theFar Cryseries will inevitably be better than others. While there’s plenty of fun to be had in all of the games, some are a far cry from being great. For this tier list, rankings will be based on each game’s narrative and gameplay – primarily, gunplay and survival elements.
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S-Tier
Far Cry 3–Far Cry 3is the most popular titlein the series, partly because it was the first to introduce an unhinged antagonist: Vaas Montenegro. Vaas is arguably the driving force in the game’s narrative as he constantly torments protagonist, Jason Brody, and his friends. Also, his iconic monologue on insanity is remembered to this day. However, what makes the game even more enjoyable is the gorgeous setting of the Rook Islands, peppered with points of interest from huge enemy outposts to beautiful tropical landmarks teeming with local wildlife.
Far Cry 4–Far Cry 4took note of what players loved inFar Cry 3and elevated it. Ubisoft introduced a new antagonist: Pagan Min, the violent, self-proclaimed ruler of the nation of Kyrat.What makesFar Cry 4interesting, however, is the fact that Pagan Min isn’t necessarily working against the protagonist, Ajay Ghale. In fact, he assists the player on multiple occasions, acting almost like a twisted uncle, which makes for a more interesting narrative. As for the map of Kyrat, it’s a step up fromFar Cry 3, both graphically and structurally, with grander outposts and natural environments.
A-Tier
Far Cry 2–Far Cry 2pits the player against The Jackal, an infamous arms dealer wanted by the UN. Despite being less over-the-top than the antagonists of the aforementioned games, The Jackal is still an intriguing character. His casual nihilism and seeming nonchalance make him a more subtle but nevertheless effective villain. That said, the game world isn’t as populated as more recent titles, and the player is forced to explore it while infected with malaria. While these features make for a more realistic and grittier experience, it doesn’t necessarily add to the fun factor.
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B-Tier
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon–Blood Dragonis a spin-off ofFar Cry 3set in a neon-clad, post-apocalyptic island. The protagonist, Rex Colt, travels to the island to investigate a rogue agent named Ike Sloan. Though Sloan is set up to be an unhinged, over-the-top villain, he never really gets his “moment.” Instead of a final battle, his death plays out in a VHS-esque cutscene, which is a waste. As forBlood Dragon’sgame world, it’s pretty much a map withFar Cry 3’srecolored assets, the splashes of neon being its most distinct feature. So, while it doesn’t really bring anything new to the table, its unique presentation makes it a fun game.
Far Cry Primal–Far Crywithout the guns seems counterintuitive, but Ubisoftpulled it off somehow withFar Cry Primal. Its two main antagonists, Ull and Batari, shine in that they have distinct goals – and, of course, brutal methods of achieving them. Though the game map seems copy-pasted fromFar Cry 4, it’s distinct enough for the player to feel like they truly are in the Mesolithic Period. Finally, what the title lacks in guns, it makes up for in animal companions.
Far Cry 5–Far Cry 5follows the tradition of having an unrestrained antagonist, but this time, it presents four: Joseph Seed and his siblings. Each of them owns a region of the map, where they get most of their screentime. This arguably works against the narrative as it prevents any one villain from truly standing out. Additionally, the game world is beautiful, but it pales in comparison to the more diverse terrains of its predecessors. The animalfollowers added toFar Cry 5are a plus, though.
C-Tier
Far Cry 6–Far Cry 6was a let-downfor many fans. For one, the main antagonist, Antón Castillo, never truly felt like the game’s “big bad,” with the supporting antagonists being more compelling than him. Wha’ts more, while the map is huge, it also seems to have far less variety than previous titles. Lastly, many people loathed the overhaul of the traits and abilities system, where instead of a skill tree, players had to equip different gear.
D-Tier
Far Cry–The originalFar Cryunderstandably doesn’t hold up to more recent entries to the series. Its main antagonist, Dr. Krieger, feels like a Sunday morning cartoon villain. He was an evil bioengineer who used a specially crafted serum to turn humans into deformed monstrosities. These monstrosities were overpowered, and could easily kill off protagonist, Jack Carver. This made for frustrating gameplay, and the lackluster map doesn’t help its case.
Far Cry Instincts: Predator–Predatoris essentially the wholeInstinctspackage, with both the original game andEvolution. It once again follows Jack Carver on a quest to expose Dr. Krieger and his right-hand man, Richard Crowe. The story is pretty basic, with Carver having to save his colleagues while also stopping the typicalFar Crybad guys. It at least had decent combat mechanics for its time.
Far Cry New Dawn–Far Cry New Dawnis considered an unnecessary spinoffofFar Cry 5. UnlikeBlood Dragon, it doesn’t carry the same campy charm, plus Mickey and Lou are underwhelming antagonists, especially when compared to the others in the franchise. Finally, the game world may be more colorful thanFar Cry 5’s, but it’s also much more compact, limiting exploration.
Far Cry Vengeance– This was theFar Cry Instinctsremake for the Wii console. Unfortunately the game translated poorly to the Wii in just about every department, making it a bottom-tierFar Crytitle.
Far Cry 6is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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