Should Far Cry be Played in Order? A Definitive Guide

The short answer is no – there is no set chronological order for playing the Far Cry games. While some entries like Far Cry 5 and its sequel Far Cry New Dawn have directly connected stories, most titles feature distinct protagonists, antagonists and locations with self-contained plots.

As an acclaimed open world first person shooter franchise developed by Ubisoft, Far Cry established its formula of dropping players into exotic environments overrun by tyrannical villains and letting them fight back freely. With lush tropical jungles, brutal African civil wars, prehistoric wildlands and 1980s sci-fi craziness as backdrops, the series has spawned some of gaming‘s most memorably deranged antagonists.

Overview of the Far Cry Series

Emerging in 2004, the anisotropic Far Cry series has garnered praise for its lavish graphics, balanced tactical combat, player agency and exploration of extreme situations that bring out the best – and worst – of human nature.

While retaining several core gameplay pillars across titles, like open world exploration, a dynamic day/night cycle and outposts that can be stealthily infiltrated or guns-blazing assaulted, Far Cry is defined by evolution rather than repetition. Each new entry introduces fresh tropical, arctic or desert playgrounds to traverse, charismatic villains that capture our imagination and varied protagonists that offer different perspectives.

Main Series Release Order and Connections

The numerically titled main entries in release order are:

Far Cry 5 directly leads into Far Cry New Dawn‘s post-apocalyptic future setting, making them the only titles with interwoven narrative timelines. They should be played sequentially. The rest of the series features wholly distinct stories, locations and characters from one another.

There‘s argument for playing the main entries in release order to observe the steady evolution in graphics and gameplay systems. However there is no narrative through line between entries besides Easter eggs and minor shared side characters. Those new to the franchise will likely have more success starting with either the third or sixth entry.

Recommended Starting Points

• Far Cry 3
• Far Cry 6

Standout Entries to Start With

Far Cry 3 seems to be the near unanimous fan favorite that established the formula subsequent games would follow.

Released in 2012, its tropical island setting bursting with colorful wildlife,azure lagoons and lush jungle elevated exploration. Protagonist Jason Brody‘s transformation from hapless tourist to rugged survivor also endeared players. He remains one of the series‘ most developed and celebrated heroes. Meanwhile, the charismatic villainy of island kingpin Vaas Montenegro set the bar for following psychopathic antagonists high.

This entry lands frequently in lists of the best games ever for perfecting the core Far Cry template of a reactive world with freedom to strategize stealthily or go guns-blazing. Newcomers are strongly encouraged to dive into this paradise turned hell first.

Others standouts like the Stone Age primal survival seen in Far Cry Primal offer massive divergence from the standard formula.

And Blood Dragon‘s neon-lit, 1980‘s visions of the future stands as an absurd and delightful parody of action movies from the era.

Story and Character Recap By Game

Far Cry (2004) drops players onto a mysterious archipelago under the control of genetically enhanced mercenary warlords. Ex-special forces operative Jack Carver has to rescue a female journalist he was escorting past the islands. An early poster child for open world shooters.

Far Cry 2 (2008) sends players into an unnamed Central African state embroiled in civil war between two warring factions. The Jackal, an arms dealer, is selling weapons to both sides. The player must assassinate him by infiltrating both groups. lauded for technical achievements but criticized for repetitive missions.

In Far Cry 3 (2012), protagonist Jason Brody must save his friends kidnapped by slave and drug trafficker Vaas Montenegro on a lawless tropical archipelago. Jason‘s growth into a warrior won praise as he clashes with Vaas and the island‘s insidious kingpin, Hoyt Volker.

Far Cry 4 (2014) has Ajay Ghale returning to the fictional Himalayan country of Kyrat to scatter his deceased mother‘s ashes. He gets drawn into a civil war between tyrannical self-appointed king Pagan Min and the rebel Golden Path led by Amita and Sabal.

Far Cry Primal (2016) transports players to The Stone Age‘s Mesolithic period, becoming hunter Takkar from the Wenja tribe. He must tames beasts and forge alliances with other tribes to defeat the cannibalistic Udam and Izlia tribes that slaughtered his kin.

In Far Cry 5 (2018), rookie sheriff‘s deputy becomes caught in violent clash with Eden‘s Gate, a radical doomsday cult in rural Montana led by charismatic and ruthless preacher Joseph Seed who rules Hope County brutally.

Far Cry New Dawn (2019) jumps ahead seventeen years after nuclear war allowed Eden‘s Gate cult to seizeHope County. Survivors Prospect and Carmina join up to battle twin sisters Mickey and Lou who violently seek control.

Far Cry 6 (2021) showcases modern-day socialist tropical Yara nation ruled with an iron first by antagonist Anton Castillo who aims to restore glory through fascism. Player becomes urban guerilla Dani Rojas who sparks a revolution.

Ongoing Legacy and Future Outlook

Far Cry shows no signs of slowing its charge into explosive open world mayhem. As an AAA caliber franchise that consistently sells gangbusters, even numbered sequels are expected to keep arriving every 2-3 years updating the tropical explosive sandbox framework.

Far Cry 6 innovated most recently with resolver weaponry crafting from random parts and the ability to perform unprompted guerilla strikes. Far Cry 7 rumors point to a return to an Africa setting.

With its proven legacy now spanning two decades as an open world shooter pioneer, Far Cry seems poised to continue delivering choice-driven anarchy, distinctive villains and dynamic systemic chaos for years to come.

Ubisoft‘s formula mostly works even if the lack of radical reinvention lately causes some fatigue. Still, the ability go anywhere and tackle situations as you see fit grants endless replay value. That emergent experience is at the series‘ say, frothing core.

Conclusion

So should would be jungle warriors play the rampant Far Cry games in order?

Absolutely not – except for Far Cry 5 before its chronological sequel Far Cry New Dawn. The rest feature isolated stories. So newcomers can start wherever exotic location and premise speaks to their shooter fan needs. We suggest Far Cry 3 as the benchmark standard and quintessential entry point to understand the franchise‘s entertaining bedlam delivered in spades.

Choose your chaotic tropical destination. Liberate oppressed peoples from mad overlords. Play cat and mouse with lethal lieutenants across landscapes that reward creative pathfinding. Just be wary of definition-defying tigers and honey badgers. Far Cry‘s heart pounds with freedom no matter where one dock boats into the series.

Happy gaming!