7 Games That Play Like Far Cry (But Way Better)

Summary

Rage 2 combines DOOM combat with Far Cry structure, focusing on gameplay and open world design.
Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is closest to a traditional Far Cry game, with a big map, strongholds, and unique weaponry.
Dying Light offers purposeful parkour and zombie gameplay, unlike bloated Ubisoft projects, with a focus on sandbox experimentation.

The Far Cry video game series, initially developed by Crytek, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. After Ubisoft acquired the rights to the series in 2006, it has emerged as a leading franchise for the company. Every console generation since then, Ubisoft has produced one or more installments of Far Cry, and numerous other game developers have sought to emulate its successful formula or incorporate aspects of its design.

Each game on the list shares similarities with the gameplay, fantasy, or mechanics found in the Far Cry series. In simpler terms, these games are action-packed open-world shooters that incorporate sandbox features, stealth tactics, or a blend of both for diverse gameplay experiences, much like the Far Cry series does.

7. Rage 2

DOOM Meets Far Cry

In collaboration with id Software, Avalanche Studios has crafted the open-world action game titled Rage 2. It seamlessly combines the fierce combat style from DOOM (2016) with the expansive world structure akin to the Far Cry series. Notably, it shares numerous mechanics with Far Cry 5 and especially Far Cry 6, such as acquiring vehicles by returning them to a garage, as well as a map divided into three distinct storylines (however, these are more linear in Rage 2).

Abandoning the stealth aspect largely, Rage 2 offers players an extensive array of skills enabling them to dash swiftly across the battlefield, thereby gaining increasing command over the surroundings.

6. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Most Similar to Far Cry

This game was developed by Ubisoft and offers a very authentic Far Cry-like experience, set within the universe of James Cameron’s Avatar franchise. It shares many similarities with the Far Cry series in terms of gameplay, feel, and visuals, although there are minor discrepancies. In this game, you assume the role of a Na’vi character who has been captured by humans. As an apparent extinction-level event, you use this disguise to help and unite other clans against human aggressors who aim to exploit the valuable resources found on Pandora.

The gameplay shares a lot of resemblance with a typical Far Cry title, featuring an expansive map marked with various points, strongholds to conquer, and a variety of tools at your disposal – but instead of conventional vehicles and firearms, you’ll find yourself using the diverse wildlife as transportation and employing bows, traps, and other unconventional weapons. This unique spin keeps the game true to the Far Cry franchise.

5. Dying Light

Dead Island Meet Parkour

In contrast to many games produced by Ubisoft that can sometimes seem overloaded with mechanics and content, Dying Light stands out as a game with a clear purpose. Unlike some other titles, it avoids feeling bloated and instead delivers on its promise as a parkour-based zombie game. The only potential downside might be the experience point (XP) system, which can make earning skills in the early stages of the game more challenging. However, overall, Dying Light excels at combining essential elements such as a map, markers, and sandbox features to enhance both the zombie aspect and the parkour aspect of the game.

In the main version, you won’t find any vehicles since the quickest method to navigate the map is by free-running over the rooftops. With a multitude of craftable weapons, parkour moves, and risky environmental elements at your disposal, there’s ample opportunity for creative exploration within this sandbox environment.

4. Halo Infinite (Campaign)

Halo’s Open-World Debut

The inaugural open-world installment in the Halo series, Halo Infinite, blends the uninterrupted vehicle combat and armor capabilities from the original trilogy and Halo: Reach with an open-ended design. This results in a game that shares similarities with Far Cry but maintains a connection to the Halo universe. It evokes the spirit of Halo 3’s “Believe” campaign, where a stretched-thin UNSC finds itself in precarious circumstances, yearning for salvation through some extraordinary event.

In the role of Master Chief, players deliver a much-needed rescue, arriving with armored vehicles, Warthogs, grapple hooks, and an arsenal of weapons to aid the beleaguered marines on Zeta Halo. The grappling hook, in particular, is remarkable; when enhanced, it transforms the gameplay into a first-person experience reminiscent of Spider-Man.

3. Dishonored

First Person Stealth Masterpiece

This entry shares minimal resemblance with the structure of the game Far Cry, as Dishonored doesn’t essentially function as an open-world game. Instead, it comprises levels that are packed with intriguing elements to explore. However, unlike an open-world game where you can often revisit areas, not every level in Dishonored is revisitable. Despite having less space to navigate, the game compensates by offering high density of content.

The game Dishonored is often described as an immersive simulation title, implying it was crafted with a sandbox approach. The game’s goals are clearly defined, but players have the flexibility to tackle them in their own unique ways using the tools provided. The vast array of possibilities for completing these objectives means that different approaches might not be seen unless you play through multiple times.

2. Just Cause 3

Most Ridiculous Sandbox

Among the games listed, Just Cause 3 boasts one of the funniest open-world environments, reminiscent of the whimsical experiences found in Goat Simulator. For those unfamiliar, its gameplay style is akin to superhero games such as Spider-Man and the Arkham series, although it might not seem so at first glance.

In the open-world setting of the Mediterranean island of Medici, players have numerous tools at their disposal: grappling hooks, gliders, thrusters, and tether cables, which they can employ to create pandemonium. With a vast array of abilities, weapons, and vehicles at one’s fingertips, plus the ability to soar through the sky, there is an abundance of sandbox fun to be had.

1. Blood West

Dark Country Open-World

Among the games on this list, Blood West stands out as the one with the steepest learning curve. This indie title is set in an alternate 19th-century America where supernatural creatures, spirits, and other unusual phenomena have taken over. The player assumes the role of a man who has just been resurrected and must prevent the corrupting force of the world from keeping him undead. The gameplay combines stealth and action elements, with players utilizing various weapons and items to progress through the map while completing specific objectives.

This game has a similar feel to Hunt: Showdown, featuring awkward weaponry and an exhaustive stamina mechanism, yet it’s purely player versus environment (PvE). It introduces eerie adversaries and offers crafting options for structures using weapons and items that seem to bend the rules of the game itself with almost meta-gaming modifiers.

2025-01-18 10:34