Unlocking the Ultimate Far Cry Experience: The Best Play Order Revealed!

scarcely many game series can boast the enduring popularity that the Far Cry franchise has managed over the years. Tracing its roots back to 2004 with its initial release, and speculated to reach its seventh installment in 2026, countless gamers have immersed themselves in the unspoiled wilderness of islands such as Rook Island, Hope County, Kyrat, and Yara. The series boasts six main games and several spin-offs like Primal and Blood Dragon, providing ample opportunities for newcomers to delve into and understand the essence of the franchise.

As a newcomer diving into the world of Far Cry, it’s understandable to feel overwhelmed by the numerous installments available. The conventional approach of starting at the very first game and progressing chronologically isn’t always the best option for this series. Although primarily single-player, the story in Far Cry is unique in its disjointedness across games, with only a few recurring characters and minimal continuous story threads linking them together.

Start with Far Cry 3 or Far Cry Primal, both of which offer standalone stories that still capture the essence of the franchise. After completing these games, you can then explore the other installments in any order that suits your preference. This approach allows you to appreciate the unique aspects of each game while also understanding the broader context and direction the series has taken over time.

The Best Order to Play the Far Cry Series

Release Order

Starting a series from its initial release, commonly known as playing it in chronological order, offers a straightforward approach. This method allows you to witness the natural development of the series over time, which can be quite intriguing. For instance, observing how the Far Cry series has mechanically, graphically, and narratively progressed over the years is usually something that fans experience spaced out, as games are released at different times.

Far Cry
Far Cry 2
Far Cry 3
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
Far Cry 4
Far Cry Primal
Far Cry 5
Far Cry: New Dawn
Far Cry 6

As a fan looking back, playing the Far Cry series in release order is about the sole advantage I can pinpoint. The early installments, while pivotal to the franchise’s roots, are quite distinct from the caliber of games Ubisoft began producing post-Far Cry 3. It was at this point that the series truly found its stride and evolved into what we know today. There’s undeniably charm in the older games, but they may not meet the expectations of a contemporary gaming audience. While nostalgia seekers might enjoy the retro journey, those more accustomed to modern games might find the originals somewhat antiquated and off-putting.

Other Ways to Experience the Far Cry Series

Machete Order

Following a play sequence similar to the titled “Star Wars” viewing order, this one is quite close to the chronological gameplay sequence. Yet, it omits the initial two games from the series to concentrate on the more recent titles within the franchise.

In many narrative-driven series, discarding the first two installments would significantly weaken the overall storyline. However, in the case of the Far Cry series, this action surprisingly benefits the players since each game stands independently, offering a self-contained story set in distinct regions around the globe. The connections between games are loose at best, making it possible to remove any entry without drastically affecting the narrative of the remaining games.

By skipping over the initial two games in the series, you’ll bypass the outdated gameplay and visuals, and instead, jump straight into an outstanding experience that continues to shine even after many years. Far Cry 3 remains one of the greatest games ever made, and exploring Rook Island is still a delight. The secondary antagonist, Vaas Montenegro, stands tall among other iconic villains like Handsome Jack, Glad0s, and Bowser. His “insanity” speech is a memorable moment in the franchise, and starting your journey with this scene sets a high standard for the series, ensuring that you’ll be hooked and eagerly anticipating more.

Modern Era Only

Far Cry 5
Far Cry New Dawn
Far Cry 6

Players who aim to efficiently experience the evolution of this series might choose to focus on its latest installments. These three recently launched games provide the best representation of where the series stands currently and where it’s anticipated to go in the future. The Far Cry franchise initially had a somewhat serious bent with occasional forays into the hilariously absurd, like the case with Blood Dragon, but over time, the Far Cry series has developed a more satirical slant. It remains an action-adventure series as always, but the recent releases have adopted a much more ironic and humorous tone that was absent in the earlier games which maintained a more straightforward approach.

Skip The Spin-Offs

Far Cry
Far Cry 2
Far Cry 3
Far Cry 4
Far Cry 5
Far Cry 6

Among the play orders, this one is often debated because spin-off games like “New Dawn”, “Primal”, and particularly “Blood Dragon” stand out as exceptional within the series. However, they deviate significantly from the typical Far Cry experience which generally involves a straight-forward action-adventure set in contemporary times or near-future settings, equipped with modern weaponry and characters.

While the three standalone versions of “Far Cry” (specifically, “Blood Dragon”), though excellent in their own right, do not fully encapsulate the essence of the series’ fundamental nature. In fact, there’s nothing else quite like “Blood Dragon” within the series, be it favorably or unfavorably. Leaving out these spin-offs during a marathon of all games would help maintain a more consistent tone across the series. And if the marathon doesn’t fully quench your thirst for more “Far Cry”, you can always dive into the spin-offs, offering a unique gaming experience while still delivering that signature “Far Cry” gameplay.

2025-03-26 23:37