How Many Hours Long Is Far Cry 4? A Deep Dive into Kyrat’s Durability
Far Cry 4’s length varies dramatically depending on your playstyle. A focused run, sticking to the main story objectives, will likely take around 17½ hours. However, if you’re a completionist aiming for 100% completion, prepare to dedicate around 46½ hours to thoroughly explore the vibrant world of Kyrat.
Understanding Far Cry 4’s Playtime
Far Cry 4 offers a captivating open-world experience with a compelling story, engaging side missions, and a plethora of activities to keep players hooked. The game’s duration is significantly influenced by your willingness to delve into these optional aspects.
Main Story vs. Completionist Runs
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Main Story Focus: For players primarily interested in following the narrative of Ajay Ghale and his quest to fulfill his mother’s last wish, focusing solely on the main missions provides the most streamlined experience. This approach emphasizes the central conflict with Pagan Min and the Golden Path and can be completed in approximately 17½ hours.
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Completionist Approach: Those who crave a deeper connection with Kyrat and seek to experience every facet of the game will find themselves immersed for a much longer period. This includes completing all side quests, liberating outposts and fortresses, collecting all collectibles, mastering weapon challenges, and achieving 100% synchronization. A 100% completion run typically requires around 46½ hours or more.
Factors Affecting Playtime
Several factors contribute to the overall playtime of Far Cry 4:
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Difficulty Level: Playing on a higher difficulty setting can increase playtime due to increased challenge and more frequent deaths, requiring players to adopt more cautious and strategic approaches.
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Exploration: The open-world nature of Far Cry 4 encourages exploration. Players who enjoy venturing off the beaten path to discover hidden locations, complete random encounters, and simply soak in the atmosphere will naturally extend their playtime.
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Side Activities: Far Cry 4 is packed with side activities, including hunting, crafting, completing Karma events, and engaging in co-op missions. Participating in these activities significantly adds to the overall game time.
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Skill Level: Experienced players familiar with the Far Cry formula may progress through the game faster than newcomers.
Replayability and Value
Far Cry 4 offers significant replayability. Different playstyles, difficulty levels, and the ability to make different choices throughout the story encourage multiple playthroughs. This, combined with the inherent fun of the gameplay loop, makes Far Cry 4 a game that can provide countless hours of entertainment. Learning about the game and its rich environment can be more than just a fun way to spend time, organizations like the Games Learning Society study how games impact learning. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to see how it is shaping the future of education.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which is the longest Far Cry game?
According to most estimates, Far Cry 6 tends to be the longest, particularly for completionists, due to its larger map and numerous side activities.
2. Which is the shortest Far Cry game?
Far Cry New Dawn is typically considered the shortest, with the main campaign clocking in at around 11 hours.
3. Is Far Cry 4 longer than Far Cry 5?
Generally, Far Cry 5 and Far Cry 4 are similar in length for main story completion, but Far Cry 5 often takes longer for 100% completion due to its vast open world and numerous activities.
4. How long does it take to beat Far Cry 4 if you wait 15 minutes at the beginning?
If you wait for 13 minutes (not 15) at the beginning of the game, following Pagan Min’s instructions, you will see the secret ending and technically “beat” the game very quickly.
5. Is the Far Cry 4 story based on a true story?
No, the story of Far Cry 4 is fictional. While it draws inspiration from the political and cultural landscape of Nepal and the surrounding Himalayan region, Kyrat is a fictional nation.
6. Who is the main villain in Far Cry 4?
Pagan Min is the primary antagonist in Far Cry 4.
7. What happens if you don’t shoot Pagan Min at the end of Far Cry 4?
If you choose not to shoot Pagan Min at the end, he will take you to Lakshmana’s shrine, where you can scatter your mother’s ashes as she wished. He then leaves Kyrat, allowing you to decide the future of the country.
8. Does Far Cry 4 have multiple endings?
Yes, Far Cry 4 has multiple endings, depending on your choices throughout the game, including how you deal with Pagan Min at the beginning and end, and your allegiance with the Golden Path leaders.
9. Is Far Cry 4 open world?
Yes, Far Cry 4 features a large and dynamic open world environment that players are free to explore.
10. Is Far Cry 4 bigger than Far Cry 3?
While the map size is roughly the same, Far Cry 4 is considered denser than Far Cry 3, with more points of interest and activities crammed into its world.
11. What is the Golden Path in Far Cry 4?
The Golden Path is the rebel group fighting against Pagan Min’s regime in Kyrat. The faction is led by Amita and Sabal, who have conflicting ideologies about the future of Kyrat.
12. What is the canon ending of Far Cry 4?
The canon ending, as suggested by references in later Far Cry games (particularly Far Cry 6), is where Ajay lets Pagan Min escape, essentially leaving Ajay as the ruler of Kyrat.
13. What is the secret ending in Far Cry 4?
The secret ending occurs at the very beginning of the game. If you remain at the table and wait for Pagan Min to return (about 13 minutes), he will show you how to scatter your mother’s ashes peacefully, completing the main objective immediately.
14. Why do people like Far Cry 4?
Far Cry 4 is praised for its engaging open-world gameplay, stunning Himalayan setting, diverse wildlife, and compelling villain in Pagan Min. It offers a sandbox experience with plenty of freedom and opportunities for creative gameplay.
15. Will there be a Far Cry 7?
While unconfirmed by Ubisoft, reports suggest that Far Cry 7 (internally known as Project Blackbird) is in development and may be released in Fall 2025.