Should Far Cry Be Played in Order? A Deep Dive into Ubisoft’s Open-World Series
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In short, no, you do not need to play the Far Cry games in any particular order. While some subtle connections exist, especially regarding characters and thematic elements, each mainline Far Cry title tells a standalone story within its own distinct open-world setting. Think of Far Cry as a collection of thrilling action movie anthologies – each installment offers a fresh narrative, a unique cast of characters, and a brand new sandbox of mayhem to unleash. The overarching themes of chaotic conflicts and power struggles are what truly tie the games together.
However, whether you should play them in a specific order is a slightly more nuanced question. While not essential, experiencing certain entries before others can enhance your appreciation of the series’ evolution and its thematic consistency. For example, playing Far Cry 3 and Far Cry 4 before Far Cry 6’s DLC allows you to enjoy some story line characters from those past entries.
The Far Cry Anthology: Themes, Characters, and Shared DNA
The Far Cry franchise isn’t a cohesive saga like The Witcher or Mass Effect. Instead, it operates more like an anthology. Each game presents a new and often unsettling scenario, exploring themes of:
- Despotism and Tyranny: Far Cry consistently pits players against charismatic but ruthless antagonists, examining the seductive nature of power and the devastating consequences of unchecked authority.
- The Human Cost of Conflict: The games rarely shy away from depicting the brutal realities of violence, highlighting the psychological toll it takes on both combatants and civilians.
- Exploitation and Environmentalism: The exotic and often breathtaking locations in Far Cry games are frequently threatened by exploitation, forcing players to consider the ecological impact of their actions.
- Moral Ambiguity: Far Cry rarely presents a simple black-and-white picture of good versus evil. Players are often forced to make difficult choices with no easy answers.
These thematic links, coupled with occasional returning characters (like Willis Huntley, who appears in multiple games), suggest a shared universe, but not necessarily a sequential narrative.
Recommended Starting Points and Play Order Suggestions
While you can jump into any Far Cry game without feeling lost, here are some recommendations based on your priorities:
- For Gameplay First-Timers: Far Cry 3 or Far Cry 4 are excellent starting points. Both offer refined gameplay mechanics, compelling storylines, and stunning open worlds. Far Cry 3 is often cited as the high bar for the series.
- For a Chronological(ish) Experience: If you’re determined to piece together a timeline, the following order is possible: Far Cry Primal (though narratively isolated), Far Cry 2, Far Cry 3, Far Cry 4, Far Cry 5, Far Cry New Dawn, and Far Cry 6.
- For Narrative and Character Focus: Focus on playing Far Cry 3, Far Cry 4, Far Cry 5, Far Cry New Dawn, and Far Cry 6.
- For a Balanced Approach: Consider playing Far Cry 3, Far Cry 4, Far Cry 5 and Far Cry 6. This will give you a good overall view of the progression of the series.
Far Cry: The Future of Open-World Storytelling
The Far Cry franchise remains a cornerstone of the open-world genre, continually pushing boundaries in terms of gameplay mechanics, environmental design, and narrative complexity. Even if the stories aren’t directly connected, the shared DNA of these games – the thematic depth, the challenging moral choices, and the sheer explosive fun – makes them a consistently compelling experience for players of all skill levels. To learn more about the educational impact of games like Far Cry, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Far Cry
Here are 15 FAQs to further clarify the Far Cry play order and related aspects of the franchise:
Do I need to play Far Cry 1 and 2 before 3?
No. The story is completely unrelated in all three games.
Is it necessary to play Far Cry 5 before Far Cry 6?
No, the game will follow its own independent storyline.
Should I play Far Cry 4 or 5 first?
Far Cry 5 is not connected to Far Cry 4 in any way. I would recommend that you should play 4 before 5 as you would see how much the series has been improved, and the storyline of FC4 is awesome.
Does it matter which Far Cry you play first?
Every Far Cry story in the complete series is not connected in narrative.
Does order matter in Far Cry 5?
There is no set order in which players can take on the regions. However, the best order to tackle the areas for both story and strategy is: John’s, Faith’s, and then lastly, Jacob’s.
Why is Far Cry 6 better than 5?
Players are able to take missions from their allies continuously, and it makes the story flow much better than it did in Far Cry 5. The method of story progression in Far Cry 6 gives players much more freedom over how they play the game and which side activities they choose to complete.
Should I play Far Cry 3 or 4 first?
You don’t need to in order to follow the story, but I’d recommend playing it anyway because FarCry 3 was great. Plus it will help you get used to the Far Cry gameplay, which looks to be the same – taking outposts, hunting, crafting, etc.
Which is best Far Cry 5 or 6?
Far Cry 6 is a much better game. Story progression and tone are way more coherent, and the world doesn’t feel empty and boring.
Are all Far Cry games connected?
For the most part, it’s best to consider Far Cry as an anthology—thematically connected but overall independent games.
Is Far Cry 1 better than 2?
1 was a fairly solid game and quite enjoyable but 2 is a much more fun experience. You’ll get a lot more game play out of 2 than 1. Far Cry is great and Far Cry 2 is good.
Can I start from Far Cry 3?
The story is completely unrelated in all three games so there isn’t a point to play the previous ones unless you just want to.
Which is the best Far Cry game in order?
1 Far Cry 3 2 Far Cry 5 3 Far Cry 2 4 Far Cry 4 5 Far Cry 6 6 Far Cry 7 Far Cry: Primal 8 Far Cry: New Dawn
Can I play Far Cry 6 first?
The controls get easier to use as you go on, so if you start with the early games (3 makes the most sense to me, but you can try from 1 onward), they get easier to play.
Are Far Cry 2 and 3 connected?
With the exception of a few characters from Far Cry 3 popping up in Far Cry 4’s Kyrat, the general assumption is that each Far Cry game stands alone, lacking any significant narrative links.
Is Far Cry 3 or 4 bigger?
The main world is roughly the same size as Far Cry 3 but it’s a lot more dense.
Are Far Cry 4 and 3 connected?
Willis Huntley, the CIA guy, is the connection. He references Jason Brody without naming him in dialogue so it’s safe to assume the events all happen in the same universe with 4 happening after 3, though it’s not clear how long after.