The Far Cry series is almost 20 years old. With the first title releasing back in 2004, the franchise has seen some highs and lows, and it's even helped define the modern open-world genre. Ubisoft's series did some soul-searching at first, but it has found its footing and fans have a pretty clear idea of what they're getting into when they play a Far Cry game.
Despite many of the titles sharing countless similarities, the reception has varied between entries. By averaging Metacritic and Internet Games Database scores, it becomes pretty quickly apparent that Far Cry is a mixed bag, with titles ranging from near-universal acclaim to overwhelmingly negative. That being said, let's rank the Far Cry series from worst to best, determining what the best Far Cry game is to play.
13. Wii Wasn't a Stellar Option for Far Cry Vengeance (37.5/100)
The ill-fated Wii remake of Far Cry Instincts: Evolution comes in as the worst Far Cry game reviewed by critics. Though some praised the way motion controls were implemented in Ubisoft's classic FPS, the choppy visuals and long-persistent bugs removed any hope of an enjoyable Far Cry adaptation on Wii. Almost universally panned, the title held the reputation of being a lazy port to Nintendo's new console and caused some genuine worry for players unsure of what the Wii could do.
12. Far Cry New Dawn Repeated Mistakes (72.5/100)
Far Cry New Dawn failed to excite critics the way previous entries in the series had. This is mainly because the title shares a setting with Far Cry 5, only some 17 years after a nuclear doomsday. One might think that change would offer players boundless new opportunities in a familiar locale, not entirely. Despite a chance to radically alter the setting and gameplay to match this brave new direction, players were met with a lot of the same as they'd experienced in Far Cry 5 -- just with a fresh coat of post-apocalypse paint.
11. Far Cry Instincts: Predator's Mapping Tools Couldn't Save the Game (74/100)
Far Cry Instincts: Predator is a graphically enhanced version of Far Cry Instincts and Far Cry Instincts: Evolution for Xbox 360. The title offered some fantastic multiplayer and map editing tools, but otherwise was still the same content players could experience on previous consoles. Without much to tantalize those who had played Instincts on Xbox, the title was only attractive for players with a new Xbox 360 and no experience with Far Cry or those who thoroughly enjoyed map creation.
10. Far Cry Primal Takes Players Back to the Stone Age (75.6/100)
Far Cry Primal set out to change the series' direction by taking players back to prehistoric times. In the Stone Age, players will use primitive tools to slay fearsome beasts, traverse wild, boundless nature and learn how to survive when humanity is on the bottom of the food chain. The game managed to impress players and critics with its new setting, but operationally it was more of the same Far Cry experience players had grown exceedingly accustomed to.
9. Far Cry 6 Is Another Familiar Entry (77/100)
The latest entry in the Far Cry series fell short of many of its predecessors in terms of critical reviews, but it was by no means poorly received. Far Cry 6 critics generally enjoyed the game for what it is: an open-world first-person shooter with all the quirks and content fans expect from a Far Cry game. The familiarity proved to be both a blessing and a curse, resulting in a title that's comfortable for those who love the series' formula but predictable and potentially stale in terms of story and gameplay.
Critics were also mixed on Giancarlo Esposito's villain, Antón Castillo, with many praising Esposito's performance while criticizing Castillo as two-dimensional. Far Cry 6 didn't move the series forward in a way many fans deem necessary for its future, but it's still a good game with plenty to offer players.
8. Far Cry Instincts: Evolution Offers Little Gameplay (78/100)
Far Cry Instincts: Evolution is a bite-sized story add-on (by modern standards, DLC) for Far Cry Instincts. While many critics voiced that they'd have preferred a proper sequel, the title was priced right for the smaller adventure, and the game served to entertain players while they waited for a new entry in the series. Far Cry Instincts: Evolution picked up right after its predecessor's finale and included new online game modes.
7. Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Creates an '80s-Inspired Experience (82/100)
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is a stand-alone title that takes the stellar gunplay from Far Cry 3 and infuses it into something like an 80's parody flick. The title is full of tongue-in-cheek comedic moments and over-the-top explosive action. Blood Dragon plays well and entertains even better, masterfully matching a hilarious cheesy narrative with action from an era past.
6. Far Cry 5 Sets Players Up Against Cultists and Wild Animals (82.1/100)
Far Cry 5 delivered players an enjoyable but familiar experience. Critics were quick to say that they'd enjoyed their time exploring Far Cry 5's Montana and getting lost in the hurricane of open-world activities or map events. Still, it's not the best Far Cry game because there wasn't much marking the title as distinct from its predecessors. Far Cry 5 does bolster some of the series' most refined combat and driving, but it teetered dangerously close to blurring the lines between releases.
5. Far Cry Instincts Challenges Xbox Players (82.5/100)
Far Cry Instincts was the title that made the series a household name. Landing on the Xbox in a big way, Far Cry Instincts offered players unparalleled visuals, top-notch gameplay and an immersive story. Essentially a remake of the original Far Cry for Xbox, Far Cry Instincts would change some of the game's open-world aspects and introduce new gameplay features. Players and critics felt totally immersed in the tropical paradise from hell.
4. Far Cry 4 Plays It Safe, But With a Rich Culture (84.1/100)
Far Cry 4 played it safe and took much of what fans loved about Far Cry 3 to a new locale and a new narrative. The title does improve a bit on elements like gunplay and adds new activities to the experience, but many will find what they enjoyed about Far Cry 3 still intact in this sequel. Critics universally enjoyed the moments in between the narrative, when players can see the world come to life.
3. Far Cry 2 Introduces an Immersive African Setting (85/100)
Far Cry 2 took the series in a drastically different direction than its predecessor. Long gone are the mad scientists and animal abilities; realism and grit define Far Cry 2. Praised both for its visuals at the time and handling of an open world, Far Cry 2 impressed players with this immersive Africa-centric entry. Critics were blown away by the title's detailed world and impressive amount of content.
2. Far Cry Kicks Off the Groundbreaking Franchise (88.5/100)
The PC-exclusive Far Cry knocked players and critics off their feet when it was released. The title was heralded as the best PC shooter since Half-Life and served as an attention-grabbing first entry for Crytek. The game itself had evolved from a benchmarking software called X-Isle to a full-blown title after being approached by Ubisoft. Critics at the time were amazed by Far Cry's ground-breaking visuals, impressive enemy AI and engaging story.
1. Far Cry 3 Is Still the Best Game in the Series (89.8/100)
At the top of the list, the highest-rated Far Cry title is Far Cry 3. Far Cry 3 set a new bar for open-world titles and solidified an effective backbone for the genre as a whole. To see Far Cry 3's influence on the industry, look no further than titles like Marvel's Spider-Man and Cyberpunk 2077. Large open maps, tons of missions and activities dotted across the landscape; it's all right out of Far Cry 3's playbook. Critics fell in love with the strong narrative and memorable characters but kept playing for the solid, rewarding gameplay, making it the best Far Cry game by far.
Far Cry 3 remains a fan-favorite entry, but that could all change. Despite mixed reactions from critics for its latest release, Far Cry is one of Ubisoft's best game franchises, meaning there's surely a Far Cry 7 to come that could change everything. For now, though, fans have more than enough entries in the storied franchise to hold their interest.