Far Cry Primal is a 2016 first-person shooter game created by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is the ninth game in the Far Cry series. The story takes place in prehistoric times and follows a character named Takkar. He begins as a hunter without weapons but later becomes the leader of a tribe. He uses a special ability to tame animals. The game changes the usual Far Cry style by replacing modern guns with simple weapons like spears, clubs, and bows and arrows. Players can also bring animal companions to help in battles. Staying alive is an important part of the game, as players must avoid dangerous animals and enemies from other tribes.

Far Cry Primal was released on February 23, 2016, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It was available for Windows on March 1, 2016, and for Google Stadia on May 17, 2022. Critics gave the game mostly positive reviews, praising its creative idea, setting, world design, and the ability to tame animals. Some critics pointed out that the game had few weapon choices, a weak story, and did not offer many new ideas.

Gameplay

Far Cry Primal is a first-person shooter game that takes place in a large world where players can explore freely. Since the game is set in prehistoric times, it does not include guns or vehicles from other Far Cry games. Instead, players use close combat weapons like spears and clubs, or ranged weapons like bows and slings. Players cannot buy weapons; they must make them using materials found in the world, such as wood and stone. As players progress, they can create more powerful weapons using a wider variety of resources.

In addition to natural dangers, players must also deal with other hostile tribes in the area. By attacking and taking over bonfires and camps, the Wenja tribe will move into the region and begin patrolling nearby. This gives players access to fast travel points and places to rest. Non-player characters will also assign tasks, such as rescuing tribe members or improving the village. These tasks provide free materials for crafting. The game includes a changing weather system and a day-night cycle that affects gameplay. At night, more predators are active and more dangerous, while during the day, players can gather food and collect tools for hunting. Players can also use fire for protection or hunting at night.

Players can use lures to attract animals in the game and tame predators by feeding them. These animals become companions and can help fight enemies after being tamed. They can be called remotely and given simple commands. Larger animals, like sabertooth cats, can be ridden as mounts. The main character, Takkar, has an owl as a spirit animal that can be directly controlled. Using the owl’s vision, players can spot enemy outposts and identify enemies. As players improve their skills, the owl can be upgraded with abilities like diving to attack enemies or dropping bombs.

After the game was released, a survival mode was added as an update. This mode makes the game much harder to play.

Synopsis

The game is set in 10,000 BC during the end of the Upper Paleolithic and the beginning of the Mesolithic period in Europe, now known as Slovakia. The story takes place in a fictional valley called Oros, located in the Carpathian Mountains of Central and Eastern Europe. Some of the game’s mountains resemble real ones, such as the Tre Cime di Lavaredo in north-east Italy. The game world includes many types of plants and animals. A large part of the map is based on a fictional area called Kyrat from another game, Far Cry 4, specifically South Kyrat and a small part of North Kyrat. The game features prehistoric animals like woolly mammoths, dire wolves, cave bears, cave lions, woolly rhinos, brontotherium, Irish elk, and saber-toothed cats, as well as modern animals like brown bears, badgers, and deer. Survival is difficult because of conflicts between tribes and challenges from nature.

Players control Takkar, a member of the Wenja tribe. He is stranded in Oros after his hunting group is attacked by a saber-toothed tiger and left without weapons. Takkar learns to tame animals, a skill that helps him rise to power and lead the Wenja to control all of Oros.

Takkar is the only survivor of his hunting group after it is killed by a saber-toothed tiger. He is separated from his tribe and meets Sayla, a Wenja gatherer who saves his life. Sayla tells Takkar that the Wenja are scattered and homeless after their village was destroyed by Ull, the leader of the Udam tribe. The Udam, who live in the northern mountains, enjoy fighting and hunting and often capture Wenja people. Takkar begins gathering Wenja people near his cave and meets Tensay, a wolf shaman who teaches him how to tame animals. Tensay names Takkar the "Beast Master" for his ability.

After defending his new village from an attack by Ull’s Udam tribe, Takkar gathers help from three Wenja allies: Jayma, a skilled hunter; Wogah, a craftsman with one arm; and Karoosh, a warrior with one eye who has a personal grudge against the Udam. With Tensay’s guidance, Takkar learns that the Udam eat Wenja flesh to try to survive a deadly disease called "skull fire." He captures the Udam commander, Dah, and learns more about their methods. Some Wenja people initially refuse to help Dah, but Takkar stops them and saves Dah’s life, earning his loyalty. Later, the Wenja face the Izila, a more advanced tribe living in southern Oros. The Izila capture Wenja people for slavery and sacrifices to their Sun goddess, Suxli. Takkar attacks the Izila, defeats their leader, Batari, and captures an Izila commander named Roshani. Roshani agrees to share Izila knowledge about farming and warfare in exchange for his life.

After preparing for battle, Takkar attacks the main strongholds of the Udam and Izila tribes. He defeats their leaders, Ull and Batari. Ull, dying, asks Takkar to care for his children, which he agrees to do. With both tribes defeated, the Wenja gain control of Oros. Roshani stays with the Wenja to teach them farming, and Takkar mercifully kills Dah to end his suffering. Takkar celebrates his victory with Sayla, Tensay, and the Wenja people.

In a post-credits scene, Ull’s daughter is shown taming a cave bear, suggesting she has learned Takkar’s ability to control animals.

Development

The game Far Cry Primal was developed by Ubisoft Montreal, with help from Ubisoft Toronto, Ubisoft Kyiv, and Ubisoft Shanghai. When asked if Far Cry 4 would include standalone content like Far Cry 3 with Blood Dragon, creative director Alex Hutchinson said a sequel would not happen, but they were planning something that could "surprise" players. On January 5, 2015, Ubisoft released a survey asking players about possible future Far Cry settings. The survey included themes such as vampires, zombies, dinosaurs, a post-apocalyptic world, historical warfare, and modern locations like Peru and Alaska.

The game was first added to the Steam database under the codename Far Cry Sigma on October 2, 2015, which confused fans and the press. On October 6, 2015, Ubisoft held a live stream to reveal their next project. The game was officially announced the next day, though it was leaked by IGN Turkey hours earlier. The creative director, Jean-Christophe Guyot, has worked on several Prince of Persia games. On December 3, 2015, creative director Maxime Béland said Far Cry Primal was as large as Far Cry 4. The game does not include a multiplayer mode, a decision made early in development to focus on the core gameplay.

Far Cry Primal was released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on February 23, 2016. The Windows version came out shortly after on March 1, 2016. The game has two special editions, both priced higher than the base version. The Collector's Edition includes physical items like a steelbook, a collector's book, a map of Oros, the game's original soundtrack, and a Wenja phrasebook, which helps players learn the game's language. The Digital Apex Edition, available only online, and the Collector's Edition include digital content such as extra missions, weapons, and additional packs. The game uses an improved version of the Dunia 2 engine from Far Cry 4.

In January 2026, Ubisoft released a patch for Far Cry Primal that increased the framerate to 60fps on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions.

The characters in the game speak a fictional language with a clear structure and rules. This language is based on the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European language, which is believed to be the common ancestor of many modern European and some Asian and Middle Eastern languages. Linguists created three dialects—Wenja, Udam, and Izila—for the three tribes in the game. Each dialect has unique sounds that reflect the culture of its tribe. Lead writer Kevin Shortt said players can learn Wenja vocabulary and gain a strong understanding of the language by the end of the game.

Mexican vocalist and composer Malukah was one of the voice actors who provided war cries and other vocal effects for the game.

The soundtrack of Far Cry Primal was made using percussion instruments, stone, clay, and an Aztec death whistle. The music was composed by Jason Graves. Each tribe has its own unique music style. The Wenja tribe uses ram's horns and solo flutes, while the Izilia tribe includes Aztec death whistles, female vocals, and ritualistic percussion.

Reception

According to the review website Metacritic, the Windows version of Far Cry Primal received "mixed or average" reviews from critics when it was released. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions received "generally favorable" reviews.

Destructoid's Kyle MacGregor praised the game's realistic portrayal of violence toward animals and its survival elements. He said the animal companion feature was one of the game's strongest aspects, calling it "limitless potential." MacGregor believed the game's prehistoric setting was a natural and welcome change for the Far Cry series. However, he noted the story was predictable and that the game did not feel as innovative as earlier entries in the series.

Matt Buchholtz of Electronic Gaming Monthly wrote that the game's graphics were "stunning" and that Ubisoft had improved facial animations and lighting effects. He said the game felt like a reworked version of Far Cry 4 without a strong storyline. He also mentioned that the game encouraged exploration in its prehistoric world but warned that players might not find the activities appealing.

Jeff Cork from Game Informer praised the game's realistic setting, which allowed for more authentic gameplay and story elements. He called the visuals and world design "beautiful" and said the use of a unique primitive language was effective. However, he noted that players who enjoy Far Cry's usual action and explosions might find the new setting less exciting.

Matt Utley of GameRevolution called Far Cry Primal a "breath of fresh air" for the series and first-person action games. He praised the removal of guns and vehicles, which made gameplay more dynamic, and called the graphics "lush" and "evocative." He also supported the bold change in setting but mentioned minor issues with controls and repetitive gameplay.

Mike Mahardy of GameSpot gave the game mostly positive feedback, calling the prehistoric setting its greatest strength. He praised the open world for being well-organized and the survival-focused gameplay as "tense." He also liked the creative beast-taming mechanics but noted the limited number of weapons and repetitive elements.

Joe Skrebels from GamesRadar criticized the game for lacking clear goals and a strong story, saying it felt "prehistoric" in its weaknesses. He praised the taming mechanics and open world design but found the characters and quests less engaging than previous games.

Luke Reilly of IGN said the game had many good ideas but lacked a strong story. He highlighted the scavenging and taming mechanics as its strengths but noted the setting change had some flaws, including weaker characters and quests compared to earlier games.

Polygon's Justin McElroy praised the game's open world as the most immersive in the series. He said the game successfully updated the Far Cry formula while keeping its core identity.

Simon Miller from VideoGamer said the game was "very fun" and supported the decision to create a spin-off version. He praised the taming mechanics and visuals but noted the game did not introduce many new ideas for the series.

The retail version of Far Cry Primal was the best-selling game in the UK during its first week of release, reaching No. 1 on the UK retail software sales chart. It was also the top-selling game in the United States in February 2016. Ubisoft reported that the game performed better than expected and that its launch was the biggest game release in February.