Far Cry is a series of first-person shooter games made by Ubisoft. The first game, Far Cry, was created by Crytek in 2004 to show off their CryEngine software. Later, Ubisoft bought the rights to the series, and most of the development work is now done by Ubisoft Montreal, with help from other Ubisoft studios. The later games in the series use a version of the CryEngine called the Dunia Engine, which allows players to explore large open worlds. As of 2025, the Far Cry series includes six main games, one expansion, and several spin-offs. The first game was originally made for Microsoft Windows and later released on video game consoles with changes, making those versions separate releases.

The Far Cry games do not share a single story, but they all place players in wilderness settings where they must fight against rulers who control the area and survive dangerous animals. Each game has a single-player story, and newer versions also allow players to team up with others in co-operative mode. The games also include competitive multiplayer and let players create custom maps for matches. Far Cry games have generally received good reviews for their open world design and villains, but some critics say they lack new ideas. The series has been successful commercially.

Premise and gameplay

The main Far Cry games are first-person shooters (FPS) that include action-adventure features. The first Far Cry game and its versions or re-releases were typical FPS games with separate, distinct levels. However, Far Cry 2 and later games use an open-world style of gameplay, where players can explore a large environment and complete main story missions, side missions, and optional tasks.

The games do not follow a clear story order or sequence between titles. Instead, they share a common theme of placing players in a lawless frontier where modern rules and values do not apply. Players often need to survive in the wilderness by hunting and crafting tools. They may also team up with freedom fighters to challenge a ruling group, and their choices can influence conflicts between opposing sides. Some games focus on realistic conflicts, while others include supernatural or science fiction elements.

Ubisoft Montreal, the main developers of the series, believe all Far Cry games exist within the same fictional universe. They sometimes reuse small characters to connect the games, but each title can be played independently without needing to know details from other games.

History

The first Far Cry game was created by the German company Crytek, which also introduced their CryEngine software. Crytek aimed to use the CryEngine to create realistic outdoor environments with large areas that players could see, a feature that was new compared to other game engines at the time. The CryEngine was first shown as a technology demo at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in 1999 under the name X-Isle: Dinosaur Island, specifically designed for Nvidia graphics processors. This demo let players explore a virtual tropical island filled with dinosaurs, showing how large the game world could be. After E3 1999, Crytek made a deal with Nvidia to include X-Isle as benchmarking software with all Nvidia graphics cards, as the CryEngine was the most demanding engine available. Ubisoft then partnered with Crytek to turn X-Isle into a full AAA game and gained the rights to publish it.

This game follows the story of Jack Carver, the player character, who discovers Dr. Krieger’s genetic research on a fictional Micronesian island, leading to the creation of powerful Trigen Beasts as weapons sold to mercenaries. Far Cry was released in March 2004 for Microsoft Windows, receiving strong praise and selling over 730,000 copies in the first four months.

After Far Cry’s release, Crytek wanted to prove the CryEngine could be used for other projects and signed a deal with Electronic Arts (EA) in July 2004 to develop a new game series, competing with Ubisoft. This series became Crysis, allowing Crytek to improve their CryEngine. Without Crytek’s help, Ubisoft assigned Ubisoft Montreal to adapt Far Cry for game consoles through Far Cry Instincts and Far Cry Vengeance. These versions required changes because consoles were less powerful than computers, leading to more linear levels, added campaigns, multiplayer modes, and altered storylines. In 2006, Ubisoft bought all rights to the Far Cry series and a permanent license for the CryEngine version used in Far Cry. Ubisoft Montreal became the main studio for future Far Cry games.

Far Cry 2 was announced by Ubisoft in July 2007 and included two major changes. First, it used the Dunia Engine, a modified version of the CryEngine developed by Ubisoft Montreal to create an open-world game with realistic physics and destroyable environments. Second, it shifted to an open-ended story with nine playable characters and an advanced AI system, allowing players to create their own stories. This change happened partly because the original game’s main character, Jack Carver, was not memorable, and the ending of Far Cry had moved toward science fiction, which developers wanted to avoid. Ubisoft also changed the setting from a tropical island to the plains of Africa, where a fictional African country is in a civil war funded by a figure named the Jackal. The player, a mercenary, must work with others to bring the Jackal down.

Far Cry 2 was released in October 2008, selling over 2.9 million copies by 2009 and receiving critical praise. However, the game’s director noted that its design was somewhat chaotic. Some gameplay features, like random malaria effects, weapon decay, and repopulating checkpoints, caused mixed reactions among players.

Pre-production for Far Cry 3 began soon after Far Cry 2 was released, with plans to continue the story. However, many key developers left the project, leading to changes. The game returned to a tropical island setting but kept the open-world style of Far Cry 2. It also introduced the Dunia 2 engine, which added features like weather systems. Many controversial elements from Far Cry 2 were removed, and the game focused on a single main character. In Far Cry 3, the player is part of a group of tourists captured by the pirate Vaas Montenegro, who has tortured the island’s people. Vaas became a central villain, setting a new direction for future games. Far Cry 3 was announced in 2011 and released in 2012, selling over 10 million copies by 2014 despite some narrative controversies.

The gameplay of Far Cry 3 established the series’ approach, which was used in later games but changed settings. These included Far Cry 4 (2014), set in a fictional Himalayan country ruled by Pagan Min; Far Cry 5 (2018), in a fictional Montana town controlled by a doomsday cult; and Far Cry 6 (2021), on a fictional island in a revolution led by a dictator. All these games focus on lawless lands and require skills like hunting and crafting. Each used the Dunia 2 engine with improvements for performance and new technology.

Smaller side games, like Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (2013), were made using existing maps and assets from main games. This game was announced on April Fools’ Day 2013 and released the following month.

Main series

Far Cry, the first game in the series, was created as an open-ended first-person shooter by the German company Crytek. It was the first game to use Crytek's CryEngine software. The game takes place on a mysterious group of islands in Micronesia. The main character, Jack Carver, is a former special forces soldier who must survive against hostile mercenaries who control the islands. He searches for a missing journalist who was traveling with him. As Jack explores the islands, he discovers terrible genetic experiments being done on local wildlife and faces off against the scientist responsible.

The game was published by Ubisoft on March 23, 2004, for Microsoft Windows. It received mostly positive reviews, with praise for its visuals, gameplay, and the freedom players had to explore. It sold 730,000 copies within four months of its release.

Far Cry 2 was developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on October 21, 2008, in North America, October 23 in Australia, and October 24 in Europe. The game is set in a fictional East African country where an arms smuggler called "The Jackal" sells weapons to two groups fighting in a civil war. The player controls a mercenary sent to kill The Jackal, who is causing the conflict. The game allows players to explore 50 kilometers of African terrain, including open savannahs, forests, animals, and towns. Far Cry 2 focuses more on realism than earlier games, including features like weapon jamming and malaria, which the player must treat to survive.

Far Cry 2 received mostly positive reviews for its setting, visuals, and open-ended gameplay. However, some critics said the writing, artificial intelligence, and technical issues were not as strong. Some players found the focus on realism repetitive. The game sold three million copies worldwide within four months of its release.

A version of the game for mobile phones, called a top-down shooter, was developed and published by Gameloft.

Far Cry 3 was developed by Ubisoft Montreal using feedback from Far Cry 2. It was published by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on November 29, 2012, in Australia, November 30 in Europe, and December 4 in North America. It was later released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2018. Before its release, Ubisoft promoted the game with apps, web series, and crossovers. The game is set on the fictional Rook Islands, a tropical archipelago. The main character, Jason Brody, is an American tourist who must survive in the jungle and rescue his friends, who have been captured by the violent pirate leader Vaas Montenegro.

Far Cry 3 is larger and more ambitious than its predecessors. It received mostly positive reviews for its characters, world design, visuals, and gameplay. However, some critics said the multiplayer modes were not as strong. The game sold nearly ten million copies in its lifetime and was nominated for awards in 2012, including Game of the Year and Best Shooter.

Far Cry 4 was developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on November 18, 2014, in Australia and North America, and November 20 in Europe. The game was originally planned as a sequel to Far Cry 3 but became a standalone story like other games in the series. It is set in the fictional Himalayan country of Kyrat, ruled by a cruel king named Pagan Min. The main character, Ajay Ghale, becomes involved in a civil war after being told by his late mother to return to his homeland to spread her ashes. The story was inspired by the 1996–2006 Nepalese Civil War.

Far Cry 4 received positive reviews for its world design, visuals, soundtrack, and characters. New gameplay features and a large amount of content were also praised. However, the story had mixed reactions, and some critics said the game did not offer enough new ideas compared to Far Cry 3. It had the biggest launch in the series' history, selling seven million copies by the end of 2014.

Far Cry 5 was developed by Ubisoft Montreal and Ubisoft Toronto. It was released worldwide on March 27, 2018, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The game is set in fictional Hope County, modern-day Montana, which is controlled by a doomsday cult called Eden's Gate, led by "The Father" Joseph Seed and his siblings. Players control a customizable sheriff's deputy who becomes involved in a conflict between the cult and the residents of Hope County, whose friends and family have been taken or killed by the cult. The game was inspired by real historical events, such as the Cold War and the September 11 attacks. The development team aimed to reflect the social mood after these events.

Far Cry 5 received mostly positive reviews for its world design, visuals, gameplay, and soundtrack. However, the story and some characters were criticized. The game also sparked controversy after its release due to timing with political events. It was a commercial success, becoming the fastest-selling game in the series and earning over $310 million in its first week.

Far Cry 6 was developed by Ubisoft Toronto and published by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Stadia on October 7, 2021. The game is set on the fictional island of Yara, loosely based on modern-day Cuba, which is ruled by a fascist dictator named Antón Castillo, played by Giancarlo Esposito. Castillo wants his son, Diego, to become his heir despite a revolution by freedom fighters. Players control a guerrilla fighter named Dani Rojas, who tries to overthrow Castillo's regime. The game was inspired by recent historical revolutions, especially the Cuban Revolution of 1953–1959. It includes elements from earlier games, such as a tropical setting and a fully voiced protagonist.

Far Cry 6 received mixed reviews. While the setting, visuals, Giancarlo Esposito's performance, and small improvements to gameplay were praised, some critics said the game lacked innovation and had outdated design elements.

Spin-offs

Evolution is a sequel to Far Cry Instincts. It was released for the Xbox on March 27, 2006. The game includes a new single-player story, but it is shorter than the one in Far Cry Instincts. It also adds new weapons, vehicles, a more advanced mapmaker, and an extra multiplayer mode. Maps created in the Xbox version of Far Cry Instincts cannot be used in the Xbox 360 version.

Blood Dragon is an independent "expansion pack" based on Far Cry 3. It does not continue the story of Far Cry 3 but uses the same game engine and gameplay features. News about its development was shared by the Brazilian ratings board, which gave it an 18+ rating due to its references to violence, sex, and drugs. The game’s story, characters, and visual style are inspired by 1980s action movies, especially those starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, such as Commando, The Terminator, and Predator, and Sylvester Stallone, like Cobra, First Blood, and Rocky IV. Other film and television influences include RoboCop, Escape from New York, Scarface, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Pre-orders of the PC version included a digital copy of the soundtrack, created by Power Glove, a music group from Melbourne, Australia. Ubisoft’s CEO, Yves Guillemot, said the game might be sold in stores due to its popularity.

Trials of the Blood Dragon is a crossover game with the Trials series. It is based on Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon and was released in June 2016. A remastered version of Blood Dragon is included in the season pass for Far Cry 6.

Far Cry Primal is a spin-off of Far Cry 4. It was developed by Ubisoft Montreal and released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows in 2016. The game is set during the Stone Age in a fictional valley called Oros, located in Central and Eastern Europe. Players control Takkar, a hunter who becomes the leader of a tribe. The game received mixed reviews. Critics praised its world design and the ability to tame animals but criticized its weak story and limited weapons, which made gameplay feel repetitive.

Far Cry New Dawn is a spin-off and sequel to Far Cry 5. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on February 15, 2019. The game takes place seventeen years after one of the possible endings of Far Cry 5. Players control an unnamed character who helps survivors rebuild their community after a nuclear war. The game uses a modified version of Far Cry 5’s map and includes elements from role-playing games, such as an upgradeable home base and crafting systems. It received mixed reviews, with praise for its world design and gameplay but criticism for its story and similarities to Far Cry 5. It was less financially successful than Far Cry 5 and Far Cry Primal.

Far Cry VR: Dive Into Insanity is a virtual reality game set on the same tropical island as Far Cry 3. It was released on June 1, 2021, and features Vaas Montenegro as the main villain.

Other media

• A direct-to-video movie titled Far Cry, released in 2008, was directed by Uwe Boll and stars Til Schweiger as Jack Carver. The film follows Jack Carver, an ex-special forces soldier turned boatman who is hired by a journalist to investigate a top-secret military base on a nearby island. The film received poor reviews from critics, who said it did not represent the video games well.

• The Far Cry Experience is a four-part webseries released in 2012. It serves as a prequel to Far Cry 3. The series features Christopher Mintz-Plasse playing a fictionalized version of himself, who is captured by Vaas (played by Michael Mando) and his pirates and becomes the subject of Vaas’s torture show.

• In 2013, it was reported that a Far Cry film was in development by Ubisoft Motion Pictures, along with films based on Watch Dogs and Raving Rabbids. However, no updates about the project have been shared since.

• Inside Eden’s Gate is a short film released on March 5, 2018, as a tie-in prequel to Far Cry 5. It follows three filmmakers investigating rumors about the Project at Eden’s Gate and encountering Joseph Seed (played by Greg Bryk) and other members of the Seed family.

• In November 2025, it was announced that Noah Hawley and Rob Mac would co-create a new adaptation for FX. Mac will also star in the show, which will be an anthology series, similar to the franchise it is based on.

It was announced that Ubisoft is partnering with Adi Shankar to develop an animated series titled Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix. The series was in production for Netflix during June 2021, with Bobbypills leading the animation and Balak serving as creative director. The series was released on October 19, 2023.

On September 20, 2021, it was announced that board game publisher Funforge would partner with Ubisoft to create a board game based on the franchise titled Far Cry Beyond.

• German-language novels by Michael T. Bhatty: Far Cry: Götterdämmerung (Panini, 2007, ISBN 3-8332-1568-2) – an expanded novelization of the original Far Cry game. Far Cry 2: Blutige Diamanten (Panini, 2008, ISBN 3-8332-1742-1) – a prequel to Far Cry 2.

• Far Cry: Absolution (2018) by Urban Waite – a prequel to Far Cry 5.

• Far Cry: Rite of Passage (2021) – a comic book miniseries published by Dark Horse Comics as a tie-in to Far Cry 6. It features the game’s primary antagonist, Antón Castillo, recounting cautionary tales to his son Diego about the rise and fall of previous villains in the series (Vaas Montenegro, Pagan Min, and Joseph Seed).

• Happy Vaas Day, a 2021 manga one-shot by Hiromu Nagase published by Jump in collaboration with Ubisoft. The story depicts a young Vaas Montenegro.

• Inside, a 2021 manga one-shot published by Jump in collaboration with Ubisoft. The story follows a young man as he plays Far Cry 4 and begins to think about the morality of the characters.

• Far Cry: Esperanza’s Tears, published by Ablaze in October 2022, is a prequel comic to Far Cry 6.

Sales

According to Ubisoft, the Far Cry franchise sold more than 20 million copies by the end of 2014. By September 2019, the series had sold a total of 50 million copies.