Far Cry is arguably Ubisoft’s most famous franchise after Assassin’s Creed, and it has become synonymous with the developer’s open-world formula. Since the mid-2000s, the series has been dropping players in exotic locales (and Montana), giving them an arsenal of weapons, and challenging them to take down dictators and cult leaders. Exhaustion might have set in after a while, but Far Cry has generally produced excellent FPS open-world games.
What’s The Best Order to Play the Far Cry Games?
The Far Cry games have been around for more than 20 years, but that means there’s a lot of games to play through for newcomers to the series.
This series has gone through several transformations, even if many people are inclined to label this franchise as the poster child of what most Ubisoft sandbox titles are all about. Each game in the Far Cry series is alluring in its own way, even if there are people who think otherwise.
Updated on April 14, 2026, by Mark Sammut: Which Far Cry game is actually worth playing in 2026? I’ve added a section to each game discussing this point.
What’s That Weapon?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
14
Far Cry Vengeance
Poor Performance Makes The Shooting Incredibly Frustrating
A rare example of a Far Cry game that has almost no redeeming factors, Vengeance is a Wii remake of Far Cry Instincts: Evolution that is worse in every way. This port was simply unnecessary and served only to soil the franchise’s name.
The poor optimization issues, broken AI, and compressed FMVs are all part of the reason why fans aren’t huge fans of Far Cry Vengeance. It’s a chapter in the Far Cry series everyone has forgotten, and understandably so.
Should You Play Far Cry Vengeance In 2026?
No.
13
Far Cry VR: Dive Into Insanity
A 30-Minute VR Far Cry Experience That’s Quite Barebones
- Platform: Zero Latency VR venues
- Release Date: June 1, 2021
- Developers: Zero Latency, Ubisoft
VR gaming has become all the rage in modern times, and the fact that people can purchase a virtual reality headset to enjoy these games from the comfort of their own homes is mind-blowing in retrospect. However, some VR experiences feel better when an environment is curated to sustain such experiences, with Zero Latency being one such company that curates VR experiences that can only be enjoyed in their gaming centers.
One such game that fans can get their hands on is Far Cry VR: Dive Into Insanity, a fun 30-minute romp where players are captured by Vaas in the Rook Islands and must figure out a way to escape with their friends. It may not be the longest Far Cry experience around, but superfans who don’t need an excuse to let them interact with Vaas’ deplorable charisma will find Dive Into Insanity to be a decent half-hour VR experience to get immersed in with their friends.
Unfortunately, due to being only available at special venues, most Far Cry fans will never get to experience Dive Into Insanity. They aren’t missing anything groundbreaking, but it is fun for what it is trying to be.
Should You Play Far Cry VR: Dive Into Insanity In 2026?
I mean, if you are nearby one of these venues, then you might as well book a session. You can check the locations here.
12
Far Cry New Dawn
A Colorful World And The Post-Apocalyptic Setting Are Not Fully Taken Advantage Of
After the massive success of Far Cry 5, players were hyped to see how this franchise would evolve with later installments. However, New Dawn ended up being a slap in the face that undid most of the good of its previous title and brought many Ubisoft fans back to reality.
The idea of exploring the map of Far Cry 5 in the aftermath of the nuclear bomb blast is interesting, but New Dawn doesn’t do too much with this concept. It doesn’t help that the writing is subpar, and the game doesn’t do anything new after the many innovations and refinements Far Cry 5 brought to the table. That said, New Dawn‘s gameplay is rock-solid because it is based on Far Cry 5, and the world received a fun little makeover that makes it pop off the screen. The co-op is decent, too.
Should You Play Far Cry New Dawn In 2026?
Yes, as long as you are itching for more Far Cry 5. The map is mostly the same and kind of dull, but it benefits from a more colorful aesthetic. The gameplay is more of the same.
11
Far Cry Instincts: Evolution
A Stripped-Down Console Version Of Far Cry
The console version of Far Cry was pretty fun in its own right, even if some aspects of the game had to be stripped down to make it more functional on consoles. The developers were so pleased by its performance that they greenlit a console-exclusive sequel for the title.
Evolution wasn’t a huge step forward for the series, but it got the job done. The gunplay and action are as fun as ever, and it’s a shame that more people don’t talk about this underrated entry in the Far Cry series.
Should You Play Far Cry Instincts: Evolution In 2026?
Solid enough console exclusive, but not really a must-play. If you end up enjoying Far Cry Instincts or Predator, give this one a shot.
10
Far Cry 6
The Most Disappointing Far Cry Game
Far Cry 6 is the most divisive release in the series. Honestly, “divisive” might not be the right word, as it seems to attract more hate than love. Like with every main entry, this game can be a lot of fun if it is somebody’s first Far Cry; however, if it is your fourth, then the cracks in the formula can be harder to ignore. Far Cry 6 somehow manages to be too formulaic while also implementing more innovations than Far Cry 4 and 5… the issue is that most of the new ideas either amount to nothing or are a net negative. A prime example is tying skills to gear rather than base stats, which is not only annoying but also illogical.
Far Cry: 7 Best Female Characters, Ranked
These female heroes and villains from the Far Cry games have often been regarded as some of the most memorable characters in the entire series.
The actual minute-to-minute gunplay is great, as is the case with most Far Cry games. Nowadays, the ammo system is better as players can change types on the fly rather than having to visit a workbench, but the fact that the latter was even part of the equation shows how lost this game was at launch. Add a wasted villain, boring characters, and weak AI, and you’ve got one of the worst Far Cry games. If it ever happens, Far Cry 7 needs to make some serious changes.
Should You Play Far Cry 6 In 2026?
The game is often cheap nowadays, and there are worse ways to spend $10 and 30 hours. Honestly, I still wouldn’t recommend Far Cry 6, as there are just too many better open-world games.
9
Far Cry Instincts
A Console Version Of The First Far Cry Game That’s Commendable
Far Cry on the PC was a treat, but console gamers felt ostracized that they couldn’t check this stealth-adventure series. As a result, Ubisoft decided to develop a console version of the game that retained much of the original experience with a few cuts here and there.
While the game became more linear as a result, Far Cry: Instincts was still a great way for console players to enjoy this fun game. The fact that it added features that were left on the cutting room floor for the original game was also a plus.
Should You Play Far Cry Instincts In 2026?
Very respectable console port, but there are better ways to experience the original Far Cry in 2026.
8
Far Cry Instincts: Predator
Compiles Far Cry: Instincts & Evolution Into A Neat Package For A New Console Generation
The original remake and sequel of Far Cry were released on the Xbox. With the launch of the 360, Ubisoft jumped on the opportunity to release an updated version of both Instincts and Evolution for new-gen console owners to enjoy, resulting in the collection known as Far Cry Instincts: Predator.
The graphical enhancements and performance improvements were certainly quite welcome, making this collection the definitive way to play both games. Playing this now can be a bit of a challenge, but players who are lucky enough for all their cards to align can check out the original Far Cry in all its HD glory.
Should You Play Far Cry Instincts: Predator In 2026?
On Xbox consoles, this is the version of Far Cry to play. It is also backward compatible with Xbox One and Series X/S.
GameRant Quiz
Easy (15s)Medium (10s)Hard (5s)
7
Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon
A Colorful Romp That Pays Homage To The ’80s
A standalone expansion that a lot of people hail as one of the best Far Cry experiences fans can enjoy, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon‘s 1980s retro-future aesthetic, combined with a lighter tone, makes for a fresh change of pace from the usual seriousness of Far Cry games.
Darkest Open-World Games, Ranked
Open-world games are a great genre to get immersed in, but not every game is a beautiful adventure, some are scary and dark like these great examples
The levity of this title is what makes Blood Dragon such an easy recommendation for fans. The gameplay harbors all the classic goodness of the Far Cry games in a unique setting that fans love. It’s a shame that this was a one-and-done affair since fans would’ve loved to see a sequel that built upon these concepts.
Should You Play Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon In 2026?
Despite its relatively low ranking, Blood Dragon is a must-play, even more so than a few titles above it. The game is short and rad.
6
Far Cry
Kickstarted This Action-Packed Series With A Combination Of Stealth And Action
The first Far Cry game is pretty rough around the edges and hasn’t aged all that well. The distance from which enemies can see the player is so ludicrous that trying to sneak around a base is pretty much impossible.
This, coupled with the pinpoint accuracy of enemies from miles away, makes Far Cry an unforgiving experience. It does bring some good ideas to the table and establishes a formula that later titles in the series would innovate on; however, the game itself can be difficult to revisit in this day and age.
Should You Play Far Cry In 2026?
This is probably the hardest to really say, as Far Cry shows its age. From a historical perspective, it warrants a playthrough; from an enjoyment perspective, it might fall short.
5
Far Cry 5
A Return To Form For Far Cry With Organic Exploration And Action-Packed Combat
Far Cry 5 can be amazing at times, with Hope County becoming instantly iconic for a whole host of reasons. The title may have the systems many people expect from a run-of-the-mill open-world game, but it’s the refinement and polish present in this title that made Far Cry 5 such a massive success.
It helps that the Seed family serves as some of the best antagonists in video game history, with each character showing a disturbing yet riveting personality that makes them easy to hate and captivating to listen to at the same time. The title’s organic open-world exploration, fun gameplay, and unique blend of villains helped ensure its legacy, even if Hope County is one of the least visually interesting settings in the series.
Should You Play Far Cry 5 In 2026?
Yeah, Far Cry 5 is a blast.
![Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 (v49474) [RUNE] – MaxBit](https://i0.wp.com/gamepcfull.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Free-download-vampire-the-masquerade-bloodlines-2-gamepcfull.jpg?w=100&resize=100,100&ssl=1 "Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 (v49474) [RUNE] – MaxBit")