The best Far Cry game is Far Cry 3, the 2012 open-world shooter whose tropical island, memorable villain Vaas and addictive outpost loop set the template every later entry followed. The original Far Cry remains the second-highest-rated in the series, and Far Cry 4 refined the formula in the Himalayas. This ranking covers the mainline games plus the standout spin-off.
Here’s our ranking of the best Far Cry games, why Far Cry 3 still leads, and where a newcomer should jump in.
The best Far Cry games ranked
Our ranking of the mainline Far Cry games plus the essential spin-off, based on critical consensus.
| # | Game | Year | Why it lands here |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Far Cry 3 | 2012 | Vaas, the Rook Islands and the loop that defined the series |
| 2 | Far Cry (original) | 2004 | The PC classic that started it all; still rated ~89 |
| 3 | Far Cry 4 | 2014 | Kyrat, Pagan Min and a polished take on the FC3 formula |
| 4 | Far Cry 5 | 2018 | A striking Montana cult setting and drop-in co-op |
| 5 | Far Cry 6 | 2021 | The biggest map yet and Giancarlo Esposito as the dictator |
| 6 | Far Cry 2 | 2008 | A harsh, systemic African survival shooter ahead of its time |
| 7 | Far Cry Primal | 2016 | An inventive Stone Age setting let down by repetition |
| 8 | Far Cry Blood Dragon | 2013 | A short, hilarious neon-’80s spin-off — a cult favourite |
How we ranked them
This list weighs critical scores against how well each game holds up and how much it shaped the series. Far Cry 3 takes first for inventing the modern Far Cry loop — climb a tower, liberate an outpost, chase a charismatic villain — that every entry since has built on. The original Far Cry ranks second on the strength of its still-impressive PC pedigree, while Far Cry 2 is the divisive wildcard: brutal and systemic, loved by some and disliked by others. Blood Dragon earns a spot as the best of the standalone spin-offs.
The top picks explained
Four Far Cry games worth your time first.
#1
The original
Most polished
Cult pick
More shooters and ranked lists? See our best FPS games and best open-world games guides.
Where to start
The easiest ways into the series.
| You want… | Start with |
|---|---|
| The definitive Far Cry | Far Cry 3 |
| Co-op with a friend | Far Cry 5 or Far Cry 6 |
| Something short and different | Far Cry Blood Dragon |
