Before the first Far Cry release in 2004, modern-day first-person shooter (FPS) games were mostly straight tunnels with enough color and flash to hide their linearity. This design standard was even applied to the legendary Half-Life 2. Then, Ubisoft and Crytek spiced things up by providing players with a dizzying amount of open space and freedom. Far Cry established the foundation for many open-world shooters and demonstrated that freedom was more enjoyable than scripted FPS sequences. The sequels to Far Cry capitalized on this, while other games refined the formula. So, if you’re looking for something to do after Far Cry 6, you should check out these games like Far Cry if open-world gun-toting is your thing.
16 Best Games like Far Cry – Far Cry Alternatives
As expected, many games like Far Cry have become the poster boy or template for open-world FPS games. You can thank Ubisoft for that. It has a winning formula that it will not abandon. Similar elements can also be found in other games like Far Cry. Speaking of which, you’ll want to try them all at some point. As a result, glance at these games similar to Far Cry.
1. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Series
While Far Cry has a skill tree and customization, it isn’t quite an RPG, which is part of its appeal. You get to feel RPG-style progression without the grind. Few other FPS games capture this, and the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games outperform Far Cry. These old post-apocalyptic first-person shooter games place you in the middle of a quarantined area surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear power plant after the disaster. More than anything, it’s about surviving in the face of overwhelming odds and strange occurrences. Far Cry 3 players should feel right at home.
2. Crysis
Crysis is Crytek’s spiritual successor to the original Far Cry game. It’s a graphically advanced game that became a metric for determining whether your computer can generate more heat than a jet engine. Like Far Cry in 2004, Crysis raised the bar for computer graphics; it did so in a tropical setting with a lot of leeway in approaching combat situations. However, even Crysis, despite being a 2007 game, has aged well while capturing the essence of the original Far Cry.
3. Ghost Recon: Wildlands
When in doubt, stick with Ubisoft. After all, they created all of the Far Cry games and knew how to replicate its formula for other games successfully. In this case, Ghost Recon: Wildlands, Ubisoft stripped down their long-running Ghost Recon games and gave them a Far Cry spin. Conversely, this game is more tactical and multiplayer-focused and best played with friends. Aside from that, it’s standard Ubisoft fare: clearing outposts, long stretches of open world, and guns… lots of guns.
4. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Not many video games dare to create an open world out of modern war-torn or backwater locales; Far Cry stands out in this regard, as does Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. As a result, it’s frequently cited as the best in a long and illustrious series. To capture the Far Cry experience in The Phantom Pain, players must spend as much time as possible in the open world, as that is how the game was intended to be played. Far Cry takes the spotlight here, but you can do the same with Stealth. Furthermore, The Phantom Pain includes two open worlds: Afghanistan and somewhere in Africa, which allow you to clear outposts, collect resources, and depopulate the area with lead if you get bored.
5. Rage Series
Bethesda’s Rage series makes heavily from the Mad Max movies, making it feel eerily similar to Borderlands. It is, however, far less over-the-top and far more serious in its core combat, with far fewer RPG elements. The Rage games’ gameplay loops, particularly the second one, are more akin to Far Cry than Borderlands. That could imply that Far Cry players will feel right at home in Rage. The vehicular carnage and lead belching are both on-point in this scene.
6. Homefront: The Revolution
Well, are you Looking for something a little more modern in terms of setting? Then there’s Homefront: The Revolution, which might fill that void. It’s an open-world FPS in which you are a freedom fighter attempting to liberate the fictionally oppressed United States from North Korean rule. In terms of atmosphere, it’s quite familiar, especially if you’ve played Far Cry 5. It includes all the open-world FPS checkboxes, though the game’s rough launch made it quite unpopular. However, the developers have since fixed the game’s issues, so it should be playable again.
7. Borderlands Series
Borderlands may be more akin to the Diablo games than Far Cry, but the FPS format and grand and bombastic vehicular combat bring it close. The setting may be futuristic or sci-fi, but the core run-and-gun with freedom formula that the Far Cry games have provided remains intact. Borderlands games have better replayability, with different classes and an intricate RPG system. Well, It’s much more flexible and requires more thought than Far Cry’s simple skill trees or weapon combinations, but it should still be welcomed.
8. Dying Light
When watching gameplay videos, it’s easy to mistake Dying Light for Far Cry with zombies. The movement scheme is similar (especially the parkour), and the story and dialogue are equally cheesy and campy. However, Dying Light distinguishes itself by focusing on melee combat (during the first half of the game). Stealth is another option, particularly at night, unless you want to become a chew toy for zombies on steroids. Certain DLCs will also allow you to unlock vehicles if you feel they are lacking.
9. Grand Theft Auto 5
Well, It may not capture the same alien locale playground that is the trademark of Far Cry games, but Grand Theft Auto 5’s story is just as wacky and nonsensical. The gameplay becomes more familiar in first-person mode. Between story missions, you can steal vehicles and shoot guns at whoever you want. GTA 5, similar to Far Cry games, does not shy away from a Mature rating for video games and can be quite daring with its exposition.
10. Just Cause Series
It’s similar to GTA, but more rural and less urban, with more destructive toys to play with. Any Just Cause games will suffice and provide an experience similar to Far Cry games and others. For one thing, Cause games allow you to be more creative and outrageous in your destruction wherever you go. In addition, the later games are more populated and have a larger feel than typical Far Cry maps.
11. Metro Series
If you enjoy the open-world aspects of Far Cry, Metro is not the series for you. Well, If, on the other hand, you’re looking for an excellent FPS title that doesn’t prioritize online multiplayer over single-player, look no further. Unfortunately, the Metro series is so focused on single-player that it doesn’t even include multiplayer. It’s a series that has only improved with age, like fine wine. The gameplay has tightened, the weapons have become more realistic, and the visuals have vastly improved. That isn’t to say the first two games aren’t worthwhile to play, and thanks to Metro Redux, all three are now available on PS4 and Xbox One.
12. Mafia Series
At first glance, the Mafia series may appear to be another GTA clone. But delve a little deeper, and you’ll find a series with a distinct identity and many intriguing ideas. It’s undoubtedly the best video game series about organized crime, with excellent writing and a fantastic world that begs to be explored. All three games in the series will receive definitive editions in 2021, making now an excellent time to play them. Well, The original game, in particular, has never looked better, thanks in large case to Hangar 13’s decision to remake it rather than remaster it, as the other two games did.
13. Mad Max
Avalanche Studios deserves much credit for their work on 2015’s Mad Max. In an industry rife with bad licensed adaptations, it stands out as a shining example of how things should be done. Its world is less ‘open ‘than some other games on the market, but it’s still worth exploring. There’s a lot of Cause on display here, perhaps to be expected, given how much time the studio has devoted to the series over the last 15 years. Nonetheless, there are more than enough new ideas and mechanics to distinguish the two IPs. It’s a large-scale, character-filled game that’s a must-have for fans of movies and open-world games.
14. Fallout Series
Well, The Fallout series has come a long way since its first entry, but one thing has stayed the same: the game’s ridiculous scale. That and war, of course. They have large playable areas, many side quests, and long stories with branching paths. Combined with the series’ eccentric cast, these elements resulted in a gaming experience. Some earlier Fallout games feel a little dated by modern standards, and Fallout 76 is an acquired taste. However, if you’re looking for an enjoyable open-world experience, Fallout 3, Fallout 4, and Fallout: New Vegas, in particular, are worth a look.
15. Dead Island
Well, It takes place in an exotic place full of strange people and an even stranger situation that necessitates near-indiscriminate killing. In a nutshell, Dead Island is a worthy rival to Far Cry’s formula. The first Far Cry, for example, has a story about being stranded on a tropical island with mutants. That type of sci-fi trope is very present in Dead Island, except zombies have replaced the mutants. Most combat is done in melee, but that doesn’t slow down the action, especially when you’re cleaving down zombies in bikinis and board shorts with your bizarre amalgam of everyday tools turned into weapons.
16. Cyberpunk 2077
Its setting is more futuristic and has its fair share of bugs (at the time of writing), but the world of Cyberpunk 2077 is so vast and detailed that you’ll get lost in it in more ways than one. Night City is as close to a living, breathing world as we’ve ever seen in gaming, but it’s only one of the game’s many strings to its bow. The game includes a highly customizable protagonist (both in appearance and abilities), countless side quests, and a massive arsenal of weapons with which you can wreak havoc. This is it if you’re looking for a game to entertain you.
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Wrapping Up: Games like Far Cry
Well, That brings us to the end of our list of the best games like Far Cry. Please let us know in the comments section below if you know of other games like Far Cry.
