Throughout the years Far Cry has become one of the most popular single-player first-person shooters on the market. Since the series first launched, the games have been known for their over-the-top scenarios, incredibly rich settings, great villains, and drug-filled stories.

RELATED: Every Far Cry Game, Ranked

With another game in the series on the horizon, it is a good time to look back and see which games are standouts in the franchise.

Updated April 7, 2021, by Thomas Bowen: With three years having now passed since the release of Far Cry 5, its successor is drawing ever nearer. Each new Far Cry 6 screenshot and video revealed by Ubisoft is more impressive than the last and suggest that the game could end up being the best Far Cry title to date. Of course, given the strength of some of the series' past releases that's going to be a tall order; although with the excellent Giancarlo Esposito set to star as the game's main villain, anything is possible.

12 Far Cry Vengeance (2006) - 38

Far Cry Vengeance (2006)

Available on Wii

Back when every company was attempting to release games on the Nintendo Wii, Ubisoft launched a port of Far Cry Instinct: Evolution, titled Far Cry Vengeance. Despite having content the original did not have - including three extra levels, new guns, and new vehicles - critics panned the game for its graphical downgrade and poor AI.

Although the original version of the game was far from perfect, the lack of power provided by the Wii resulted in some truly terrible reviews. The game holds an average score of just 38 on Metacritic; making it by far the worst Far Cry game on the site. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, this was the first and last time that the series would come to a Nintendo console.

11 Far Cry New Dawn (2019) - 73

Far Cry New Dawn

Available on PC, PS4 & Xbox One

The most recent Far Cry game at the time of writing, Far Cry New Dawn is set seventeen years after the events of Far Cry 5. While the game is still set in the fictional Hope County in Montana, players take control of a new lead character. With "The Collapse" of Far Cry 5 changing the world forever, the player struggles with rebuilding a community while trying to fight off a group called the Highwaymen.

The decision to recycle Hope County didn't go down particularly well with some critics. Likewise, the narrative also came in for some criticism and this ultimately led to a Metascore of just 73. It's far from bad, but a far cry from some of the series' stronger efforts.

10 Far Cry Primal (2016) - 76

Far-Cry-Primal-Sabretooth-Tiger

Available on PC, PS4 & Xbox One

Far Cry Primal is definitely one of the games that have deviated most from the traditional Far Cry formula. Instead of using the modern firearms that the series is perhaps best known for, players are forced to use prehistoric weapons, like spears, clubs and bows.

Set in the fictional Oros valley of 10,000 BC, the players control protagonist Takkar; a member of the Wenja tribe. Throughout the game, players learn to tame animals as they strive for dominance over the Oros valley in what is a fairly enjoyable experience.

9 Far Cry Instincts: Evolution (2006) - 78

Available on Xbox

Much like the original Far Cry Instincts, players once again take control of protagonist Jack Carver, an ex-member for the United States navy. This time, Carver is tasked with completing a guns deal between pirates and the Micronesia government.

RELATED: 10 Open-World Games That Can Be Beaten Surprisingly Fast

During this event, however, things go terribly wrong and Jack is framed for a rebel attack on the trade. Although the story is shorter than the original Far Cry Instincts, the linear story is chock-full of action and excitement for players.

8 Far Cry Instincts: Predator (2006) - 78

Available on Xbox 360

Far Cry Instincts: Predator is the first game in the franchise that launched on the Xbox 360. Releasing the same day as Far Cry Instincts: Evolution, Predator is a port of both the original Far Cry Instincts and its predecessor, Far Cry Instincts: Evolution.

Despite being two games in one and offering a noticeable graphical upgrade, Predator holds the same Metacritic score as Evolution. Whether the result of lazy reviewing or simply a testament to the strength of the Xbox version, it's still a pretty decent game that holds up fairly well today.

7 Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (2013) - 81

Available on PC, PS3 & Xbox 360

After the release of Far Cry 3, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon came as a bit of a surprise to fans on the series. Set in a post-nuclear dystopian 2007, players are met with a visually stunning 1980's aesthetic. While the game is a first-person open-world title, it gives players a more linear story than the original title had.

While it does not match the original Far Cry 3's critical praise, the game is so insane and different that it was able to stand apart from some of the series' other spin-off titles. That said, it hasn't aged quite as well as some of the main line releases have.

6 Far Cry 5: (2018) - 81

Available on PC, PS4 & Xbox One

For the first time in series history, Far Cry 5 brought the franchise's over-the-top gameplay to the United States. Set in a fictional county in Montana, players take on the role of a United States sheriff's deputy. During the game, the player fights back against a cult that is lead by the enigmatic Joseph Seed who is trying to overrun the government.

While the game stays true to the Far Cry formula, the setting allows for a different terrain and wildlife than players are normally used to and this helps to make the game stand out a little more. It was a big hit with critics too, largely due to the strength of its villain.

5 Far Cry 4 (2014) - 82

far cry 6 leak

Available on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 & Xbox One

Moving away from the tropical setting of Far Cry 3, the series' fourth mainline installment took players to a Himalayan country called Kirat. Taking control of Ajay Ghale, a Kyrati-American, the player's main goal is to spread the ashes of his mother where she has requested, however, Ajay quickly becomes involved in a Civil war between a rebel group and a tyrant.

RELATED: Far Cry 5: All The Companions, Ranked

While the game did not surpass its predecessor critically, Far Cry 4 is a great follow up for fans that love the series. Pagan Min is a strong and memorable villain and giving players the ability to complete the game within the opening ten minutes just by following his orders was a stroke of genius from the team over at Ubisoft.

4 Far Cry Instincts (2005) - 85

Available on Xbox

Released just one year after the original Far Cry, Ubisoft took what was originally known as a PC title and remade it for the original Xbox under the title Far Cry Instincts. While the game's story is the same, the title is more linear, perhaps due to the Xbox's lack of power.

The port does add new multiplayer modes, weapons and feral abilities though which more than makes up for some of the slight downgrades. Critics seemed to agree with this train of thought, with the game averaging an impressive 85 rating on Metacritic.

3 Far Cry 2 (2008) - 85

Available on PC, PS3 & Xbox 360

Released four years after the series' impressive debut, Far Cry 2 is the second installment in the main Far Cry franchise. Vastly different than the original title and its spin-offs, the game allows players to tackle its impressive and engaging narrative in a non-linear fashion.

RELATED: Far Cry: 10 Most Iconic Lines

Set in Central Africa during a civil war, players take control of Warren Clyde as he attempts to hunt down a character named the Jackal. While far from the most popular or successful game in the franchise, it did introduce fans to features that would go on to become series staples; including outposts.

2 Far Cry (2004) - 89

https://www.photojoiner.net/image/CIFZFEpM

Available on PC, PS3 & Xbox 360

Originally released solely for the PC, Far Cry laid the foundation for what would come next. While the series would go on to spawn many sequels, only one game since the original's release in 2004 has been able to surpass it critically.

At the time, the tropical rain forest set the original title apart from many of the game's competitors. In the first four months of release, the game sold almost three quarters of a million copies, which was impressive for a new franchise on a single platform at the time. Likewise, its 89 Metascore was incredibly impressive and served as a sign of things to come.

1 Far Cry 3 (2012) - 91

far cry 6 young vaas theory

Available on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 & Xbox One

Probably the most crucial game in the Far Cry series' success, Far Cry 3 has players take control of Californian, Jason Brody. Throughout the game's story, Brody is transformed from a preppy upper-class American to a battle-worn mercenary.

Not only does this game stand out for its impactful story of one man's attempt to rescue his friends from captivity, but one of the game's antagonists, Vaas, is still regarded as one of the best villains in the franchise. While many games in the series since Far Cry 3 have tried to capitalize on the same formula, none of them have been able to surpass the bar set by this game.

NEXT: Far Cry: 10 Most Iconic Lines