Gamers are used to titles receiving a "Game of the Year" re-release which typically bundles in some DLC. Far Cry 6 has received its own Game of the Year Edition, though some gamers find this quite strange because the game hasn't won any major game of the year awards. It appears that Ubisoft is exploiting the marketing gimmick despite having not earned it.
Nevertheless, Far Cry 6 Game of the Year Edition is a bulky bundle that features everything a gamer could need to get started with their Far Cry adventure. Although it may not have won any widely recognized game of the year awards, not all gamers lend any credence to those ceremonies, and there are plenty of gamers who do believe that Far Cry 6 was the best game of 2021. Perhaps this bundle is for them.
Far Cry's Claim to Game of the Year
Ubisoft's Far Cry 6 was released in 2021. It is set on the fictional island of Yara, and it follows guerrilla fighter Dani Rojas as they attempt to end Anton Castillo's dictatorial regime. Upon release, critics and gamers noted that while the game certainly wasn't bad, it failed to innovate much on past games. Playing it didn't feel any different from playing previous Far Cry games, which made it fail to stand out. Nevertheless, according to Ubisoft, Far Cry 6 performed well in playtime per player and microtransactions compared to Far Cry 5.
It was nominated for several awards. At The Game Awards 2021, it was nominated for Best Performance, Best Innovation, and Innovation in Accessibility. At the 2022 New York Game Awards, it was nominated for four awards, including the Statue of Liberty Award for Best World and the Tin Pan Alley Award for Best Music in a Game. It didn't win any of the awards it was nominated for, but that isn't a bad thing at all, as being nominated is enough of an honor.
Things start to get weird with the game's recently released bundle which is titled Far Cry 6: Game of the Year Edition. The title would imply that it has won some Game of the Year award, but it hasn't won that title from any widely recognized ceremony. One could make a case that this is a misleading piece of marketing on Ubisoft's part, but Far Cry 6 is probably somebody's game of the year, which means the special edition still has value to some fans.
Far Cry 6: Game of the Year Edition Features
For anyone looking for the definitive Far Cry 6 experience, the Game of the Year Edition is the best option. It comes with the base game, along with all the free updates it has received over time. It also features all the season pass content, which includes three DLCs as well as Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. Gamers also receive three cosmetics packs: Croc Hunter Pack, Vice Pack, and Jungle Expedition Pack.
Some gamers may criticize Ubisoft for exploiting the "Game of the Year" marketing gimmick. It wouldn't be the first to do so, but it may be one of the first examples of a game sporting the title without winning any awards to back up its claim of being game of the year. However, others may still appreciate that the best of the game has been bundled together into a convenient package. While it does have a hefty $120 tag attached to it, it does provide some reliable Far Cry open-world fun.
Far Cry 6 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
