Highlights
- The Far Cry franchise should consider exploring new concepts and settings instead of sticking with the same modern aesthetic.
- Ubisoft's attempts to replicate the success of Far Cry 3 may be hurting the series, and a change in setting could revitalize it.
- A Far Cry game set in the Middle Ages could offer a unique and refreshing experience, combining the series' open-world gameplay with a medieval aesthetic.
Besides Assassin's Creed, the Far Cry franchise seems to be one of Ubisoft's biggest series right now, and it is showing no signs of slowing down. While some players believe that the series has dipped in quality a bit, the studio is still apparently hard at work on the next chapter. No one knows what this next Far Cry will look like just yet, but there is a strong possibility it will be following in the footsteps of its predecessors. However, the studio should really take the concept to a whole new playground instead.
After six mainline titles of varying quality, it may be time for Far Cry to reinvent itself a bit. Occasionally, Ubisoft has liked to dabble in outlandish genres as seen with Far Cry New Dawn and Far Cry Primal. While those games may not have been the peak of the franchise, the series should still continue to experiment rather than sticking with the same modern aesthetic. Instead of just trying to replicate Far Cry 3 again, the next title should go somewhere the franchise has never gone before: the Middle Ages.
A Medieval Far Cry Game Feels Right
The Far Cry series has mostly played around with the same premise since its inception -- a character is thrust into a hostile environment, they gather what tools they can, and they must do everything they can to escape alive. This formula gives players the freedom to run wild in massive and beautiful open-world landscapes. The games thrive at adapting the vibe of an action film, while the sandbox worlds offer lots for players to do. However, the series has hit a rough patch recently, making it the perfect time to explore a new concept.
Ubisoft has been trying to replicate the model of Fary Cry 3 for years. It was a successful and great game, but chasing that success seems to be hurting the series a bit. Far Cry 4 felt too similar to the third game, Far Cry 5 faltered when it came to the story, and Far Cry 6 just felt like more of the same. The open-world mayhem in these games can still be fun, but they need more than that to excel. Stepping away from the modern setting could give them what they need.
Ubisoft has dabbled a bit in exploring other periods with games like Far Cry Primal and Far Cry New Dawn, which were both flawed but fun experiences. Instead of going back to the same thing it has been doing for years now, the studio should consider taking the Far Cry franchise to the Middle Ages. While it may not give players the same bombastic gameplay the mainline series is known for, the formula mostly worked with Primal, so it should definitely work in the era of monarchs and feudal lords. By taking a few creative liberties, Ubisoft could craft a Far Cry experience unlike any other.
A Far Cry game set in the Middle Ages could put players in the shoes of a knight in a tyrannical kingdom. It would be up to them to push out the regime and save the people living under it. To do this, players would have to engage in all sorts of open-world shenanigans. Instead of guns and cars, they could cruise through the streets atop horses, fighting back the enemy with a wide assortment of melee weapons and explosive arrows. The game could still have everything that the series is known for, but with a more medieval aesthetic. It would be a risk, but it would be a breath of fresh air too.
A new Far Cry game is believed to be in development.