One of the biggest trademarks of theFar Cryseries is the way each game tries to introduce anew scenic but dangerous locationfor the player to explore. These are usually settings located across different parts of the world characterized by a sense of isolation and lawlessness that forces the player to survive against both human enemies and the environment. Most games in the series have been set on fictional islands, countries, or counties inspired by real-life places. The most recent entry in the series,Far Cry 6, brought players to the Cuba-inspired island of Yara and explored the complicated world of guerrilla warfare.
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Far Cry 6has been out for almost a year now, and enjoyed by many players. But now there is another pressing question: where willFar Cry 7take place? What new war-torn chaotic environment can Ubisoft find to throw players into. If Ubisoft has even decided, they have not said, but there are some very interesting options to look at both new and familiar.
6Africa
Far Cry 2was a mess. While it may have laid the groundwork for later games, the whole thing was a clunky, confusing game that was a little too ambitious for its own good. There were lots of ideas that may have sounded good on paper but fell victim to poor execution and the limitations of the era in which it was made. Many fans considerFar Cry 2the low point of the series with good reason. Even later games poked fun at its shortcomings, especially the Malaria.
But the setting itself was not necessarily a bad idea.Far Cry 2was set in an unnamed war-torn African country, known as the “UAC,” with the player being one of several mercenaries caught in the middle of a blood feud between warmongering factions. Thiscould actually be the setup for something interesting, especially if the developers took advantage of advancements in game development, the evolution of laterFar Crygames and changing social standards sinceFar Cry 2’s 2008 release.
Of course, revisiting the UAC would probably require more than simply remakingFar Cry 2. It would probably require a new story and characters, but that would leave room to develop something more in line with the style of laterFar Crygames- big open world that can be explored freely. There would probably need to be more depth given to the warring factions and the country’s history, but this could be to its advantage. The developers could even do some research into actual African wars as a point of reference, and maybe do more to develop the people involved. And of course, maybe skip the malaria.
5Australia
Far Cryhas had a variety of settings spanning multiple continents. The series so far has included North America (5and6), Asia (4), Africa (2), and Europe (Primal). That still leaves a few parts of the world mostly untouched. One Continent that has not been explored in much detail is Australia, the “land down under” that could offer some interesting opportunities. The theme of surviving in a hostile environment would certainly be applicable here. Players would have to deal with large venemous spiders and snakes, and of course the series is no stranger to run-ins with crocodiles.
For an added bit of fun, the developers could take advantage of some of Australia’s local wildlife to produce some more unusual animal companions. One idea might be a cassowary (a bird notorious for its extremely aggressive behaviour), or perhaps a large snake to use on unsuspecting enemies, or maybe a surprisingly aggressive little penguin.
4Canada
Far Cry 5made a slightly unusual decision for the series by picking a setting that was (for many players) a bit closer to home- the United States. If the U.S. can work as a setting for aFar Crygame, why not Canada? They already had a Canadian businessman, Sean McKay, as a major antagonist inFar Cry 6, and there are lots of different environments to choose from. There would probably be a very different experience depending on whether the game took place on the Eastern seaboard, the Arctic, the prairies, or the rocky mountains. Maybe they could even get a Canadian celebritiy to appear as themselveslike Danny Trejo did in6.
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For added fun, the game could also include some Canadian-themed animal companions to aid the player depending on the chosen setting. In an arctic setting, for example, the player could have access to a polar bear and walrus. In a more temperate setting perhaps there could be a moose, a loon, or a beaver.
3Eastern Europe
Surprisingly, very little has been done with Europe in theFar Cryseries. There have been games set in Africa (2), North America (5and6), and Asia (4). But so far the only instance of Europe being a primary setting isPrimal, which is stated to take place in the “Oros Valley” in an unspecified part of the continent. This is curious considering Europe has a pretty good range of scenic locations that would not be too out of place in aFar Crygame, but if the developers wanted to ramp up the sense of isolation that comes with theFar Cryexperience they could look into an Eastern European setting with several countries to choose from. Ukraine, Romania, Belarus, or even Russia, or they could make their own Eastern European country that draws on all of these.
TheFar Cryseries has introduced players to a variety of settings, but it has almost always used warm environments. Both3and6take place on tropical islands, while4and5are primarily set in temperate settings. There have been a few exceptions.Far Cry 4had levels set in the Himalayas, andPrimalmade a plot point out of the player needing winter clothing to travel north. But these are small parts of the game, and not the main setting. Certainlyan Arctic settingwould still fit with the recurring theme of surviving in an isolated hostile environment.
2Ireland
TheFar Cryseries has always loved its scenic locations, and Ireland has no shortage of them, but it also has some complicated political history that could be a good inspiration for the main conflict. More specifically, there is a long history of internal strife related to an organization called the Irish Republican Army (IRA), originally formed with the goal of independence from Britain but later splintered into two conflicting sub-factions.
The IRA has continued to exist in various forms over the years, sometimes getting splintered into even more radical and militaristic subgroups. This wouldmake a very good antagonist for the series, with the constant fighting and infighting among them being very much in line with the series' themes of violence as a cycle.
1Oros
The spin-offFar Cry Primalthrew players into a prehistoric world, adapting a lot of typicalFar Crygameplay to accommodate resource gathering and reliance on clubs, spears, and bows instead of guns. It was a fun experiment in trying something different. The game took place in the “Oros Valley” located somewhere in Europe, during the Mesolithic era. Players got to experience the life of a caveman in a hostile world, who slowly develops his survival skills and builds up a tribe. It was a harsh game that played up the hunting mechanics of previous titles and left a lot of moral uncertainty about the players' actions. By the end it was hard to tell if their tribe is really any better than the two they’re fighting.
While there do not appear to be plans forFar Cry Primal 2, it would be interesting to see Oros revisited in a modern setting. Aside from finally finding out its location, there would be the fun of finding subtle ways to tie the two games together. But it could also explore the much broader question of whether anything has really changed since the Stone Age. The game could experiment with drawing parallels between the Stone Age and present day, or even a story that alternates between them. It would certainly fit with the series' themes of violence as an unbreakable cycle.
Far Cry 6is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
