Far Cry 5 stands out as an open-world first-person shooter in the action-adventure genre, set in the fictional Hope County, Montana. Released in 2018, this title from Ubisoft pits players against a fanatical cult known as Eden's Gate, led by the antagonist Joseph Seed and his siblings. As a deputy, you work to liberate the region through resistance efforts, blending intense combat with exploration across a vast landscape filled with wildlife and hidden secrets.
Gameplay
The core gameplay revolves around first-person shooting mechanics, where you engage cult members and wildlife using a wide range of weapons, from firearms like rocket launchers to improvised tools such as shovels. Exploration plays a key role, as the open world allows free roaming in vehicles including muscle cars, ATVs, and planes. You can recruit allies known as Guns for Hire or Fangs for Hire, which include human companions and animals like the bear Cheeseburger or the dog Boomer, to assist in battles. Side quests and a branching storyline add depth, letting you tackle objectives in a non-linear fashion while building resistance against the cult's three main regions controlled by the Heralds.
Combat emphasizes strategy, with options for stealth approaches or direct assaults. Mechanics like takedowns, throwable explosives, and environmental interactions enhance fights, while hunting and fishing provide resources for crafting and upgrades. The game's world reacts to your actions, with cult forces patrolling dynamically and outposts that can be liberated to reduce enemy presence.
Game Modes
Far Cry 5 supports solo play, where you navigate the campaign alone, handling all aspects of resistance building and combat. It also features a two-player co-op mode, allowing a friend to join your session for shared exploration and battles across the entire open world. There are no dedicated competitive multiplayer modes; the focus remains on cooperative and single-player experiences.
Factions and Mechanics
The primary faction is the Eden's Gate cult, divided under Joseph Seed and his siblings: John, Jacob, and Faith, each controlling a region with unique challenges. Mechanics include a resistance meter that tracks progress in liberating areas, unlocking new story elements as you weaken the cult's hold. Perks and skill trees let you customize your character, improving abilities in combat, survival, and stealth.
Wildlife interactions form another mechanic, with animals that can be tamed or fought, adding unpredictability to encounters. The game includes arcade mode for custom map creation, though it's separate from the main campaign.
Is It Worth Playing?
Player reception highlights strong gameplay, with IGN noting it as fast-paced fun, and Metacritic aggregating critic scores around 81 out of 100 based on reviews from 2018. User opinions vary, with some praising the open-world freedom and co-op elements, while others critique the story as less compelling. As of 2026, the game receives no ongoing updates or seasons, but it remains available for purchase and play on PC.
If you enjoy open-world FPS titles with cooperative play and a focus on exploration and combat against human and animal foes, Far Cry 5 offers solid value, especially at discounted prices. It's suited for those seeking a self-contained adventure without needing live service commitments, though it may feel dated compared to newer entries in the series.
