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Far Cry 3

It's the best game of the year, if not the generation.
Far Cry 3 Game Cover
87%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
optimization, stability
85% User Score Based on 43,609 reviews
Critic Score 91%Based on 8 reviews

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Far Cry 3 Game Cover

About

Far Cry 3 is a single player and multiplayer open world shooter game. It was developed by Ubisoft Montreal, Massive Entertainment, and Ubisoft Shanghai and was released on November 28, 2012. It received very positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

In Far Cry 3, players are stranded on a tropical island and must navigate through hostile terrain and enemies to save their friends. The game features a rich open world with diverse environments, including jungles, beaches, and ruined cities. Players can choose their approach to missions, using stealth, violence, or a mix of both, with a variety of weapons and skills at their disposal. The story explores themes of insanity, power, and survival.

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Far Cry 3 screenshot
Far Cry 3 screenshot
Far Cry 3 screenshot
Far Cry 3 screenshot
Far Cry 3 screenshot
Far Cry 3 screenshot
Far Cry 3 screenshot
Far Cry 3 screenshot
Far Cry 3 screenshot
Far Cry 3 screenshot
Far Cry 3 screenshot
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85%
Audience ScoreBased on 43,609 reviews
story6.7k positive mentions
optimization202 negative mentions
  • The music in Far Cry 3 is immersive and dynamic, enhancing the game's atmosphere and emotional moments.
  • The story is engaging, with a compelling character arc for Jason Brody, exploring themes of insanity and survival.
  • The gameplay offers a mix of stealth, action, and exploration, allowing players to approach missions in various ways.
  • The game suffers from poor optimization on modern hardware, leading to crashes and performance issues.
  • Some players find the gameplay repetitive over time, particularly with tasks like liberating outposts and climbing radio towers.
  • The character development for side characters is lacking, and some players feel the emotional moments are not well executed.
  • story
    16,163 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Far Cry 3" is widely praised for its engaging narrative and character development, particularly the transformation of protagonist Jason Brody from a naive tourist to a hardened survivor. Players appreciate the depth of the storyline, which explores themes of insanity and survival against a backdrop of a vibrant, dangerous island, with the villain Vaas Montenegro being a standout character. However, some critiques highlight pacing issues in the latter half of the game and repetitive side missions that detract from the overall experience.

    • “The best Far Cry by far! I love the story and everything about it. Jason Brody has become one of my favorite video game characters; his story arc is so good.”
    • “The story explores the moral collapse of an ordinary man trapped on a lawless island. It’s a journey into madness that’s absolutely worth taking.”
    • “The story is captivating, with Jason Brody’s transformation from a naive tourist to a hardened survivor being a compelling journey.”
    • “The story is a mixed bag.”
    • “The story is quite short if you focus on main story only.”
    • “The story missions and character progression kept me hooked, and I actually really liked Jason’s growth from being overwhelmed at the start to becoming someone who could handle everything the island threw at him.”
  • gameplay
    5,249 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Far Cry 3" is widely praised for its engaging mechanics, offering a mix of stealth, action, and exploration that allows players to approach missions in various ways. While the game features a compelling story and memorable characters, some players note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, particularly with tasks like liberating outposts and climbing radio towers. Despite some technical issues and dated mechanics, the overall experience remains enjoyable and immersive, making it a standout title in the franchise.

    • “It has all the open world gameplay of Far Cry 2 with some added content and missions like crafting, hunting, playing poker, and racing.”
    • “The gameplay is amazing — shooting feels smooth, stealth is super satisfying, and there’s always something wild happening on the island.”
    • “The gameplay loop of stealth, combat, and freedom in how you approach situations is still strong.”
    • “However, today it feels a bit outdated: the gameplay isn’t as dynamic anymore, the progression system and gunplay feel somewhat clunky, and the graphics, while still atmospheric, no longer hold up to modern standards.”
    • “The gameplay, however, is seriously outdated.”
    • “The gameplay is the same recycled Ubisoft open-world formula we've seen a dozen times since — towers, outposts, filler content, and a story that feels less meaningful now that every Ubisoft game does the same thing.”
  • graphics
    3,972 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Far Cry 3" are widely praised for their stunning visuals and vibrant environments, showcasing the game's lush tropical setting. While some players note that the graphics can feel dated compared to modern titles, many agree that they still hold up well, especially considering the game's release in 2012. However, issues such as graphical glitches and performance problems on newer hardware have been reported, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “This game still stands out as superior to many modern titles; the graphics look fantastic, the gameplay is engaging, and the story is exceptional.”
    • “The graphics remain pleasing, and the open-world design encourages exploration and freedom of choice.”
    • “The graphics are simply outstanding for a 2012 game.”
    • “However, today it feels a bit outdated: the gameplay isn’t as dynamic anymore, the progression system and gunplay feel somewhat clunky, and the graphics, while still atmospheric, no longer hold up to modern standards.”
    • “Ubisoft connect just ruins the experience; also, the graphics struggle with newer GPUs or drivers.”
    • “The graphics are below average for that time period; the world feels empty and lifeless, with little to no interactivity.”
  • music
    787 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in Far Cry 3 is widely praised for its immersive and dynamic soundtrack, which effectively enhances the game's atmosphere and emotional moments. Many players highlight specific tracks, such as the iconic "Make It Bun Dem" by Skrillex, that accompany memorable missions, creating a unique blend of adrenaline and nostalgia. However, some critiques mention that the licensed music choices can feel out of place, and the lack of individual volume controls can detract from the overall experience.

    • “Outstanding soundtrack that matches the island’s chaos and creeping insanity.”
    • “The soundtrack ranges from tribal drums to drug-fueled beats, always enhancing the experience.”
    • “The soundtrack is superb, particularly during the mission to burn the plantations.”
    • “The soundtrack is mediocre and the licensed tracks are bizarre choices.”
    • “The music can be eclectic and at the same time intense with the tempo.”
    • “The music didn't fit with anything I was doing at any time.”
  • optimization
    699 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of Far Cry 3 has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance on modern hardware, including frequent crashes, stuttering, and low frame rates even on high-end systems. While some users have found workarounds to improve performance, such as adjusting CPU affinity or using DirectX 9, the overall consensus is that the game is not well-optimized for contemporary PCs, making it frustrating to play despite its engaging story and memorable character performances.

    • “Runs very smoothly for me lately (seems they updated the optimization for current hardware?).”
    • “Performance-wise, most modern computers should have no issues running the game.”
    • “The essentials are there and performance issues are few to none.”
    • “How a game this old is so poorly optimized makes no sense.”
    • “However, the game does struggle with performance on modern high-end PCs, as it wasn’t designed to handle multi-core CPUs, which can lead to occasional frame rate issues.”
    • “The game is poorly optimized for modern PCs.”
  • stability
    507 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various game-breaking bugs, particularly on modern hardware. Many users have experienced significant issues with the Ubisoft launcher, which adds to the frustration, making the game nearly unplayable for some. While a few players noted that the game runs well on certain platforms like the Steam Deck, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from severe stability problems that detract from the experience.

    • “Still one of the best and runs great on Steam Deck ”
    • “It's optimized well, runs very smoothly with no glitches or crashes in sight.”
    • “Both are nicely optimized and bug free.”
    • “Great game but awful release; it does not run correctly and freezes every few seconds.”
    • “Constant crashes, Ubisoft disconnects, more crashes, loading problems, visual glitches where the whole map's floor is black, and so on.”
    • “This game crashes nonstop, freezes at loading, and refuses to run properly.”
  • humor
    435 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it both entertaining and repetitive; while some jokes and character quirks, particularly from the villain Vaas, are praised for their comedic value, others feel that certain gags become stale after multiple repetitions. The chaotic interactions with wildlife and the absurdity of various gameplay moments contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere, making for some genuinely funny experiences, despite occasional frustrations with gameplay mechanics. Overall, the humor is often described as darkly comedic, unpredictable, and integral to the game's charm, though it may not resonate with everyone.

    • “His performance alone makes the campaign worth playing, but the rest of the cast keeps things unpredictable and occasionally uncomfortably funny.”
    • “Wildlife plays a major role — tigers, komodo dragons, and sharks can ambush you at any time, leading to chaotic and hilarious moments.”
    • “The story itself is crazy and outright hilarious at times, and that is definitely part of the charm.”
    • “It failed in being like Uncharted because it's not funny or entertaining, and the trippy magic stuff didn't make any sense at all.”
    • “The pacing is so off it's not funny; by the time you think you've finished, there's still half a game left. In some games, this would be great, but here it feels like you've done everything there is to do in the game, but it wants you to do more.”
    • “Not funny and not interesting.”
  • grinding
    352 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While some find the crafting and upgrading systems rewarding, others describe them as tedious and repetitive, particularly when it comes to collecting resources and completing side quests. Overall, many players agree that while grinding can be necessary for progression, it often detracts from the enjoyment of the main story and gameplay experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “It looks beautiful, and the majority of gameplay isn't tedious.”
    • “I am glad I did not have to collect all 120 relics for the achievement, but even the 60 required is tedious.”
    • “The game is super grindy and feels like a 50+ hour fetch-quest.”
    • “The crafting makes absolutely no sense and is tedious because you need very specific skins for different wallets, ammo bags, and weapon holsters.”
  • replayability
    296 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The replayability of Far Cry 3 is a mixed bag among players. Many praise its high replay value due to open-ended gameplay, multiple approaches to missions, and the ability to reset outposts, while others criticize the lack of compelling reasons to replay the story after completion. Overall, the game offers a wealth of content and varied playstyles that can keep players engaged, but some feel it ultimately lacks significant replay incentives.

    • “Far Cry 3 has amazing replayability, which is rare these days.”
    • “The freedom to tackle objectives in various ways, whether through stealth, guns blazing, or creative tactics, adds immense replay value.”
    • “The sheer volume of content contributes to the game's high replayability.”
    • “Anemic shooting and zero replay value.”
    • “There's no real replayability other than starting a new game but there is plenty of content between start to finish to keep you busy and entertained.”
    • “The main story is great and the voice acting is top notch, but after you finish it, there's not a lot of replay value if you've done all the side missions and collected everything, because the island is basically deserted of all hostility except wildlife.”
  • atmosphere
    276 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of Far Cry 3 is widely praised for its vibrant and immersive tropical setting, characterized by lush jungles, stunning visuals, and a dynamic sound design that enhances the sense of danger and adventure. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a unique atmosphere of madness, driven by memorable characters and unpredictable encounters, which keeps them engaged throughout their exploration. Despite some criticisms regarding outdated gameplay mechanics, the overall atmosphere remains a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's enduring appeal.

    • “What makes Far Cry 3 unforgettable is the atmosphere: the sense of freedom, the danger lurking in every corner, and Vaas’s chilling definition of insanity.”
    • “The atmosphere keeps you hooked, whether you’re stealthily clearing out an outpost or just exploring the jungle.”
    • “The game’s stunning visuals and immersive sound design bring the island to life, creating an atmosphere of danger and excitement that keeps players engaged and on edge.”
    • “The atmosphere, the freedom, the tension—everything just hits right.”
    • “The island’s atmosphere is alive, with the sounds of wildlife, the rustling of trees, and the eerie calm of the night adding layers to the experience.”
    • “The game's stunning visuals and immersive sound design bring the island to life, creating an atmosphere of danger and excitement that keeps players engaged and on edge.”
  • character development
    224 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in Far Cry 3 is widely praised for its depth and execution, particularly the transformation of the protagonist, Jason Brody, from a naive college student to a ruthless warrior. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create memorable characters and engaging story arcs, although some note that side characters lack the same level of development. Overall, the character development is considered one of the standout features of the game, contributing significantly to its narrative impact and player immersion.

    • “The character development in this game is astonishing.”
    • “From character development to storyline, this game takes us on a ride where everything plays an important part in transforming Jason's mind.”
    • “The character development is expertly crafted, and I witnessed Jason's transformation from a naive tourist to a fearless warrior, willing to do whatever it takes to save his friends and take down the menacing pirate leader, Vaas.”
    • “Character development lacks depth: while the game features a colorful cast of characters, some players may find the character development lacking in depth.”
    • “The story is weak, the character development is predictable or non-existent for anyone other than the protagonist, and the endings are lackluster.”
    • “Jason needed a lot more character development, especially in the first quarter of the game, for his story to be sold well, and it just doesn’t happen.”
  • emotional
    216 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players expressing a strong connection to the protagonist's journey and the intense themes of survival, love, and sacrifice. While some found the narrative deeply engaging and capable of evoking tears, others criticized the execution of emotional moments and character development, leading to a lack of investment in the story. Overall, the game is noted for its emotional highs and lows, with memorable characters and impactful scenes that resonate with players long after they finish.

    • “The emotional depth of the story, the visuals, and the intense atmosphere create an unforgettable experience.”
    • “The emotional weight of his journey is palpable, and the characters feel real.”
    • “Far Cry 3 is a surprisingly emotional game, beginning as a quest for the hero to reinvent himself before starting to ask whether he's gone too far.”
    • “Boring storyline, 'we were on holiday and got kidnapped by the bad guy and I'm some chosen one who has to kill them and free people' cliche; you could predict this story so easily it's painful.”
    • “Unskippable cutscenes, extremely boring story sections about characters you couldn't care less about.”
    • “Boring story about spoiled teens or twentysomethings dying on an island ruled by a crazy idiot.”
  • monetization
    51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players appreciating the absence of intrusive microtransactions and ads, while others criticize Ubisoft's ongoing reliance on monetization strategies, including loot boxes and in-game purchases, which they feel detracts from the overall experience. Many users express frustration over Ubisoft's financial practices, arguing that they prioritize profit over player satisfaction, leading to a refusal to support the company until significant changes are made. Overall, the sentiment reflects a growing discontent with the normalization of monetization in premium titles, contrasting with earlier games that were free from such practices.

    • “Recently, Ubisoft stated in its financial report that microtransactions in full-price games 'make the player experience more fun' by allowing avatar customization or faster progression—and claimed these are always 'optional.'”
    • “Yves Guillemot and CFO Alain Martinez defended loot boxes by arguing players 'need to feel they are really free not to buy,' and that monetization is about quality and choice.”
    • “This game was produced during the era where Ubisoft keeps producing bangers without those monetization shenanigans (deluxe, battle pass, skins, added missions, etc).”
    • “Until leadership and overall mindset of top managers completely changes and monetization practices are reversed, I refuse to buy Ubisoft products—no DLC, no battle passes, no cosmetics.”
    • “So this is my position: I will not support Ubisoft until Yves Guillemot is removed and monetization in premium titles is abolished or radically reformed.”
    • “Far Cry New Dawn is nothing more than a shameless cash grab.”
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91%Critics’ scoreBased on 8 critic reviews
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25h Median play time
37h Average play time
16h Main story
37h Completionist
11-49h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 220 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Far Cry 3 is a open world shooter game.

Far Cry 3 is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox One, Steam Deck and others.

The main story can be completed in around 16 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 37 hours to finish. On average players spend around 37 hours playing Far Cry 3.

Far Cry 3 was released on November 28, 2012.

Far Cry 3 was developed by Ubisoft Montreal, Massive Entertainment, and Ubisoft Shanghai.

Far Cry 3 has received very positive reviews from players and very positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Far Cry 3 is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Far Cry 4, Far Cry 5, Days Gone, Far Cry 6, Assassin's Creed Origins and others.