Avery K. Tingle, The Gamer Author

We really don’t talk enough about Far Cry 5.

I’m not talking about its abhorrent forced progression or lackluster hunting. I’m talking about its narrative. 

Ubisoft’s flagship Rambo fantasy took a chance with its fifth incarnation. It traditionally placed the player character in some exotic, far-off location where they transformed from a nobody into an invincible killing machine. Instead of placing you in some third-world country, Far Cry 5 put you right in the middle of small-town America.

If you’re not familiar, Hope County, Montana is your traditional (and well-represented) rural community that has been overtaken by the Seeds. This family and their army of psychotic doomsday peppers known as Peggies (Project At Eden’s Gate) kidnap or kill members of the community in preparation for the biblical end of the world. You enter the game as a deputy assigned to bring in the head of the Seed family, Joseph. Cult members are not known for letting their leaders be taken in by the authority and, well, you can guess what happens.

The game was meant to be polarizing they overachieved. Much like Naughty Dog’s “The Last of Us 2”, Far Cry 5 is a forced dose in empathy that’s both expertly written and well-executed. For a lot of us, the game struck a personal level. As a progressive Christian, I love nothing more than virtually arguing with Christian nationalists with high-velocity rounds to the face. Patriarch Joseph is a plausible and charismatic antagonist.  As monstrous as his family is, they are all victims. Like a lot of us who deal with trauma, they took hold of the first positive show of strength that was offered and became their tormentors. You may hate them because some small part of you might identify with them, and man, that makes you hate them even more. Still, you feel it when Joseph eulogizes his siblings after you put them in the ground.

The game is also tactfully political. You will hear the term ‘libtard’ thrown around in some parts of Hope County. It’s fitting considering the environment. One of the villains will try to justify his actions in the end by telling you to look who’s in charge, a subtle dig at the outgoing President. This game was meant to get you to think, and piss people off. It’s the only Far Cry to produce a direct sequel, and it’s rare for an interactive narrative to get so much right in its first attempt.

Depending on your playthrough, you are faced with the ultimate uncomfortable reality; what if they’re right? The first time I saw that ending, I didn’t sleep right for a week.

Far Cry 6 promises a return to the faraway land but before we get there, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the success of its predecessor. It was the game we needed at the right time. It’s available for cheap and if you haven’t picked it up, you should. 

Far Cry 5 is available for Playstation 4, XBox One, and PC for dirt cheap. Hope you enjoyed this post. Go check out my Far Cry 5 fanfic “When The Morning Light Shines In” and connect with me on social media!