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15 Video Games Similar to Far Cry 4

15 Video Games Similar to Far Cry 4

Far Cry 4 released on November 18, 2014, and is currently available to play on Microsoft Windows, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. It has a Mature (M) rating from the ESRB, which means it’s intended for audiences of 17 ages and up. Graphic content includes blood, intense violence, nudity, sexual themes, strong language, and use of drugs.

At its heart, Far Cry 4 is an open-world first-person shooter. Featuring a large world to explore with many areas to discover, enemies to engage, several weapons, and lots of collectibles, the sandbox nature of the game sometimes feels like it has almost too much to do. But that’s what’s great about these kinds of games.

Here are some other games similar to Far Cry 4, so if you enjoyed it, you will probably enjoy these games, also.

1. Horizon Zero Dawn

A man playing Horizon Zero Dawn with his console unit.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world where most of humanity is gone, the remaining humans live on in small settlements around the world, occasionally plagued by rogue machines that resemble animals. You play as Aloy, a hunter from the Nora tribe, as she sets out into the world to discover her past, learn about where the machines come from, and exact revenge on people who killed her tribemates.

Similarity to Far Cry 4: Large, open world with many collectibles to find and enemies to fight.

Difference from Far Cry 4: Third-person as opposed to first-person, and a bit more emphasis on exploration.

Cost: $20 (Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition)

2. Grand Theft Auto V

A man playing Grand Theft Auto V on his gaming console.

Grand Theft Auto V is one of those games that has stood the test of time. With several side missions, three characters to play as, the world is your oyster in this game.

Similarity to Far Cry 4: Sandbox environment with tons of vehicles to use

Difference from Far Cry 4: Three different, distinct characters to play as, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

Cost: $20

3. Fallout 4

This is a close look at the Fallout 4 logo magnified from its website.

Another post-apocalyptic game, but this time, we know the cause; nuclear war. Venturing out into the world hundreds of years after nuclear fallout has claimed the land, you search for a way to survive while also looking for your son who was kidnapped a time after the bombs fell, and you were put in cryogenic stasis.

From mutants to bandits, and wayward robots to zombies, the enemies and allies you will encounter on your way are as numerous as they are eccentric, sometimes shooting at you just for looking at them the wrong way.

Similarity to Far Cry 4: First-person shooting gameplay. Though third-person is also an option, it appears that first-person is how it was meant to be played.

Difference from Far Cry 4: Retro-futuristic themes aplenty, and many more weapons are available.

Cost: $30

4. Borderlands 3

This is a close look at the Borderlands 3 logo on a smartphone.

Borderlands currently has 4 games on its roster; Borderlands, Borderlands 2, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, and Borderlands 3. It’s a first-person shooter series rife with violence, humor, challenge, and billions of guns (yes, billions).

Using a procedurally-generated algorithm to create guns on the fly, you will almost never find the same gun twice (outside of special, unique weapons which are gained as rewards for completing missions). The variety in the weapons is staggering, and you can hold a healthy amount of them at any given time to tailor to your current situation.

The games also feature at least 4 separate characters in each game (some have more) that have their own specialties and skills that can be upgraded as you gain experience and level up.

Similarity to Far Cry 4: Fast, frantic first-person shooting.

Difference from Far Cry 4: More RPG elements, creating a unique first-person shooter/RPG hybrid.

Cost: $60 (Borderlands 3)

5. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

This is a close look at the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild game for Nintendo Switch.

This is not nearly as violent as Far Cry is, but it’s still got a large world to explore and many secrets to uncover. You play as Link, a hero who has just woken up from a long sleep, and your task is to take down the mighty Calamity Gannon after receiving aid from other heroes throughout the land.

The latest in a long line of adventure games, Breath of the Wild breaks free of its previous iterations and gives you the most freedom of any of its predecessors. Featuring a new weapon and armor system, detailed maps, and even cooking, the content is this game is staggering.

There is also great freedom in how you choose to play the game. You are expected to go to four corners of the map and navigate through giant mechanical beasts and take their powers to help you fight against Gannon, but you have the option to challenge him at almost any point after the first part of the game.

The adventurous aspect of this game can be said to be much greater than Far Cry’s, but they each have something to deliver.

Similarity to Far Cry 4: Open-world exploration and combat.

Difference from Far Cry 4: Weapon and armor system, third-person platforming, and adventuring instead of first-person shooting.

Cost: $60

6. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

This is a magnified view of the website for Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls.

Moving from realistic warfare, Skyrim gives us a fantasy-based experience with a similarly large, open world to explore. You have your choice of weapons from swords, maces, clubs, and bows, and an even greater selection of magick to use, including fire, ice, mysticism, and more.

With heavy RPG elements, Skyrim eschews the normal cliché of picking a character class, and instead just throws you out into the world to play how you want, and you decide which skills and abilities you want to increase based on your play style. You can focus on melee weapons and stealth so your enemies never see you, or you can go all-out magic and rain destruction on them before they know what hit them.

Similarity to Far Cry 4: First-person shooting with the option of third-person, vast regions to explore.

Difference from Far Cry 4: Entirely different setting, fantasy, and dragons as opposed to foreign war lands.

Cost: $60 (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition)

7. Rise of the Tomb Raider

This is a close look at the Rise of the Tomb Raider game for the Xbox One.

In a reboot of the classic series featuring Lara Croft, Rise of the Tomb Raider brings the game back to the modern age with a new Lara and a new style. Still featuring the great puzzles and story from previous games, the general feel of the game is now much more balanced and enjoyable to play.

With a new open world to explore with hidden secrets and collectibles, Rise of the Tomb Raider takes Lara to new locations with new puzzles, new enemies, and new gameplay mechanics.

Similarity to Far Cry 4: Open world with enemies to defeat.

Difference from Far Cry 4: Third-person adventuring (with shooting elements) instead of first-person shooting.

Cost: $10

8. Just Cause 3

This is a close look at the Just Cause 3 game for the PS4.

Featuring a staggering amount of weapons and means to destroy your targets, you might be forgiven if you thought that this game is actually Far Cry 4. Besides the perspective, the games are quite similar, though props must be given to Just Case 3 for its over-the-top action and explosions, not to mention the jumping from airplanes and gliding around with a wingsuit.

All that to say that this is another pumped-up open-world game with tons of content and places to explore, with your main goal being to pretty much blow everything up.

Similarity to Far Cry 4: Action/adventure with lots of guns, with the aim being taking down a totalitarian government.

Difference from Far Cry 4: Third-person nature makes things a lot more hectic and over the top.

Cost: $20

9. Crackdown

This is a close look at the Crackdown 3 game for the Xbox One.

While there have three Crackdown games in the series, the first one seems to have gotten everything right the first time. Playing as a supercop in a corrupt city ravaged by gangs, your goal is to become powerful enough to get rid of the kingpins terrorizing the city.

Your character has great strength, agility, and weapon prowess to start with, and as you progress through the game, your abilities increase simply by using them. You can also find orbs around the city which will also increase your abilities. Eventually, you can literally jump over buildings and throw trucks at your enemies.

Similarity to Far Cry 4: Hectic combat in an open-world environment.

Difference from Far Cry 4: Much more chaotic with running, jumping, driving, shooting, and figuring out interesting ways to dispatch your enemies.

Cost: Free with Xbox Live Gold Membership

10. Bulletstorm

This is without a doubt the craziest first-person shooter game you will ever play. This game gives you the tools to kill your enemies in spectacular and innovative ways and will reward you for how creatively you do it.

See a metal spike behind your enemy? Kick him into it. See a cliff just beyond him? Shoot him in the balls and kick him off. Drop a piece of wreckage on them. Lasso them into a pit. The options are almost endless.

Although it does not feature an open world like Far Cry, the combat is similar enough, as long as you don’t mind the game not really taking itself too seriously.

Similarity to Far Cry 4: First-person combat.

Difference from Far Cry 4: Linear story, no open world

Cost: $40 (Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition)

11. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Going back to a realistic game, the Call of Duty series has always featured solid gameplay based on war. A touchy subject for some, yes, but the games are fun enough without really having to think about the consequences.

Similarity to Far Cry 4: First-person shooting.

Difference from Far Cry 4: Level-based gameplay, no open world.

Cost: $20

12. Dead Island

If you like shooting and killing zombies, then this is the game for you. As the name implies, Dead Island sees you stranded on an island fighting for survival against an army of the dead. With other survivors there to help, you need to escape the island with all your limbs intact, lest you get infected yourself and get doomed to wandering aimlessly around the island.

Similarity to Far Cry 4: First-person perspective

Difference from Far Cry 4: Enemies are zombies, not soldiers.

Cost: $20 (Dead Island: Definitive Edition)

13. Fallout: New Vegas

Coming out before Fallout 4, New Vegas takes place, naturally, in Las Vegas, Nevada and the surrounding Mojave desert. A few gameplay differences exist between this game and Fallout 4, mainly being this is a bit slower-paced, but still just as fun.

You play as a courier, with a package to deliver, only to get shot in the head and your package stolen. Inexplicably surviving, you are nursed back to health and set off to find your assassin while exploring the post-apocalyptic state of California with the option to align with one of a few different factions that have popped up.

There is the New California Republic, which is essentially the American government trying to rebuild itself. There’s Cesar’s Legion, a group of slavers that are formidable enough in combat that most people run screaming in sight of them. And there’s also Mr. House, an independent, wealthy man who claims to want nothing but the best for all those in Vegas.

Similarity to Far Cry 4: Open world, lots of locations to explore, and tons of lore.

Difference from Far Cry 4: Slower-paced, not as hectic or crazy.

Cost: $10

14. Fallout 3

I know what you’re thinking, “Another Fallout game?”

But, yes. Fallout 3 was the game that started the revival of the Fallout series, and it deserves recognition. As the first in the reboot of the post-apocalypse series, Fallout 3 sees you playing as the Lone Wanderer, a survivor of Vault 101 after an accident that boots you from the vault.

Having lived in the vault your whole life, you must now journey out into the wasteland to survive and search for your father, who had his own mission of purifying the irradiated water of the wasteland to prevent more people from getting sick and stop mutants from springing up all over the place.

Similarity to Far Cry 4: First-person shooting (with the option of third-person, but again, first-person seems to be the way to play)

Difference from Far Cry 4: More emphasis on lore, strategy, and exploration.

Cost: $20 (Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition)

15. Watch Dogs

This is a close look at the Watchdogs game for the PS4.

Watch Dogs is an interesting game that puts you right into the shoes of a hacker. Not just an ordinary hacker, though. You’ve got a handheld PDA that can hack pretty much any electronic or electric device around the city, be it ATM machines, traffic lights, even motor vehicles like cars and motorcycles.

With this much freedom, it’s hard to get bored of this game. Cause some mayhem, run from the cops, and trigger a bridge to raise as they chase you, causing them to plunge into the water. Or raise some traffic bollards causing a nice chaotic crash. Turn all the traffic lights green and watch all the motorists crash and blame each other.

The amount of fun you can have in this game is limited only by your creativity.

Similarity to Far Cry 4: Open world, lots of things to do.

Difference from Far Cry 4: Urban setting, third-person, more futuristic/contemporary.

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