Overview
Far Cry 5 is an open-world first-person shooter developed by Ubisoft Montreal, released on March 26, 2018. Set in the fictional Hope County, Montana, the game casts players as a sheriff's deputy sent to arrest Joseph Seed, a self-proclaimed prophet who has turned his congregation, Eden's Gate, into a heavily armed doomsday cult. The arrest goes sideways fast, and what follows is a full-scale resistance movement fought across forests, farmland, and river valleys.
The story works because Seed is genuinely unsettling. He isn't a cartoonish villain; he's calm, scripture-quoting, and utterly convinced he's saving people. His three siblings, the Heralds, control different regions of the county: Jacob handles the military arm, John handles land acquisition and psychological manipulation, and Faith manages the cult's drug-laced spiritual outreach. Each Herald has a distinct personality and their own mission chain, giving the game's structure real variety.
Gameplay and mechanics
Hope County is a large open world built for exploration and improvisation. Players can tackle the three Herald regions in almost any order, liberating outposts, rescuing hostages, and building resistance meter to trigger story missions. The core loop is satisfying: a mix of stealth, gunfights, vehicle chases, and environmental chaos.
Key features include:
- Two-player online co-op throughout the full campaign
- Fangs for Hire companions, including bear Cheeseburger and dog Boomer
- Planes, ATVs, muscle cars, and boats as driveable vehicles
- Weapons ranging from rocket launchers to a shovel
- A customizable Guns for Hire roster of human allies
The Fangs for Hire system stands out. Boomer the dog tags enemies automatically. Cheeseburger the bear charges into firefights and draws attention away from the player. Peaches the cougar stalks targets silently. These companions aren't just gimmicks; they change how you approach encounters.
World and setting
Hope County is one of the more grounded Far Cry settings. No tropical islands or Himalayan peaks here; instead, you get amber wheat fields, dense pine forests, small-town diners, and rusted-out barns. The American rural aesthetic is consistent and well-executed. The cult's presence is woven into every corner of the map through propaganda signs, branded vehicles, and patrolling true believers.
The narrative draws on real anxieties about isolation, coercion, and faith weaponized for control. It doesn't always land its thematic ambitions cleanly, but the atmosphere is strong throughout, and the supporting cast of resistance members, including bartender Mary May, pilot Nick Rye, and Pastor Jerome, gives the world texture beyond the main villain.
Multiplayer and co-op
Far Cry 5 supports two-player co-op across the entire open world, which is one of its most appealing features for returning players. The second player joins as a deputy and shares mission progress up to certain story triggers. Outpost liberation, side missions, and general mayhem are all available in co-op, making the game considerably more entertaining with a friend.
The game also includes the Far Cry Arcade, a community map editor that lets players build and share custom levels. The Arcade covers solo, co-op, and competitive multiplayer modes, extending the game's lifespan well beyond the main campaign.
System Requirements
Content and replayability
Beyond the main campaign, Far Cry 5 has three DLC episodes included in the Season Pass: Hours of Darkness (Vietnam war setting), Dead Living Zombies (zombie survival), and Lost on Mars (sci-fi). Each runs two to four hours and offers a tonal shift from the main game. They're lightweight but enjoyable detours. The Gold Edition bundles all of this with the base game, making it the most complete version for new players. Joseph Seed also reappears in Far Cry New Dawn and receives dedicated DLC in Far Cry 6, so the character has genuine continuity across the series for players who want to follow the story further.