If you‘re wondering how long is Far Cry 6 free to play in 2023, I‘ve got you covered. Ubisoft is offering a 4-day free trial from February 16 to February 20 on PlayStation, Xbox and PC. This gives you full access to see if the chaotic open-world shooter is for you.
As a long-time fan of Far Cry, I‘ll provide expert tips to maximize your experience during the free weekend. I‘ll also compare Far Cry 6 to past games and detail what new content is on the horizon. Let‘s dive in!
Far Cry 6 Free Trial FAQ
Before getting into the details, here‘s a quick FAQ on the basics:
How long is the free trial?
- 4 days, from February 16 to 20, 2023
What platforms is it on?
- PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
What content is included?
- The full base game and all DLC released so far
What carries over if I buy the game?
- All progression and unlocks carry over after the free weekend
Can I play co-op during the trial?
- Yes, co-op is fully enabled
Is there always a free trial available?
- Yes, there is a permanent free trial with about 5 hours of content
Do I need a subscription?
- No subscriptions required, just download and play
Hopefully that covers the basic need-to-know details! Now let‘s get into the meaty info…
What Defines the Far Cry Series?
For those new to the franchise, Far Cry pioneered the sandbox-style open world shooter back in 2004. Since then, the series has been defined by:
-
Massive open world environments – Miles of terrain with forests, outposts, roads and diverse biomes
-
Vehicles for land, air and sea – Cars, boats, planes and more to traverse the world
-
Wide range of weapons and tools – From guns and bows to flamethrowers and grenade launchers
-
Stealth and action – Choose stealthy takedowns or all-out action assaults
-
Memorable villains and stories – Face off against tyrants and their idiosyncratic henchmen
-
Wildlife ecosystems – Hunt and battle wildlife from bears to sharks across habitats
Far Cry 6 inherits this addicting formula while bringing the tropical island country of Yara to life. Now let‘s look at what‘s new…
Exploring the Open World Island of Yara
Far Cry 6‘s fictional setting of Yara draws inspiration from real-world Cuba and wider Caribbean culture. When dictator Antón Castillo begins violently oppressing the people to fulfill his vision for the nation, you join the revolution to take him down.
Yara is made up of several diverse regions including:
- Madrugada – Lush and mountainous with winding roads
- Valle de Oro – A dry region of canyons and red rocks
- Esperanza – The capital city under Castillo‘s watchful eye
And more beyond, like tropical islands and industrial zones. Vehicles will help you cover ground fast everything from military jeeps to weaponized horsed to aeroplanes.
Ubisoft says this is their most ambitious open world in the series yet. During the free weekend, try to uncover as many of Yara‘s secrets as you can!
Who Are You Fighting Against?
The big bad this time around is Antón Castillo, voiced by Breaking Bad‘s Giancarlo Esposito. He aims to restore Yara‘s glory through fascism and oppression.
Helping enforce his rule are the "FND" troops, an armed militia who will hunt you relentlessly. To learn more about their capabilities, be sure to check out the FND training camp in Madrugada – just watch out for snipers!
As you weaken Castillo‘s control, his unhinged and violent son Diego may also come for revenge. And beware the fearsome crocodiles in the swamps!
Customize Your Playstyle for Stealth, Combat and Exploration
A major part of the fun in Far Cry is customizing your experience through skills, gear and weapons. Will you take the stealthy hacker approach or go loud with heavy guns? It‘s up to you.
The new Supremo backpack provides an ultimate ability for when things get hairy. You also have Amigos like Chorizo the wiener dog to back you up. And Yaran vehicles like muscle cars make traversal a blast.
During the free trial, test out different playstyles to see what‘s most fun for you. Chaining stealth takedowns or initiating an explosive ambush – either way it‘s a rush!
What Critics Are Saying About Far Cry 6
Now that we‘ve covered the setting and gameplay, what are critics saying about the overall experience?
Far Cry 6 has an 81 average on Metacritic and OpenCritic across PS5, Xbox and PC. Press and gamers praise the huge open world and progression systems, while noting it doesn‘t massively innovate the franchise.
IGN (8/10) says it "maintains the high bar set by its predecessors with varied biomes and big battles." However they found the story wraps up too neatly.
Game Informer (8.5/10) calls it "another wide-open playground with charismatic villains" but wanted more surprises and memorable missions.
Overall, critics say it‘s an excellent sandbox shooter that fans will enjoy. Though it doesn‘t take bold risks, the warm tropical setting and chaotic action shine.
How Long Does It Take to Beat? Player Statistics Revealed
Immersing yourself in Far Cry 6‘s world means a healthy time commitment. According to Ubisoft, the average completion time is:
- Story: 22 hours
- Main + Extra: 45 hours
- Completionist: 69 hours
The huge map means those hours will fly by fast as you get into the rhythms of exploration, combat and progression.
For 100% full completion including all challenges and secrets, HowLongToBeat reports an average time of 58 hours based on gamer data.
So if you focus just on the critical path during the free trial, you should be able to complete around a quarter of the main story. That‘s still dozens of hours of content!
Post-Launch DLC & Future Plans
Ubisoft has provided steady post-launch support with expansions like the Rambo and Stranger Things crossover content.
In 2023, the roadmap includes the Danny Trejo "Daní‘s Secret" DLC adding a new mission and island. A paid expansion called "Lost Between Worlds" will dive deeper into one character‘s backstory.
Rumors also suggest a Far Cry 7 is already in very early development at Ubisoft, though official details are slim.
For now, experience everything Yara has to offer during the free trial and see if you enjoy the classic Far Cry formula!
Tips for New Players Jumping In
If you‘re new to Far Cry, here are some tips to make the most of your first 4 days:
-
Explore liberally – Don‘t just follow objectives – wander off the beaten path
-
Use your phone camera – Tag enemies and points of interest to track them
-
Get aerial – Planes and helicopters provide amazing views
-
Try different Amigos – Experiment with Chorizo, Guapo and more
-
Conquer camps – Clearing FND and anti-aircraft sites unlocks perks
-
Save often – Use manual saves frequently in case you get in a tight spot
-
Talk to locals – They offer history, lore and side activities
-
Collect gear – New weapons and Supremos expand your options
Most importantly, embrace the freedom to approach objectives how you want. Go loud or quiet, stealthy or aggressive – the choice is yours, guerrilla!
How Does It Compare to Other Open World Games?
Far Cry 6 enters a competitive field of huge open world action games. How does it stack up to other hits like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Assassin‘s Creed?
Compared to Red Dead Redemption 2, Far Cry provides more immediate action and faster pacing. While RDR2 has better storytelling and realism, Far Cry 6 wins on variety of weapons and tools. Both let you truly lose yourself in their worlds.
Against Assassin‘s Creed entries like Valhalla, Far Cry 6 offers a more condensed, chaotic experience. You won‘t find urban parks or historically accurate cities – instead it‘s all about guerrilla warfare in a tropical paradise.
For fans of either franchise, Far Cry 6 is worth trying for its FPS action and activities like flying planes or driving tanks. It differentiates itself while keeping Ubisoft‘s open world formula intact.
Final Verdict: Enjoy This Paradise Gone Wrong
In the world of first-person open world games, the Far Cry series stands tall. And based on critics‘ reviews and player data, Far Cry 6 succeeds at delivering another huge tropical playground filled with charismatic villains, diverse biomes, and exciting gameplay freedom.
While it doesn‘t revolutionize the franchise‘s core formula, improvements have been made over previous installments. The new setting of Yara is a delight to explore with distinct regions and communities.
So during its 4-day free trial from February 16 to 20, I highly recommend giving it a shot if you enjoy exploring and fighting through beautiful but chaotic worlds. Customize your own guerrilla and experience the stories Yara has to tell.
With an average completion time over 50 hours, this free sample should give you a great taste. Then you can decide if you want to join the revolution long-term when you have to purchase the full game.
Yara won‘t free itself. I‘ll see you out there, guerrilla!
Source: Security Feed