The Ultimate Guide: Far Cry 7's Villain Unleashes the Best of Each Game!

Highlights

Far Cry 7 could have its most formidable antagonist yet by building on the best parts of past villains, challenging players with difficult choices.

Taking cues from Pagan Min's enigmatic connection with the main character could serve as a possible avenue for exploration in Far Cry 7. It would be advantageous for the game to encapsulate the moral ambiguity exhibited by its antagonist, drawing inspiration from the notable adversaries in Far Cry Primal and their moral ambivalence.

Far Cry 7, being one of Ubisoft's major franchises and with leaks indicating the development of its next game, faces the challenge of creating an iconic antagonist that can live up to the series' past villains. Vaas Montenegro, the standout villain from Far Cry 3, set a high standard for future games, with Pagan Min and Joseph Seed continuing the tradition of prominent antagonists in the Far Cry series. Giancarlo Esposito's portrayal of Anton Castillo in Far Cry 6 raised the bar even further.

Throughout the Far Cry games, including those predating Far Cry 3, each respective villain has aimed to be distinct, whether it be Vaas' memorable madness or Pagan Min's charismatic ruthlessness. Although leaked details about Far Cry 7 allude to Ubisoft already having outlined the game's antagonists, little is known about the figurehead. By drawing inspiration from past villains and incorporating their best qualities, Far Cry 7's villain has the potential to become the most formidable antagonist in the series.

Far Cry's George Krieger

Far Cry 2's The Jackal

In recent years, the Far Cry series has witnessed a shift towards more grounded storytelling, leaving George Krieger as a less prominent sci-fi character. This shift is evident in games like Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon and Far Cry New Dawn, where Krieger's presence is no longer an outlier.

While it is expected that Far Cry 7 will align itself more closely with the mainline games rather than these spin-offs, leaked information about the potential antagonists, the "Sons of Truth," suggests that Krieger could serve as an inspiration for a new villain.

Similar to Far Cry 5, which delved into various socio-political issues such as white nationalism, Far Cry 7 has the potential to explore and sensationalize sci-fi elements, possibly incorporating a transhumanist angle, much like Krieger's character.

In an interesting contrast to Krieger, The Jackal from Far Cry 2 aligns more closely with the realistic future antagonists of Far Cry. What made The Jackal particularly captivating was his morally ambiguous nature, as he cunningly supplied weapons to both sides of the game's civil conflict. His ultimate goal was to create chaos, ensuring that neither faction would harm innocent civilians. Similarly, the villain in Far Cry 7 could embody the same uncertainty between right and wrong, presenting players with a complex character who challenges them through challenging in-game choices.

Far Cry 3's Vaas Montenegro and Hoyt Volkner

Arguably, a valuable lesson to learn from the villains Vaas and Hoyt in Far Cry 3 is to avoid complicating matters with an excess of characters, especially when Michael Mando's portrayal of Vaas was the game's standout feature. Additionally, the unhinged brutality and unpredictability exhibited by Vaas and Hoyt likely shielded Far Cry 3 from receiving harsher criticism regarding its cliched and problematic elements. Consequently, these lessons should guide the development of Far Cry 7, placing a strong emphasis on its antagonist, storyline, concepts, and how the overall game can effectively showcase these aspects.

Far Cry 4's Pagan Min

Driven by Vaas' immense popularity, Far Cry 4 initiated the series' trend of integrating each villain as an integral element of the game's identity, which it brilliantly accomplished through Pagan Min. Portrayed by the talented Troy Baker, who had recently earned acclaim for his role in The Last of Us, Pagan Min possesses the same psychopathic villainy as Vaas. Fused with the captivating narrative of Far Cry 4, Pagan Min emerges as a character marked by a blend of heartless tenacity and captivating charm. Additionally, the enigmatic connection with the game's protagonist adds a layer of intrigue, reminiscent of what Far Cry 7 might potentially explore if the rumored storyline of rescuing the player's abducted family proves to be true.

Far Cry Primal's Ull and Batari

Despite the presence of two villains in Far Cry 3, Far Cry Primal distinguished itself by placing greater emphasis on its unique setting rather than its antagonists. However, among Batari and Ull, it is Ull who stands out as the more memorable villain due to his embodiment of the moral ambiguity that previous antagonists have displayed. Despite his cannibalistic warmongering ways, Ull possesses a compassionate side that compels him to strive to save people from the devastating "skull fire" disease. In his dying moments, he even implores the game's protagonists to care for his child. Therefore, it is important for Far Cry 7 to strive for a similar portrayal of moral uncertainty in its own villain.

Far Cry 5's Joseph Seed

Joseph Seed, one of the members of the Seed family, takes on the role of the primary antagonist in Far Cry 5. As the charismatic leader of the Eden's Gate cult, he portrays himself as a messiah-like figure. In contrast to previous Far Cry villains who were mostly driven by personal gain, Joseph is distinct in that his actions are motivated by his unwavering faith. This unique approach sets him apart even from the notorious Vaas character in terms of in-game presence. With the recent leaks regarding the antagonists in Far Cry 7 suggesting a similar cult-like faction, it is possible that the upcoming game could adopt a similar approach, exploring unorthodox motivations and delving into intense psychological realms, such as eschatology or concepts related to the "end times."

Far Cry New Dawn's Lou and Mickey

As a spin-off and sequel to Far Cry 5, set in a hypothetical post-apocalypse, Far Cry New Dawn bears resemblance to Blood Dragon or the original Far Cry with its sci-fi elements. While involving two main antagonists, Lou and Mickey are depicted as a tightly bonded and merciless duo, shaped solely by their experiences in the post-apocalyptic world. Their characterization is further fueled by Lou's demise and Mickey's descent into madness due to grief and her life choices. In a similar fashion, the antagonist or antagonists of Far Cry 7 could adopt a comparable approach, experiencing the repercussions of their actions as the game progresses.

Far Cry 6's Anton Castillo

Introducing Anton Castillo, the latest antagonist in the series, Far Cry 6 brings back a sense of realism to its villains, as he stops at nothing to take control of Yara. Displaying all the characteristics of a stereotypical dictator, Anton shares the moral ambiguity of previous antagonists. However, Far Cry 6 takes it a step further by crafting the character's design and characterization, drawing inspiration from Giancarlo Esposito's iconic roles in Breaking Bad, The Boys, and The Mandalorian. With the possibility of casting another renowned actor as the villain in Far Cry 7, the criticism surrounding the writing of Esposito's performance in Far Cry 6 should be duly considered.