Far Cry 3.5 is a seriously impressive visual overhaul

Far Cry 3 has never looked better thanks to this visual overhaul mod, you might as well call it Far Cry 3.5.

The third Far Cry game still has its fans so many years later, and it’s easier to see why as the tropical setting and fantastic villains still hold value.

Vaas in particular was such a beloved Far Cry character he was brought back for Far Cry 6.

If it’s been a while or if you’ve just never played it before there’s no better time to jump in, especially since we’re still waiting to hear official news on Far Cry 7.

Far Cry 3 might feel a little dated by modern standards but it can at least look the part thanks to this brilliant visual mod.

It’s called 'Far Cry 3.5 ReShade Preset' and it does exactly what it says in the title, making it a fine choice for those who want to play the game on PC but want to spruce up the graphics a bit first.

The mod’s description says it’ll transform your game “into a cinematic masterpiece” by “amplifying realism with a darker, grimier, and more atmospheric look. Designed to push the limits of lighting, shadows, and post-processing, this preset enhances textures, deepens contrast, and adds a subtle filmic grain for a lived-in, immersive aesthetic.”

That all sounds grand to me, and it feels like the results speak for themselves as some of those in-game screenshots look excellent.

It almost makes you wish Ubisoft would remake Far Cry 3 as it’s supposedly doing with Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, but the studio seemingly values brand-new releases over revisiting the past - not exactly a bad thing.

Nevertheless, Far Cry 3 still holds pretty well all things considered. It might not be as advanced as later Far Cry games but it’s still arguably one of the best of the bunch.