The story pits a player's band of Heartland resistance fighters against a charismatic doomsday cult leader who kidnaps townspeople all while proclaiming a love of freedom, faith and firearms (not necessarily in that order).

The game, which has been in development for three years, hits at a time when questions about the stability of society, sovereignty and the taking back of "real" America can truly resonate. The game's creative director, Dan Hay, said that although he didn't want to get too political with Far Cry 5, its themes were influenced by the 2008 recession. Hay said the "us vs. them" storylines and the feelings of disenfranchisement that he saw in the wake of the economic meltdown helped him draw the battle lines for the series' next installment.