I still remember the first time I stepped into the world of Monster Hunter. I was a wide-eyed rookie, fumbling through clunky controls and heart-pounding encounters that left my palms sweaty and my heart racing. Fast-forward over a decade later, and here I am—a hardened veteran—ready to share my thoughts on Monster Hunter Wilds, which is now the most slick-handling, mechanically streamlined, and sexy-looking entry in this series.
Before diving headlong into the lush jungles and storm-swept plains of Wilds, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on where we came from. The Monster Hunter series has always been a game of evolution. The early entries were gritty, challenging, and often unforgiving. Each title built on the last, refining combat, expanding the world, and deepening that sense of being a (frequently) lone warrior facing down nature’s most fearsome beasts.
Over the years, Capcom has proven itself a master of reinvention. What started as a niche, almost punishing series has blossomed into a global phenomenon, steadily capturing new hearts and minds with its blend of strategy, action, and discovery. And now, with Monster Hunter Wilds, Capcom isn’t just rehashing old formulas; it’s weaving in fresh ideas that promise to keep even the most jaded veteran on his toes.
So, what’s new in Wilds? At its core, this game still celebrates the thrill of the hunt. But instead of the usual pedestrian “save the world” narrative, Wilds is about your journey—a personal evolution as you traverse a world that’s as unpredictable as it is beautiful. The game opens with a more open-ended story that lets you experience a decent enough yarn where equipment choice isn’t particularly crucial for survival…yet.
Capcom isn’t just rehashing old formulas; it’s weaving in fresh ideas that promise to keep even the most jaded veteran on his toes.
Because let me warn you now: once you invest the 13 or so hours needed to reach an epilogue (yes, they’ve even given us that little narrative bow-tie) you will indeed feel a nice semblance of accomplishment…right up until the High Rank missions unlock. From there, Capcom takes the gloves off for anybody who’s truly about huntin’ some serious monsters.
Without spoiling too much about High Rank, the conditions in these missions change on a dime—monsters morph, phenomenal new weather patterns shift, and new elements like Layered Armor pop up to keep things interesting. Imagine setting off on a hunt only to have the skies darken suddenly, or a beast you thought you’d mastered suddenly Pokémon evolve to exhibit new, deadlier traits. It’s a reminder that in the wild, nothing is ever truly predictable.
One of the things that struck me during my play sessions was how the game manages to balance its story with an immense amount of content after the main narrative wraps up. Optional Quests and Side Missions aren’t just filler—they’re gateways to new storylines, richer character interactions, and even more challenging hunts. And if you’re like me, always on the sniff for that extra bit of thrill, you can even save Investigations (think of these as field surveys) for any monster in High Rank and revisit them later. It’s a world that keeps on giving, long after you think you’ve seen it all.
If you’re a long-time fan like me, you know that the heart of Monster Hunter has always been its combat—and Wilds is no exception. But this time around, Capcom has introduced a host of new mechanics that really shake things up. Let’s dive into some of the highlights.
It’s a world that keeps on giving, long after you think you’ve seen it all.
I love that the environments here are designed to be seamless and the usual need to pingpong back and forth to town has been heavily reduced. You can roam freely across vast landscapes that shift and change as you explore them. One minute you’re traversing sunlit plains, and the next, you’re caught in a downpour that makes you scramble for cover. It’s as if the game world is alive and constantly evolving—a playground for hunters who love unpredictability.
I remember one hunt in particular: I was trekking through a dense, misty forest when suddenly, the weather took a turn for the worse. This, of course, caused a weather-specific monster variant to spawn at the worst possible time (when I was engaging another that I was barely equipped to handle in the first place). It was a stark reminder that nature, in this game, isn’t just background scenery—it’s an active participant in the hunt. An enemy to be feared just as much as any understudy Godzilla.
For those who relish the adrenaline rush of combat, Wilds offers a completely revamped system that still feels rooted in the series’ core identity. Every weapon type in the game has been given a fresh set of actions and combo options. If you’ve been around long enough to have a favourite weapon (I’ve always had a soft spot for the great sword), you’ll appreciate the new moves that add layers of strategy and satisfaction to every swing and slash.
The introduction of Focus Mode and Focus Strikes is a revelation. These mechanics let you zero in on a monster’s weak points with a precision that feels almost cinematic. Picture this: you’re in the heat of battle, the monster is rearing back for a massive attack, and you’ve just timed your Focus Strike perfectly and turned a floor mopping destined for a checkpoint reload into a winnable fight.
you’ve just timed your Focus Strike perfectly and turned a floor mopping destined for a checkpoint reload into a winnable fight.
And then there are also the new combat actions like Offset Attacks, which let you slip in extra hits during your combos, and Power Clash, a neat defensive counter move that rewards precise timing.
Likewise, some of the most heart-in-my-mouth moments in the game where when I tried out the Sneak Attacks. Having one of these attack land flawlessly made me feel like a bad arse, Schwarzenegger-stalking Predator–just a burst of pure, unadulterated triumph.
Beyond the combat system, Wilds introduces some innovative tools that add a delightful twist to both exploration and combat. Enter the Hook Slinger. At first, I wasn’t entirely sure what to make of it. But once I started using it, I realized it’s much more than just a flashy way to traverse the environment. Whether you’re foraging from a distance or activating environmental hazards like vine traps, the Hook Slinger injects a level of tactical creativity that quickly becomes invaluable.
And then there’s the simple joy of riding a Seikret. Not only does it allow you to zip across the map at exhilarating speeds, but it also offers a new way to track monsters and even carry an extra weapon with you. I often found myself grinning like a goon as I pinged across a sprawling valley on my Seikret, the wind whipping past me and the landscape unfolding in a breathtaking panorama below.
I often found myself grinning like a goon as I PINGED across a sprawling valley on my Seikret.
A subtle but significant addition to the game is the ability to set up Pop-up Camps in various strategic locations. There’s something incredibly satisfying about choosing the perfect spot, customizing your little base of operations, and then taking a breather to admire the view. It’s these moments of calm in the midst of chaos that made me truly feel a part of this lush new frontier.
And let’s not forget about the Support Hunters. These NPC allies can jump into action during key story hunts or rush to your aid when you use an SOS flare in offline mode. It’s a small detail, but it goes a long way in making the world feel less lonely, especially when you’re outnumbered by monsters in a remote, wild expanse.
No game is without its quirks, and while Monster Hunter Wilds is brimming with fresh ideas and exciting new features, it’s also not without a few stumbles. Visually, this is a dynamic, living world that shines on the venerable RE Engine. However, those jaw-dropping and predictable weather shifts can have their sense of wonder and unpredictability marred by some good old fashioned pop up every once in a while. (Which was weird to see at all, as I was using a middle-of-the-road performance/visuals option on my PS5 Pro).
I also have to say that it felt like the overall runtime wasn’t in the same league as previous hunts I’ve had in the series. Toppling the campaign was a 13-15 hour experience (with only a handful of monsters being ganked with a co-op buddy). It felt like the side quests were in the same neighbourhood of time. This may sound fine for newcomers, but as a veteran I’ve been conditioned to expect meaningful challenges and goals in the range of 60 and beyond.
I’ve been conditioned to expect meaningful challenges and goals in the range of 60 and beyond
Other than those things, plus a few minor bugs and performance issues cropping up here and there, Wilds is in very decent shape. There’s only the odd thing that will occasionally pull you out of the immersive flow and Capcom seems to have a decent roadmap for more content to be injected in.
At the end of the hunt, Wilds stands both a homage to the classics and a reasonably bold push into new ideas of what the series can be. Although its legs feel shorter than previous entries in the series, there’s still never been a better time to dive in to experience moments of pure triumph, stunning vistas, and the kind of immersive, adrenaline-pumping combat that reminds you why you fell in love with kaiju killin’ in the first place.
