The epic video game called Monster Hunter Wilds is bigger and more exciting than any other installment, and it continues to set a new standard in a genre that Capcom masters with sovereign mastery. The general idea hasn’t changed since the original, mind you: take down enormous beasts with disproportionate weapons , but the foray into the Forbidden Lands adds new nuances and more power to those premises. Much to the delight of veteran players, of course, but also hitting the nail on the head with novice hunters.
Monster Hunter Wilds is both the legitimate successor to Monster Hunter: World and the evolution of all the positive steps taken in the latter. The visuals are dazzling thanks to the power of Capcom’s RE Engine, and despite sometimes lagging in performance—the number and size of on-screen elements and environments is wild—what always ends up taking precedence is the gameplay experience. Each improvised match feels like a battle against an epic final boss, reserving the ultimate glory an action RPG can offer for the giant monsters.
Because one of the best sensations you can experience in an action video game is taking down a herd of completely rampaging doshagumas with hammer blows, or facing off against a colossal Jin Dahaad the size of a mountain using a sword, an axe, a cleat, or a crossbow, Monster Hunter- style . In fact, one of the star new features in this new installment is that you can alternate between the two without straying from your target. Because, in fact, in this game, both you and the beast exchange the roles of predator and prey in bursts.
Don’t get me wrong: Monster Hunter Wilds encourages exploration, resource gathering, and exploration of flora and fauna… But the saga’s true power lies in its epic battles. Every great game entails a process that’s sometimes comparable to facing a tsunami: you know the creature in front of you is hostile, possesses overwhelming force, and the process won’t be easy. But it’s in this constant process of strength, endurance, wear and tear, and perseverance where the essence and excellence of Monster Hunter lies .
And the deeper you delve into this new world, the more and more you become immersed in your role as a hunter who, without going into details for the sake of our analysis, will end up bearing the fate of nature and all living beings on the edge of his weapon. A heavy but terribly exciting burden, which Monster Hunter Wilds makes even more interesting through its fast-paced multiplayer and the introduction of a feathered companion who will carry us throughout the adventure: the seikret are one of the best contributions to the entire Capcom saga. And, as you’ll see, they’re here to stay.
What you already loved about Monster Hunter… but even wilder
The fact that Monster Hunter Wilds is an evolution of the 2018 title (and not the equally essential Monster Hunter Rise ) is due to several factors, and none of them have to do with the setting. The big idea behind this new chapter in the series is to expand the sense of grandeur on all scales, but also to add to the game the feeling that we are constantly facing the forces of nature itself. And that includes both beasts and weather phenomena. Is it intimidating? Rather, it helps the player experience the excitement of each game more and more.
If Capcom drew inspiration from the aesthetics of feudal Japan in Monster Hunter Rise , and the Sunrise expansion offered a touch of the Middle Ages (and dark fantasy), we now find ourselves in a Forbidden Lands that combines elements from pre-Columbian America, deepest Africa, and even the peaks of Asia. These settings, like the way of life itself, actively influence the course of each hunt, with day-night cycles and even alternating seasons.
From the outset, we have meadows, deserts of sand and ice, and deep underground catacombs on a scale that, while not an open world as a whole, is completely interconnected, generating a sense of unity if we avoid fast travel between areas. But what’s truly significant is that the same ecosystem, whether a plain or a forest, can be as beautiful when the sun is shining as it is threatening when there’s a storm, covered in snow, or a thick, hot atmosphere has formed when reacting with volcanic lava. These elements can unnerve the animals around us and affect our vision, or cause us to use certain potions to mitigate the heat or cold.
If you’re coming from previous games, the above will probably intimidate you: to what extent does Monster Hunter Wilds benefit from having hunters move through such large environments that, suddenly, become hostile? In fact, we’re talking about vast landscapes, and in certain sections, there’s a great deal of verticality, and we’ll even have to navigate tricky sections by jumping between floating rocks. Remember that up until Monster Hunter World, the games were divided into hunting areas, which in turn had different numbered zones. And that’s when the gameplay revolution of the seikret really comes into its own.
For all intents and purposes, Seikret are feathered mounts capable of adapting to any terrain, no matter how rugged or complex. At first glance, they might seem like the canine companions of Monster Hunter Rise , given that they speed up explorations, chases, and allow us to move at a generous speed, but they also have characteristics that add more nuance to the game: for the first time in the series, we can alternate between two different weapons thanks to their saddlebags, and thanks to the fact that our manager (the one who assigns missions) also has her own, we can start or improvise missions wherever and whenever we want. And those are two resounding blows within the series.
Until now, the Monster Hunter game cycle consisted of managing and improving our character at our base, isolated from the hunting grounds, and organizing solo or group hunts before returning to the chosen ecosystem. In Monster Hunter Wilds, everything is part of a giant setting, so we can chain or manage hunting missions without setting foot in our base. And the same applies when inviting other players to join our hunts or missions. This doesn’t mean we won’t have to go to a forge sooner rather than later to improve our equipment and weapons. Capcom has given the action wings and a wider scope in this installment, but the essence of the experience remains its RPG component.
Big news for a Monster Hunter that’s packed with epicness
With the setting of the Forbidden Lands in mind, the first thing you’ll want to know about Monster Hunter Wilds is that Capcom has decided to give much more weight and presence to the game’s story. I’d be lying if I told you the previous standards were on par with other cult RPGs, and the plot surrounding this installment likely isn’t among the things you’re most looking forward to, whether you’re a veteran of the series or just coming to hammer and slash like crazy. In fact, if you’re coming solely and exclusively for the epic battles, you’ll leave with your hands and pockets full. You’ll be completely satisfied.
However, the Blue Bomber’s company has managed to tie the epic nature of what happens in this new world to a succession of events that keep us even more invested until we reach the endgame. Not only because of the narrative elements, but also because of how it gradually increases the level of challenge, gives context to the changes in the scenarios, and makes the presence of this installment’s flagship monster and other threats part of the overall experience. It offers secondary characters who not only serve a purpose and are useful to us, but are also our legitimate companions on the adventure.
The fact that there’s a lot more dialogue and reasons to engage in quests doesn’t take away from the most essential aspect: as the next installment in a cult saga, Monster Hunter Wilds must excel in its progression, exploration, and combat system. And that’s where the improvements in gameplay, the way the beasts of all shapes and colors that we encounter react and are brought to life, come into play.
From the start, and despite losing those acrobatic combats from Monster Hunter Rise and its epic finishing moves, Capcom has given more importance to all the weapons and the way we use them. First, through a repertoire of attacks and movements tailored to the 14 weapon types in the series, which always works to the service of the epic nature of the battles, but also by giving them all a new mechanic called Precise Mode , which allows us to have greater control and effectiveness in the face of initiatives and hits with a scope and highlighting wounds. And be careful, because when the time comes, we will have some resounding blows called Precise Attacks that, well executed, will blow us away.
But the generational leap from Monster Hunter World (and Rise ) also extends to the monsters and how they behave: given the larger environments, we’ll see herds or groups not only of small and medium-sized creatures and beasts, but also of giant size. In fact, seeing them engage with each other, migrate to different areas due to climate change, or seeing a super predator facing off against a group of large monsters is a spectacle and, at the same time, a glorious opportunity to get hold of pieces to improve what we’re wearing.
The third cornerstone of the Monster Hunter experience continues to work wonders: crafting and upgrades return and gain nuance with the appearance of Tempered Monsters , opening the door to wielding Artian weapons. Add to this the leveling up, upgrades, gems… And even making returning to basics optional won’t prevent us from spending well-deserved and well-spent time at the forge. Especially once we’ve finished the main story.
Beyond the Forbidden Lands: Multiplayer and the Endgame
You can play Monster Hunter Wilds from start to finish solo. In fact, if an enemy is struggling, you have the option to launch a distress flare, and if no other player comes, other characters and guild members will join in. But, of course, these types of experiences really benefit from being played in company. First, because you gain efficiency, given that weapons like the Horn or ranged weapons allow those with more offensive power to shine more and worry less, but also because the greater degree of challenge and the shared satisfaction of winning are one of the reasons this series exists.
As I mentioned, you can recruit more players from your base, but now you can set up makeshift camps, and your secretary always follows you in her own seikret, so you can organize a mission or join another from wherever you are. In fact, despite the feline chefs, as in previous installments, we can cook, season, or roast whatever we have on us from our stovetop, joining any other Monster Hunter Wilds player who needs a second sword or could use a bow to take down that restless winged creature.
Since the previous games, elements have been introduced or maintained that are a step in the right direction. You’ll be pleased to know that Monster Hunter Wilds offers cross-play between all platforms (PlayStation, Xbox, and PC), and in addition to radio communication using gestures and stickers, there’s a signaling system similar to that of shooters. However, the most impressive thing is watching a match in which several players mounted on seikrets try to take down an even more rampaging monster. With the shared frustration of each failure and the excitement and pride of showing off in a truly desperate moment.
The not-so-good news: when entering game rooms or sharing matches, we noticed how the fluidity of Monster Hunter Wilds suffered. At least in the Xbox Series X version. Perhaps this will change beyond launch. Capcom has given a ton of visual options, including the ability to adjust between quality, frame rate performance, and an intermediate option, and for the purposes of the analysis, I mainly opted for the latter. All in all, if you have to choose, and despite the game looking amazing, bet everything on fluidity.
Monster Hunter Wilds ‘ multiplayer is in a way part of its Endgame, but for practical purposes all the installments of this saga really begin at the end of the story: after seeing the credits and the epilogue you will unlock the High Rank and its even more challenging missions (not to be confused with the Master Rank) with which you will have content to triple the approximately 30-40 hours of play that the plot will last if you do not disperse too much in secondary quests, in helping other hunters, in making that dream team by repeating missions, in investigations… And be careful, it does not end here.
Although Monster Hunter Wilds encourages us to roam freely in search of adventure and challenges like no other game in the series, we can assure you that at some point you’ll be able to access a monster arena like in the previous installments, and that, given the time, you’ll encounter new types of monsters that will further increase your passion for forging armor and weapons. However, Capcom will continue to expand content with regular new releases and free updates or events. In other words, you’ll be wandering around the Forbidden Lands for months, and you’ll have a blast doing it.
VidaExtra’s opinion
Monster Hunter Wilds is an absolute must-have. It’s epic, it’s exciting, and it captivates you in a special way. It’s a collection of good ideas that seek and succeed in winning over both fans of the Capcom series and those who were waiting for the chance to dive right in. Welcoming both, it adapts its action and boundless adventure to their playstyles and, from there, exceeds their highest expectations. The best Monster Hunter ever made?
I confess there are specific things I missed from Monster Hunter Rise . Riding a seikret is much better than the options in the game created for Switch and later adapted to the rest of the systems, but I confess I would have liked to see the acrobatic techniques back or those kaiju battles when taming large beasts.
But, of course, to be fair, I can also understand why it’s not possible to ride so happily on the monsters of the Forbidden Lands. After all, each game has its own identity and its own way of taking the player to the ultimate epic level. And yet, when comparing the gains in Monster Hunter Wilds compared to previous installments, the ones who win are the players. Especially those of us who have been playing for decades.
Monster Hunter Wilds has not only exceeded my highest expectations, but I see it as the new benchmark within a series determined to surpass itself. To raise its own bar by masterfully executing great ideas. Definitively consolidating what is already a golden age for Capcom. Because the new Monster Hunter is everything you’d expect from a series considered a cult classic. And then some.
Monster Hunter Wilds Price
Monster Hunter Wilds is priced at €79.99 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and €69.99 on PC, with pre-order bonuses in the form of layered armor and a Charm of Hope. Additionally, the digital version of the PlayStation console is offered with a mini digital artbook. That said, we do have physical editions for consoles that you can find at launch for less, including lenticular or metal-cased versions.
Along with the standard edition of Monster Hunter Wilds, we have the corresponding Monster Hunter Wilds Deluxe (valued at 99.99 euros) and Monster Hunter Wilds Premium (119.99 euros), which add cosmetic content including layered armor, emotes, hairstyles, decorations, and chat stickers. In other words, don’t expect additional perks or weapons, but rather items to show off in matches.
You’ll be interested to know that you can also purchase the content for both special versions separately. If you have to choose, the big difference in the Premium Edition of Monster Hunter Wilds is the addition of the ‘Proof of a Hero 2025’ soundtrack and two skin add-on packs coming later this year. No DLC content? Technically, yes, but as we said, upcoming monsters and events will arrive as free updates for all players.
Monster Hunter Wilds Duration
For reference, according to my main Monster Hunter Wilds playthrough log , it took me over 40 hours to see the credits roll, but the end of the story (and its epilogue) unlocks, as in previous installments, the Endgame, with a higher hunter rank and corresponding quests and new conditions that add a new layer of replayability to all the content.
Additionally, Capcom plans to offer regular updates to Monster Hunter Wilds. So, even after defeating the flagship monsters and biggest threats from the base game, the amount of time you can invest in the game is nearly infinite, and the level of challenge will always increase. Not to mention the free events and quests coming in the coming months.
