If you’re here, it means you’re probably wondering what the big deal is with Monster Hunter Wilds and why it already has 1 million concurrent players on Steam.
You might be asking yourself, “But what about the other games in the series?” or “Can I play Wilds if I haven’t played Monster Hunter World?”
Well, you’re in luck! None of that matters because Monster Hunter Wilds is a fresh experience perfectly suited for new hunters.
But why? Here’s everything you need to know before diving into Monster Hunter Wilds for the first time:
You Don’t Have to Play the Old Games
Most newbie hunters ask: Do I need to play the old games first? The answer is no.
Monster Hunter games — especially the modern ones — don’t require prior experience since each entry introduces a brand-new world and direction. Sure, you’ll encounter some familiar monsters from past games, but they’re just creatures roaming wherever their habitat suits them.
Think of Monster Hunter as Pokémon on steroids. You’re hunting and capturing these elusive beasts to craft better gear for your next quests. Thankfully, in Pokémon, you’re not hunting them down and scavenging their body parts. That’s something Monster Hunter fully embraces — and excels at.
Even if you haven’t played Monster Hunter World, Monster Hunter Rise, or the old-school titles, it doesn’t matter. Each new game builds on the last, refining mechanics and fixing past issues. So don’t worry — you’re good to go!
You Don’t Have to Follow the Story
Don’t panic if you’re lost in the lore — most Monster Hunter stories feel like filler anyway. The good news is that each game stands alone, with narratives ranging from borderline nonsense to downright epic. But in all honesty? You don’t need to care.
At its core, Monster Hunter is about… well, hunting monsters. That’s the whole point. Even the earliest games had little story beyond “Go hunt this beast and craft cool weapons from its remains.” Morbid? Sure. But Capcom’s been doing it for 20 years, and they love it.
That said, I must credit Monster Hunter Wilds—its story is much more developed this time.
You Don’t Have to Be Good at It
Seriously, there’s no need to sweat over Monster Hunter. There’s no PvP, no ranked leaderboards — just you and a monster (or monsters). If you’ve played video games before, you already know the basics: hit the enemy enough times, and eventually, it’ll go down. That’s Monster Hunter in a nutshell.
Sure, there are no visible health bars, but monsters show clear signs of fatigue when they’re close to defeat. Are they limping? Struggling to move? Those are your cues to strike.
With 14 unique weapon types, the game does a great job of guiding you toward the best fit for your playstyle. Don’t get overwhelmed by all the stats — just pick a weapon and start swinging. It’s really that simple.
(And if you’re into speedrunning? That’s a whole different beast. But for casual players? No stress needed.)
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You Don’t Have to Hunt Alone
Despite its intimidating reputation, Monster Hunter is built around co-op play, and that’s one of the reasons the series is so beloved — it’s just too much fun with friends.
Maybe your buddy tried to convince you to play Monster Hunter World, but you weren’t into it. Now they’re at it again with Wilds. This time, take them up on the offer — because Wilds might just be the best Monster Hunter yet. (Why? Read my review!)
And if you don’t have friends to play with? (Sorry) No worries. The game has AI companions to assist you, plus an SOS Flare system that instantly pairs you with other players online. Capcom has carefully designed the experience to make Monster Hunter Wilds more accessible than ever.
At the end of the day, Monster Hunter Wilds is the most beginner-friendly game in the franchise, making it the perfect entry point for newcomers. It doesn’t matter if your gaming experience is limited to Fallout or cozy titles like Animal Crossing — if you’re even a little curious about Monster Hunter, just jump in and join the fun.
For more Monster Hunter Wilds content, check out Gfinity.