There’s always a giddy anticipation whenever a new mainline Monster Hunter arrives. What are the new monsters? Is there going to be a new weapon? Who’s the flagship monster? These questions fuel the sheer excitement of fans, so it’s no surprise that Capcom has been hard at work trying to deliver the best Monster Hunter experience yet with this latest entry.
Monster Hunter Wilds is a massive undertaking. Capcom knows they have to step up and prove to fans and consumers alike that they can elevate this household-name franchise to even greater heights — potentially surpassing Monster Hunter: World’s record-breaking numbers.
The good news is they’re already heading in the right direction with Monster Hunter Wilds. It is a fantastic evolution of the series — a culmination of the franchise’s best elements since the first mainline title, transforming Wilds into a dynamic action RPG that remains as addictive as ever.
A JRPG Story
Like previous Monster Hunter titles, Wilds doesn’t follow a strict continuity. While they exist in the same universe, each new game typically takes place in a separate part of the world.
Traditionally, Monster Hunter stories take a backseat since most players want to hunt monsters. This is why expectations for the narrative are usually low, as story moments often involve fetch quests, delivering Wyvern Eggs, or the classic “Hunt this monster, please!” moment.
However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Monster Hunter Wilds features a competent and compelling story that surpasses its predecessors by a wide margin.
Wilds' story is much more coherent compared to previous Monster Hunter titles. While it sometimes leans into the nonsensical, its story progression is surprisingly well-paced. The journey felt like a JRPG adventure, where my Hunter, my Palico, Gemma the Smithy, Alma the Handler, and Nata the Lost Boy embark on a long expedition — taking on quests, conversing with village elders, and eliminating the looming threats in each of the game’s diverse biomes.
We’re not hunting for the sake of hunting anymore. There’s now a clear intent behind it. Without spoiling the game's story, what made me appreciate Wilds’ is how it addresses the long-running joke that Monster Hunter players have pondered for years: “Are we the baddies?”
Its writing has also improved. Thank God we’re no longer screaming “Zorah Magdaros” and “Dragonator” at each other. I particularly enjoyed how Alma grants my Hunter authorization to hunt a monster, making each battle valid within the Guild’s cause. (This is why I’m still mad at Monster Hunter: World for forcing me to slay poor Dodogama.)
A Focused Hunt
Hunting is the core of Monster Hunter, and Wilds does an incredible job of keeping the gameplay loop fresh yet familiar. Gone are the days of Iceborne’s broken Clutch Claw mechanic — Wilds introduces the new Focus System, a superior alternative that fundamentally changes combat. It’s an evolution of the ‘free camera’ system, allowing players to control their weapon’s point of attack manually. This mechanic makes combat significantly more engaging. At least now, Greatsword users won’t have to complain about their fifth True Charge Slash whiffing.
The Focus System also encourages constant movement, as players must actively assess which part of a monster is primed for a Wound Attack — one of Monster Hunter Wilds’ newest mechanics. When a monster displays a glowing red weak spot, pressing L2 + R1 (on PlayStation 5) initiates a powerful strike, making creatures like Rompopolo stagger and flinch.
Each of the game’s 14 weapons features a signature Focus Mode Ability that can damage monster wounds. Capcom has also updated each of its movesets, bringing in additional moves for a fresher hunting experience. As a former Bow user, I’m thrilled that we now have unlimited coatings without the need for constant crafting.
While I believe the Focus Feature is a game-changing mechanic, it does have a downside: it sometimes trivializes monster encounters. Breaking a wound guarantees a stagger, leaving monsters vulnerable for several seconds — practically inviting my hammer to unleash a devastating Big Bang Combo. However, monsters with protective coatings, such as the Uth Duna with its defensive watery veil, require more effort to wound, making them a greater challenge for those overly reliant on the system.
I prefer the Focus System over Iceborne’s Clutch Claw or Rise’s Wirebugs. The Wound mechanic is a much more grounded approach to hunting, and none of that "swinging across the map using a bug's wire" kind of thing.
New players might find the Focus System difficult to grasp, especially while learning other mechanics, such as Seikret riding, which can sometimes feel finicky. Whenever I call on my trusty mount, my Seikret is nowhere to be found. Sometimes, it even takes a while for him to appear and get to me, which is somewhat frustrating.
I also found the Scoutflies’ tracking unreliable — it wasn’t always clear where they led me.
As for the game’s overall difficulty, I only had one Quest Failure during my playtime due to unfamiliarity with a monster’s mechanics. It was a tough fight, but I appreciated the challenge. (I'm sure players will know what I'm talking about when they get to it.)
It's also worth noting that I've only tried multiplayer a few times, and 90% of my Wilds experience was spent hunting solo.
A Prepared Hunter
Wilds has streamlined its hunting loop, making gameplay more convenient than ever. No more worrying about missing a meal or gathering Spiribugs — your Hunter now carries a portable BBQ Grill. This ensures easy access to Food Buffs, with key ingredients obtainable through side quests and monster hunts. Sometimes, villagers invite the Hunter to share a scrumptious meal, granting additional perks such as Insurance and Moxie.
A secondary weapon slot can also be slotted to your Seikret, allowing easy swapping whenever you feel like trying a different weapon. You could even pack two Longswords with varying elemental attacks or, better yet, two Hammers!
These quality-of-life features enhance the gameplay experience, granting players greater agency over their hunts. While restocking at camp is still necessary, activities that require extensive prep time, such as eating meals, are now accessible anytime and everywhere.
Watching my culinary creations animated in the game always makes me hungry.
Wilds even fix the dreaded issue with Cold and Hot Drinks, which I always seem to forget every time I go on a hunt. With weather playing an important role in the Wilds, preparing for temperature spikes is essential. I love how Wilds introduces various Endemic Life that provide the same drink effects. So whenever I forget a drink, the new grappling hook allows me to collect these helpful Endemic Life from a distance, reducing the risk of being blindsided by a monster.
The environment also plays a key role in a hunt, giving you more options to deal with the monster whenever you feel like it. The presence of falling boulders, Paratoads, and various weird (and fascinating) Endemic Life can help big time.
The Inclements
One of Wilds’ most impressive features is its dynamic and reactive weather system—a true Capcom flex that showcases what RE Engine is capable of.
Each biome features three cycles: Fallow, Inclemency, and Plenty.
Inclemencies are severe weather conditions that attract apex predators known as the Inclement Four, reminiscent of Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate’s Fated Four. These apex monsters dominate their respective regions, making for dramatic and cinematic battles amid thunderstorms or torrential downpours.
These are tough battles, which resulted in my first cart. One particular fight with the Uth Duna caught me by surprise after it slammed its body at my poor Hunter.
Performance & Optimization
While I consider Monster Hunter Wilds a technological marvel, thanks to its fantastic weather system and great art direction, performance remains an issue. Capcom seems to have pushed the RE Engine to its limits for a semi-open-world game like Monster Hunter Wilds, resulting in minor performance hiccups.
I played the game on a base PlayStation 5 using Balanced Mode, which limits the frame rate to 40fps while maintaining a sharper image quality. However, even with this locked 40fps, it occasionally dips to the mid-30s, particularly after monster cutscenes and moving into a new area. While these drops aren’t game-breaking, they can be distracting, especially following a cinematic moment.
The good news is that the game performs significantly better than the first and second Open Betas. In my Review build of Wilds, gameplay is much smoother, aside from the occasional dips I’ve mentioned.
Endgame
Monster Hunter is all about the endgame. Finishing the main story and watching the credits roll doesn’t mean you’re done — in fact, you’re just getting started.
The true endgame of Monster Hunter is fashion—er, Decoration Farming. It remains a crucial aspect of the game, playing similarly to what we know from Monster Hunter World and Rise but with a more lenient approach to RNG. Don’t worry — it’s no longer as frustrating as World’s system.
Once you progress enough of the story and unlock High Rank, the game opens up, itching to be explored and poked around. This is your sign to take on more powerful monsters, such as Tempered and Frenzied variations, revealed recently on Capcom's Play!Play!Play! Event. These foes offer significant rewards through better Decorations and rare monster materials.
Another endgame feature sure to please buildcrafting enthusiasts is the Artian Weapons. This gives players more freedom to create their own perfect weapon. Think of it as a “build-a-bear” system for your preferred weapon type. This unlocks later in the game and requires Artian parts of the same rarity level, which drop exclusively from Tempered Monsters. These are the game’s coveted weapons, which players will probably spend most of their time with.
After finishing the final story mission and hitting HR 42, I’ve barely scratched the surface of Wilds’ endgame content. I’m not the particular kind of player that rushes things, so I did a handful of extra content, such as hunting Tempered Monsters and side-quests, acquired my Mantles, and captured Endemic Life. So I can say I’ve seen a lot of Wilds, but I am still eager to dive back in when the game fully releases this Friday so I can get to play with my friends.
Overall, Monster Hunter Wilds is Capcom’s best Monster Hunter game to date — moving the series forward by introducing new mechanics and quality-of-life improvements that enhance the hunting experience without altering the game’s core loop. Minor performance issues can be addressed in future patches, and more updates are coming.
It’s the same Monster Hunter you fell in love with, but bigger and better.
Monster Hunter Wilds arrives February 28, 2025, for PlayStation 5, PC (Steam), and Xbox Series X/S.
