"Monster Hunter Wilds: Unveiling the Cooking System"

Summary

• Monster Hunter Wilds focuses on making in-game food look appetizing with exaggerated realism.
• Players can dine anywhere in the game, creating a camping grill atmosphere instead of a restaurant theme.
• The game will feature a wide variety of dishes, including a secret "extravagant" meat dish, enhancing food-related bliss.

Monster Hunter Wilds is set to redefine the appeal of in-game food with its upcoming release on February 28, 2025. According to executive director/art director Kaname Fujioka and director Yuya Tokuda, the game will showcase a diverse range of dishes including meat, fish, and vegetables, all designed to look irresistibly delicious. The developers are going beyond mere realism, incorporating elements from anime and commercials to enhance the visual appeal of the food.

Since the inception of the Monster Hunter series in 2004, cooking has been a core mechanic, starting with players consuming large chunks of monster meat. Over the years, the significance of food in gameplay has grown, with Monster Hunter World in 2018 marking a shift towards more realistic and appealing dining experiences. Monster Hunter Wilds aims to elevate this further by blending realism with exaggeration to create mouth-watering visuals.

Monster Hunter Wilds Devs Use Exaggerated Realism in Cooking Scenes

In Monster Hunter Wilds, players will have the freedom to dine anywhere, embracing a camping grill ambiance rather than a formal restaurant setting. A highlight from a December preview was an impressive cheese pull, sparking excitement among fans. Even a simple dish like roasted cabbage, which posed a significant challenge for Fujioka, is made enticing through effects such as the cabbage puffing up as the lid is lifted, enhanced by a roasted egg topping.

On the meat-centric side of the menu, Tokuda hinted at a secret "extravagant" meat dish, adding to the anticipation. The game aims to capture a wide variety of dishes, along with the joy and expressions of characters dining around a campfire, to deliver an exaggerated yet realistic sense of culinary delight in its cooking scenes.