As one of Steam's most pre-ordered games right now, Monster Hunter Wilds is poised to be a monumental release. It's likely to be many players' first foray into the Monster Hunter series, and while it's expected to feature a robust tutorial for newcomers, the series is known for its depth and complexity. If Wilds is your introduction to the world of monster hunting, you might benefit from exploring one of the previous games first. Before you dive into the vast and perilous world of Monster Hunter Wilds, we strongly recommend playing 2018's Monster Hunter: World.
Our recommendation for Monster Hunter: World isn't based on any narrative connections or cliffhangers that would leave you confused in Wilds. Instead, it's because World closely mirrors the style and structure of Wilds. By playing World, you'll familiarize yourself with the series' sometimes intricate systems and engaging gameplay loop, preparing you for what awaits in Wilds.
Why Monster Hunter: World?
If you've been following Capcom's recent releases, you might wonder why not play Monster Hunter Rise, the latest entry in the series, instead of revisiting Monster Hunter: World? While Rise is an excellent game and the most recent addition to the franchise, it's evident that Monster Hunter Wilds is a direct successor to World, not Rise.
Rise introduced innovative features like rideable mounts and the Wirebug grapple mechanic, but these came at the cost of the larger, seamless zones that World offered. Originally designed for the Nintendo Switch with its more modest hardware, Rise focused on speed and smaller zones, accelerating the hunt-upgrade-hunt cycle but sacrificing some of the expansive scale and immersive friction found in World. These are the elements that Wilds aims to reclaim and expand upon.
World serves as the blueprint for the larger, open areas in Wilds. With its emphasis on tracking monsters through a detailed ecosystem, World offers the perfect preparation for the expansive hunts in Wilds. These open zones, where thrilling hunts unfold across diverse terrains, are where the modern Monster Hunter experience truly shines. Why wait to experience this when you can get a head start with World?
Although Wilds isn't a direct narrative continuation of World, the approach to storytelling and campaign structure in World will set your expectations for Wilds. You'll encounter familiar elements like the Hunter's Guild and your feline companions, the Palicos, which will also appear in Wilds. However, these elements are not connected to previous or future entries, much like how the Final Fantasy series features recurring characters and creatures without direct story links.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Beyond understanding the Monster Hunter universe and the structure of Wilds' campaign, the most compelling reason to play Monster Hunter: World first is its challenging combat system. Wilds features 14 weapons, each with unique playstyles and strategies, all of which are also available in World. Playing World allows you to master these weapons and decide which one best suits your style, whether it's the agile dual-blades or the imposing greatsword. Each weapon in Monster Hunter is distinct and requires focused practice to master, making World an ideal training ground.
In the Monster Hunter series, your weapon defines your role and strategy in combat, much like a character class in traditional RPGs. World teaches you how to upgrade weapons using parts from slain monsters and navigate the weapon tree. It also emphasizes the importance of positioning and attack angles over raw damage output. Understanding where to strike a monster for maximum impact is crucial, and World helps you learn this, whether you're using a Longsword to sever tails or a Hammer to knock monsters out.
Mastering the tempo of each hunt in World will give you a significant advantage in Wilds. The Slinger, a tool that returns in Wilds, is introduced in World and allows you to use special gadgets and ammo during fights. Learning when to use Flash Pods or poison knives can turn the tide of battle, and familiarity with World's crafting system will ease your transition to Wilds.
As you become adept with World's weapons and tools, you'll uncover the series' broader gameplay loop. This involves tracking monsters, gathering resources like ore and honey for crafting, and preparing for each hunt. Understanding this rhythm will greatly benefit you in Wilds.
A hunt in Monster Hunter is not about rushing in for a quick kill. Each expedition is designed to take time, especially on your first encounter with a monster. Learning the intricacies of each creature, from the fire-breathing Anjanath to the bomb-dropping Bazelgeuse, builds foundational knowledge that will serve you well in Wilds.
If you need another incentive to play Monster Hunter: World before Wilds, you can earn free Palico armor by importing save data from World into Wilds, and additional armor if you have data from the Iceborne expansion. It's a small perk, but outfitting your Palico is always fun.
While it's not necessary to play a previous Monster Hunter game before starting a new one, the series is uniquely complex. Although Capcom has been working to simplify the learning curve with each new release, the best way to prepare for Monster Hunter is by playing Monster Hunter. While some may enjoy jumping straight into Wilds blind, now is the perfect time to dive into Monster Hunter: World and get acquainted with the game's language and community before Wilds launches on February 28, 2025.
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