I’ve been with Monster Hunter since its debut on the PS2. Back then, the thrill of toppling titanic beasts with nothing but a giant sword, a whetstone, and sheer determination felt unmatched. But it wasn’t until Monster Hunter World that my love for the franchise deepened—its modernization, quality-of-life improvements, and online co-op made it a phenomenon. Now, Monster Hunter Wilds is here, and I can confidently say this is the proper World sequel we’ve been waiting for.
It takes everything that World built and refines it, polishing the mechanics Rise experimented with—like Palamute riding, which has now evolved into the Seikret mount system. But Wilds also takes a surprising step toward accessibility, making it the most user-friendly Monster Hunter entry yet. The problem? That accessibility sometimes strips away the series’ traditional difficulty, at least until you hit the postgame.
Gorgeously Spineless Story
Capcom has put immense effort into making Monster Hunter Wilds a cinematic feast. From the opening cutscene to the dramatic monster introductions, this is easily the most visually striking the series has ever been. The RE Engine flexes its muscles with stunning environmental detail, hyper-realistic monster animations, and seamless transitions between exploration and battle. Every cinematic set-piece carries the weight of a full-fledged adventure film, capturing the sheer scale of these creatures with awe-inspiring angles.
But while the presentation is breathtaking, the story itself feels… well, inconsequential. It follows the familiar formula—new lands, new monsters, and a new research team with a noble yet ultimately forgettable mission. The characters are overtly polite, even in a world teeming with mortal danger. There’s no real sense of struggle or urgency, which makes the narrative feel more like an extended tutorial than a high-stakes journey. Monster Hunter has never been about deep storytelling, but when the world is this rich, I can’t help but want something more impactful.
Smooth, Refined, and Satisfying
Where Wilds truly shines is in its combat and mechanics. If you’ve played Monster Hunter World, you’ll feel right at home, but with a host of improvements. The ability to swap weapons mid-hunt is a game-changer—though personally, I stuck to my Charge Blade for most of my playthrough. Still, for those who love versatility, the option to shift tactics on the fly is fantastic. The new Seikret mounts are another huge evolution, essentially replacing the Palamute system from Rise but feeling much more integrated into the world. They move fluidly across different terrains, making navigation seamless, and even allow for mid-chase combat, keeping up the adrenaline as you pursue wounded monsters.
That said, Wilds leans heavily into accessibility. The mainline story is practically a glorified tutorial, guiding new players through every mechanic with minimal challenge. Even High Rank hunts barely posed a threat to an experienced hunter like myself. The real test lies in the endgame and post-launch content, which will hopefully ramp up the intensity that veterans crave.
The roster of monsters in Wilds is both diverse and meticulously crafted. Each creature presents unique challenges, requiring hunters to adapt their strategies and master their arsenal. There’s different varients of these monsters that I rather have the player see for themselves – rest assured though, Tempered Monsters exist. Here’s a comprehensive list of monsters that awaits your hunt:
- Rathalos
- Rathian
- Rey Dau
- Gravios
- Rompopolo
- Baunos
- Yian Kut-Ku
- Quematrice
- Congalala
- Doshaguma
- Hirabami
- Piragill
- Chatacabra
- Uth Duna
- Mizutsune
- Talioth
- Gelidron
- Balahara
- Lala Barina
- Nerscylla
- Nu Udra
- Odogaron
- Zoh Shia
- Arkveld
The RE Engine Meets Performance Woes
Visually, Monster Hunter Wilds is an absolute stunner. The RE Engine continues to prove why it’s one of Capcom’s most versatile tools, rendering jaw-dropping landscapes, hyper-detailed monster textures, and cinematic lighting effects. But that beauty comes at a cost. Performance is rough across the board. I experienced multiple crashes, severe frame rate stuttering, and inconsistent optimization that made some areas almost unplayable. On a high-end PC, I expected a smoother experience, but even console players have reported similar issues. It’s frustrating because the game looks phenomenal—but it needs patches to truly shine.
Multiplayer has always been the heart of Monster Hunter, but Wilds makes some bafflingly archaic choices. While cross-play is present, joining friends feels clunky compared to modern standards. The lobby system is unintuitive, and party management takes more steps than it should. For a game that thrives on cooperative hunts, I expected a smoother experience. Hopefully, future updates will refine the online structure.
REVIEW SCORE: 8.5/10
Monster Hunter Wilds is the best game in the franchise, even if it doesn’t land as gracefully as it should. Its combat is refined, its world is stunning, and its monster designs are top-tier. But performance issues, a too-easy main campaign, and outdated multiplayer mechanics hold it back from true greatness.
That said, I can’t wait for G Rank to drop, bringing tougher challenges and new monsters to hunt. Because at the end of the day, Wilds is still an incredible experience—one that will only get better with time.
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