Monster Hunter Wilds Review - Happy Hunting Playground
Gaming News is thrilled to present our comprehensive review of Monster Hunter Wilds, a title that promises to revolutionize the beloved monster-slaying franchise. Developed and published by the renowned Capcom, this latest installment arrives with the weight of expectation from a massive global fanbase. Reviewed on the PlayStation 5, Monster Hunter Wilds also graces Xbox Series X/S and PC, making its ambitious world accessible to a broad spectrum of players. With a Teen rating, it beckons adventurers into a world teeming with colossal beasts and intricate ecosystems.
While the Monster Hunter series has amassed a formidable following, its notorious learning curve has historically presented a barrier to entry for newcomers. Each new release inevitably sparks the question: “Is this the one to finally break into the series?” We can confidently state that Monster Hunter Wilds not only answers that question with a resounding yes but also elevates the experience for both seasoned veterans and curious novices. Through its meticulously refined combat, thrilling cutscenes, and an endlessly engaging gameplay loop, Wilds offers an excellent entry point. Despite persistent shortcomings in its tutorialization and certain unintuitive mechanics, Wilds demonstrably accommodates those seeking a more accessible approach without sacrificing the core, exhilarating elements that define the Monster Hunter experience.
The Thrill of the Hunt: Core Gameplay and Combat Mechanics
As its name unequivocally implies, the central allure of Monster Hunter Wilds resides in its dynamic environments, populated by a diverse array of monsters waiting to be tracked, engaged, and ultimately, harvested for crafting powerful gear. The combat system remains the undeniable shining star, presenting players with a satisfying array of weapons right from the outset. Our experience saw a strong inclination towards the longsword, appreciating its potent slashing capabilities and the strategic depth offered by its spirit meter. However, the sheer brute force and impactful hammer’s mighty smashing abilities also proved utterly captivating. The act of bonking a monster on the head has never felt more viscerally rewarding, a testament to the exceptional work of the combat designers, sound designers, and animators.
A significant and welcome addition in Wilds is the introduction of wounds. These visible markers appear on a monster’s body after sustained assaults on specific areas. Crucially, landing a focus strike on a wound not only staggers the creature but also inflicts substantial damage, transforming it into an essential and satisfying mechanic that rewards precision and tactical targeting. This layer of depth adds another dimension to each encounter, encouraging players to adapt their strategies on the fly and exploit enemy vulnerabilities.
An Unexpectedly Engaging Narrative and Presentation
Typically, narrative elements are not the primary focus in discussions surrounding the Monster Hunter franchise. Therefore, we were genuinely pleasantly surprised by Wilds’ characters and cutscenes, which managed to keep us thoroughly invested throughout the entire campaign. The overarching quest begins with the Hunter’s Guild discovering Nata, a boy who has become separated from his tribe. This discovery sets in motion an expedition to locate his ancestral home within the Forbidden Lands, a region previously believed to be uninhabited.
The ensuing adventure masterfully showcases Nata’s character growth as he grapples with the profound impact of human civilization on the environment. Crucially, this thematic exploration is expertly interwoven with exciting, monster-based action setpieces, ensuring that the narrative never falters in its primary purpose: driving engaging gameplay. While it functions more as a meticulously crafted structure to guide the player’s progression rather than a deeply complex or emotionally resonant story in its own right, we found its narrative guidance to be an enjoyable appetizer to the truly demanding and rewarding high rank quests of the late game.
The cutscenes are particularly spectacular, often depicting dramatic lead-ins to hunts that genuinely made us feel like an epic hero. The game’s incredible soundtrack further amplifies the mood, masterfully blending traditional orchestral arrangements with cutting-edge synthesizers to evoke the volatile and often violent changes in the in-game weather. Without fail, hearing Alma authorize our hunter to undertake a formidable beast’s challenge consistently got us hyped and leaning forward in our seats, primed and ready to defend the people and delicate ecosystems of the Forbidden Lands.
Awe-Inspiring Bestiary and Dynamic Encounters
The encouragement provided by the game’s presentation is especially welcome when faced with Monster Hunter’s intimidating creature designs. Whether it’s the striking rose/spider hybrid Lala Barina or the unnervingly aberrant octopus The Black Flame, each new monster presents a formidable and visually arresting challenge. Longtime players of the series naturally grow comfortable with the familiar monsters and their predictable attack patterns. Therefore, it is incredibly reinvigorating to head into a new entry and feel genuine awe and excitement at the mere presentation of something entirely novel.
In practice, the fights are thrilling, varied, and dynamic, a direct result of the impactful extreme weather effects and the sheer creativity embedded within the monsters’ combat patterns. The initial three-chapter campaign is deliberately designed to be relatively easy, yet it avoids becoming boring. This careful balancing act serves as a significant boon if the game’s primary objective was indeed to appeal to new players and onboard them effectively into the world of Monster Hunter.
Navigating the Learning Curve: Accessibility and Challenges
Monster Hunter Wilds is, for the most part, largely approachable for newcomers, but it is essential to acknowledge a few caveats to this statement. While Wilds demonstrably exhibits a greater degree of intuitiveness compared to its predecessors, it still has considerable work to do when measured against the tutorialization standards of your average modern game. Many critical mechanics remain buried deep within menus or are left entirely unexplained. However, the initial difficulty level is low enough that this particular issue should not pose a significant or insurmountable problem for most players. You can effectively brave Wilds’ story mode while consciously opting to avoid the more complicated mechanics for a time.
In our playthrough, we purposefully selected a simpler weapon and made a concerted effort to craft new equipment every few missions. This approach resulted in only a handful of in-game deaths. Furthermore, thanks to the invaluable assists from NPCs or other online players utilizing the SOS beacon, coupled with the inherent mobility of our mount, we were frequently healed and could always swiftly escape dangerous situations.
It is certainly possible to engage with the game’s more advanced combos and mechanics, but new players must often jump through hoops to discover and master them. For instance, while the game offers a plethora of tutorial pop-ups, they often effectively convey how to perform actions without always clarifying the crucial timing or situational importance of doing so. Cooking, for example, is an undeniably crucial and iconic part of the Monster Hunter experience. However, because the portable grill is merely one item among many added to your utility toolbelt, it is not immediately apparent that you should be preparing a meal whenever your previous one wears off.
This struggle with effective tutorialization is further exacerbated by Wilds’ utilitarian menu design, characterized by a series of bland, beige tabs. While functional, this design is only truly effective if you already possess a clear understanding of what you are searching for. The tutorials are listed within these menus, but some are ridiculously buried, making them difficult to find. The most straightforward solution for many new players will undoubtedly be to play online with experienced friends, who can readily impart invaluable knowledge regarding optimal food combinations, essential tools to bring on a hunt, and which weapons beginners should initially avoid. The internet, particularly platforms like YouTube, offers an endless supply of tutorials on how to excel at these games. However, it remains a slight shame that the Monster Hunter team has yet to fully grasp the art of seamlessly bringing new players into the fold without reliance on external resources.
The Forbidden Lands: A New Frontier of Exploration
The undeniable silver lining to the game’s somewhat opaque tutorialization is that it represents a temporary hurdle. Once players manage to get their bearings and understand the fundamental systems at play, Monster Hunter Wilds truly blossoms into a profound delight. It meticulously takes Monster Hunter World’s carefully crafted gameplay loop and elevates it to an entirely new level of sophistication and engagement. The monsters are foreboding, the weapons are exceptionally sharp, and the deliberately lowered initial difficulty level ensures that newcomers can embark on their adventures without becoming hopelessly bogged down by intricate details. The Forbidden Lands stand as an enticing new playground for the series, and we eagerly anticipate spending dozens, if not hundreds, more hours uncovering the remaining secrets and challenges that this vibrant world has to offer.
This review reflects our considered opinions on the game’s current state as of its publication in 2025. Accordingly, any post-launch updates that have been released have been factored into the final evaluation.
Final Score: 8.75
Our assessment places Monster Hunter Wilds at a commendable 8.75. This score is a reflection of its remarkable achievements in combat, presentation, and overall player experience, balanced against the minor but present challenges in its onboarding process.
Why Monster Hunter Wilds Stands Out
The sheer ambition of Monster Hunter Wilds is palpable from the moment you boot up the game. Capcom has not merely iterated on a successful formula; they have demonstrably pushed the boundaries of what a Monster Hunter game can be. The Forbidden Lands are not just a new environment; they are a living, breathing ecosystem that reacts to the player and the monsters within it. The dynamic weather system, for instance, is not merely cosmetic. It directly impacts gameplay, altering monster behaviors, environmental hazards, and even the visibility of your hunt. This level of environmental integration is something few games in the genre achieve with such success.
The weapon diversity remains a cornerstone of the Monster Hunter experience, and Wilds offers a rich selection, each with its own distinct feel and strategic depth. Whether you prefer the methodical precision of the Charge Blade, the graceful yet deadly swipes of the Dual Blades, or the devastating impact of the Great Sword, there is a playstyle to suit every hunter. The new wounds mechanic further deepens the combat by rewarding players who can consistently target specific areas, leading to more strategic and rewarding hunts. This system encourages a more active and engaged approach to combat, moving beyond simply dodging and attacking to actively seeking out and exploiting enemy weaknesses.
Furthermore, the evolution of the narrative presentation in Monster Hunter Wilds is a significant departure from previous titles. By weaving a more personal story through the character of Nata and his connection to the Forbidden Lands, Capcom has managed to create a more emotionally resonant experience. The cutscenes are not just transitional moments; they are cinematic events that build anticipation and immerse the player in the world. This narrative framework, while not the sole focus, provides a compelling reason to explore and engage with the world beyond just the thrill of the hunt.
The sound design and musical score are, as expected from Capcom, absolutely top-tier. The roars of the monsters, the clash of steel, and the subtle environmental cues all contribute to an incredibly immersive atmosphere. The soundtrack, in particular, is a masterclass in adaptive scoring, swelling during intense moments and subtly underscoring periods of exploration and discovery. It effectively enhances the emotional impact of every encounter and narrative beat.
While acknowledging the learning curve, the game’s design choices, such as the lower initial difficulty and the presence of helpful NPCs and online co-op, demonstrate a clear intent to welcome new players. The ability to call for help via the SOS beacon is an invaluable feature for those who find themselves overwhelmed, allowing them to receive assistance from more experienced hunters. This fosters a sense of community and shared experience, which is vital for a game with such a robust multiplayer component.
In conclusion, Monster Hunter Wilds is a monumental achievement. It refines the core gameplay that fans have come to love while introducing new elements that invigorate the franchise. It successfully bridges the gap between accessibility and depth, offering a welcoming experience for newcomers without alienating its dedicated fanbase. The Forbidden Lands await, and we wholeheartedly recommend stepping into this happy hunting playground.