As one of Steam's most eagerly anticipated pre-orders, Monster Hunter Wilds is poised to make a huge impact. For those new to the series, Wilds might be their first foray into the world of monster hunting. While the game will likely include a comprehensive tutorial for newcomers, the Monster Hunter series is known for its complexity and depth. To better prepare for the vast and challenging world of Monster Hunter Wilds, we strongly recommend diving into the 2018 release, Monster Hunter: World, before embarking on your new adventure.
Our recommendation to play Monster Hunter: World isn't based on a narrative connection or a cliffhanger that you'll need to understand Wilds' storyline. Instead, it's because Monster Hunter: World closely mirrors the style and structure that you'll encounter in Wilds. By playing World, you'll familiarize yourself with the intricate systems and gameplay loop that define the series, making your transition to Wilds smoother and more enjoyable.
Monster Hunter: World shares much in common with the upcoming Monster Hunter Wilds. | Image credit: Capcom
Why Monster Hunter: World?
If you've been following Capcom's recent releases, you might wonder why we're recommending Monster Hunter: World over the more recent Monster Hunter Rise. While Rise is an excellent game with innovative features like rideable mounts and the Wirebug grapple mechanic, it was designed with the Nintendo Switch's limitations in mind. This led to smaller, more segmented zones that, while speeding up the gameplay loop, sacrificed the larger, more seamless areas that World offered. Monster Hunter Wilds appears to be returning to the expansive, interconnected environments that World pioneered, making it the ideal precursor to what you'll experience in Wilds.
Monster Hunter: World is the blueprint for Wilds' expansive open areas, where tracking monsters through detailed ecosystems is a key element. These zones serve as stages for long, thrilling hunts across varied terrain, a hallmark of modern Monster Hunter games. Playing World will give you a taste of what's to come in Wilds, preparing you for its expansive world.
While Monster Hunter Wilds isn't a direct continuation of World's story, playing World will set your expectations for the narrative and campaign structure of Wilds. You'll encounter familiar elements like the Hunter's Guild and your feline companions, the Palicos, which will also be present in Wilds. These elements are consistent across entries but not directly connected, much like the recurring themes in the Final Fantasy series.
Practice, Practice, Practice
The most compelling reason to play Monster Hunter: World before Wilds is to master the game's challenging combat. Both games feature 14 unique weapons, each with distinct playstyles and strategies. By playing World, you can get a head start on understanding and mastering these weapons. Whether you prefer the agility of dual blades or the power of the greatsword, World serves as an excellent training ground to learn and perfect your skills.
Learning the intricacies of bows, swords, and switch axes is a big part of Monster Hunter. | Image credit: Capcom
In the Monster Hunter series, your weapon defines your role and approach to each hunt, much like a character class in traditional RPGs. World teaches you how to upgrade weapons using parts from defeated monsters, guiding you through the weapon tree to higher-level gear. It also emphasizes the importance of strategy over brute force, teaching you to target specific monster parts for maximum impact. For example, using the Longsword to sever tails or the hammer to stun by hitting the head.
Understanding the tempo of each hunt is crucial, and World introduces the Slinger, a tool that returns in Wilds. Learning to use the Slinger effectively, whether to blind a monster with a Flash Pod or deal chip damage with poison knives, can be pivotal in battles. Familiarizing yourself with World's crafting system will also help when you transition to Wilds' similar mechanics.
As you progress in World, you'll master the broader gameplay loop of tracking monsters, gathering resources, and preparing for hunts. This knowledge will be invaluable when you dive into Wilds, where each expedition is designed to be a thoughtful, engaging experience.
AnswerSee ResultsMonster Hunter hunts are not about quick kills; they're about strategic engagements that take time, especially on your first encounter with a monster. Understanding the nuances of creatures like the fire-breathing Anjanath or the bomb-dropping Bazelgeuse will give you a solid foundation for Wilds, which aims to capture the same sense of adventure and spectacle as World.
Additionally, playing Monster Hunter: World before Wilds can earn you some bonuses. You can unlock free Palico armor by importing save data from World into Wilds, and even more armor if you have data from the Iceborne expansion. It's a small perk, but who doesn't love dressing up their feline companions?
While it's not necessary to play previous Monster Hunter games before starting Wilds, the series' unique mechanics and systems are best learned through experience. Capcom continues to refine the learning curve with each new release, but there's no substitute for hands-on practice. Jumping into Monster Hunter: World now will not only enhance your understanding of the game's language and community but also prepare you for the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds on February 28, 2025.
