As one of Steam's most pre-ordered games right now, Monster Hunter Wilds is poised to be a massive hit. For those new to the series, the complexity and depth of Monster Hunter games can be overwhelming. While Wilds will likely include a comprehensive tutorial, diving into a previous game can provide a smoother entry into this intricate world. Before you venture into the vast and dangerous expanse of Monster Hunter Wilds, we highly recommend checking out 2018's Monster Hunter: World.
Our recommendation for Monster Hunter: World isn't due to any narrative connections or cliffhangers that might confuse you in Wilds. Instead, it's because World closely mirrors the style and structure of Wilds. Playing World is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the series' sometimes complex systems and gameplay loop, preparing you for what's to come.
Why Monster Hunter: World?
If you've followed Capcom's recent releases, you might wonder why we're suggesting Monster Hunter: World over the more recent Monster Hunter Rise. While Rise is an excellent game, Wilds appears to be a direct successor to World rather than Rise. Rise introduced innovative mechanics like rideable mounts and the Wirebug grapple, but these came at the cost of the larger, seamless zones that World offered. Originally designed for the Nintendo Switch, Rise's smaller zones and faster gameplay loop sacrificed some of the scale and depth that World provided. Wilds seems to be recapturing and expanding upon these elements from World.
World's large zones and emphasis on tracking monsters through a detailed ecosystem serve as the blueprint for Wilds' expansive open areas. This makes World the perfect game to prepare you for the thrilling hunts across varied terrains that modern Monster Hunter games are known for. While Wilds' story isn't a direct continuation of World's, 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 Palicos, though these will be unconnected to previous entries, much like the Final Fantasy series where each game features recurring elements but tells a distinct story.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Beyond understanding the Monster Hunter universe and campaign structure, the strongest reason to play Monster Hunter: World first is its challenging combat. Wilds features 14 weapons, each with unique playstyles and strategies, all of which are also present in World. By playing World, you can familiarize yourself with these weapons, learning their techniques and deciding which suits your playstyle best. Whether it's the agile dual-blades or the powerful greatsword, mastering these weapons in World will give you a head start in Wilds.
In the Monster Hunter series, your weapon is your primary tool, akin to 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, whether it's slicing off tails with a Longsword or knocking enemies down with a Hammer.
Additionally, World introduces the Slinger, a tool that returns in Wilds. Learning to use the Slinger effectively, whether to blind enemies with Flash Pods or deal chip damage with poison knives, can significantly impact your hunts. Familiarity with World's crafting menus and recipes will also help when you start using Wilds' versions.
As you master World's weapons and tools, you'll uncover other layers of the Monster Hunter series. The gameplay loop involves tracking monsters, gathering resources like ore and honey, and preparing for the hunt. Understanding this tempo will give you a significant advantage in Wilds.
AnswerSee ResultsMonster Hunter hunts are designed to be thoughtful and time-consuming, especially on your first encounter. Learning the intricacies of each monster, from the fire-breathing Anjanath to the bomb-dropping Bazelgeuse, builds foundational knowledge that will serve you well in Wilds. World's focus on the spectacle and scale of these adventures makes it the ideal training ground for what Wilds promises to deliver.
As an added incentive, importing save data from World into Wilds will grant you free Palico armor, and additional armor if you have data from the Iceborne expansion. Dressing up your Palico is a fun bonus that adds to the experience.
While it's not necessary to play a previous Monster Hunter game before starting a new one, the series' unique systems make it beneficial to do so. Capcom has been working to ease the learning curve with each new release, but the best way to prepare for Monster Hunter is by playing Monster Hunter. As Wilds approaches its launch on February 28, 2025, there's no better time to dive into Monster Hunter: World and get acquainted with the series' language and community.
