As one of Steam's most pre-ordered games, Monster Hunter Wilds is poised to be a massive hit. For those new to the franchise, the series can be daunting due to its complexity and depth. While Wilds will likely include a comprehensive tutorial, diving into a previous game can offer valuable insight. We strongly recommend playing 2018's Monster Hunter: World before embarking on your journey in the vast and dangerous world of Monster Hunter Wilds.
Our recommendation for Monster Hunter: World isn't due to any narrative continuity or cliffhanger that would confuse you in Wilds. Instead, it's because World mirrors the style and structure of Wilds more closely than any other game in the series. By playing World, you'll get a solid foundation in the series' often intricate systems and gameplay loop, preparing you for what's to come.
Why Monster Hunter: World?
If you're familiar with Capcom's recent releases, you might wonder why not play Monster Hunter Rise instead, given it's the latest in the series. While Rise is indeed excellent, Monster Hunter Wilds is more of a direct successor to World than to Rise. Rise introduced innovative features like rideable mounts and the Wirebug grapple, but these came at the cost of the expansive, seamless zones that World offered. Rise was initially designed for the Nintendo Switch, which influenced its design towards smaller, faster-paced zones. In contrast, World's larger zones and detailed ecosystems are what Wilds seems to be expanding upon.
World serves as a blueprint for Wilds' larger open areas, focusing on tracking monsters through intricate ecosystems. This is why World is the perfect game to prepare you for the expansive hunts in Wilds. World's open zones are stages for thrilling hunts across varied terrain, a hallmark of modern Monster Hunter that Wilds is expected to deliver on. Why wait when you can experience it first in World?
It's worth noting that Monster Hunter Wilds' story is not a direct continuation of World's, but World's approach to storytelling and campaign structure 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 be in Wilds. These elements, while present, are not connected across entries, much like the Final Fantasy series where recurring characters and monsters appear but each game stands alone.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Beyond understanding the Monster Hunter universe and its campaign structure, playing Monster Hunter: World is crucial for mastering the series' challenging combat. Wilds will feature 14 weapons, each with unique playstyles and strategies, all of which are available in World. By playing World, you can become proficient with these weapons, learning their techniques and finding the one that suits your playstyle best. Whether you prefer the agility of dual blades or the power of a greatsword, World is the perfect training ground to hone your skills.
In Monster Hunter, your weapon is your identity. Unlike traditional RPGs where you level up and gain skills, your abilities are tied directly to your weapon. World teaches you how to upgrade your weapons using parts from slain monsters and how to progress through the weapon tree. Moreover, World emphasizes the importance of strategy over brute force, teaching you the significance of positioning and targeting specific monster parts for maximum impact.
Understanding the rhythm of each hunt is essential, and World introduces you to tools like the Slinger, which returns in Wilds. Mastering the use of the Slinger's gadgets and ammo can significantly enhance your combat effectiveness. Crafting Slinger ammo from environmental resources is a skill that will serve you well in Wilds.
As you progress in World, you'll learn the broader gameplay loop of tracking monsters, gathering resources, and preparing for hunts. This foundational knowledge will be invaluable in Wilds, where similar mechanics are expected to play a significant role.
AnswerSee ResultsMonster Hunter hunts are designed to be thorough and time-consuming, especially on your first encounter with a monster. Understanding the intricacies of different creatures, from the fire-breathing Anjanath to the bomb-dropping Bazelgeuse, builds essential knowledge. With Wilds aiming to capture the same scope and scale as World, playing the 2018 game serves as the ideal preparation.
An added incentive to play Monster Hunter: World before Wilds is the opportunity to earn free Palico armor by importing your save data into Wilds, and an additional set if you have data from World's Iceborne expansion. Customizing your Palico adds a fun layer to your gameplay experience.
While it's not necessary to play a previous Monster Hunter game before starting a new one, the series is unique enough that the best way to prepare is by playing Monster Hunter. Although many will enjoy jumping straight into Wilds, there's no better time than now to dive into Monster Hunter: World and familiarize yourself with the game's language and community before Wilds' launch on February 28, 2025.
