As one of Steam's most eagerly anticipated pre-orders, Monster Hunter Wilds is poised to be a colossal hit. For those new to the franchise, the series is known for its complexity and depth, which can be overwhelming. While Monster Hunter Wilds will likely include a comprehensive tutorial for newcomers, diving into a previous game could be beneficial. Before venturing into the vast and treacherous world of Monster Hunter Wilds, we highly recommend exploring 2018's Monster Hunter: World.
Our recommendation isn't based on narrative continuity or a cliffhanger that would leave you lost in Wilds. Instead, it's because Monster Hunter: World closely mirrors the style and structure of Wilds. Playing World offers a fantastic introduction to the series' intricate systems and gameplay loop, preparing you for what lies ahead.
Why Monster Hunter: World?
If you've followed Capcom's recent releases, you might wonder why we suggest Monster Hunter: World over the more recent Monster Hunter Rise. While Rise is an excellent game, Monster Hunter 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 expansive, seamless zones that World featured. Originally designed for the Nintendo Switch, Rise's smaller zones prioritized speed, which streamlined the hunt-upgrade-hunt cycle but sacrificed the scale and depth that World offered. Wilds seems to be aiming to recapture and expand upon these elements from World.
Monster Hunter: World serves as the blueprint for Wilds' expansive open areas, emphasizing tracking monsters through a detailed ecosystem. This makes World the ideal game to prepare you for the thrilling hunts across varied terrain that Wilds promises. World's approach to storytelling and campaign structure will also set your expectations for Wilds, introducing you to key organizations like the Hunter's Guild and your feline companions, the Palicos, which will appear in Wilds. Although the story in Wilds isn't a direct continuation of World, understanding World's narrative style will be beneficial.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Beyond understanding the Monster Hunter universe and Wilds' campaign structure, the primary reason to play Monster Hunter: World first is to master its challenging combat. With 14 unique weapons, each with its own strategies and playstyle, World offers a perfect platform to familiarize yourself with these systems. Whether you prefer the agility of dual blades or the power of the greatsword, mastering these weapons in World will give you a significant advantage in Wilds.
In the Monster Hunter series, your weapon is your lifeline. Unlike traditional RPGs, your abilities and stats come from your weapon, not from leveling up. Each weapon acts as a character class, shaping your role and strategy in hunts. World teaches you how to upgrade weapons using parts from slain monsters and navigate the weapon tree to reach higher-level gear.
Moreover, World emphasizes the importance of positioning and attack angles over brute force. Knowing where to strike a monster can be as crucial as the weapon itself. For example, the Longsword excels at severing tails, while the hammer is perfect for stunning foes. Understanding these nuances will significantly enhance your performance in Wilds.
Mastering the tempo of each hunt is another advantage of playing World. The Slinger, a tool on your hunter's arm, allows for strategic use of gadgets and ammunition during fights. Learning to use Flash Pods or poison knives effectively can turn the tide of battle, and these skills will be invaluable in Wilds. Additionally, World's crafting system will prepare you for Wilds' resource management and crafting mechanics.
As you delve deeper into World, you'll become accustomed to the series' core gameplay loop: tracking monsters, gathering resources, and engaging in hunts. This foundational knowledge will serve you well in Wilds, where similar adventures await.
Monster Hunter hunts are not about quick kills; they're about strategy and patience. Learning to navigate battles against creatures like the fire-breathing Anjanath or the bomb-dropping Bazelgeuse will build your foundational knowledge, preparing you for Wilds' expansive adventures.
An additional incentive to play Monster Hunter: World before Wilds is the opportunity to earn 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 one that adds to the fun of customizing your feline companion.
While it's not necessary to play previous Monster Hunter games before starting Wilds, the series' unique systems and gameplay make it an exception in the gaming world. Capcom continues to refine the learning curve with each 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 immerse yourself in Monster Hunter: World and get acquainted with the community and its terminology.
