Wilds, the successor to Monster Hunter World, has been announced. Kevin explains why even newcomers to the action role-playing game should pay attention
At the Game Awards, there was a huge surprise for Monster Hunter fans: the long-awaited sequel to the acclaimed Monster Hunter World was finally announced. However, not only long-time fans have reason to rejoice.
I myself am a passionate Monster Hunter fan, have several hundred hours with World on the clock and firmly claim: Monster Hunter Wilds could also be very exciting if you have nothing to do with the series so far.
Perhaps the first real open world in the series
Official information is not yet available apart from the reveal trailer. But it shows a vast-looking desert biome with jagged rock formations in the distance, windswept desert sand and steppe-like plains. So Wilds is either taking us into extremely vast, separate areas or, for the first time in the series, into a single, gigantic open world This is also supported by the fact that the trailer only shows one type of landscape, but it looks very chic and detailed
In addition, you can see a wide variety of smaller monsters and animals roaming the land. For example, a herd of spiny anteaters, on whose backs small birds enjoy their free cab, while dragon-like beasts (including the well-known Rathalos!) circle in the sky. The world could therefore not only be bigger, but also more alive than ever, with natural interactions such as turf wars between the inhabitants
The mount could prevent long walking distances, much like the dog-snouted Palamutes in Monster Hunter Rise. You can see a bird wyvern that the hunter can use to get from A to B quickly. You may be able to tame companions yourself or have a single companion at your side for the entire game. So open-world fans should definitely keep Monster Hunter Wilds on their radar! Breath of the Wild as inspiration Open World and Breath of the Wild are still often mentioned in the same breath (ha ha!) – for good reason. Zelda has inspired and enriched modern game worlds with many magical details. Much like Link with his glider, you can also stay in the air for a short time on your mount and thus overcome greater distances or heights. Relatively free climbing also seems to be possible when you use it to leap from rock to rock, allowing you to explore the open world vertically. The trailer also shows some interesting weather effects such as a huge sandstorm and lightning striking around the hunter.
So it’s quite possible that weather and environmental conditions have a direct influence on the hunt Maybe different monsters appear or you have to look for a safe place to hide to escape a storm. Or you can equip other equipment to protect yourself from the dangerous electricity of lightning. Potions against the cold and other status effects could also return in even greater variety
More variety and flexibility
Speaking of variety – there are a few more gameplay details hidden in the trailer. And they promise that the game gives you even more freedom than Monster Hunter World. For one thing, you can see that you can carry one weapon on your back and stow another in your mount’s pouch. This means you can probably carry two types of weapon and switch comfortably on the go – for example between hammer and bow or double blades and greatsword.
On the other hand, you also have a tent stowed behind the saddle, which could indicate a free camp system. In Monster Hunter World, there were fixed storage areas that you gradually uncovered and could use to strengthen missions or replenish resources in between
If Wilds actually has an open world, you may now be able to set up your portable camp anywhere as you gradually explore it.
The gameplay is based on a loot-hunting spiral similar to Diablo, so you’ll need to enjoy grinds and different builds to warm to the series.
Capcom knows how to provide good service
Monster Hunter World was a huge success for Capcom, selling over 19 million units. The former Japanese niche series has thus long since arrived in the mainstream. The developers made it clear early on: Monster Hunter should become more and more accessible and reach more and more players and World has already shown very well how this works without sacrificing a massive amount of sophistication.
Hardcore fans need not despair, however. After all, there are two development teams behind Monster Hunter. While one is now continuing the more traditional parts after MH Rise, the World team is now looking further into the future with Monster Hunter Wilds – and probably for years to come. Because another great strength of Monster Hunter World was the service model
Although not everyone is a fan of long-term support, Monster Hunter World showed how it should be done. There were regular free updates with new monsters and seasonal events. And then came Iceborne, a huge expansion that almost felt like a sequel:
So if you give Monster Hunter Wilds a chance, you’ll probably have something to enjoy for quite a long time from the new installment, which will be released in 2025 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series
Are you looking forward to the new Monster Hunter and are you new to the series or a veteran? What are you expecting or hoping for? Let me know in the comments
