"Play Monster Hunter: World Before Wilds: Here's Why"

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 franchise, the series' complexity and depth can be daunting. While Wilds will likely feature a robust tutorial, diving into a previous installment can be immensely beneficial. Before embarking on the vast and treacherous world of Monster Hunter Wilds, we strongly recommend checking out Monster Hunter: World from 2018.

Our recommendation for World isn't due to any narrative connections or cliffhangers; rather, it's because Monster Hunter: World closely mirrors the style and structure of Wilds. Playing World is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the series' intricate systems and engaging gameplay loop, preparing you for what's to come.

Monster Hunter: World shares much in common with the upcoming Monster Hunter Wilds. | Image credit: Capcom

Why Monster Hunter: World?

If you've followed Capcom's recent releases, you might wonder why not play Monster Hunter Rise, the latest in the series, instead of revisiting Monster Hunter: World. While Rise is a fantastic 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 focused on speed and smaller zones, which streamlined the hunt-upgrade-hunt cycle but sacrificed some of the expansive scale and engaging complexity found in World. Wilds seems to be reclaiming and expanding upon these elements from World.

Monster Hunter: World features expansive zones and a focus on tracking monsters within a detailed ecosystem, serving as the blueprint for Wilds' larger open areas. This makes World the ideal game to prepare you for the thrilling hunts across varied terrains that Wilds promises. While Wilds' story isn't a direct continuation of World, 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, which, while not connected to previous entries, are integral to the series' identity, much like recurring elements in the Final Fantasy series.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Beyond understanding the Monster Hunter universe and campaign structure, the primary reason to play Monster Hunter: World first is its challenging combat system. Wilds will feature 14 weapons, each with unique playstyles and strategies, all of which are also available in World. By playing World, you can familiarize yourself with these weapons, learning their techniques and finding the one that best suits your playstyle. Whether it's the agile dual-blades or the powerful greatsword, mastering these weapons is crucial, and World serves as the perfect training ground.

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 is your primary source of power and defines your role in battle, much like a character class in traditional RPGs. World teaches you how to upgrade weapons using parts from defeated 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 effect is key, 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 success in battles. Familiarity with crafting Slinger ammo and navigating World's crafting menus will be advantageous when you transition to Wilds.

The gameplay loop in World involves tracking monsters, gathering resources, and preparing for hunts. This loop becomes second nature over time, and understanding its rhythm will give you a significant advantage in Wilds. Each hunt is designed to be a thoughtful, strategic endeavor, not a rush to victory. Learning the nuances of different monsters, from the fire-breathing Anjanath to the bomb-dropping Bazelgeuse, builds foundational knowledge that will serve you well in Wilds.

As an added incentive, importing save data from World into Wilds grants you free Palico armor, and data from the Iceborne expansion provides an additional set. While not necessary, these perks add a fun element to your journey.

While it's not mandatory to play a previous Monster Hunter game before starting Wilds, the series' unique systems and mechanics are best learned through experience. As Capcom continues to refine the learning curve with each new release, there's no better time than now to dive into Monster Hunter: World and get acquainted with the series' language and community before Wilds launches on February 28, 2025.