Discover Why Monster Hunter: World Reignites the Hunt

Mastering Monster Hunter Wilds: Why You Should Play Monster Hunter: World First

With Monster Hunter Wilds among Steam's top pre-ordered games, many will experience the series for the first time. While Wilds will likely offer a comprehensive tutorial, the series' complexity might benefit from a preparatory playthrough of a previous title. Before diving into Wilds' expansive world, we strongly recommend starting with 2018's Monster Hunter: World.

This isn't about narrative connections; Monster Hunter: World's gameplay and structure closely mirror Wilds'. Playing World provides invaluable onboarding, familiarizing you with the sometimes intricate systems and core gameplay loop.

Why Monster Hunter: World?

You might wonder about Monster Hunter Rise, the most recent entry. While excellent, Wilds appears to be a direct successor to World, not Rise. Rise, initially designed for the Nintendo Switch, prioritized speed and smaller zones, streamlining the hunt-upgrade-hunt cycle but sacrificing some of World's larger, more immersive environments. Wilds seems to recapture and expand upon these aspects of World.

World's expansive zones and emphasis on tracking monsters within a detailed ecosystem serve as a blueprint for Wilds' even larger open areas. This makes World ideal preparation for the thrilling, large-scale hunts across diverse terrains that define modern Monster Hunter.

While Wilds' story is independent, World's narrative structure and presentation will set expectations for Wilds. You'll encounter familiar elements like the Hunter's Guild and Palicos, albeit unconnected to previous entries. Consider this similar to the Final Fantasy series, where recurring elements exist across distinct, unrelated games.

Practice Makes Perfect

Beyond understanding the Monster Hunter universe and Wilds' campaign structure, the strongest argument for playing World first lies in its challenging combat. Wilds features 14 weapons, each with unique playstyles, all present in World. Mastering these weapons requires dedicated practice, and World offers the perfect training ground to experiment and find your preferred style. Each weapon demands focus and strategic understanding.

Weapon proficiency in Monster Hunter is paramount, unlike traditional RPGs. Abilities and stats are weapon-dependent, making weapon choice akin to selecting a class in other action RPGs. World teaches weapon upgrades using monster parts and strategic combat, emphasizing precise positioning and attack angles over raw damage. Understanding a weapon's optimal impact points is crucial.

World also introduces the Slinger, a crucial tool returning in Wilds. Mastering its gadgets and ammunition, crafted from environmental ingredients, significantly enhances gameplay. Familiarity with World's crafting system will prove invaluable in Wilds.

The overall hunt tempo in World mirrors Wilds'. Tracking monsters, mining ore, gathering materials—these actions become second nature, providing a significant advantage in Wilds. Learning the nuances of each hunt, from facing the Anjanath to strategizing against Bazelgeuse, builds essential foundational knowledge.

Bonus: Importing save data from World (and its Iceborne expansion) into Wilds unlocks free Palico armor.

While not mandatory, playing Monster Hunter: World provides an unparalleled advantage. While accessibility has improved, the series' unique systems are best learned through experience. While some will enjoy jumping into Wilds blind, playing World offers a smoother transition and valuable preparation for Wilds' February 28, 2025 launch.