How Long Is Monster Hunter Wilds?

It's finally here! Monster Hunter Wilds has arrived on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. This latest entry in Capcom's acclaimed beast-battling series follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, Monster Hunter World, and its expansive Iceborne expansion. But just how much playtime are we talking about? IGN's team shares their experiences, revealing their completion times, priorities, and post-game adventures.

Tom Marks - Executive Reviews Editor, Games

I finished Monster Hunter Wilds’ main story in just under 15 hours. Unlike Monster Hunter Rise, this is the actual story conclusion, not a halfway point. However, completing the campaign only concludes Low Rank. High Rank awaits, brimming with side quests and tougher challenges. It took me another 15 hours to complete almost all of these quests and reach what I'd consider the true endgame. This involved battling every monster, unlocking all crafting options, and mastering the new Artian weapon system. Thanks to Wilds’ streamlined progression, I only needed another five hours to acquire my desired weapons and armor sets, although plenty more remains for those seeking further customization across different weapon types.

Casey DeFreitas - Deputy Editor, Guides

I completed Monster Hunter Wilds’ final High Rank story mission at around 40 hours, approximately 22 hours after finishing Low Rank. Accuracy is tricky, as I spent time in menus for guide creation. During Low Rank, I focused on progression, crafting only what was necessary and avoiding hunt repetition. My High Rank approach was similar, but I branched out to tackle optional monsters and hunt with friends (essential for unlocking story missions). I only upgraded my weapon once by hunting an extra Ajarakan, otherwise prioritizing reaching the final mission. Ideally, with more time, I'd have spent closer to 60 hours, crafting more efficient gear. I still have endemic life to collect, six side missions, and at least one more optional quest to unlock. Beyond that, I plan to farm for Talisman upgrades, experiment with different armor sets, and explore Artian weapon crafting. Future plans include leisurely playthroughs with friends, learning new weapons, upcoming event quests, and title updates introducing new monsters.

Simon Cardy - Senior Editorial Producer

I finished Monster Hunter Wilds’ main story in just under 16 hours, a surprising time compared to my World experience (25 hours without reaching the end). As a relative newcomer to the series, I found many battles easier than expected. While I fainted a couple of times against apex predators, the overall experience felt quite smooth. Streamlined gameplay clearly impacted the runtime, with elements like elemental weaknesses, loadout crafting, and extensive tracking minimized. The consistent story cutscene/monster battle rhythm also affected my playtime. While I appreciated the swift story conclusion, I wonder if it sacrificed some core Monster Hunter elements, delaying them until the post-game.

Jada Griffin - Community Lead

Reaching the initial credits in Monster Hunter Wilds took me about 20 hours. A significant portion was spent on optional and side quests, while another chunk was dedicated to exploring the world—discovering paths, hunting endemic life, customizing menus and shouts, and finding ideal camp locations. Completing all High Rank missions and side quests took another 15 hours. I’ve since spent nearly 70 hours on post-game activities like casual hunts with friends, decoration farming, and hunting for monster crowns. I’m excited for future title updates adding more monsters.

Ronny Barrier - Producer, Guides

I saw the first credits after about 20 hours, mostly focusing on the story with minor detours for armor set crafting. I experimented with various weapons (Switch Axe is fantastic!), extending my playtime. With 65 hours played, I don't consider those credits the true ending, viewing the story as an extended tutorial. Plenty of hunting, new monsters, and crafting opportunities remain—except for Congalala; I hope never to see him again!