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 massive footsteps of Monster Hunter World and its expansive Iceborne expansion. But just how long will it take to conquer? Let's dive into how long it took members of the IGN team to complete the main story, their gameplay priorities, and their post-game adventures.
Tom Marks - Executive Reviews Editor, Games
I finished Monster Hunter Wilds’ campaign in just under 15 hours. Unlike Monster Hunter Rise, this is the actual story conclusion, not a halfway point. However, completing the Low Rank campaign only unlocks High Rank, brimming with side quests and tougher challenges. The journey's far from over!
I spent another 15 hours completing almost all of those High Rank quests, reaching what feels like the true endgame. This involved battling every monster, unlocking all crafting systems available at launch, and mastering the custom Artian weapon system designed for long-term engagement. Thanks to Wilds’ streamlined grind, I only needed an additional five hours to acquire my desired peak weapon and armor sets. Of course, there's much more to explore across other weapon types and beyond.
**Casey DeFreitas - Deputy Editor, Guides** --------------------------------------------------I finished the final High Rank "story" mission in Monster Hunter Wilds around 40 hours, approximately 22 hours after completing Low Rank. It's hard to be precise, as I spent considerable time in menus for guide creation. During Low Rank, I focused on crafting what I could and progressing, skipping repeated hunts. My High Rank approach was similar, but I ventured beyond Story Missions to hunt optional monsters and collaborate with friends—a necessity for unlocking Story Missions.
I only upgraded my weapon once by hunting an extra Ajarakan to reach the final mission, otherwise, I focused on reaching the end. Ideally, I'd have spent closer to 60 hours, crafting more efficient armor and weapons.
I still have endemic life to collect, fishing to do, and six remaining monster-hunting Side Missions. At least one more optional quest awaits. Beyond that, I plan to farm monsters for Talisman upgrades, create new armor, experiment with Artian weapons, and replay the story with friends while mastering new weapons. Future title updates and event quests only add to the excitement!
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Simon Cardy - Senior Editorial Producer
Completing Monster Hunter Wilds’ main story took me just under 16 hours, a surprising speed compared to my World playthrough (25 hours without reaching the end). As a relative newcomer to the series, I found many battles surprisingly easy. While I fainted a few times against apex predators, the overall experience felt breezy. The streamlined gameplay, scaling back elemental weaknesses, crafting requirements, and extensive tracking, clearly impacts the playtime.
The consistent story cutscene/monster battle rhythm, lasting until the credits, is notable. It feels less like a pure Monster Hunter experience, incorporating more Western cinematic story elements. While I appreciated the swift story conclusion, I wonder if it sacrifices core Monster Hunter elements until the post-game.
Jada Griffin - Community Lead
I reached the initial credits in Monster Hunter Wilds in about 20 hours, mostly spent on optional and side quests. I also enjoyed exploring the world, hunting endemic life, customizing menus and shouts, and finding optimal camp locations.
Completing all High-Rank missions and side quests took another 15 hours. I've since logged nearly 70 hours on post-game activities like hunting with friends, farming decorations, and hunting for monster crowns. I'm eager for future title updates adding new monsters!
**Ronny Barrier - Producer, Guides** -------------------------------------------I saw the initial credits after about 20 hours, mainly focusing on the story with brief breaks to craft armor sets. I experimented with various weapons (Switch Axe is awesome!), which extended my playtime. At 65 hours, I don't consider those credits the true ending, viewing the story as an extended tutorial. There's still plenty of hunting, new monsters, and hats to craft. Except Congalala. Never again.
