As one of Steam's most pre-ordered games, Monster Hunter Wilds is set to make a massive impact. If this will be your first foray into the Monster Hunter series, you might want to consider diving into a previous game to get a feel for the complex and dense gameplay mechanics. Before you venture into the vast and dangerous world of Monster Hunter Wilds, we highly recommend checking out Monster Hunter: World from 2018.
We aren't suggesting World because of any narrative connections or cliffhangers that might confuse you in Wilds. Instead, Monster Hunter: World mirrors the style and structure of Wilds more closely than any other game in the series. Playing World is an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the intricate systems and engaging gameplay loop that the Monster Hunter series is known for.
Why Monster Hunter: World?
You might wonder why not play Monster Hunter Rise, the most recent game in the series, instead of going back to Monster Hunter: World. While Rise is a fantastic game with innovative mechanics like rideable mounts and the Wirebug grapple, it was originally designed for the Nintendo Switch, which influenced its smaller, more segmented zones. World, on the other hand, features expansive, seamless zones and a detailed ecosystem, which Wilds seems to be building upon. This makes World the perfect precursor to understanding the larger, open-world environments you'll encounter in Wilds.
Moreover, World sets the stage for the story and campaign structure you can expect in Wilds. You'll encounter key elements like the Hunter's Guild and your trusty Palico companions, which will also appear in Wilds. While the stories are unconnected, playing World helps set your expectations for the narrative style and world-building in the new game.
Practice, Practice, Practice
One of the strongest reasons to play Monster Hunter: World first is to get a head start on mastering the series' challenging combat. Wilds will feature 14 unique weapons, each with its own playstyle and strategies, all of which are present in World. By playing World, you can familiarize yourself with these weapons, learning their techniques and figuring out which suits your playstyle best, whether it's the agile dual-blades or the powerful greatsword.
In the Monster Hunter series, your weapon is your key to success, not traditional RPG leveling systems. Your abilities and stats come from your weapon, which functions like a character class in other games. World will teach you how to upgrade your weapons using parts from defeated monsters and navigate the weapon tree to build towards higher-level weapons.
Combat in World also emphasizes strategy over brute force. Understanding the positioning and angles of your attacks, and knowing where to strike a monster for maximum impact, are crucial skills. For instance, the Longsword excels at slicing off tails, while the hammer is perfect for stunning enemies with a well-placed hit on the head. Mastering these nuances will give you a significant advantage when you start playing Wilds.
Additionally, World introduces the Slinger, a versatile tool that returns in Wilds. Learning to use the Slinger effectively, whether to blind a monster with a Flash Pod or to inflict chip damage with poison knives, can be a game-changer in combat. Familiarizing yourself with World's crafting system for Slinger ammo will also prepare you for Wilds.
The gameplay loop in World involves tracking monsters, gathering resources, and engaging in hunts that require patience and strategy. Understanding this rhythm will be a significant advantage when you start playing Wilds.
Each hunt in Monster Hunter is designed to be a thoughtful, strategic endeavor, not a quick kill. Learning the intricacies 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, if you import save data from World into Wilds, you can receive free Palico armor, and even more if you have data from the Iceborne expansion. It's a small perk, but who doesn't love dressing up their Palico?
While you don't need to play a previous Monster Hunter game to enjoy Wilds, the series' unique systems and gameplay mechanics are best learned through experience. With Monster Hunter Wilds set to launch on February 28, 2025, now is the perfect time to dive into Monster Hunter: World and get acquainted with the series' language and community.
