Why You Should Play Monster Hunter: World Before Wilds

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

Monster Hunter Wilds is one of Steam's most anticipated games, and for many, it will be their first foray into the series. While the game will undoubtedly include a comprehensive tutorial, the Monster Hunter series is known for its depth and complexity. Therefore, playing a previous game, specifically Monster Hunter: World (2018), can provide invaluable preparation.

We recommend World not for narrative connections, but because its style and structure most closely mirror Wilds. Playing World offers a smoother onboarding experience, familiarizing you with the sometimes intricate systems and gameplay loop that define the series.

Why Monster Hunter: World?

You might be wondering why not play Monster Hunter Rise, the most recent game. While Rise is excellent, Wilds is a more direct successor to World than Rise. Rise, originally developed for the Nintendo Switch, prioritized speed and smaller zones due to hardware limitations. This streamlined the gameplay loop but sacrificed some of the larger, more immersive environments and nuanced challenges found in World. Wilds appears to be building upon and expanding the features World excelled at.

World's large zones and emphasis on tracking monsters within detailed ecosystems serve as a blueprint for Wilds' even larger open areas. These expansive hunting grounds, stretching across diverse terrains, are a hallmark of modern Monster Hunter, and Wilds seems poised to deliver more of the same. Why wait? Experience it in World first.

While Wilds' story is independent, World's narrative approach and campaign structure offer a helpful preview of what to expect. You'll encounter familiar elements like the Hunter's Guild and Palicos, though entirely unconnected to previous installments. Think of it like the Final Fantasy series: each game features recurring elements, yet each remains distinct.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Beyond understanding the universe and campaign structure, the strongest argument for playing World first is its challenging combat. Wilds features 14 weapons, each with unique playstyles, all of which are present in World. This allows you to familiarize yourself with the series' unique combat system and choose a weapon that suits your preferences. Each weapon demands mastery, and World provides the perfect training ground to develop proficiency. Your weapon is essentially your character class in this game; all abilities and stats are weapon-dependent. World teaches you how to upgrade weapons using monster parts and build towards higher-level options.

World emphasizes precise positioning and attack angles over brute force. Understanding where to strike a monster for maximum impact is crucial. The Longsword excels at severing tails, while the Hammer is ideal for stunning with headshots. Mastering this aspect significantly impacts your success.

The Slinger, a crucial tool returning in Wilds, is introduced in World. Learning to utilize its gadgets and ammunition strategically is key to victory. Crafting Slinger ammo from environmental ingredients is also introduced in World, providing a valuable head start.

The overall gameplay loop—tracking monsters, mining ore, gathering materials—becomes second nature with practice. Having this understanding will significantly benefit your Wilds experience.

What's Your Monster Hunter Experience?

[Poll: Options for Monster Hunter experience - Never played, Only played World, Only played Generations or older, Played all/most]

A successful hunt isn't about quick kills. Each encounter is designed to be a drawn-out challenge. Learning to adapt to different monsters and their unique attacks builds essential knowledge. Since Wilds aims to replicate the scope and scale of World's hunts, World serves as the ideal preparation.

Additionally, importing save data from World (and its Iceborne expansion) into Wilds unlocks free Palico armor.

While not mandatory, playing a previous Monster Hunter game is highly recommended. The series' unique systems are best learned through experience. While jumping in blind is an option, playing Monster Hunter: World provides an unparalleled opportunity to prepare for Wilds' February 28, 2025 launch.