"Play Monster Hunter: World Before Wilds: Here's Why"

As one of Steam’s most pre-ordered games right now, Monster Hunter Wilds is poised to be a monumental entry in the series. For newcomers, the complexity and depth of the Monster Hunter franchise can be overwhelming. While Wilds is sure to include a comprehensive tutorial, diving into a previous game can provide valuable insight. Before embarking on the vast and perilous journey of Monster Hunter Wilds, we highly recommend exploring 2018’s Monster Hunter: World.

Our recommendation for World isn't tied to its narrative or any cliffhangers; instead, it's because Monster Hunter: World mirrors the style and structure of Wilds more closely than any other game in the series. Playing World offers a perfect way to familiarize yourself with the intricate systems and engaging gameplay loop that define Monster Hunter.

Why Monster Hunter: World?

If you're up-to-date with Capcom’s recent releases, you might wonder why we're suggesting Monster Hunter: World over the more recent Monster Hunter Rise. While Rise is a fantastic game with its own innovations like rideable mounts and the Wirebug grapple mechanic, it sacrificed some of the larger, seamless zones that World excelled at. Rise was initially designed for the Nintendo Switch, leading to smaller zones and a faster gameplay loop. In contrast, Wilds appears to be reclaiming and expanding upon the expansive environments and detailed ecosystems that World introduced.

Monster Hunter: World features large zones and emphasizes tracking monsters through a detailed ecosystem, serving as a blueprint for Wilds' expansive open areas. This makes World the ideal preparation for what Wilds has in store. The open zones in World set the stage for thrilling hunts across diverse terrains, a hallmark of modern Monster Hunter games. By playing World, you can get an early taste of what to expect in Wilds.

It's worth noting that Monster Hunter Wilds is not a direct narrative continuation of World. However, World's approach to storytelling and campaign structure will align your expectations with Wilds. You'll encounter familiar elements like the Hunter’s Guild and the Palicos, but these will be separate from past and future entries, much like the Final Fantasy series where each game stands alone despite recurring elements.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Beyond understanding the Monster Hunter universe and campaign structure, the most compelling reason to play Monster Hunter: World first is its challenging combat. Wilds features 14 distinct weapons, each with unique playstyles and strategies, all of which are present in World. By playing World, you can become proficient with these weapons, learning their techniques and identifying which suits your style best, whether it's the swift dual-blades or the powerful greatsword.

In the Monster Hunter series, your weapon is your identity. Unlike traditional RPGs where you level up through experience, here your abilities and stats are tied to your weapon, akin to a character class. World teaches you how to upgrade these weapons using parts from slain monsters and navigate the weapon tree. Moreover, it emphasizes the importance of positioning and strategic attacks over brute force, such as using the Longsword to slice off tails or the Hammer to stun monsters.

Understanding the tempo of each hunt is crucial, and World introduces the Slinger, a versatile tool that returns in Wilds. Mastering when to use Flash Pods or poison knives can significantly impact your hunts. Familiarity with World's crafting and resource gathering will also prepare you for Wilds' similar mechanics.

As you delve deeper into World, you'll uncover more layers of the Monster Hunter experience. The gameplay loop involves tracking monsters, gathering resources, and engaging in hunts that require patience and strategy. This foundational knowledge will be invaluable when you step into Wilds.

Each hunt in Monster Hunter is an adventure, not a quick kill. Learning to navigate these encounters builds essential knowledge for Wilds. Additionally, importing save data from World into Wilds can unlock free Palico armor, enhancing your experience even further.

While it's not necessary to play a previous Monster Hunter game before starting a new one, the series' unique mechanics and systems are best learned through experience. As Wilds approaches its release on February 28, 2025, there's no better time to dive into Monster Hunter: World and become part of the community.