Why You Should Play Monster Hunter: World Before Wilds

With Monster Hunter Wilds among Steam's most pre-ordered games, its massive popularity is undeniable. For those new to the series, while Wilds will undoubtedly offer a solid tutorial, the Monster Hunter franchise is notoriously complex. If you're a newcomer, consider playing a previous game first to ease your entry. We strongly recommend starting with 2018's Monster Hunter: World.

This isn't about narrative connections; World's gameplay and structure most closely mirror Wilds. It's the perfect onboarding experience, preparing you for the series' sometimes-challenging systems and gameplay loop.

Why Monster Hunter: World?

You might be wondering why not play Monster Hunter Rise, the most recent entry. While Rise is excellent, Wilds is a direct successor to World, not Rise. Rise, originally designed for the Nintendo Switch, prioritized speed and smaller zones, streamlining the hunt-upgrade-hunt loop but sacrificing some of the larger-scale environments and intricate details found in World. Wilds appears to build upon and expand the features World excelled at.

World's expansive zones and emphasis on tracking monsters within detailed ecosystems serve as the blueprint for Wilds' even larger open areas. Experience this engaging style of hunting across varied terrains before Wilds launches. World provides a valuable preview of what awaits.

While not a direct story continuation, World's narrative structure and familiar elements like the Hunter's Guild and Palicos, which also appear in Wilds, will set your expectations appropriately. Think of it like the Final Fantasy series—recurring characters and elements exist across distinct, unconnected storylines. Each game retains its unique identity.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Beyond familiarizing yourself with the Monster Hunter universe and Wilds' campaign structure, mastering World's challenging combat is crucial. Wilds features 14 weapons, all present in World, allowing you to experiment and find your preferred fighting style. Each weapon demands mastery, and World offers the ideal training ground.

In Monster Hunter, weapons are paramount. Abilities and stats are determined by your weapon choice, not traditional RPG leveling systems. Think of weapons as character classes, each dictating your battlefield role. World teaches you weapon upgrades using monster parts and strategic combat, emphasizing positioning and attack angles over raw damage. Mastering weapon-specific techniques is vital.

Understanding hunt tempo is also crucial. The Slinger, a tool returning in Wilds, allows for strategic gadget and ammunition use. Learning to utilize the Slinger effectively, crafting ammo from environmental resources, and understanding the crafting menus will significantly enhance your gameplay. World provides this essential training.

The core gameplay loop—tracking monsters, gathering materials, and crafting—becomes second nature. Mastering this in World will give you a significant advantage in Wilds.

Each hunt is a strategic encounter, requiring time and planning. Understanding monster behaviors and optimal equipment choices is key. World's scope and scale mirror Wilds, making it the ideal training ground.

Import your World (and Iceborne) save data into Wilds for bonus Palico armor! While not mandatory, playing World first offers a significant advantage, familiarizing you with the game's unique systems and preparing you for the challenges of Wilds. While jumping into Wilds blind is an option, World provides the best possible preparation for a smooth and enjoyable experience, launching February 28, 2025.