Why You Should Play Monster Hunter: World Before Wilds

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

With Monster Hunter Wilds among Steam's most pre-ordered games, anticipation is high. Many players will be experiencing the series for the first time. While Wilds will undoubtedly include a comprehensive tutorial, the series' complexity might overwhelm newcomers. Therefore, playing a previous title, specifically Monster Hunter: World (2018), offers invaluable preparation.

Why Monster Hunter: World?

Before diving into Wilds' expansive world, consider World for its stylistic and structural similarity. It provides a smoother onboarding experience to the series' intricate systems and gameplay loop. While there's no significant narrative connection, World's structure mirrors Wilds', offering a helpful preview.

Why not Monster Hunter Rise?

While Rise is the most recent entry and excellent in its own right, Wilds appears to be a direct successor to World, not Rise. Rise, originally developed for the Nintendo Switch, prioritized speed and smaller zones due to hardware limitations. Wilds seems to recapture the larger-scale, seamless zones featured in World. World's expansive environments and emphasis on monster tracking within detailed ecosystems are key elements Wilds appears to build upon.

Story and Familiar Elements

While Wilds' story is independent, World introduces core elements like the Hunter's Guild and Palicos, which reappear in Wilds. This familiarity eases the transition, similar to the Final Fantasy series, where recurring characters and elements exist across distinct storylines.

Mastering the Combat

World's challenging combat is crucial preparation. Both games feature the same 14 weapons, each with unique playstyles. World allows you to experiment and master weapon techniques before tackling Wilds. Weapon proficiency is paramount, as abilities and stats are entirely weapon-dependent, similar to character classes in traditional RPGs. World teaches strategic combat, emphasizing precise positioning and attack angles over raw damage. Understanding weapon effectiveness on different monster body parts is vital.

Utilizing Tools and Resources

World introduces the Slinger, a crucial tool returning in Wilds. Learning its effective use with various gadgets and ammunition is invaluable. Familiarity with World's crafting system, including Slinger ammo creation, translates directly to Wilds. The overall hunt tempo, from tracking monsters to gathering resources, is similar in both games. Mastering this rhythm in World provides a significant advantage in Wilds.

Poll: What's your Monster Hunter experience?

(Poll options: Never played, Only played World, Only played Generations or older, Played all/most)

Conclusion

While not mandatory, playing Monster Hunter: World before Wilds offers significant advantages. It familiarizes players with core mechanics, combat, and resource management, creating a smoother transition into the new game. Plus, importing World's save data unlocks bonus Palico armor in Wilds. While jumping into Wilds blind is possible, World provides a superior preparation for a truly unique gaming experience. Prepare for Wilds' February 28, 2025 launch by mastering World first.