For years, Capcom’s Monster Hunter has been defined by a simple yet enduring loop—hunt monster, defeat monster, carve monster, upgrade gear, repeat. It’s a system that has fueled the franchise’s success for decades. But during an extended media preview event, Monster Hunter Wilds immediately made one thing clear: this isn’t just a game about the hunt anymore.

From the moment I stepped into this breathtaking open world, I wasn’t just tracking monsters—I was learning about the land, its people, and the delicate balance between survival and respect for nature. What I thought would be a simple RPG about taking down towering beasts quickly transformed into an experience that stuck with me well after I put the controller down. After playing through the first chapter of the main story and taking on some additional hunts, I walked away not just excited for Monster Hunter Wilds, but completely engrossed in its world.

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Before I even stepped into the world of Monster Hunter Wilds, I was floored by the depth of its character creator. I’ve seen great ones before, but this one rivals some of the best in gaming today. As a dark-skinned guy with curly hair, I’m used to having limited or awkwardly implemented options in many games—but the level of detail here was impressive. Every slider, shade, and hairstyle felt like it had real effort behind it, and the range of skin tones and textures was more robust than I expected.

With limited time to tinker, I decided to test both the diversity of facial features and the physics of curly hair by imagining what my more feminine self would look like. The results? Extremely satisfying. Hair moves naturally, lighting plays well across different skin tones, and the sheer amount of control over face shape alone means that expert character creators can sculpt anything from a lifelike self-portrait to something straight out of another universe. There’s even a summary screen showing every choice you made, making it easier for players to share and recreate iconic characters from other franchises.

Then came the Palico companion customization. Designing my feline companion was just as fun as crafting my hunter, but the ability to tweak their voice pitch and tone was an unexpected highlight. It might seem like a small detail, but you’ll be hearing your Palico a lot. If you choose a more talkative setting, they won’t just sound like a cat—they’ll speak in a distinct voice, which can be hilarious, immersive, or slightly annoying, depending on your choice. You can adjust how much they talk later, but their voice is locked in from character creation, so choose wisely.

Even though the game is destined to have a meta-driven gear focus, where players prioritize stat-heavy armor and massive weapons, Monster Hunter Wilds ensures that your hunter still feels like your own. While heavy armor might eventually cover up the finer details of my character’s face and body, knowing that my creation exists underneath the gear adds to the immersion. From skin tone to facial features, voice, and even body proportions, Capcom gives a level of freedom that should not be understated.

Monster Hunter Wilds offers a robust character creator, allowing for player agency.

From the moment Monster Hunter Wilds begins, the world doesn’t just feel massive—it feels intentional. Unlike previous Monster Hunter games that drop you into vast, segmented maps, Wilds takes its time to introduce the land, its people, and its creatures in small doses. The story unfolds around a search for Nata, a lost boy from the mysterious Keeper clan, but as the journey begins, the world itself starts to reveal its depth.

The first chapter serves as both a tutorial and a slow-burn introduction to the game’s ecosystem. You’re not just shown the monsters—you’re shown the people who live alongside them. Unlike the heavily armed Guild hunters, the neighboring villages do not wield weapons in the same way. Instead, they rely on their knowledge of the land—using traps, terrain, and natural defenses to fend off the more aggressive creatures.

This is where the game’s worldbuilding directly feeds into gameplay. Just as the villagers use the environment to their advantage, so must the player. In Wilds, you’re encouraged to do more than just swing your weapon—you can stun monsters by knocking down rock formations, trap them in shifting sand dunes, or even bait them into fighting each other. The world itself is as much a tool as the weapons you craft, reinforcing the idea that you’re not just an outsider in this world—you’re learning how to be part of it.

Even as someone with limited experience in the Monster Hunter franchise, I understood the appeal of the core gameplay loop: hunt monster, defeat monster, harvest materials, upgrade gear, hunt bigger monster, repeat. It’s a satisfying, well-tuned cycle that has kept the series thriving for decades. Wilds delivers on that with all the options and depth fans expect—and I’ll get into the combat later—but what struck me the most is how the game takes time to emphasize the world beyond just the hunt.

In a game about consumption—tracking down creatures, carving them for materials, crafting weapons and armor from their remains—it would be easy to lose sight of the ecosystem you’re actively engaging with. But Monster Hunter Wilds makes sure you don’t. Nearly the entire first chapter is dedicated to an extended tutorial, but it never feels like a chore because it’s layered underneath the unearthing of an ancient culture.

The Keepers once thought to be lost, hold the knowledge that could reshape how the Guild understands monsters. Their connection to the land and its creatures isn’t built on dominance but on balance. And that contrast—the technologically advanced Guild hunters vs. a people who have lived in harmony with the land for generations—serves as a subtle but powerful backdrop to your journey.

The core game loop isn’t just about hunting, harvesting, and crafting; it’s about learning about the monsters and the world more deeply than before.

Not every creature in Wilds is hostile. Not every monster is simply an obstacle to overcome. Some are woven into the environment, and understanding which ones to fight, which ones to avoid, and which ones can be used to your advantage is key. It’s a give-and-take relationship that becomes painfully clear when nature recovers quickly after storms, yet the world still suffers under the looming threat of the White Wraith.

While Monster Hunter Wilds expands the depth of its world and story, the core experience remains the hunt—and from what I played, no two fights ever feel the same. Wilds establishes that monsters don’t exist in isolation from the very first encounters. Some creatures are solitary predators, stalking the land and fighting with calculated aggression.

Others hunt in packs, overwhelming the player with coordinated attacks. This adds an organic unpredictability to fights, where you’re not just learning a single enemy’s move set—you’re reacting to how it interacts with its environment and other creatures around it.

The world itself plays a role in battle, too. Monsters don’t just stand around waiting to fight—they migrate, hunt, and react to threats dynamically. I watched as one species cornered another, forcing me to either wait for the dust to settle or take advantage of the chaos. Sometimes, the smartest move wasn’t to attack at all—but to let nature take its course before jumping in for the kill.

Even with Monster Hunter’s signature loop intact—hunt, harvest, upgrade, repeat—the moment-to-moment battles feel fresh because the world doesn’t stand still. The thrill isn’t just in landing the final blow, but in figuring out how to control the battlefield itself. This is what makes Monster Hunter Wilds feel like an evolution of the hunt—it’s not just about strength. It’s about understanding the ecosystem and using it to your advantage.

Of course, while Wilds is thoughtful in its worldbuilding, the game doesn’t lose sight of its urgency. The Guild has sent expedition teams for a reason—something is wrong. The White Wraith, the monster responsible for destroying Nata’s village, is at the center of it all.

Unlike the creatures that exist in balance with the land, the White Wraith represents an imbalance—a predator, unlike anything the Guild has encountered before. The looming threat pushes players into the Monster Hunter loop, forcing them to hone their skills, upgrade their gear, and face a growing mystery.

This is where Monster Hunter Wilds begins to bridge the gap between gameplay and story. It’s not just “go hunt a big monster because that’s what we do”—it’s “we don’t understand this, and we need to if we want to survive.” And with that, the real hunt begins.

With fourteen weapon types to choose from, Monster Hunter Wilds gives players a wide arsenal, each offering a completely different combat experience. Whether you prefer big, deliberate swings, fast and flashy combos, or long-range attacks, there’s a weapon that suits every fighting style. But for newcomers—or even returning players looking to shake things up—the sheer number of options can feel overwhelming.

That’s where Wilds introduces one of its smartest tutorial systems. Before I even picked my weapon, Alma, my handler, asked me two simple questions:

How would you describe your fighting style?
What do you look for in a weapon?

After just two choices, the game recommended the Gunlance—which, coincidentally, was exactly the weapon I had planned to pick. Considering how little information I had given, I was impressed by how well Wilds was able to match me with the playstyle I wanted. It’s a small feature, but an incredibly effective one, especially for newcomers who might not know where to start.

Of course, Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t just assign you a weapon and send you on your way. Before committing, players can test out weapon movesets in a controlled training area, getting a feel for how each one moves, attacks, and combos. The game isn’t just asking players what they think they want—it’s letting them feel it out before making a choice.

While previous Monster Hunter games encouraged players to specialize in a single weapon, Wilds introduces a new layer of flexibility—you can carry two sets of weapons at all times. This means that rather than being locked into one style, players can mix and match to create a hunting approach that adapts to different monsters, team compositions, or solo hunts. The ability to swap between weapons mid-hunt allows for a level of combat variety that feels tailored to the player’s creativity rather than being dictated by the game.

For those who prefer solo hunting, this mechanic is even more important. With only their Palico, their mount, and their own skill, single players need to be prepared for whatever the world throws at them. Having two weapon styles on hand ensures that even the biggest monsters in Wilds can be approached in multiple ways.

Capcom pushes you to be creative from start to finish in Wilds.

One of the best additions in Monster Hunter Wilds is how it encourages players to experiment rather than locking them into their first weapon choice. At any time, players can visit their camp’s training area to test and switch weapons freely. This removes the pressure of feeling like you’ve made the “wrong” choice early on—if you find that your initial weapon isn’t working for you, the game lets you pivot seamlessly. The result? A combat system that feels both personal and adaptable. Wilds doesn’t just want you to pick a weapon—it wants you to find a weapon that truly fits how you want to play.

While the White Wraith investigation is the driving force of Monster Hunter Wilds’ story, players are never forced to stay on a linear path. From the moment the expedition teams make landfall, players are encouraged to explore, take on side quests, and engage with the game’s ecosystem at their own pace.

One of the first things that struck me was just how detailed the map is. Not only does it provide real-time tracking of creatures across the landscape, but as seasons change, so do the monsters that appear. It’s not just a list of enemies to hunt—the entire ecosystem feels alive. As you explore, you’ll see monsters actively hunting each other, something that isn’t just visual flair—it’s actually tracked on your map, showing where creatures are clashing in real-time.

This dynamic worldbuilding reinforces the idea that you’re stepping into an environment that existed long before you arrived. Monsters don’t just wait around for you to hunt them—they live, fight, migrate, and react to their surroundings. It makes every hunt feel organic as if the world is moving forward with or without you.

With such a massive world to explore, getting around could have easily been a chore—but Monster Hunter Wilds ensures that traversal is just as engaging as the hunt itself. Enter the Seikret, your trusty mount and hunting companion, which isn’t just a means of transportation—it’s a game-changer for exploration and combat.

One of the most cinematic mechanics in the game is the ability to set waypoints on the map and have your Seikret automatically track your target. Whether it’s a monster, a person, or a resource, the Seikret follows the trail while you focus on other tasks. This simple addition makes travel feel seamless, allowing you to check your inventory, plan strategies with your party, or just sit back and watch the hunter you designed bounce effortlessly across the landscape.

But the Seikret isn’t just for travel—it’s an essential part of combat. This agile creature can swoop in at a moment’s notice to pull you out of danger, saving you from otherwise devastating attacks. It’s also the key to swapping weapons on the fly, meaning calling your mount isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessary skill to master, regardless of your playstyle.

Unlike previous Monster Hunter mounts, the Seikret feels fully integrated into the player’s toolset, rather than just a fast travel option. It’s part of your survival instinct, making it one of the most versatile and enjoyable additions to the game.

One of the biggest draws of Monster Hunter has always been its multiplayer co-op, where teams of hunters coordinate, strategize, and take down massive creatures together. But what about solo players?

Even though playing alone is absolutely viable, I quickly realized that Monster Hunter Wilds is a game that thrives with others. Resource management, understanding monster behavior, and mastering the finer mechanics of combat are all things that benefit from guidance—whether from AI or real-life friends.

To help solo players, Wilds introduces AI-controlled hunter reinforcements that can be summoned via a flare when you need backup. It’s a fantastic addition that ensures you’re never truly alone on a hunt, but even with this system, I found myself wishing for real teammates to learn from.

The depth of the game’s mechanics, from weapon mastery to monster tracking, stamina management, and crafting, makes it a lot to take in for a newcomer. While the tutorial and early side quests do a great job of teaching the basics, Wilds is the kind of game where having a veteran friend walk you through the deeper mechanics can make a huge difference in how quickly you improve.

For experienced players, the thrill is in perfecting the hunt—knowing exactly when to strike, dodge, and capitalize on openings. For newcomers, that learning curve can feel daunting at first. But Wilds provides enough tools, training areas, and AI support to make solo hunting not just possible but rewarding. That said, this is a game best experienced with a hunting party, whether that means friends or the wider online community.

Co-op is really the best way to play Monster Hunter Wilds.

Playing Monster Hunter Wilds on PlayStation 5, it’s clear that this game is a technical leap forward for the series. The world isn’t just massive—it’s breathtaking. Whether it’s sunlight bouncing off the dunes, shifting weather patterns rolling in, or the intricate details of each monster’s scales and fur, Wilds makes every frame a world worth getting lost in.

And with the Seikret handling most of the travel, there’s no excuse not to take it all in. If you’re playing on a next-gen console or a high-end PC, do yourself a favor—take a moment, put the controller down, and just look around. This is a world that deserves to be seen and heard, not just rushed through for the next hunt.

After completing the first chapter, we got to test our skills against additional monsters, including the Nerscylla and the Rompopolo. These fights were a serious step up in difficulty, forcing me to adapt and rethink my Gunlance strategy.

What stood out most was how each monster felt unique—not just in appearance but in their attack patterns, movement, and the counterplay needed to bring them down. Rompopolo, a brand-new monster, introduced mechanics I wasn’t expecting, pushing me to rethink my approach mid-fight. It was a perfect teaser for what awaits in the full game, where veteran hunters will undoubtedly find plenty of depth to sink their teeth into.

At the same time, it left me wanting more. This wasn’t nearly enough time to truly appreciate the depth of the combat, the variety of weapons, or the scope of the world—but it was enough to know that I’ll be thinking about this game long after the demo ended.

At its core, Monster Hunter Wilds still follows a simple yet timeless concept—hunt monsters, upgrade gear, hunt bigger monsters. But this time, Capcom has made a world that isn’t just a backdrop for battles—it’s something to appreciate, to explore, and to learn from.

The community will undoubtedly thrive at launch, full of hunters optimizing their builds and pushing endgame challenges to the limit. But Wilds feels like more than just a grinding RPG of the past—it’s a world worth immersing yourself in, not just speedrunning to the endgame. And after just one seven hour session, I already know: this is a game I’ll be coming back to.

Monster Hunter Wilds is set for release on February 28, 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.