Monster Hunter Wilds Review 2026: Should You Buy It?

What is Monster Hunter Wilds?

Monster Hunter Wilds is the latest mainline instalment in CAPCOM's long-running action-RPG series, announced for release in 2025 on multiple platforms. In our view, it represents the most significant evolutionary leap for the franchise since the transition to Monster Hunter: World. The premise remains quintessentially Monster Hunter: you are a hunter, tasked with tracking, studying, and ultimately battling colossal beasts in vast ecosystems, using their parts to craft increasingly powerful gear to take on even greater challenges. However, Wilds promises to expand this loop dramatically with its setting: the ‘Forbidden Lands,’ a harsh, seamless open world reportedly far larger and more dynamic than any previous game's locales. Early information suggests a focus on extreme environmental cycles and living ecosystems that will fundamentally change how both monsters and hunters behave, pushing the series' famed immersion to new heights.

Gameplay

Based on revealed information, the core gameplay loop of preparation, hunt, and craft remains intact, but it is being supercharged by the new setting and technology. The experience promises to feel more immersive and reactive than ever. The core mechanic of mastering one of over a dozen weapon types, each with its own deep move-set and rhythm, returns as the series' beating heart. However, the ‘living world’ concept appears to be the new central pillar. We anticipate hunts will feel less like entering a staged arena and more like navigating a genuine, unpredictable wilderness. CAPCOM has shown glimpses of drastic weather phenomena, like apocalyptic sandstorms, and creatures that migrate or change behaviour based on these cycles.

A significant new feature is the ability to ride your mount, a bird-like creature, while weapon is drawn, allowing for fluid, mobile combat on the move—a first for the series. This suggests combat will feel more dynamic and less rooted. The learning curve for newcomers will likely remain steep, as Monster Hunter’s depth comes from system mastery, not just character levels. Learning monster patterns, managing stamina and sharpness, and utilising the environment are all still crucial. For veterans, the depth will come from adapting these proven skills to a world that fights back in more systemic ways, and from mastering the new mount-combat synergy. In our view, the gameplay aims to marry the depth of classic Monster Hunter with the seamless, ecological storytelling of World, but on a grander, more unpredictable scale.

Who is Monster Hunter Wilds for?

Monster Hunter Wilds is, first and foremost, for the existing fans who have journeyed from the ancient forests to the New World. It is for those who relish the meticulous grind for the perfect armour set and the triumphant feeling of felling a dragon that carted them three times. However, following the breakout success of Monster Hunter: World, CAPCOM is clearly also designing for the millions of new players that game brought in. The move to a truly seamless open world, with quality-of-life features undoubtedly built upon World's and Rise's improvements, will make it more accessible to a mainstream action-RPG audience.

It is a game for both solo and multiplayer hunters. The entire story and world can be tackled alone, offering a satisfying, challenging personal journey. Yet, the classic four-player cooperative hunt remains the series' iconic social experience, and tackling the Forbidden Lands with friends will likely be where most of the endgame magic happens. In terms of similarities, it is the direct successor to Monster Hunter: World in scope and ambition, rather than the more arcade-feel of Monster Hunter Rise. Players who enjoyed the ecological immersion and grand scale of World, or the challenging creature combat of games like Dauntless or Elden Ring (though with a very different combat philosophy), will find a home here. It is a hardcore game at its core, but one with more pathways for casual engagement than ever before.

Graphics and performance

Monster Hunter Wilds is being built on the RE Engine, which powered the visually stunning Resident Evil 4 remake and Street Fighter 6. From the trailers, the visual style is a dramatic step up from even Monster Hunter: World. The art direction leans into breathtaking, painterly skies, incredibly detailed creature models, and environments that feel truly vast and desolate. The lighting and weather effects appear to be key players, not just backdrops, with sandstorms and torrential rains looking dense and tangible. It aims for a cinematic realism that fully sells the fantasy of being a hunter in a dangerous, beautiful world.

Regarding performance, this is a key concern given the 2025 release and the ambitious scale. There is no concrete data yet, but the RE Engine has a strong recent track record on PC, offering robust features and scaling. However, the scale of Wilds' seamless open world will be its biggest technical test. We anticipate that to experience it at high settings with stable frame rates, a powerful modern GPU and CPU will be recommended. CAPCOM's recent PC ports have been solid, if sometimes requiring post-launch patches for optimisation. Given the reported ‘Mixed’ early Steam rating (likely based on limited preview builds or server tests), some performance hiccups at launch may be a possibility. In our view, the potential for a visually groundbreaking experience is clear, but its performance on a wide range of PC hardware remains the biggest question mark.

Value for money

The Monster Hunter series is legendary for its value proposition, and Wilds is poised to continue that tradition. A standard playthrough of the main story and key content in a modern Monster Hunter game easily exceeds 50 hours. The true value, however, lies in the endgame: farming for optimal builds, taking on event quests, and mastering every weapon type can push playtime into the hundreds, if not thousands, of hours for dedicated hunters. The promised scale of the Forbidden Lands suggests even more content density than World.

While the base price will likely be at the premium AAA level, the amount of content and gameplay depth on offer has historically justified it for fans of the genre. The model will almost certainly follow World's path: a complete, massive base game, followed by a single large-scale expansion (like the acclaimed Iceborne) a year or so later, which often doubles the content. For someone who engages deeply with its loop, the cost-per-hour of entertainment is exceptionally low. For a player who only dabbles in the story and a few hunts, it may feel a more significant investment. In our view, for its target audience, Monster Hunter Wilds will almost certainly represent outstanding value for money over the long term.

Verdict

Monster Hunter Wilds is shaping up to be the most ambitious game in CAPCOM's flagship hunting series. It promises to take the foundational, deeply rewarding gameplay loop and place it within a living, breathing open world of unprecedented scale and dynamism. The potential for emergent storytelling and truly immersive hunts is incredibly compelling.

We would recommend Monster Hunter Wilds to: Any fan of Monster Hunter: World seeking the next generation of that experience; action-RPG players who crave deep, skill-based combat and rewarding progression; and co-operative gamers looking for a rich, long-term playground to explore with friends. The sheer depth and volume of content promise an exceptional return on investment for those who click with its rhythm.

We would caution those who might not enjoy it if: They have little patience for steep learning curves, grinding for materials, or combat that requires observation and pattern recognition over pure reflexes. Players who prefer tightly scripted narratives or who do not enjoy engaging with complex game systems may find it overwhelming. Furthermore, if early performance issues on PC are significant at launch, those with mid-range systems may want to wait for initial patches.

In our view, despite the current uncertainty reflected in early mixed ratings, Monster Hunter Wilds has all the ingredients to be a landmark title. If CAPCOM successfully executes its grand vision, it will not only satisfy the faithful but also set a new benchmark for immersive creature hunting in a living world.