Monster Hunter Wilds Review: A Worthy Successor to World?

Capcom's latest addition to its storied franchise, Monster Hunter Wilds, is more than just the next installment. It's a statement. A promise to longtime hunters and newcomers alike that the series is evolving—not just in scale, but in spirit. But does it manage to outmatch its acclaimed predecessor, Monster Hunter World? That question looms large, especially for those who logged hundreds of hours slaying Nergigante or perfecting Great Sword timing down to a science.

The answer? Well, it depends on what you want from the hunt.

From Biomes to Boundlessness

The first shift you’ll notice is how the game treats space. Monster Hunter World impressed with interconnected biomes, but they were still distinct zones you loaded into. Wilds, by contrast, is seamless. There's no transition, no loading—just a living, breathing open world that moves around you. Weather rolls in with drama, herds migrate in real time, and monsters act like they’ve got their own agenda.

The freedom is intoxicating. One moment you're tracking claw prints through dense brush, the next you're caught in a sandstorm that changes your prey's behavior entirely. This isn't just open-world for scale's sake—it's open-world with consequences. You're not just playing in the environment; you're reacting to it.

Combat: Sharper and Smarter

Combat remains the heartbeat of the series, and Wilds doesn't forget its roots. Every one of the 14 weapon types makes a return, but with modern polish and a few surprises. The new Focus Mode adds a layer of control and precision that veteran players will appreciate. Instead of button-mashing, you’re now making deliberate strikes, reading tells, and carving paths through scales with purpose.

Perhaps the most practical innovation is the dual weapon loadout system. Now you can carry two weapons into a single hunt and switch on the fly. It’s a game-changer. Fighting a flying wyvern? Open with the bow. Getting grounded by a thick-skinned brute? Switch to the hammer. This flexibility means fewer compromises and more creativity in your approach.

Enter the Seikret

Forget your Scoutflies. Wilds introduces the Seikret, a wyvern companion that acts as both mount and battlefield ally. It's fast, agile, and can help you reach places you’d never access on foot. It tracks monsters, scales cliffs, and even assists during encounters. While some traditionalists might scoff at the idea of a mount taking a more active role, most players will quickly see it for what it is—a natural progression of the series’ mobility systems.

The Seikret isn’t just a quality-of-life feature; it changes how you explore and engage. In a world this expansive, it feels essential.

Monsters: Bigger, Bolder, and Smarter

A new world means new monsters. Monster Hunter Wilds introduces a roster of apex predators and cunning creatures that go well beyond simple attack patterns. These beasts have personalities, quirks, and unpredictable reactions.

There’s Arkveld, the chilling terror of the snowlands, with ghostly scales and the ability to disappear into blizzards. Then there’s Doshaguma, a muscle-bound nightmare that charges with reckless force and tears through terrain like a tank. Even smaller monsters exhibit unique behaviors, flocking in groups, responding to nearby fights, and even hunting each other.

Encounters feel more cinematic, more reactive. Monsters flee, flank, and sometimes even fight each other. You're no longer the only force in the ecosystem—you're just another hunter in a chain of survival.

Community and Multiplayer

If you've ever coordinated a four-person squad to bring down a tempered elder dragon, you know the magic of Monster Hunter multiplayer. Wilds improves on this with cross-platform support. PC players can now team up with friends on consoles, making matchmaking easier and more inclusive than ever.

The in-game lobby and quest systems have also been streamlined. Gone are the confusing host settings and platform-specific restrictions. What remains is a cleaner, faster, and smarter way to connect with other hunters.

Performance and Technical Overview

Graphically, Wilds is a stunner. Whether it’s sunlight breaking through jungle canopies or ash swirling around volcanic monsters, the game demands your attention. But it also demands hardware. On PC, you're looking at around 140GB of storage, and the game is most comfortable on SSDs.

Compared to Monster Hunter World, which required about 52GB, Wilds is clearly built for a new generation. Some players have reported occasional frame drops and higher-than-expected VRAM usage, but Capcom has responded with patches that smooth over many of the launch week wrinkles. If you’re running mid-to-high-tier hardware, you’ll be treated to one of the best-looking Monster Hunter titles ever released.

Comparing Wilds to World

Now the big question: how does Wilds compare to Monster Hunter World?

• World Design: World used segmented maps with some interactivity. Wilds drops you into an open ecosystem that evolves around you.
• Mobility: Scoutflies in World guided you from point to point. The Seikret in Wilds gives you agency, speed, and combat support.
• Combat Tools: World offered a single weapon per quest. Wilds lets you bring two and switch dynamically.
• AI & Ecosystem: Monsters in World felt alive but were mostly scripted. In Wilds, they react to weather, time, and other creatures.
• Multiplayer: Crossplay was absent in World. Wilds brings everyone together.
• Visuals & Performance: World was impressive for its time, but Wilds is built for current-gen hardware and it shows—every frame looks painted.

Is It a Worthy Successor?

Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t just ride the coattails of its predecessor. It dares to move the franchise forward, even if it stumbles in a few places. Its world feels richer, its mechanics tighter, and its monsters more intelligent. If you loved the essence of Monster Hunter World, you'll find plenty to admire here—along with a few surprises that make the whole experience feel new again.

And if you’re ready to leap into this bold new hunt, you can grab the Monster Hunter Wilds EU PC Steam CD Key from RoyalCDKeys. It’s your ticket to the most ambitious Monster Hunter game yet.

So, is Monster Hunter Wilds a worthy successor? Absolutely. But more than that—it’s a confident next step.

The only question left is: will you keep up with it?

Check out what we’ve written recently: Is Stardew Valley on GOG Worth It in 2025?