Monster Hunter games are famous for their massive weapons, brutal fights, and seemingly endless grinding. This reputation often makes them seem intimidating to newcomers. But as a long-time player who’s been playing Monster Hunter since the series’ first entry (no need to look up how long ago that was!), I disagree. The series isn’t nearly as unfriendly to new players as it’s often made out to be.
Monster Hunter: World began streamlining the series, and Rise took it even further, making monster hunting and map traversal easier than ever. While the core challenges—tough battles and the ever-present grind—remain, everything surrounding them has become significantly more accessible. With that in mind, Monster Hunter Wilds looks poised to be the most welcoming entry yet for newcomers.
Simplified Hunts
Equipment has seen some significant changes that will make things much easier for new hunters. While crafting new armour and weapons remains, crucial skills are now found on weapons as well as armour. This means players can now easily experiment with different armour sets without sacrificing their essential skills, greatly reducing the complexity of gear management and hopefully eliminating the need for dozens of different load-outs; much to the relief of series newbies.
Even better, in a first for the series weapon-switching mid-hunt is now far smoother than ever before. Providing an easier overall experience to newcomers, this allows players to equip weapons with different elemental properties or attack speeds, making hunts against various monsters less stressful and far less punishing. No more getting stuck with the wrong weapon, plus, with weapons becoming more streamlined and focused on flashy, effective moves, switching feels incredibly cool and intuitive too.
Finally, Monster Hunter Wilds includes a new system that highlights the monster’s weak points. Traditionally, players had to memorize these vulnerabilities which was a daunting task for seasoned hunters, let alone newcomers. While skill is still important, this new feature lets players clearly see where to target their attacks, eliminating the guesswork of remembering which monster variant has a weak nose versus a weak flame sac. This will significantly reduce frustration and help new players learn monster behaviours far quicker.
Welcome Changes
While the UI might still look a little busy at first glance, it’s now packed with genuinely useful information, making the game far more approachable for newcomers. The mini-map, for example, now offers a more intuitive 3D view of the environment, a huge improvement over the series’ historically challenging navigation. No more getting lost in these massive, impressive maps!
Tutorials have also received a significant overhaul, addressing a common complaint from past games. They’re not only more comprehensive, but they also appear at a much more manageable pace, giving new players time to absorb the wealth of information without feeling overwhelmed.
Choosing a weapon can be daunting for newcomers, especially with so many options to choose from. Monster Hunter Wilds tackles this problem head-on with an NPC who asks about your preferred fighting style and based on your answers, the game recommends a weapon that best suits you, handily taking the guesswork out of weapon selection.
And for those still struggling with weapon mechanics, the combo list in the top right corner remains, providing real-time visual cues for each weapon’s moves. This makes learning and mastering combos significantly easier, helping players quickly transform from tentative button mashers into a whirlwind of steel and monster parts.
New and Familiar
Being a brand-new entry in the series, Monster Hunter Wilds offers a fresh start with a completely new story so players don’t need to worry about catching up on previous games – newcomers can jump right in! Even better, players can now summon NPC hunters to assist them on their hunts, providing helpful backup for solo players, those who prefer not to play online and those who are just starting their Hunter journey.
It’s important to note that while doing its utmost to cater to newcomers, Monster Hunter Wilds makes sure not to compromise on the series’ core strengths. Players can still expect a deep and engaging endgame experience, and the new monster moves look absolutely spectacular. Ultimately, we can’t wait to see what Monster Hunter Wilds brings to the table for the series, and we’re especially thrilled about its potential to attract a whole new wave of fresh hunters.
