The closing credits represent the end point of most games, but they’re the starting point of Monster Hunter. As any series veteran knows, the real gameplay starts after you’ve beaten the main story. If you leave the game simply after beating the campaign — which lasts just over a dozen hours — you’ll miss out on most of the game content in Monster Hunter Wilds.
So stick around: after you’re done getting Nata home, there’s a lot to do in the world of Monster Hunter Wilds. There’s an endgame that gives you a few more crumbs of story, and there’s far more gameplay content to enjoy. Here’s what you should focus on first.
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Raise Your Hunter Rank
Monster Hunter is divided into Low Rank and High Rank missions. The main story of Monster Hunter Wilds is made up of Low Rank assignments; the first three chapters are little more than an extended tutorial section in the grand scheme of the game.
Once the credits roll, you’ll get another couple of cutscenes, and then the game’s world will finally open up. Now you’re free to explore, but if you want more story, Wilds has you covered: there are three more chapters, though far more open-ended and with fewer cutscenes than the main story.
Previous Monster Hunter titles implemented Master Rank quests in their expansions. Monster Hunter Wilds does not include any Master Rank quests in the base game.
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Hunt Harder Monsters
The High Rank segment of Monster Hunter Wilds allows you to fight Tempered Monsters, which you’ll never encounter in the main story. These are scar-worn, tougher versions of regular monsters. They appear as purple icons on the map and drop new items that let you craft better equipment, including endgame weapons.
Your first Tempered Monster will appear in Chapter 4 and will present a much tougher challenge than any you faced in the main story. Attack their scars to open old wounds and beat them more easily.
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Forge Tougher Weapons
If you’re sticking with Monster Hunter Wilds for the long haul, you’ll need to forge Artian weapons. These are endgame weapons that are much stronger than any that were available in the main story. To forge them, you’ll need Weapon Shards and Hunter Symbols.
To get the required items, you have to defeat Tempered Monsters. This is the feedback loop and endgame grind of Monster Hunter: fight tougher monsters to forge better equipment to fight even tougher monsters, all the way down.
5
Complete All Side Missions
Monster Hunter Wilds starts giving you side missions right after the prologue, but the linear nature of the main story might discourage you from taking them on. Luckily, there are no missable side missions, so you can go back and take them all on once the game opens up.
Side missions might be optional in the main story, but in the post-game, they’re all but mandatory. You need to raise your Hunter Rank to progress, and one of the easiest and most reliable ways to do so is by doing all the side missions.
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Take On Event Quests
Event Quests form the live-service component of Monster Hunter. Unlike Monster Hunter Rise where event quests were generally permanent, Monster Hunter Wilds makes them time-limited. This means that if you miss one, it’s gone forever.
Event Quests are generally the same as the regular gameplay, stipulating a minimum Hunter Rank and telling you to hunt a particular monster. They’re good for remaining continuously engaged with the game, and previous MH titles have seen collaboration quests with other IPs like Assassin’s Creed.
You can check the Event Quest schedule directly on Capcom’s website here.
3
Experiment With Different Builds And Loadouts
After the story is over, you’ll have a lot more freedom about where to go and what to do. You’ll also have a lot more challenge. The story mode of Monster Hunter Wilds is among the easiest in the series yet: the true challenge lies in fighting post-game monsters.
While you can get by in Monster Hunter Wilds’ Low Rank with just your recommended equipment and standard Item Pouch loadout, you’ll have to take other factors into consideration for High Rank monsters. Elemental ammo, traps, and status effects will play a much bigger role.
2
Go On Multiplayer Hunts
The story mode of Monster Hunter Wilds limits its multiplayer potential: the post-game finally opens it up for you. No longer encumbered by story cutscenes, you can join your friends and go on hunts together. There’s voice chat integration and some amusing chat stickers.
The co-op component of Monster Hunter is crucial to its success. From Monster Hunter 4 onwards, the co-op has been a big part of the series’ popularity. Everything is better with friends, especially hunting giant monsters.
You can also join squads in-game or make your own. Squad members can chat with you in your lobby; to invite them into your game proper, you’ll need to invite them to your Link Party.
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Hunt For Achievements
Monster Hunter only gives you as much as you take from it. Even though Monster Hunter Wilds has the heaviest focus on the story mode in the series yet, the narrative has never been the series’ strong suit. For most fans, it’s all about the grind: getting better at the game for the sole purpose of getting better.
If you’re willing to put in the time, the game has 50 achievements to earn: a nice round figure, with a good chunk of them hidden. Unlocking them all will take a long time, represent your prowess at the game, and be an enjoyable journey as it goes.
- Released
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February 28, 2025
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Engine
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RE Engine
- ESRB
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T For Teen // Violence, Blood, Crude Humor
- PC Release Date
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February 28, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
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February 28, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
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February 28, 2025
- X|S Optimized
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Yes
- Number of Players
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1
- Steam Deck Compatibility
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Unknown
- OpenCritic Rating
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Mighty
- Cross Save
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No
- Cross-Platform Play
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Yes, all platforms