Monster Hunter Wilds will launch on February 28, 2025, and with it comes a new generation of hunters. While longtime fans are undoubtedly already preparing for the hunt, there will be many new players who might feel quite intimidated by the complexity of the series.
But no need to worry: Capcom has stated, and proven throughout recently held beta tests, that Monster Hunter Wilds was made to be more approachable than ever, without losing the challenge that makes the series great. This means it does not matter if you have never played a Monster Hunter game before or struggled to get into past entries, this is the best time to jump in!
No Prior Knowledge Needed
One of the biggest concerns that often comes with a new title in an existing franchise, is whether or not new players need to have played the previous Monster Hunter games. Good news: the answer is no. Knowledge about any of the previous MH games is not required.
Each Monster Hunter game tells a standalone story, and Wilds is no different. In fact, the game starts out by throwing you straight into the action and shows off with a strong narrative right from the start, as well as full voice acting and great cinematic cutscenes that help you fully immerse yourself!
A Better Introduction to Weapons and Combat
Monster Hunter is famous for its 14 weapon types, each with its own combos and playstyle. In older games, figuring out which weapon fits your style could take hours of trial and error. Wilds makes this process much easier!
Early in the game, your companion Alma will ask you a few questions about your preferred playstyle. Based on your answers, she will recommend a weapon that matches your preferences. You can try it out immediately, and if it does not feel right, you can switch to a different weapon without any issue.
On top of that, you can now take two weapons on a hunt, and switch between them. This means you can test weapons in actual combat, without having to leave the quest or hunt to change it.
If you want to find out which weapons are the easiest to get started with for new players, or the strongest overall, go check out our tier list of the best weapons.
Difficulty Scaling and Weak Points System
Monster Hunter has always had a rather steep learning curve, but Wilds makes it much easier to understand progression:
- Early-game monsters are here to help you get the hang of core mechanics without being overwhelming.
- A new star rating system lets you immediately see how tough a challenge is before taking it on.
- The new Focus Mode highlights monster weak points, helping new hunters land attacks in the right spots for more damage and faster hunts.
Granted, these changes might seem small, but they are very meaningful and will make the game much more accessible without removing the challenge that makes Monster Hunter rewarding.
NPC Hunters – Learn While You Hunt
Jumping into multiplayer can be scary for new players, but Monster Hunter Wilds introduces AI-controlled “Helper Hunters”: NPC allies who fight alongside you and teach you “by example”.
- If you fire a flare for help, you can choose to bring in up to 3 AI hunters instead of random players.
- AI hunters will showcase various advanced combat techniques, positioning, and how to use the world & environment to your advantage.
- They can be just as good and effective as real players, meaning you will not feel like you are dragging down a team while learning.
This is a great new feature, especially in regards to the gap between solo and multiplayer, giving new players a low-pressure way to improve before jumping into co-op hunts.
No More Resetting After Death – New Checkpoint System
In older Monster Hunter games, fainting three times meant restarting a quest from scratch. Luckily, MH Wilds has made some changes to the punishment system:
- When you faint, you now respawn at your base camp instead of the starting hub.
- You can restock items, eat a meal for buffs, or even change your equipment before jumping back in.
- If you fail the quest, you do not have to restart from the beginning; the monster resets to the last checkpoint (usually when it last moved zones), so you can pick up where you left off.
This removes frustration and keeps hunts fun instead of punishing.
TL;DR – This Is The Best Entry Point for New Players
Monster Hunter Wilds keeps everything that makes the series great but removes unnecessary barriers that previously made it feel intimidating and daunting for newcomers.
Not only does it have better onboarding, a guided weapon selection, clearer difficulty scaling, AI allies, and a more forgiving respawn system, but Capcom has also made Wilds the best Monster Hunter game for first-time players in general!
If you have ever wanted to get into Monster Hunter, this is the perfect time. So get ready; the hunt begins on February 28, 2025!
