Summary
Even ahead of its release, it appears as thoughMonster Hunter Wildsis going to be one of the most distinctiveMonster Huntertitles yet, which could either make it or break it in the end. With a fully-voiced protagonist, named NPCs, a useful mount, and one of the most dynamic open worlds ever featured in aMonster Huntergame,Monster Hunter Wildshas a lot going for it that even veteran fans likely aren’t prepared for.
Monster Hunter Wildsmay be breaking many traditionsof its own franchise, but that could potentially come with a huge upside that the mainline series has never fully explored before. Specifically,Monster Hunter Wilds' apparent emphasis on its story may be what it takes to push it to the front of the line once it releases in February 2025.
Monster Hunter Wilds' Apparent Story Emphasis Could Be Huge
The Monster Hunter Franchise Has Largely Left Its Story on the Back Burner
For the most part, theMonster Hunterfranchise has never really been about its narrative — except for, perhaps, theMonster Hunter Storiesseries. By and large, the mainlineMonster Huntergames have similar premises, seeing players step into the shoes of a formidable Hunter to ward off something that has caused the monsters near a settlement or settlements to go on a destructive rampage. More than anything,Monster Hunter’s narrativeusually takes a back seat to its engaging gameplay, with light story elements thrown in here and there to provide at least some context for the ongoing matter at hand.
More recent installments, likeMonster Hunter: World, have attempted to prioritize narrative a bit more, but story development is still minimal compared to the focus on the gameplay loop of hunting monsters and crafting new equipment.
Several Aspects of Monster Hunter Wilds Make It Appear More Story-Driven
WhiletheMonster Hunterfranchisehas largely put its stories on the back burner,Monster Hunter Wildsmay be taking the mainline series in an entirely different direction — at least, according to what has been revealed for the game so far. As it stands, the story ofMonster Hunter Wildsrevolves around a mysterious boy named Nata and an entity known as the White Wraith.
Years beforethe events ofMonster Hunter Wilds, a boy named Nata was discovered near the edge of the Forbidden Lands, a remote area the Guild had long assumed to be uninhabited. Nata spoke of a mysterious monster that had attacked his village, spurring the Guild to launch an expedition. The Hunter is then assigned to a unit with the mission of locating the White Wraith and rescuing Nata’s people, the Keepers. It’s unclear how or if the protagonist Hunter’s backstory will play into this, but gameplay footage makes it appear as though there is some significance to their role in the story.
Monster Hunter Wilds' apparent emphasis on its story may be what it takes to push it to the front of the line once it releases in February 2025.
Apart from the compelling and somewhat unconventional premise,Monster Hunter Wildshas several elements that make it appear to be more story-driven than its predecessors. For example,Monster Hunter Wildsfeatures plenty of named NPCs, which isn’t normal for the mainline series. This, alone, implies a step in a more narrative-heavy direction than previous installments. Additionally,Monster Hunter Wilds' protagonist, for the first time in a mainlineMonster Huntergame, is fully voiced, suggesting a stronger focus on narrative than ever before.
If this is the case, andMonster Hunter Wildsdoes turn out to be one of the most story-drivenmainlineMonster Hunterinstallmentsever made, it could mean big things for its success. While the main appeal of theMonster Hunterseries has always been its gameplay, a greater emphasis on its story could potentially grow its audience beyond its current borders — perhaps even more so thanMonster Hunter: Worldwas able to accomplish. Time will tell, butMonster Hunter Wildscertainly looks capable of changing things for the series forever.
Monster Hunter Wilds
WHERE TO PLAY
The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next. This is a story of monsters and humans and their struggles to live in harmony in a world of duality.Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds.
