How Long Is Monster Hunter Wilds?

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It is finally time for Monster Hunter Wilds as it makes its way to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The next entry in the long-running beast-battling action series from Capcom follows in the large footprints of its predecessor Monster Hunter World and its generous Iceborne expansion. But just how long is it? Here we’ll let you know exactly how many hours it took different members of the iggn.ru team to finish the main story, what they prioritised doing with their time, and how much they’ve put into the postgame.

Tom Marks – Executive Reviews Editor, Games

It required me approximately 15 hours to earn all the credits in Monster Hunter World’s storyline. Unlike the initial credit roll in Monster Hunter Rise, this is truly the conclusion, not just halfway through a larger narrative. However, completing the campaign doesn’t mean you’ve reached the end. Instead, it signifies the close of Low Rank, with High Rank offering numerous additional quests and tougher challenges ahead, so your journey is far from over at that point.

It required me an additional 15 hours to complete almost all those quests and reach what appears to be the main endgame. This meant that I had battled almost every monster available, unlocked all systems and crafting options provided at launch, and encountered the custom Artian weapon system designed to keep players engaged. Since Wilds has a streamlined grind, I needed just another 5 hours to feel like I had maximized the potential of the weapons and armor set I preferred, although there are certainly more achievements to pursue across other weapon types and so on.

Casey DeFreitas – Deputy Editor, Guides

In approximately 40 hours, I completed the final mission in the “High Rank” story mode of Monster Hunter Wilds. This was around 22 hours after I had first seen the credits for the “Low Rank” portion of the game. However, it’s important to note that a significant amount of time was spent browsing menus due to my use of guides. In the early stages of the game, I didn’t delve too deeply into Monster Hunter Wilds’ complex systems during the Low Rank phase. Instead, I crafted what I could with available materials and moved forward without repeating hunts. This approach carried over to High Rank, but I did explore optional monster hunts and more social hunts with friends, which were necessary for unlocking additional story missions.

Despite not initially planning to, I went out of my way to enhance my weapon just once by hunting an additional Ajarakan. Apart from that, I made do with what I had and rushed straight to the final mission. However, given more time, I would have ideally clocked around 60 hours at the end to create a better, more efficient armor and weapon setup rather than the makeshift one I managed.

Despite having some ongoing tasks related to catching native creatures and fishing, along with six Side Missions focused on monster hunting that were unlocked post the second-to-last Story Mission, I’ve got more in store. I’m planning to hunt specific monsters for Talisman upgrades, craft new armor sets, and test my luck with RNG for unique Artian weapons. I might even replay the story with friends while learning a fresh weapon or two. With upcoming event quests starting next week, title updates introducing new monsters throughout the year in Monster Hunter Wilds, there’s plenty more to keep me occupied!

Simon Cardy – Senior Editorial Producer

In approximately 16 hours, I managed to complete Monster Hunter Rise’s main story, a runtime that caught me off guard since I had ventured 25 hours into the World campaign without seeing an end in sight. As a beginner in the Monster Hunter series, I was also surprised by how effortlessly I was navigating many of its battles. However, there were instances where I stumbled against some of Wilds’ iconic top-tier predators, though overall, I found it to be a relatively smooth journey. The simplification aimed at welcoming newcomers like myself to the series likely played a role in this experience, as elements such as elemental strengths and weaknesses, the need to craft and customize gear for specific battles, and extensive tracking and hunting were all streamlined.

Instead of maintaining a consistent rhythm with frequent cutscenes and battles, what seems to significantly affect gameplay time in this version is the recurring pattern that includes these elements throughout the game, right up until the end credits. At times, this gives off a feel that leans more towards a Western cinematic, narrative-driven approach, rather than embodying the pure Monster Hunter experience we’re accustomed to. While I acknowledge the benefits of having an easily digestible storyline, I can’t help but ponder if it potentially overlooks some elements that have endeared Monster Hunter to its fanbase until the post-game content becomes available.

Jada Griffin – Community Lead

It required approximately 20 hours of gameplay for me to earn enough initial credits in Monster Hunter Wilds. The majority of that time was invested in completing all the additional and secondary missions accessible to me, while a smaller portion was spent immersing myself in the world of Wilds. I took my time wandering along various trails scattered across the map, hunting for diverse wildlife such as insects and birds, fine-tuning my radial menus, shout options, and discovering the most advantageous locations for my pop-up camps (there are some truly unique ones tucked away in hidden caves).

In summary, I managed to finish all the main missions and side quests within 15 hours, along with exploring the monsters available after the credits. Since then, I’ve invested close to 70 hours on additional activities for enjoyment such as monster hunting with friends, decorating, and pursuing semi-serious hunts for crown-winning monsters (the largest and smallest versions of each monster). It’s been a blast so far, and I’m excitedly anticipating the introduction of new monsters in future updates from Wilds.

Ronny Barrier – Producer, Guides

After approximately 20 hours, I encountered the initial credits in Monster Hunter Wilds. Primarily, I followed the main storyline, taking brief detours to gather a couple of appealing armor sets along the way. Additionally, I dabbled in experimenting with various weapons, such as the Switch Axe (which turns out to be quite effective), hence adding some extra time compared to sticking with my trusted sword and shield alone.

There’s still a lot left to accomplish, as I’ve only clocked in at 65 hours so far. I wouldn’t call this the true ending, even though it marks a significant point in the storyline. There are still lots of creatures to track down, fresh monsters to encounter, and new headgear to design. In fact, it seems like the narrative is serving as an extended tutorial, which I’m perfectly fine with because it means more monster encounters (except for Congalala – I could do without seeing him again).

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2025-02-26 16:29