Monster Hunter Wilds: Duration Revealed

The much-anticipated Monster Hunter Wilds has finally arrived on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, following the grand footsteps of Monster Hunter World and its expansive Iceborne DLC. As the latest installment in Capcom's iconic monster-hunting franchise, players are eager to dive into the action and explore how long it takes to conquer the main story and what lies beyond. Here's a detailed look at the time it took various members of the IGN team to complete the game, their approaches, and their adventures in the post-game.

Tom Marks - Executive Reviews Editor, Games

I completed the main campaign of Monster Hunter Wilds in just under 15 hours, reaching the credits that signify the true end of the story. Unlike Monster Hunter Rise, where the first credit roll occurs at the midpoint of the larger narrative, this campaign's end marks the conclusion of Low Rank. However, the journey continues as High Rank opens up, offering numerous side quests and challenging encounters.

I dedicated another 15 hours to tackle these quests and reach what I consider the real endgame. During this time, I battled all available monsters, unlocked all initial systems and crafting options, and delved into the innovative Artian weapon system. Thanks to the game's streamlined grind, it took just five more hours to optimize my preferred weapons and armor set, though there's always more to explore with other weapon types.

I reached the final "story" mission in High Rank after logging around 40 hours, roughly 22 hours after seeing the credits for Low Rank. My time tracking might not be precise due to extensive menu idling for guide creation. During the Low Rank phase, I didn't dive deep into the game's intricate systems, sticking to basic crafting and progressing through the story without repeating hunts. In High Rank, while I mostly followed the story, I did detour to engage in optional monster hunts and cooperative play, which is necessary for unlocking further story missions.

I only upgraded my weapon once by hunting an extra Ajarakan, rushing towards the endgame. If I had more time, my total would likely have been closer to 60 hours, allowing me to craft a more efficient armor and weapon set. Post-game, I still have some endemic life to catch, fish to reel in, and six monster-hunting side missions to complete. Plus, there's one more optional quest to unlock. My plans include farming specific monsters for Talisman upgrades, experimenting with different armor sets, and testing my luck with the Artian weapons' RNG. I'm also looking forward to leisurely replaying the story with friends while trying out new weapons. With event quests on the horizon and title updates promising new monsters, there's much to look forward to in Monster Hunter Wilds.

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Simon Cardy - Senior Editorial Producer

I wrapped up the main story of Monster Hunter Wilds in just under 16 hours, a pace that surprised me given my 25-hour journey through Monster Hunter World without reaching the end. As a relative newcomer to the series, I found the battles quite manageable, though the apex predators posed a slight challenge. The game's streamlined approach for newcomers, reducing the complexity of elemental strategies and loadout crafting, contributed to this ease.

The consistent rhythm of story cutscenes and monster battles, reminiscent of Western cinematic influences, propelled me swiftly to the credits. While this made the initial story accessible, I wondered if it sacrificed some of the series' core appeal until the post-game kicked in.

Jada Griffin - Community Lead

It took me about 20 hours to reach the initial credits, with most of my time spent on optional and side quests. I also enjoyed exploring Monster Hunter Wilds' world, discovering hidden paths, tracking endemic life, customizing my menus, and optimizing camp locations.

I completed all High-rank missions and side quests in 15 hours, encountering all the post-credit monsters. Since then, I've spent nearly 70 hours in the post-game, hunting with friends, farming decorations, and pursuing monster crowns. I'm eagerly anticipating future title updates that will introduce new monsters to the roster.

I saw the first credits after 20 hours of gameplay, focusing mainly on the story with occasional detours to craft appealing armor sets and experiment with various weapons, particularly the Switch Axe. With 65 hours logged so far, I see those credits more as a narrative turning point rather than an end. The real adventure lies in the myriad of hunts, new monsters, and crafting opportunities that await. The story feels like an extended tutorial, which suits me fine as it leads to more monster battles, though I could do without encountering Congalala again.