When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.

The bones are the same but the presentation is sharper, modernized but still undeniably Monster Hunter.

I reckon I’m gonna need another 500.

The spider-like Lala Barina approaches our hunter for our Monster Hunter Wilds Big Preview

Even so, playing Monster Hunter Wilds in this setting felt fresh.

There was no technical obfuscation this time, no painfully short leash around my neck.

The food, especially the cheesy garlic naan, looks dive-right-in good.

Performing an explosive hammer attack on an enemy in Monster Hunter Wilds in a sandy environment

Like dolphin Duolingo, everything is clicking.

He emphasized control issues and focus mode fiddliness, with many changes informed by beta test feedback.

At once freaky and mesmerizing, it’s an instant classic.

The spider-like Lala Barina twirls around the Hunter in Monster Hunter Wilds

Returning crowd favorite Congalala, a big pink monkey that farts on you, is in prime condition too.

It gave me more trouble than anything I’ve encountered in Wilds, including Rey Dau in the beta.

It slams and bops and belly flops with quaking impact, the soundtrack swelling perfectly to really sell it.

A look at the Smithy menu in Monster Hunter Wilds, and the upgrade path for the Buster Sword 1

To find our coverage, visit theMonster Hunter Wilds Big Preview hub.

For one, hit-stop is back, baby.

I could sense those charged swings in my palms.

The Big Preview

It’s not Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate levels ofoomph, but it’s there and that’s what matters.

This needs to be more than a way to justify the two-weapon system.

If those are the only negatives I can come up with at this point, we’re sitting pretty.

The Balahara in Monster Hunter Wilds zooms across the dunes as the player falls on the sand

“I left this five-hour preview with renewed hunger and impatience.”

That is a snack.

That’s exactly 1% of my Monster Hunter World play time.

The horned Uth Duna in Monster Hunter Wilds attacks the player in the middle of a river

Even so, I left this five-hour preview with renewed hunger and impatience.

February 28, 2025 can’t come soon enough.

The PC version still has a big check to cash.

The Hunter and allies look on at a fiery scene in Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster Hunter Wilds characters share a meal

A hunter runs towards a lunging Gravios in Monster Hunter Wilds, greatsword held aloft

Running towards the absolutely massive Jin Dahaad in Monster Hunter Wilds in the Iceshard Cliffs region

Exploring the Scarlet Forest in Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster Hunter Wilds reveal

Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster Hunter Wilds beta and trailer screenshots

A man with long grey hair looking to the left in front of sand in Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster Hunter Wilds Mizutsune

Monster Hunter Wilds Amstrigian α head armor

Screenshot of a hunter holding a hammer in Monster Hunter Wilds� hammer weapon overview video.

Ritual Remnants appear in various rooms in The Horror at Highrook

Oblivion Remastered at night

Lego Mario Kart, Endgame Final Battle, Jango Fett�s Firespray-Class Ship, and Chopper divided by white lines, with a �GamesRadar+ new Lego� badge in the middle

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle screenshot of Indiana dressed as priest, looking over a book

Days Gone Remastered protagonist Deacon running from hundreds of zombies in the rain

PS5 Pro reveal from trailer

Articulate box, cards, board, and tokens on a wooden table

The cast of Thunderbolts standing in an elevator during the trailer for the upcoming Marvel Phase 5 movie.

Logan Kim as Hershel and Lauren Cohan as Maggie in The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2