As a longtime Monster Hunter fan, I’m sad to say: Monster Hunter Wilds is my least favorite entry in the series, and it has nothing to do with the review bombing that is currently happening over its optimization. I’ve poured over 500 combined hours into World and Rise across multiple platforms, loving each for very different reasons. But Wilds? It just hasn’t clicked for me.
The Bird Mount Discourages Exploration
Let’s get this out of the way: I hate the mount. Movement in Monster Hunter Wilds feels sluggish and awkward thanks to this bird. I’ve played around with the control settings multiple times, but I just can’t get it to feel responsive. Compare that to the palamute in Rise, which I found intuitive, snappy, and incredibly fun to use.
It seems like I’m not alone in this thought. Many players feel the bird mount slows things down and adds a layer of friction to what used to be smooth and empowering movement mechanics. What should feel like a tool for freedom instead feels like a clunky obligation.
The Weapon Overhauls Aren’t for Everyone
Another major letdown for me is the changes they made to weapons and combat. I was a die-hard insect glaive user. Yes, I know it wasn’t everyone’s favorite, but it suited my playstyle perfectly. With its redesign in Wilds, I reverted to my original weapon, the bowgun (both light and heavy). Sadly, it just doesn’t feel the same.
Damage feels flat, ammo types feel less important, and overall, there’s less of that satisfying challenge or strategy that World and Rise delivered.
The Story Went From Welcome Addition to Overbearing Nuisance
I used to wish for more story in Monster Hunter, especially after the relatively light narratives in World and Rise. But Wilds makes me regret that wish. I feel like I can’t go ten minutes without being dragged into another cutscene or forced down a linear path.
A game that has been known for its freedom, exploration, and moment-to-moment discovery is now often bogged down by overly long narrative sequences and forced direction. Players just want to hunt or craft and Wilds makes that harder than it should be.
Teaming Up In Co-Op Is Still Confusing
If Wilds was going to fix anything, I hoped it would be the co-op system. World had its issues, but Rise had refined things in a way I thought made sense. Unfortunately, Wilds carries over a lot of the confusion that Worlds had – how quests are joined, when you can team up, and how progression syncs. Bots filling empty slots is a nice touch, but it doesn’t replace intuitive matchmaking.
Other Community Criticisms Worth Mentioning
Aside from my personal grievances, here are a few other issues players across the community have raised:
- Pacing feels off: Between long tutorials, cutscenes, and forced travel sequences, many players report that the game feels slow to start.
- The environments, while pretty, feel more restrictive: The zones may be bigger, but the lack of freedom of movement and exploration feels oddly limited.
- Performance issues and UI clunkiness: Several users have reported frame drops, lag in co-op, and a UI that’s harder to navigate than previous entries.
Final Thoughts: Maybe It’s Just Not for Me
Could I eventually grow to love Monster Hunter Wilds with more time? Maybe. But right now, I’m not feeling the drive to keep pushing forward. The frustrating mechanics, weapon changes, forced story slog, and confusing co-op system doesn’t inspire me to keep playing.
At the end of the day, Monster Hunter Wilds may not be a bad game, it’s just not the Monster Hunter I fell in love with. And based on what I’ve seen online, I’m not the only one feeling that way.
