How Long Is Monster Hunter Wilds?

It's finally here! Monster Hunter Wilds has arrived on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. This latest entry in Capcom's acclaimed beast-battling series follows in the massive footsteps of Monster Hunter World and its expansive Iceborne expansion. But just how much playtime are we talking about? IGN staffers share their experiences, revealing how long it took them to complete the main story, their priorities, and their post-game adventures.

Tom Marks - Executive Reviews Editor, Games

I finished Monster Hunter Wilds’ campaign in just under 15 hours. Unlike Monster Hunter Rise, this actually marks the true story's end, not just the halfway point. However, completing the campaign only concludes the Low Rank. High Rank awaits, brimming with side quests and tougher challenges—the real journey's just begun!

I spent another 15 hours tackling almost all of these quests, reaching what I'd consider the proper endgame. This involved battling every monster, unlocking all crafting systems, and exploring the custom Artian weapon system designed for long-term engagement. Thanks to Wilds’ streamlined progression, another five hours saw me achieving my desired weapon and armor peak, although countless other options remain for dedicated hunters.

I conquered Monster Hunter Wilds’ final High Rank story mission around 40 hours in, approximately 22 hours after completing Low Rank. Accuracy is tricky, as I spent considerable time in menus for guide creation. During Low Rank, I focused on minimal crafting, progressing directly through hunts. My High Rank approach was similar, though I ventured off to hunt optional monsters and collaborate with friends—a necessity for unlocking story missions.

My journey to the final mission involved only one deliberate weapon upgrade via an extra Ajarakan hunt. Otherwise, I prioritized speed. However, given more time, I estimate a closer to 60-hour completion, allowing for more refined armor and weapon sets.

I still have endemic life to collect, six remaining side missions (unlocked after the penultimate story mission), and at least one more optional quest to discover. Beyond that, I plan on farming specific monsters for Talisman upgrades, crafting different armor, experimenting with Artian weapons, and leisurely replaying the story with friends while mastering new weapons. Future title updates and event quests further extend the adventure.

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Simon Cardy - Senior Editorial Producer

I completed Monster Hunter Wilds’ main story in just under 16 hours, a surprisingly swift playthrough compared to my World experience (25 hours without reaching the end). As a relative newcomer to the series, I found many battles surprisingly manageable. While apex predators presented a few challenges (resulting in one or two faints), the overall adventure felt quite smooth. This streamlined approach caters well to new players, scaling back elements like elemental weaknesses, loadout crafting, and extensive tracking.

The consistent story cutscene/monster battle rhythm, maintained until the credits, significantly impacted my playtime. While this streamlined approach allowed for a quick story conclusion, it left me wondering if it sacrificed some core elements beloved by long-time fans, delaying their inclusion until the post-game.

Jada Griffin - Community Lead

My initial Monster Hunter Wilds credits rolled around 20 hours. Most of this involved optional and side quests, but a significant portion was spent exploring. I focused on discovering hidden paths, collecting endemic life, customizing menus and shouts, and finding ideal camp locations.

High-rank missions and side quests took another 15 hours, revealing all post-credits monsters. My overall playtime now nears 70 hours, dedicated to post-game activities like collaborative hunts, decoration farming, and hunting for monster crowns (awarded for finding the largest and smallest versions of each monster). While enjoying this immensely, I eagerly await future title updates adding new monsters.

I reached the first credits in Monster Hunter Wilds after about 20 hours, primarily focusing on the main story with brief interruptions to craft a few appealing armor sets. Experimenting with various weapons (Switch Axe is highly recommended!) added to my playtime.

With 65 hours logged, I don't consider those initial credits the true ending, viewing them more as a story turning point. The vast majority of the game remains, offering countless hunts, new monsters, and crafting opportunities. The main story acts as an extended tutorial, which I appreciate, as the core gameplay loop of hunting monsters continues long after the credits roll. (Except Congalala. Let's just say I'm not a fan.)