Monster Hunter Wilds cuts out the clunk – and plays like the most streamlined, beginner-friendly entry yet

I’m on the hunt for a Chatacabra, a sort of lizard frog thing with an imposing tongue. I’m riding on the back of my Seikrat bird-like mount that’s whisking me off in pursuit of my prey. And I’m not alone: I’ve got three fellow hunters by my side, but they’re not real players.

Monster Hunter WildsDeveloper: CapcomPublisher: CapcomAvailability: Out 2025 on PC (Steam), PS5, Xbox Series X/S

SOS calls aren’t new to Monster Hunter, but they’re now readily accessible with a flick of the radial menu. And if nobody online returns the call, three slots will be filled by NPCs to replicate the feel of co-operative multiplayer while still playing solo – along with your cute cat companion, of course. It means in Monster Hunter Wilds you’re never truly alone, unless you want to be.

The inclusion of NPC teammates feels like just one of many additions in this latest series entry that pitches it as the most approachable, beginner-friendly effort yet. That’s been a fairly long-running trend for the series – generally each new Monster Hunter game eschews the clunkiness of the last, in an effort to expand the series’ audience – but it’s especially true of Wilds.

Back to my playthrough though, and the Chatacabra battle is just a taste, as the second part of the demo is a proper hunt, this time for a Doshaguma – a huge bear-like creature with massive claws. Before setting off I entered a tent to choose two different weapons and cook up some mouthwatering steaks to buff my hunter for the journey. Then, with a quick tap on the d-pad, my Seikrat sweeps me up and automatically sniffs out our target as we seamlessly exit the sizeable camp area (complete with cooking cats, but sadly no dango song) and emerge out in the desert. While riding, I can easily switch weapons, down a potion, and prepare for the battle to come whilst on the chase.

In previous games, much of this Seikrat activity was done back at camp. Now, you can switch loadouts practically on the fly, cook meals anywhere, and drink health-restoring potions while riding a mount out of danger. The Seikrat streamlines so much preamble, ensuring you’re always on the move, always hunting. What’s more, restoring health is a quick flick of the radial menu to use an optimal potion, another nice tweak that trims back on the fiddly cycling through menus.