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 installment in Capcom's acclaimed beast-battling series follows in the massive footsteps of Monster Hunter World and its expansive Iceborne expansion. But just how long will it take to conquer? IGN staffers share their playtime, priorities, and post-game adventures.

Tom Marks - Executive Reviews Editor, Games

I finished Monster Hunter Wilds’ main story 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 finishes Low Rank. High Rank awaits, brimming with side quests and tougher challenges. It took me another 15 hours to complete almost all of these quests and reach the true endgame. This included battling every monster, unlocking all crafting systems, and mastering the custom Artian weapon system. Thanks to Wilds’ streamlined grind, I only needed an additional five hours to obtain my desired peak weapon and armor sets. Of course, much more awaits across other weapon types and beyond.

I finished Monster Hunter Wilds’ final High Rank story mission around 40 hours, roughly 22 hours after completing Low Rank. Accuracy is tricky, as I idled in menus for guide creation. During Low Rank, I focused on minimal crafting and avoided hunt repetition. My High Rank approach was similar, though I diverted from story missions to hunt optional monsters and collaborate with friends—a necessity for unlocking story missions. I only upgraded my weapon once by hunting an extra Ajarakan, otherwise prioritizing the main story. Ideally, I’d have spent closer to 60 hours, crafting more efficient armor and weapons.

I still have endemic life to collect, fishing, and six post-game monster hunts. At least one more optional quest likely awaits. Beyond that, I plan to farm specific monsters for Talisman upgrades, create different armor sets, experiment with Artian weapons, and replay the story with friends. Future title updates and event quests add even more to explore.

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Simon Cardy - Senior Editorial Producer

I finished Monster Hunter Wilds’ main story in just under 16 hours, a surprising runtime compared to my World playthrough (25 hours without finishing). As a relative newcomer, I found many battles easy. While I fainted a few times against apex predators, the overall experience felt breezy. The streamlined gameplay caters to newcomers, scaling back elemental weaknesses, crafting requirements, and hunting complexity.

The consistent story cutscenes and monster battles, maintained until the credits, felt less like a traditional Monster Hunter experience and more like a Western cinematic adventure. While I appreciated the swift story conclusion, I wonder if it sacrifices core elements beloved by fans until the post-game.

Jada Griffin - Community Lead

I reached Monster Hunter Wilds’ initial credits in about 20 hours, including optional and side quests. A portion of this time was spent exploring, hunting endemic life, customizing menus and shouts, and finding ideal camp locations. Completing all High Rank missions and side quests took another 15 hours. I’ve since spent nearly 70 hours on post-game activities, including hunting with friends, decoration farming, and hunting for monster crowns. I look forward to future title updates adding more monsters.

I saw the first credits after about 20 hours, primarily focusing on the story with minor detours for armor crafting. I experimented with various weapons (Switch Axe is fantastic!), extending my playtime. With 65 hours played, I don't consider the initial credits the true ending, viewing it more as an extended tutorial. The post-game offers extensive hunting, new monsters, and crafting opportunities. (Except Congalala—never again!)