The highly anticipated Monster Hunter Wilds has finally arrived on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, continuing Capcom's renowned beast-battling action series. Following in the footsteps of Monster Hunter World and its expansive Iceborne update, Wilds promises a thrilling adventure. In this article, we delve into the time it took various members of the IGN team to complete the main story, their priorities during gameplay, and the extent of their postgame engagement.
Tom Marks - Executive Reviews Editor, Games
I completed the campaign of Monster Hunter Wilds in just under **15 hours**, marking the end of the Low Rank story. Unlike Monster Hunter Rise, where the first credit roll occurs midway through the plot, this is the actual conclusion of the story. However, reaching the credits only signifies the beginning of High Rank, which offers numerous side quests and heightened challenges.
I spent **another 15 hours** completing nearly all High Rank quests, reaching what I consider the true endgame. By then, I had battled every monster, unlocked all the systems and crafting options available at launch, and explored the custom Artian weapon system designed to keep players engaged. Thanks to the streamlined grind in Wilds, it took just **five more hours** to reach the peak of my desired weapons and armor set, although there's still much more to explore with other weapon types.
Casey DeFreitas - Deputy Editor, Guides
I completed the final "story" mission in High Rank at around **40 hours**, approximately **22 hours after seeing the credits for Low Rank**. It's challenging to provide exact figures due to the time spent idling in menus for guide creation. During the Low Rank phase, I focused on crafting with available resources and progressing through the story without repeating hunts. In High Rank, I ventured into optional monster hunts and played more with friends, which is essential for unlocking further story missions.
I only upgraded my weapon once by hunting an extra Ajarakan, otherwise, I used what I could and rushed to the end. Given more time, my playtime would likely have been closer to **60 hours**, allowing me to create a more optimized armor and weapon set. Postgame, I still have tasks like catching endemic life, fishing, and completing six monster-hunting Side Missions, along with an additional optional quest to unlock. I'm excited to continue farming monsters for Talisman upgrades, crafting new armor, experimenting with Artian weapons, and replaying the story with friends to master new weapons. Event quests and new monsters in future title updates are also on my radar.
Simon Cardy - Senior Editorial Producer
Completing Monster Hunter Wilds' main story took me **just under 16 hours**, a surprisingly shorter duration compared to the 25 hours I spent in Monster Hunter World without reaching the end. As a relative newcomer to the series, I found the battles quite manageable, with only occasional setbacks against apex predators. The game's streamlined approach, reducing the need for extensive tracking and crafting specific loadouts, certainly contributed to this shorter runtime.
The consistent pacing of story cutscenes and monster battles until the credits made Wilds feel more like a cinematic experience than a traditional Monster Hunter game at times. While I appreciated reaching the story's conclusion quickly, I wonder if this approach might sacrifice some of the series' beloved depth until the post-game phase.
Jada Griffin - Community Lead
It took me about **20 hours** to reach the initial credits in Monster Hunter Wilds, during which I tackled numerous optional and side quests and spent time exploring the game world. I enjoyed discovering hidden paths, hunting endemic life, customizing my radial menus and shouts, and finding optimal locations for pop-up camps.
Completing all High Rank missions and side quests took another **15 hours**, allowing me to encounter all post-credit monsters. So far, I've spent nearly **70 hours** post-credits engaging in activities like hunting with friends, decoration farming, and hunting for monster crowns. I'm eagerly anticipating future title updates that will introduce more monsters to the game.
Ronny Barrier - Producer, Guides
I saw the first credits in Monster Hunter Wilds after about **20 hours**. My focus was primarily on the main story, with occasional detours to craft appealing armor sets and experiment with various weapons, such as the Switch Axe. This approach extended my playtime slightly.
Currently, I've logged **65 hours** and don't consider the credits to mark the true end of the game. There's still much to explore, including new monsters and crafting unique items like hats. The story feels like an extended tutorial, setting the stage for the expansive world of Wilds, which I'm thoroughly enjoying, except for encounters with Congalala.
