Monster Hunter Wilds, the latest installment in Capcom's renowned action series, has finally arrived on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Following the success of Monster Hunter World and its Iceborne expansion, Wilds promises an expansive adventure. But just how long does it take to experience the full breadth of this beast-battling epic? Here, we delve into the time different members of the IGN team spent to complete the main story, their priorities during gameplay, and their engagement with the postgame content.

Tom Marks - Executive Reviews Editor, Games

I completed the campaign of Monster Hunter Wilds in just under **15 hours**, reaching the credits that mark the conclusion of the story. Unlike Monster Hunter Rise, where the first credit roll is only halfway through the plot, Wilds' credits signify the end of Low Rank. However, the journey doesn't end there; High Rank offers a wealth of side quests and more challenging encounters.

It took me an additional **15 hours** to tackle nearly all of these quests and reach what I consider the true endgame. By this point, I had battled every monster available, unlocked all the systems and crafting options, and explored the custom Artian weapon system designed to keep players engaged. Thanks to the streamlined grind in Wilds, it took me just another five hours to optimize my preferred weapons and armor set, though there's still much more to explore across other weapon types.

I completed the final "story" mission in High Rank at around **40 hours**, about **22 hours after seeing the credits for Low Rank**. It's challenging to provide an exact time as I spent significant periods idling in menus for guide purposes. During the Low Rank phase, I didn't dive deeply into the game's intricate systems, crafting only what was necessary and avoiding repeated hunts. In High Rank, while I mostly followed the story, I also engaged in hunts for new optional monsters and played with friends, which was necessary to unlock further story missions.

I specifically upgraded my weapon once by hunting an extra Ajarakan, but otherwise, I used what I had to push through to the end. Given more time, I would have aimed for a more efficient armor and weapon set, potentially extending my playtime to around 60 hours. I still have some postgame activities left, including catching endemic life, fishing, and completing six monster-hunting side missions unlocked after the second-to-last story mission. Additionally, I'm eager to farm specific monsters for Talisman upgrades, craft different armor sets, and experiment with RNG to create unique Artian weapons. I also plan to replay the story leisurely with friends, learning new weapons along the way. With upcoming event quests and title updates introducing new monsters, there's plenty more to look forward to in Monster Hunter Wilds.

The 10 Best Monster Hunter Games

Simon Cardy - Senior Editorial Producer

I finished the main story of Monster Hunter Wilds in just under **16 hours**, a surprisingly short time compared to my 25-hour journey into Monster Hunter World without reaching the end. As a relative newcomer to the series, I found the battles in Wilds more manageable, though some apex predators did pose a challenge. The game's streamlined approach, reducing the need for extensive tracking and specific loadout crafting, contributed to this ease.

The pacing of the game, with a consistent flow of story cutscenes and monster battles, felt less like a traditional Monster Hunter experience and more like a cinematic, story-driven adventure. While this allowed me to reach the story's conclusion quickly, I wonder if it might leave some of the series' core elements behind until the postgame begins.

Jada Griffin - Community Lead

It took me about **20 hours** to reach the initial credits in Monster Hunter Wilds, spending most of that time on optional and side quests, as well as exploring the world. I enjoyed discovering hidden paths, hunting endemic life, customizing my radial menus, and finding optimal camp locations.

Completing all High-rank missions and side quests took me **15 hours**, allowing me to encounter all the monsters available post-credits. To date, I've spent nearly **70 hours** in the post-credits, engaging in fun activities like hunting with friends, farming decorations, and pursuing monster crowns for the largest and smallest versions of each monster. While I've enjoyed my time immensely, I'm eagerly anticipating the addition of more monsters in future title updates.

I saw the first credits in Monster Hunter Wilds after about **20 hours**, focusing primarily on the main story with brief detours to craft a few cool armor sets and experiment with various weapons, particularly the Switch Axe. This approach extended my playtime slightly beyond what it would have been if I had stuck to my usual sword and shield.

Currently, I've logged **65 hours** and don't consider the credits the true end of my journey. The story feels like an extended tutorial, setting the stage for more hunting, new monster encounters, and crafting opportunities. While there are plenty of monsters I'm excited to battle, I could do without another encounter with Congalala.