Monster Hunter Wilds: Duration Revealed

Monster Hunter Wilds has finally arrived on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, continuing the legacy of Capcom's renowned beast-battling series. Building upon the success of Monster Hunter World and its Iceborne expansion, Wilds promises a thrilling adventure. But how long does it take to conquer this latest installment? We've compiled insights from different members of the IGN team, detailing their journey through the main story, their priorities, and their experiences with the postgame.

Tom Marks - Executive Reviews Editor, Games

I reached the credits of Monster Hunter Wilds' campaign in just under **15 hours**. This marks the true end of the story, unlike Monster Hunter Rise where the first credit roll comes at the halfway point. However, completing the campaign only signifies the end of Low Rank. High Rank follows, bringing with it a wealth of side quests and more challenging hunts, ensuring that your journey is far from over.

It took me an additional **15 hours** to complete most of the High Rank quests, reaching what I consider the true endgame. During this time, I battled all available monsters, unlocked all the systems and crafting options at launch, and delved into the custom Artian weapon system. Thanks to Wilds' streamlined grind, I needed only another five hours to optimize the weapons and armor set I desired. Of course, there's still much more to achieve across other weapon types and beyond.

Casey DeFreitas - Deputy Editor, Guides

I completed the final "story" mission in High Rank at around **40 hours**, roughly **22 hours after the credits rolled in Low Rank**. However, my time may be slightly off due to periods spent idling in menus for guide purposes. During the Low Rank portion, I focused primarily on crafting with available resources and progressing through the story without repeating hunts. In High Rank, I ventured off to hunt new optional monsters and join friends in hunts, which is necessary to unlock further Story Missions.

I only upgraded my weapon once by hunting an extra Ajarakan, preferring to focus on reaching the end. If time allowed, I would have aimed for around 60 hours to create a more efficient armor and weapon set. I still have tasks like endemic life-catching, fishing, and six monster-hunting Side Missions to complete, along with an additional optional quest to unlock. Beyond that, I'm eager to farm specific monsters to upgrade Talismans, craft different armor, experiment with Artian weapons, and leisurely replay the story with friends, learning new weapons. I'm also excited for upcoming event quests and title updates introducing new monsters throughout the year.

Simon Cardy - Senior Editorial Producer

Completing Monster Hunter Wilds' main story took me **just under 16 hours**, which was surprisingly shorter than my 25-hour journey into World's campaign. As a relative newcomer to the series, I found the battles quite manageable, though the apex predators posed a slight challenge. Wilds' streamlined approach, minimizing the need for extensive tracking and loadout crafting, certainly contributed to the shorter runtime.

The game's consistent pacing of story cutscenes and monster battles until the credits felt less like a traditional Monster Hunter experience and more influenced by Western cinematic storytelling. While I appreciated the swift conclusion to the initial story, I wonder if this approach sacrifices some of the series' beloved elements, which are more evident in the post-game.

Jada Griffin - Community Lead

I reached the initial credits of Monster Hunter Wilds after about **20 hours**, spending most of that time on optional and side quests, and exploring the world. I took pleasure in wandering the map's paths, hunting endemic life, customizing my radial menus and shouts, and discovering optimal locations for pop-up camps.

It took me **15 hours** to complete all High-rank missions and side quests, encountering all post-credits monsters. I've since spent nearly **70 hours** in the post-credits phase, enjoying casual hunts with friends, decoration farming, and pursuing monster crowns. While I've thoroughly enjoyed my time with Wilds, I eagerly anticipate the addition of more monsters in future title updates.

Ronny Barrier - Producer, Guides

I saw the first credits in Monster Hunter Wilds after around **20 hours**, primarily focusing on the main story with occasional detours to craft appealing armor sets. Experimenting with various weapons, particularly the Switch Axe, extended my playtime compared to sticking with my usual sword and shield.

Currently, at **65 hours**, I view those credits not as an ending but as a turning point. There's still much to hunt, new monsters to encounter, and more hats to craft. The story feels like an extended tutorial, which I'm fine with, as it leads to more monster battles—except for Congalala, which I could do without seeing again.