Looking back, I appreciate Monster Hunter Wilds’ story. I may have finished it two months ago, but some of its story beats still linger in my head. It feels like Capcom genuinely tried their best to craft a competent Monster Hunter narrative, and that effort shows in Wilds’ more linear direction.
The story wasn’t always a strong point in previous Monster Hunter titles, most notably the first three generations. The whole focus of those older games seemed to be on endless monster hunts. The repetitive “read this quest info, hunt this monster” loop worked because players didn’t care about the story back then—they just wanted to hunt.
But in the modern era of gaming, players expect a good story. They want a reason to push through a game’s lengthy content and to understand the world they’re exploring. That’s why Capcom started adding bits and pieces of narrative with Monster Hunter World, though that attempt wasn’t exactly well-received.
Now, with Monster Hunter Wilds, there’s finally a clear reason why we’re hunting monsters for scrap, not just for the sake of being genocidal hunters. Alma, the Handler, only grants authorization for monsters that pose a real threat.
Even its location has a structure. The Forbidden Lands are uncharted territory. That’s why our Hunter and the Guild have little foothold here. We only just established our Gathering Hub last week. The land is teeming with monsters, yet there aren’t any so-called “Monster Hunters” swinging giant weapons—just civilians going about their lives.
Characters have also seen a significant upgrade in Wilds. In the past, they were often nameless caricatures with no real impact on the plot. Most were NPCs with generic titles like “Smithy” or “Quest Keeper.” Now, we have characters with actual personality, from the curious Alma to the resourceful Gemma.
Many players seem to dislike Nata’s storyline, but I enjoyed his arc with Arkveld. Both are survivors of a major disaster, and I completely understood Nata’s obsession—projecting his fears and anxieties onto a monster like Arkveld. Even though, ironically, Arkveld doesn’t care since it’s a monster.
Beneath Wilds’ main narrative is a deep well of lore, stretching back a thousand years to the fallen civilization of Wyveria. Assuming Capcom continues in this direction with future Title Updates, we might learn even more about it, considering there have been hints that Fatalis might return. At best, the game’s expansion may center around Ancient Wyveria itself, a place we’ve yet to visit fully during the main game.
Right now, I have nothing but praise for Monster Hunter Wilds’ story. It’s no longer the same old “do this, do that” quest structure, and we’re not just screaming «Dragonator!» at each other anymore. It shows that Capcom is finally taking the series’ dated narrative seriously, and I’m glad it paid off with Wilds.
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