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 entry 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? We asked several members of the IGN team to share their playtime, focusing on main story completion, side quests, and their 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 is the actual story conclusion, not a halfway point. However, completing the main story only concludes Low Rank. High Rank awaits, brimming with side quests and tougher challenges. It took me another 15 hours to complete nearly all of these quests and reach what I consider the true endgame. This included battling all available monsters, unlocking crafting systems, and exploring the custom Artian weapon system. Thanks to the streamlined grind, I needed only another five hours to obtain my desired weapon and armor sets, though significantly more remains for those seeking further challenges across various weapon types.

Casey DeFreitas – Deputy Editor, Guides

I completed the final High Rank story mission in roughly 40 hours, approximately 22 hours after finishing Low Rank. Accuracy is tricky due to time spent in menus for guide creation. During Low Rank, I focused on progression, crafting only what was necessary and avoiding repeated hunts. My High Rank approach was similar, though I diverged to hunt optional monsters and collaborate with friends (often required for story mission unlocks). I only intentionally upgraded my weapon once, otherwise prioritizing story progression. A more thorough approach would likely have resulted in 60+ hours. I still have endemic life to collect, fishing, six side missions, and at least one more optional quest to unlock. Beyond that, I plan to farm for Talismans, create new armor, experiment with Artian weapons, and replay the story with friends while mastering new weapons. Future title updates and event quests further extend the playtime.

Simon Cardy – Senior Editorial Producer

I finished the main story in just under 16 hours, a surprisingly short playtime compared to my Monster Hunter World experience (25 hours without seeing the end). As a relative newcomer to the series, I found many battles surprisingly easy. While I did faint a couple of times against apex predators, the overall experience felt quite smooth. This streamlining, designed to welcome new players, impacted the runtime. Elemental weaknesses, crafting, tracking, and hunting were all scaled back. The consistent story cutscene/monster battle pacing, while appreciated for its swift conclusion, felt less like a traditional Monster Hunter experience and more like a Western cinematic narrative. This raises questions about whether core Monster Hunter elements were sacrificed until the post-game.

Jada Griffin – Community Lead

Reaching the initial credits took about 20 hours, including optional and side quests. I also spent time exploring, collecting endemic life, customizing menus and shouts, and finding optimal camp locations. Completing all High Rank missions and side quests took another 15 hours. My overall playtime currently sits near 70 hours, encompassing casual hunts with friends, decoration farming, and hunting for monster crowns. I’m looking forward to future title updates adding more monsters.

Ronny Barrier – Producer, Guides

I saw the first credits after roughly 20 hours, prioritizing the story with minimal grinding. I experimented with various weapons (Switch Axe is excellent!), which extended my playtime. With 65 hours logged, I don't consider the initial credits the true ending. Many hunts, monsters, and crafting opportunities remain. The story functions as an extended tutorial, which I appreciate, as it allows for continued monster hunting (except Congalala – never again!).